I always wear a camera, even on airplanes
Though sometimes I will stowe the camera away in the compartment above. I usually plug my inear headphones, and then I go to sleep!
I don't watch movies, I don't try to work. I just sleep as much of the trip as I can. I find that flying takes so much energy for the body that drinking water and sleeping is the best way to preserve the energy.
Some times the last hour before landing is a good time to reflect and make plans. Maybe because you are free and not attached. And I also occasionally bring a book, like a real book made of paper.
When I arrive to a destination, I go by the local time, no matter the time zone. I don't keep track of what the time might be at home or elsewhere. Present time is where I am at, not where you were. That way I can survive tremendous shifts in time zones.
Emirates, airline of the year for so many of the years I cannot remember. Here the stewardesses are making Polaroid photos for the kids during a flight to Asia.
A travel day is a travel day, no matter how short or long a flight
When I travel, the route is determined by the least shifts in time zones. It's better to fly six hours and stay in the same time zone than to travel one hour and move in time zone.
A day of travel is a day of travel. Checking in and out, and getting to and from airports, dealing with security and customs takes so much time that the actual flight is often not the majority of time spent.
It's a curious detail that it is faster to drive six hours to Berlin from Denmark, when I lived there, than to fly from Denmark to Berlin. Driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco was nicer than flying, when I lived in LA.
Arriving in Copenhagen Airport and waiting for the train below.
Unlike what many think, I almost always fly economy and not business. I would fly sleepless spending three times the amount on what I find unimpressive airline service - no matter what class or category they call it. Airlines at large live in the 90s, some even before electrcity. A first class train ride is usually 30% more than economy, a hotel limo to the airport is usually 20% to 40% more than a taxi. In the air it is 300% more for business and 500% for First Class. It's more a sign of years of bad management rather than a sign of actual facilities.
Status and miles can get you a long way, granted. I just don't like playing that game. I fly all over the world and that means a lot of different airlines. We managed to get a superior status with United, and they treat us well for long travels. Their points and miles for upgrades are very fair. For 'local' flights in the US you get a free suitcase and a possible free upgrade. We tried to build a relationship with Delta, but their points and miles for upgrades overseas is just redicilous high.
Must business class and first class is sold to people who have never been in economy and therefore fear it. truth is that sometimes, economy with four seats to yourself is more comfortable than a single seat in a packet business class. I love lying across four seats and dream of all the money I saved ... but mostly I enjoy I didn't fall into a trap of being a superior customer.
We almost got into first class on Air France (Premiere Cabin) for less than $100 in upgrade. Problem was we didn't know it was empty before we arrived into the plane, and we could only do the upgrade back at the counter. No time for that, so we had to 'suffer' all the way from Tokyo to Paris in business class. Nice space, only four seats in Premiere Cabin).
On the Airbus A380
The Emirates A380 flight is extremely soft and quiet. It is so remarkable quiet, that you notice. It will phase out, future airplanes will be smaller for more flexibility (and fuel economy).
I liked that there was a little of the style from back when flying was done in style. It's not much, but there are a few spaces where people can hang and talk, almost like an airline bar.
Emirates A380 from Dubai to Hamburg. © Thorsten Overgaard.
People would actually hang there and talk to each other while stretching their legs. What a difference such a small thing makes! You appreciate the little things in a metallic tube with 500+ people, especially when you feel claustophobic when the shoes, carpets and spilled chips on the floor start to get on your nerves.
I wonder what it would take to put a half-circle large red velour sofa lounge in the back of the cabin. Imagine if you could go there and hang with your computer, put your feet up on the table and talk to each others and have a Nespresso.
A couple of pictures from back when you could easily travel in style. To the right is Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on a DC4 promotional trip to Italy.
The A380 uses 2.9 liters of fuel per passenger per 100 kilometers (1 gallon is 4 liters). That is approximately 3/4 of the 'usual' fuel comsumption on large long-distance airliners. That's what I mean with airlines living in the 1990s, they should have though about fuel economy long time ago.
On the Airbus A380 double decker "Super Jumbo" above Nevada. Leica M 240 with Leica 80mm Summilux-R f/1.4. © Thorsten Overgaard.
The camera
The philosophy in "Always Wear A Camera" is that it is ready when you feel inspired. It has to hang over the shoulder, and it has to be 'on' without lens cap. The ISO and white balance should be ready for the environment you are in. When I feel inspired (usually because of the light or/and people), I keep the camera on me. When not, I keep it close. When I woke up and took a walk while we flew over Nevada an hour before we landed in Los Angeles, I took my camera with me.
I had brought my Leica 80mm Summilux-R f/1.4 and the Leica R-to-M adapter on this trip.
Nevada mountains. Leica M 240 with Leica 80mm Summilux-R f/1.4
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