Branson is a genius!

I had pretty high expectations of Vaustralia, based on my love of VirginBlue and I have to say, I was not disappointed. The only thing I didn't like about my VA1 flight from Sydney to LAX was the fact it took 13 hours - and that isn't their fault!

Naturally, I wanted to fly International Business Class. Even more naturally, I flew in economy. The seats we a fraction bigger than regular, the plane was configured in three rows of three instead of the 747 style three-four-three. The entertainment system was impressive, food pretty reasonable and as one could expect from a Virgin airline, the staff were fantastic. Airline crews with a personality always impress me but also strike me as an essential ingredient to a good flight.

Arriving at LAX around peak time still wasn't as bad as I expected, although my luggage took forever and just knowing I was minutes down the road from a shower and a bed made the wait seem unbearable. The Sheraton Gateway looked big an impressive on arrival. The room is quite okay, great value for the price (US$95). At this point I didn't care about the worn surface on the bath and the not-so-Sofitel bed, I just needed a shower and somewhere to crash.

I did learn a thing or two about Californian taxation before heading to sleep. They will get you any way they can! I can't understand how Arnie has no money when I can pay $22 tax on the purchase of a phone package that cost $70!! They set the taxation at the 'full value' of the phone ($220) not the $20 it actually retails for! Then of course there was the $43 room service hamburger ($14 plus $10 for drinks, then tips, room service fee and of course, more tax). I had forgotten that by the time you pay tax and gratuities, you can easily add 30-50% to the price of anything. To those of you who got pissy about Howard's 10% GST that is included by default in the published price, get over it! Life seems so simple back home...

Anyway, just a quick rant to get the ball rolling more than anything, in about an hour or so I head back to the airport for a four-or-so hour flight to Chicago. I am very glad I didn't go straight through like last year. The shorter haul and a nights sleep in between means I won't sleep for the first three days of my trip like last year! Maybe the week off work helped a little too...