April 21-22, 2025

Hello Friends!

I know I’m a couple days behind, but my stomach has been out of whack for the last 24 hours. So, while I type this on Thursday evening, let’s rewind to Monday morning…

I awoke fairly early in my room at the Cairo Mariott, but wasn’t in a rush as my flight wasn’t until 1:15pm. Now at most airports I would plan on arriving about two hours before the flight time, but something gave me the feeling I should get to the Cairo airport earlier than that. I got up, when to have some breakfast buffet, walked back up to the room, packed what little I had unpacked in the 36 hours I had been there, went downstairs, and summoned an Uber.

Worst Airport Ever

For a number of years now I have said the worst airport in the world is London Heathrow, but that accolade I must now transfer to Cairo International.

First of all, Uber didn’t know what terminal to go to, so I went to terminal 1. Now at most airports the terminals are connected so even if you’re at the wrong one you can walk to the others. Not at Cairo.

After navigating my way through the smelly throng of con men outside terminal one offering to help me my bags (aka steal them) or offering to put me in a cab (driven by their con man brother or cousin, etc.) I made my way to the shuttle bus to go to terminal three. Nothing however at that airport is labeled. Five thousand years of civilization and these people can’t manage to put a big number 3 on the side of a terminal building at their airport. I asked someone on the bus “is this terminal 3?” They replied “yes.” It wasn’t. I finally got there on my second attempt. By then I was covered in sweat and furious.

Then the real chaos started

Your first challenge is getting past the first layer of security. Now of course, as you approach that mess there is yet another hoard of con men telling you they can get you through faster, etc. I have found saying “no no no” over and over finally convinces most of them to go away, but one guy required a “F— off!” to get the message.  Finally, you put all your bags through a scanner (even the ones you are going to check), show your passport to a security guard who looks like he’s a heartbeat away from demanding a bribe in order for you to pass, go through a metal detector, and then get patted-down.

I proceeded to the Qatar Airways check-in counter. There was no wait at the priority line. I approached and presented my passport. The woman then looked quizzically at the screen for what seemed a LONG time before asking for help from a colleague. After the two of them had a discussion for what seemed a LONG time she finally asked “do you have a visa to enter Australia?” I replied “oh yes.”

I then pulled-out my trip binder

Over on my YouTube channel I have a video titled “The Cruise Binder! How I bring Important Documents With Me.” In that video I explain why I think it’s a good idea to bring paper copies of everything with you. This was an example of a time when it came in handy.

I pulled the binder out of it’s pocket in my carry-on, placed it on the counter, turned to the tab labeled “visas”, pulled those pages out, and presented them to the woman questioning me. Her response was “oh very organized!” I always get some satisfaction from that.

She then took my checked bag, told me it was checked to my final destination, presented me with my boarding passes, and directed me to immigration.

This was less of a hassle than I feared, but it was followed by another bag scan/metal detector/pat down. I finally made it to the first thing all day that resembled a civilized world: the Qatar Airways lounge.

I sat there for a bit, had a bite to eat, then proceeded to my plane.

The flight from Cairo to Doha was three hours, but uneventful. We landed in Doha a little early which gave me two hours until time to board my flight to Brisbane, Australia. The Doha airport is pretty amazing. More a mall than an airport. I went to the Qatar Air platinum lounge, but was told “oh sir, you qualify for the business lounge which is much nicer.” After making my way there, I fought with their WIFI for a bit, and then remembered…

The Best Thing About High-Level Airport Lounges is the SHOWERS!

Unlike when I was at the Rio airport last month, there was no wait. I was directed to room number three, entered, and locked the door. These rooms are equipped with a sink, bench to sit on, toilet, bidet, a shower stall, and all the towels, shampoo, etc that you could need.

Personally, if I am sweaty and tired a shower is a good reset, both physically and mentally. Unlike in Rio, this time I had remembered to have a clean change of underwear, socks, and t-shirt in my carry-on. After I showered, I got dressed, left the room, tipped the attendant, and carried-on to my gate.

Qatar Airways, the World’s Greatest Airline

That’s what they call themselves and I don’t have a problem with it.

As I am “One World Emerald” status I was the first non-business class passenger to board that big Boeing triple seven 300-ER. I had an exit row seat with about twelve feet of leg room. As I got myself settled for my 14-hour, 7600-mile flight a lovely flight attendant approached: “Mr. Cable? We’re very glad to have you back with us this evening. My name is (I’m terrible with names) and if you need anything just let me know.” A short time later the other flight attendant for the area approached and gave me the same speech. Finally, as boarding was almost complete, the purser (supervisor) came and introduced herself as well.  Honestly, I wish every American Airlines flight attendant could take a trip on Qatar Airways so they can see it is possible for a flight attendant to do their job AND be pleasant AND provide good customer service.

There was a couple on the flight who had a four-year-old boy and his three-year-old twin brothers and to be honest, I thought “oh shit” when they sat in the row behind me. But I will tell you here and now those boys were fine the whole flight. I made it a point to complement the parents when we landed.

Free WIFI

Are you kidding me? That plane had Starlink WIFI that was a fast as a fire hose, never hesitated the entire trip, and it was FREE! Can you believe that!? Just another example of the great service on Qatar. The food (all three meals they served) was as good as airplane food gets and they always had snacks available.

I’m very glad that Qatar is a partner with American Air, my home airline, and that I was able to book this portion of the air for this trip using American Air miles.

Yes. I Have Been to Africa Recently.

As we were about to land in Brisbane the flight attendants distributed a customs declaration form to fill-out. I was a bit worried about some of the questions:

• Have you been to Africa in the past two weeks? Yes. Yesterday.
• Have you been around any farm animals recently? Well, I rode a camel at the Great Pyramids the day before yesterday. Does that count?
• Do you have any plant products with you? Does the Iranian saffron I bought in Dubai count? Well, then yes. LOL.

In the end, they didn’t seem too concerned. I got through immigration and customs, grabbed my bag from the carousel (relieved it wasn’t stolen by a baggage handler in Cairo), hailed an Uber and off I went.

It was the Novtel at the airport as I would just be there for only for about 12 hours it was 100% fine. Well, that is except the “meat lover’s pizza” I ordered from room service came with barbeque sauce on it. Seriously, don’t put condiments on food that are not listed on the menu. Oh well, it didn’t kill me.

I went to bed ready to board the Norwegian Sun the following morning.

Until we meet again, may you avoid the Kraken and have Fair Winds and Following Seas

Eric Cable

April 25, 2025 on board the Norwegian Sun