A Quick Flight from Responsibility
 

It’s been a while. A lifetime ago, really—back when no one called me “Dad,”. Those were the glory days of award travel, when points were plentiful, awards were cheap, and the biggest dilemma in life was “LX First or SQ Suites?”
These days, I’m the guy booking family trips 12 months out, desperately trying to find four award seats like I’m playing elite-level Sudoku with frequent flyer charts. I read other people’s trip reports the way some people read romance novels—wistfully, a little jealously, and with a glass of wine in hand. Those old travel instincts are still there… they just take naps now.

But then, something happened. Last week, while reading yet another glorious trip report, a crazy idea popped into my head: maybe I can still do this. A long weekend was coming up, work was light, And, best of all, my amazing wife offered me a four-day hall pass. No strings, just go. The destination didn’t even matter. I just wanted to go somewhere. Anywhere. In style.


Where to go?
Birmingham. Why? Because getting there required two long-haul flights and, let’s be honest, I’d been reading weirdly captivating trip reports (looking at you JapesUK) that made it sound quirky and cool in a low-key way.



When to go?
King’s Birthday weekend (June 7–9, plus maybe a cheeky day or two of leave). Perfect—except, of course, everyone elsehad the same idea. There were no awards left from anywhere in Oz to Southeast Asia or the Middle East.

After hours of searching, I cobbled together a routing: MEL–DEL–BOM–LHR (Air India) & BHX–IST–KUL–SYD (Turkish). Bold, yes. Wise? Questionable. The AI routing had only a 3-hour connection in BOM—on separate tickets—and flying AI 788 J didn’t quite have the magic I was craving. I hesitated. I stalled.

But wait. Hope wasn’t lost. I remembered the previous weekend (May 30–June 2) was also a long weekend for us Canberrans. Surely fewer people were trying to flee the country then?

I started searching again. And bingo! I found SYD–DOH–AUH–CDG on Qatar First and Etihad First, using a heroic mix of Avios and Aeroplan. It even had a manageable 3-hour connection in AUH. I was travelling HLO, so I figured I could roll the dice.

Of course, the EY F turned out to be phantom. Classic. But after a few more searches, I found a more direct option: SYD–DOH–BHX.

The return was a breeze: ZRH–BKK–MEL (Swiss and Thai), with a 36-hour stopover in Bangkok. A final hit of warm weather and spicy noodles before heading back to Canberra’s chill.



Final routing:
CBR–SYD–DOH–BHX // MAN–ZRH–BKK–MEL–CBR.
Five days. Two nights in BHX. One night in BKK.



The adventure kicks off this Thursday with a tiny hop from CBR–SYD, followed by a blissful stint in the Qantas First Lounge, and then it’s Qatar First all the way.

Let the champagne flow, the trip reports be written, and the glory days be relived—if only for a weekend.

Nice itinerary you have managed to piece together there! I am sure you will have a great trip!

If you need any recommendations for your BKK stopover, do let me know - happy to help :)

sure. Fire away 😁

Whereabouts are you planning to stay? And what kind of activites would be of interest? - that would steer towards the right suggestions.:tu:

staying in sukhumvit area. Interested in Any fun places with decent cocktails

have been to Bangkok before so have done the tourist stuff

Birmingham is truly an international jet-setters destination now thanks to Birmingham Bites thread, who'd have thought!

Enjoy your adventure :D

Great looking trip, yes JapesUK has truly invigorated the TR corner of FlyerTalk, he’s now essential weekend reading🤪

Always happy to be leading fellow FT'ers astray :D

yes JapesUK or eightblack or Seat2A could edit a compendium titled "The Journey IS The Destination" lol

somebol looking forward to your report, and love your description of how you read this forum

I've subscribed. This sounds like must reading.

Plans for Birmingham
Friday evening - Peaky blinders themed pub tour
Saturday morning - Warwick castle

There’s a very specific kind of excitement that comes the day before a solo international trip. A rare, almost mythical energy. The kind that only we understand. The brethren. The tribe. The ones who’ve spent too many hours on Flyertalk forums and have strong opinions about aircraft subtypes. Only we get us.

When I mentioned this trip to friends or colleagues, I was met with the same quizzical head tilt and furrowed brow.
“You’re doing what?”
“You’re flying to the UK… for two days?”
They looked at me like I was some sort of deeply confused, points-obsessed mutant. Which, to be fair, I am. But in here—in this community—these trips aren’t just understood. They’re celebrated. They’re the stuff of legends.

Emotionally, I’m oscillating between giddy anticipation and mild guilt. But let’s be clear: this isn’t indulgence. This is self-care. It just so happens that my version of self-care involves lie-flat beds, warm nuts, and a wine list with footnotes.

There’s a particular kind of freedom in knowing that, for five brief, blissful days, no one will ask me what’s for dinner, where their school hat is, or whether their iPad has been charged.
Instead, I’ll be contemplating far more important questions, like:
“Champagne or scotch?”
I’m kidding, of course. I’ll have both. At the same time.

Right now, I’ve got seven hours until my first flight. Between now and then, I’ll drop the kids at school, finish a few work things, and pretend to be a functioning adult. But mentally, I’m already gone—wandering the marble floors of the Qantas First Lounge, sipping something French, wondering if Neil Perry has finally lifted his game. (Spoiler: probably not. But hope, like status, springs eternal.)

The first leg is a puddle jumper from Canberra to Sydney. Barely a flight, really—but symbolically, it marks the moment the wheels lift off and the escape begins.

After that: Qantas First Lounge. Then Qatar First.

Am I really flying halfway around the world just for a seat and a meal?

Absolutely.
And I regret nothing.

Let me drop you a DM with some ideas :)

I like your writing style btw!

And it begins!!
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...638ba28d1.jpeg
Drink #1 Tequila sunrise courtesy of priority pass

You capture our essence. Enjoy every moment.