Before the last flight you have to endure our little adventure through the Champagne Region. The timing of our arrival into Germany from Australia was such that it coincided wonderfully with a quick jaunt down to Champagne.
We arrived into a less than sunny Frankfurt about 6:30 am and found an arrivals lounge for a quick freshen up. It was then time to collect the hire car and a Mercedes Benz S Class was secured for our three day adventure. We also collected a friend of S's (the infamous Stefan with an "F") and then it was time to hit the autobahn for France.
I was quite happy sitting in the back of the car (felt just like the Queen and I waved and people occasionally although the speed at which they drive sometimes made me think I could end up like Lady Diana - splat!). We arrived at the village of Avize to our boutique hotel aptly named the Hotel Avize. They spent hours workshopping that!!
The next couple of days was spent visiting four champagne houses being Taittinger, Bruno Paillard, Krug and Pol Roger. Each were private tours with tastings and some even gave gifts of champagne. I have to say it was a special experience wandering the cellars, tasting the various vintages, listening to the stories of the makes. What a privileged life we lead. We did also head into the city one day and checked out the local cathedral which was magnificent.
Not content with Champagning (I am championing for this to become a verb) we then headed back into rural Germany for a dinner at the Sonnora Restaurant which holds three Michelin Stars. Well, it did not cut it in our books (nor the recently released San Pellegrino 50 Best Restuarants http://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners/). I gave it a scathing review on TripAdvisor too (http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g644201-d1812361-r158356719-Waldhotel_Sonnora-Wittlich_Rhineland_Palatinate.html).
It was then time to head back to sunny Switzerland but only for one night for me......
Final Qantas Flight out of Frankfurt
Yes, my passion for flying and the big QF clearly knows no bounds! Before I left for Australia I found out when the last flight for Qantas would be out of Frankfurt and managed to get myself a frequent flyer ticket to Singapore. On the downside (other than the fact that QF had served Frankfurt for 60 years) was that it was only one day after we get home from Champagne. What is a boy to do?!?! I could not pass this up.
So it was back to Frankfurt (on Air Berlin via Berlin - with a very tight connection) to "celebrate" this sad occasion. Managed to do a bit of lounge hopping. First I tried the new OneWorld lounge (surprisingly impressed with pics below) in Zurich and in Frankfurt tried both the Cathay Pacific (bland and bad champagne) and Emirates (same as every other one) Lounges.
My friend Felix (GM of QF in Zurich) was also here for the event and we caught up at the departure gate where there was cake, wine and tears. A presentation was done explaining why they were withdrawing from Frankfurt etc, etc, etc. Hmmmmmm.....
I was also joined on this flight by a friend who I first met on a flight to Hong Kong a couple of years ago and goes by the name of "Airline Hub Buzz". His identity requires protection. He is just as geeky as me when it comes to flying and flies a lot more than I do.
We boarded one of the oldest (but still classy) Boeing 747's (VH-OJC) and I had seats 1A and 1B to myself. AHB had 1J and 1K. This meant I could set myself up for sleeping in one seat and dining in another - fab! Felix also managed to get me a farewell T-shirt.
It was a very emotional farewell. I had staff thanking me for taking the last flight and for my loyalty to Qantas. There was a team on the ground all lined up waving the plane goodbye. Even now I get a tingling in my spine and a little teary at this. Sniff....
The crew were reasonably good and very senior. They indulged the geeks and the crew signed an inflight magazine for me and also gave me a model plane signed by the crew. Unfortunately it was an A380 not a 747 but the sentiment was there!
I managed to get some sleep and then it was time to arrive and enjoy my one night in Singers. What a delight when I exited that I was met by a Lounge Staffer who escorted us to the Lounge for a refreshment. After another champagne it was off to the the Fairmont Hotel.
My friend AHB had organised the booking here and to my surprise I received the most amazing upgrade to the Presidential Suite! OMG, as the young people say! The room was enormous and just kept on going (see blue outline below). The bathroom even had its own sauna and I am told that this is the room Barack Obama stayed in.
Had a nice meal with AHB in Prego and the next day was spent just chilling out.
Evening time came and it was back to Changi International Airport. How on earth was I going to get back to Europe with no QF?? Well the good people at Singapore Airlines have a daily A380 into Zurich and also had a redemption ticket available in Suites. So, I was rapt!
SQ have their own First Class check-in area with its own immigration and spits you out in the airport right by the lounges. I received my "Golden Ticket" which gets me into the Private Room.
I had quite some time in the airport but I have a high boredom threshold so had no trouble occupying myself. Eventually 1:00 am came and it was time to board. Tonight there would be only three passengers in Suites so I checked to see if they could make up a double bed in the centre for me to snooze in. This was no problem....
Well that was that. I was home again after a restful flight and part of history. Not sure where the next adventure will take me. It is back to reality though with finding another German school and continuing to look for a job.
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