JBR - Part 1: The flight
BACKGROUND
Myself, husband & our 2 teen boys, aged 15 & 16yrs.
My 8th trip, husband's 7th trip & the boys 5th.
OUR FIRST JETSTAR EXPERIENCE
My initial thoughts on boarding was.... 'Like a can of sardines!' They really pack you in.
With extreme naivety, I had tried to check in online via the Qantas website. Of course I was unable to do this, even though I had used Qantas Frequent Flyer points to book our seats approx. 9mths previously. I had phoned Qantas & they had simply said I couldn't pre-book Jetstar seats in advance.
On checking in at the airport & just 2.5hrs prior to departure, Jetstar advised I could have booked via THEIR website in advance. Not surprisingly, we were allocated the very BACK row of seats - where the most recycled air flows freely! Thank heaven there was some type of air flowing though.... I was wedged between my 2 big boys (15 & 16yrs) since I am the smallest of the 3 these days. My biggest boy's post braces plate was rather fragrant (teenagers!) & his breath was sooo smelly! At first I thought it was the toilets that we were positioned next to!!
My husband was a seat across the aisle, but diagonally in front. Exactly opposite us across the aisle were the toilets. To add insult, we had no window, just a blank wall. It was hard not to panic at my feeling of enclosure. A mild distraction however, was the toddlers in the row before us. The little girl had the highest pitched scream I think I have ever heard - & she used it with great frequency throughout the flight. The little boy played pick-a boo. The constant stream of passengers attending the toilet too, was distracting - as was the post attendance aroma's. So this was the beginning of our holiday...
As revolting as the seating was, we did arrive safely & they were Frequent Flyer, so all was good.
VOA/IMMIGRATION
The very back row of seats we saw as a definite disadvantage for getting through Visa on Arrival & Immigration. We already anticipated a fairly long wait after our last trip 1yr previously when we endured an approx. 2hrs in line before getting through Immigration. A pleasant surprise however was an efficient & pain-free experience this time - even with the benefit of back seats! Approx. 15mins & we were at the luggage carousel.
THE WHITE CROSSES
The guilty bag was marked with the expected white crosses. (Those of you who may recall a previous JBR will remember the controversy caused through my mention of wiping off the chalk crosses placed on luggage that have items of suspicion - namely bottles of champagne/wine).
I had a visiting family member at home who was staying on in my house during our absence. This was a distraction for me whilst packing & consequently I had neglected to pack the moist wipes to use for discreet removal of chalked crosses at the luggage carousel & prior to Customs check. On realising this at Perth Airport, I approached the 'Red Rooster' counter for several of their moist hand wipe sachets. The girl gladly obliged & those wipes were our saving grace as again, with some trepidation, I casually wiped our luggage & headed for Customs.
Customs though had changed. All luggages were now being x-rayed on exiting, regardless of whether you were declaring or not. My husband who was pulling the guilty bag gave me ‘that look' that says, 'There goes our special celebratory anniversary champers', 'Where is the bribe money?' or 'I'll see you on the other side of Kerobokan'... even after so many years together, I was not quite sure of an accurate interpretation!
Can you believe all luggages were screened via x-ray & yet we passed through without incident? This made up for the discomfort of our seating.
Now our holiday really had begun....
Part 2 - Nusa Dua next, then Ubud & Legian.