I'm on a plane with my mother flying back from some city. Apparently we're in business class but the seats are the same as economy. They're in a 2+2 configuration though so the aisle is very wide and there is plenty of leg-room. The windows are also like that of a train and I spend a lot of time staring at the passing landscape below. It's a clear day and we're low enough to make out streets and houses. I wonder what the passing towns are called and where we are.
The cabin crew come past with the refreshments trolley, but it has a large wooden trophy on top that contains ice for chilling drinks. It has some connection with cricket, perhaps the Ashes, but I don't know much about that.
The landing is strange. The plane comes to a complete halt about 2 seconds after touching the ground, but I don't feel any G-forces from stopping that quickly.
Some time later I'm taking another flight elsewhere, I think to somewhere around Saudi Arabia. I'm alone this time and it's early morning on a cloudy wet day. The sun is only just coming up so it's all dark blue outside.
There are very few people on the plane with me. It's a different operator from British Airways and I'm looking forward to seeing the difference in service. A couple occupies a small cabin to my right with a small mattress that barely looks enough for one person. I didn't know such things existed on planes. How long will this flight take anyway?
The plane starts moving, but instead of going to the runway, it starts wandering the terminal which is conveniently open-air. There are quite a lot of people around but they don't seem to notice, especially when it joins a queue at a coffee shop. I guess the pilot wants something before we head off.
I learn that the engines automatically shut off when people are close to them when some nearby women are startled by the beeping the system makes.