The Flight Detective, Author at TravelUpdate

What is the mandatory hotel quarantine food like in Australia?

Posted by The Flight Detective | Dec 22, 2020 | Hotels | 10

One thing I was curious about before I arrived in Australia was the hotel quarantine food. Since you are unable to leave your room, three meals per day are provided for you. In the Pullman Adelaide where I am staying, breakfast arrives between 7am and 8:30am, lunch from 12:30pm to 2pm and dinner from 6pm to 7:30pm. They do cater to people with vegan, vegetarian, halal, lactose intolerance and gluten intolerance, which is good. Hotel Quarantine Food – Day 0 Arrival day does not count as one of your 14 days of quarantine. My flight arrived at 5pm and...

Review: Pullman Adelaide, a medi-hotel for quarantine in South Australia

Posted by The Flight Detective | Dec 21, 2020 | Hotel Reviews, Hotels, Reviews and Reports | 6

People arriving in Australia currently undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days in a government specified hotel. In South Australia’s capital city Adelaide, they call these medi-hotels and one such facility is Pullman Adelaide. This is a five star hotel in the central business district, with facilities such as an Executive Lounge, pool, spa and sauna. Of course, none of these are available, as guests in quarantine are not permitted to leave their hotel room under any circumstances – even if there is a fire alarm! Quarantine Check-In Once the bus from the airport arrives at the hotel, you are...

Does anyone remember the Antonov An-148 and An-158?

Posted by The Flight Detective | Dec 20, 2020 | Airlines | 4

The Antonov An-148 is a twin engine regional aircraft, produced by Antonov in Ukraine. Powered by two Progress D-436-148 engines, it first flew on 17 December 2004. It’s slightly stretched sibling, the An-158 first flew on 28 April 2010. Typically seating 68 to 85 passengers in five abreast seating, the An-148 has a range of up to 4,400 kilometres. The larger An-158 seats up to 99 passengers, with a shorter range of 2,500 kilometres. Service entry of the -148 took place on 2 June 2009, with Ukraine’s Aerosvit flying from Kharkiv to Kyiv. The -158 entered service with Cuba’s...

What is Qatar Airways A350 Business Class like right now?

Posted by The Flight Detective | Dec 19, 2020 | Airlines, Flight Reviews, Reviews and Reports | 0

There have been some changes to Qatar Airways A350 business class service since the pandemic. There are fewer choices on the menu, you are handed a face shield at the gate, and there is no lounge at Stockholm Arlanda available. Cabin crew wear personal protective equipment and you receive a travel with confidence pack for use during the flight. While there are all these changes, a lot remains the same, such as dine on demand in business class and impeccable on board service. No Lounge Access Today Many airports around the world have limited lounge access, with many facilities...

Review: Radisson Blu Airport Terminal Hotel Stockholm Arlanda Sky City… and the delicious Sky Horizon restaurant!

Posted by The Flight Detective | Dec 18, 2020 | Hotel Reviews, Hotels, Reviews and Reports | 0

To be quite frank, the Radisson Blu Airport Terminal Hotel at Arlanda Airport Sky City is a standard airport hotel. It does the job for an overnight stay between flights. The real unexpected stand out is the lovely food in their restaurant. Stockholm Arlanda is a very pleasant airport, in fact I stayed overnight there last year, hanging out in the terminal rather than forking out for a hotel. This time, it was a hotel for me. Radisson Blu Airport Terminal Hotel I checked in online beforehand, sending them all my details including a photo of my Passport and...

Review: British Airways Euro Traveller London to Stockholm December 2020

Posted by The Flight Detective | Dec 17, 2020 | Airlines, Flight Reviews, Reviews and Reports | 0

British Airways Euro Traveller is the European economy class product offered by the UK airline. Nothing like a pandemic to inspire a few changes, with the main one being the reintroduction of complimentary catering on these flights. After spending some time in the Galleries First lounge, I headed off to the boarding gate. Just like at Aer Lingus, British Airways is also boarding flights from back to front to be COVID-19 safe. BA780 – London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda (LHR-ARN) 14 December 2020 Airbus A319 – G-EUOE Seat: Euro Traveller 10A Departure: 13:25 Arrival: 17:00 (16:25 actual) Upon boarding,...

What is the British Airways Galleries First lounge like right now?

Posted by The Flight Detective | Dec 16, 2020 | Airlines, Lounge Reviews, Reviews and Reports | 0

Another pandemic success story is the British Airways Galleries First lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5. The required pivot to keeping people safe has arguably resulted in better service than ever before. I passed through on 14 December 2020 after an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin, connecting to a BA service to Stockholm. Let’s just say I was pretty impressed, so let’s see why. British Airways Galleries First Lounge Decor It’s the festive season and the ubiquitous Christmas Tree has appeared flanking the horse lamps at the entrance. Those lamps are stuff of legend in certain parts, for reasons...

Review: Aer Lingus Dublin to London Heathrow Christmas 2020

Posted by The Flight Detective | Dec 15, 2020 | Airlines, Flight Reviews, Reviews and Reports | 0

You know, there is quite a lot of padding in flight schedules. This is to accommodate the fact that airports and airspace are congested, and to give people accurate arrival times. Flying during the pandemic at Christmas 2020 really illustrates that. After breezing through a virtually empty Dublin Airport, I sat waiting at the gate for boarding to be called. To help minimise potential exposure to COVID-19, boarding is by rows from back to front. First it was row 20-29, then 15-29, 10-29 and so on. Our aircraft waiting patiently at the gate. The gate agents were quite strict...

What is going through Dublin Airport like during the pandemic?

Posted by The Flight Detective | Dec 14, 2020 | Airlines | 0

Dublin Airport is not busy during the pandemic, as Irish people have been advised not to travel unless absolutely necessary. In contrast to many other countries, the people in the emerald isle more or less follow the advice. I had cause to travel through on 14 December 2020 and it is still as quiet as it was back in August. It means no wait at check-in or security and a more relaxed experience all round. Dublin Airport Terminal 2 As it’s Christmas season, the trees and decorations are all out in force, giving a festive vibe to the terminal....

Does anyone remember the rare Dutch Fokker 70?

Posted by The Flight Detective | Dec 13, 2020 | Airlines | 6

The Fokker 70 is a short-range twinjet powered by two Rolls-Royce Tay 620 turbofans. Manufactured by the Dutch Fokker company, the aircraft first flew on 4 April 1993 and entered airline service with Sempati Air in March 1995. A total of 4.62 metres was removed from the Fokker 100 to create the plane, which has a maximum capacity of 85 passengers. It can fly up to 3,410 kilometres or 2,119 miles. Fokker 70 Videos Following on from the last video about the French Latécoère 631 flying boat, this time we stay in Europe to look at the Fokker 70....