Family history across the seas

My 2025 A to Z theme is Airports, Airstrips, Aircraft, and Airlines I’ve known and flown with. I’ll be using IATA codes where they’re available. My inner travel agent emerges at this point as I’m the FTO (family travel organiser) and now, the online travel agent.

BNE     Brisbane Airport, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Brisbane has been my most frequently used flight hub for both internal and international flights, largely because it’s been closest to where I’ve lived over many years. Today, it comprises two extensive terminals, one for domestic and one for international. However, that has been in “recent” decades.

My first commercial flight was in 1970 from the old Brisbane aka Eagle Farm airport with its WWII hangars. Flying was something special then and people dressed for the occasion. Back in the day, before 2 minute kick-out/pick-up drop offs, you could actually park close by without needing a mortgage. Friends and family of the departing travellers could join them in the terminal as well as stand near the fence to watch them board and the flight take off. I clearly remember my parents standing by the fence with my close friends nearby – a male friend having a reassuring arm around each of my besties. I also remember being on the flight in tears, leaving behind everyone and everything I’d known previously, except the handsome new husband beside me.

Subsequent flights brought me back to my original home, fat and pregnant; with small children alone or with himself; visiting parents and friends; and later, travelling interstate or overseas, or from a later home in Darwin. Our children made their own “solo” flight at ages 6 and 4, Port Moresby to Brisbane and return, completely confident they knew what to do. So many memories. Flying then was so much simpler.

You can read here my mother’s experiences as a Volunteer Air Observer during World War II, training at Archerfield and then looking for enemy aircraft over Eagle Farm airport.

BKK     Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand

My blogging friend, Linda, from the Curry Apple Orchard blog, hit the nail on the head with her comment about how we do/don’t remember airports.

Bangkok is one of those “memorable” airports for me, for all the wrong reasons. In 1974 it was a refuelling stop en route from Manila to Athens. As we were coming in to land the sky was green and thick with storm clouds and lightning. We taxied the runway as if it was a shallow pool. The passengers disembarking were delighted to be leaving and wished us luck for the rest of the flight. We were not permitted to disembark.

In 1977, our family was back in BKK flying from Kathmandu with Thai International Airways (TG). I had acquired the Nepalese version of Delhi belly and was sick as a dog the whole time.

Perhaps this accounts for why Thailand has never made it onto our travel agenda despite loving Thai food.

BME    Broome International Airport, Broome, Western Australia

Broome is a comparatively small airport but a major hub for visitors to the Kimberley and the northern parts of WA. It’s also one of the few places that is close enough to Darwin to make it a viable long-weekend excursion. We’d relocated to Darwin in 1997 but were re-thinking our decision. It seemed a good time to spend the 1998 New Year long weekend in Broome which we thoroughly enjoyed. Flying into Broome gives you the sight of red rocks and soil, snow white sand, and vivid aquamarine water.

We’ve visited since but have driven on those occasions.

BOS     Boston Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Boston was the finale in the long flight from Brisbane-Los Angeles-Boston in November 1992. This was a trip to celebrate our long-service leave and exploring New England was our first adventure. Well….maybe not quite. While the poor taxi driver had a challenge finding our accommodation on the night we arrived, the fun started when we arrived back at BOS to collect our hire car. After 20 minutes or so, I was wondering whether Mr Cassmob was going to actually leave the parking lot. Not just dealing with the “wrong” side of the road but also a stick shift on the column but also blinkers in the opposite direction from ours at home. Once actually on the road, it was all good but we were grateful that our directions took us on right turns to our fancy B&B.

BCN     Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is one of our most recent departure points, in 2016, heading for Venice. Once again, I have no memory of the airport itself though I know I was nursing a cold-type illness. There’s a theme emerging here, perhaps for airports at the end of long international trips.

BNZ     Banz Airport (Giramben Airstrip), Western Highlands Province, PNG

One of the more amusing experiences we had when flying was on a trip between Goroka and Mt Hagen. There was an interim stop at the small airport at Banz in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. As we were just about to depart, one of the staff came running out with a box for the pilot. Turned out it held coastal mosquitoes that were going to Mt Hagen to be studied. The enthusiastic American on board who was having a great time on the flight said “Mosquitoes? What happens if those things get loose in here?” We all got a laugh and a story from it and he probably told the story for years as well. Apparently this airstrip is no longer in use.

Have you been to any of these airports? What was your experience or special memories? What’s your favourite “B” airport?