Uneventful trip

Four flights over and done with. All on time, no dramas and good service.

Meet Marie in Dubai and we got together for Rome arrivals. Quick taxi trip and dinner and now off to bed.

My last booking done!

... well not counting a few train tickets etc. but all my accommodation is now booked.

I finally bit the bullet and booked the night at the Dubai Airport Hotel on the way home. It is about 10 hours from arrival to departure which is more than enough for a good night's sleep. The hotel is expensive, but if I went out and came back in again I'd lose two or three of those hours because of customs, immigration, dealing with my bike in both directions etc.

Flights booked

What a saga! The codesharing and the cutthroat nature of the airline business means that it now takes a fair bit of hunting to find the best and cheapest deal. Eventually with bestflights.com.au I was able to get a $1750 airfare which has pretty good itinerary, out via Melbourne and in via Sydney. QANTAS branding the whole way although most segments are really Emirates.

Arrive in Rome at around 8pm on Saturday night, so I'll probably find a local hotel at Fiumicino or in Roma near the train station.

Only drawback is a nine hour stopover in Dubai on the way back... probably worth crashing at the airport hotel.

I got the insurance sorted too.

Which flights?

The September 2014 flights are now becoming available on the web at Emirates. As of today the 24th, the open window goes up until the 16th September, whereas I need the 20th. So four more days until I can book. The price for most flight itineraries is $1615 return.

Right now the best combo for me is:

Outbound

EK0413 leaves Sydney at 21:10 on Friday, and after a three hour break in Dubai arrives in Rome at 13:15 on Saturday, so I can make a 5pm flight or thereabouts from Canberra.

Return

EK0096 Saturday at 22:00 from Rome, arriving after a four hour stop in Dubai at 06:05 on Monday. Plenty of time time make it to work. There has to be some advantage in having an office at BBP :-)

Early Bird fares are out

The Emirates early bird fares for next year are out. They are cheaper than the same fares in 2010 and 2012!