Sure Travel Journey Vol 4.3 Winter 2018 | Page 11

Premium Economy Is it worth it? It can be tough having champagne taste on a beer budget and when it comes to flying, many of our budgets are more suited to bread and butter than the decadent pointy end of the plane. Premium Economy looks to bridge the gap without breaking the bank. It usually costs between 25-50% more (depending on flights) but is still roughly half the price of flying business. So, is it worth it? Sure Travel Journey flew Qantas Travel Photographers You should follow: Adam Combs Eight months after Adam Combs decided to strap on saddlebags and go on a bicycling mission around the world, he and a friend had pedalled almost 11,000 km – all the way from Vancouver, Canada, to Peru. While the around-the-world part of the trip is currently on hold (Combs is back to work as a filmmaker and photographer), this young adventurer has more journeys up his sleeve – and a growing portfolio of incredible photos. His majestic, misty winterscapes are just one reason to follow him on Instagram @adamcombs. Premium Economy between Sydney and Johannesburg to find out. Bicycling around the world – what made you decide to take on such an epic adventure? The idea came about in our last year of high school – more of a joke, really. But somehow it all came to be. It was an unreal journey: living off our bikes for eight months and being fully exposed to a little bit more of this wondrous world. What makes a great travel photo? When I find something I love – an article, blog post or Instagram photo – I find myself falling in love with the story behind it more than the photo itself. People aren’t dumb, they know when they’re being lied to or sold something, or used to get “likes”. I love it when I find photographers to follow who are genuine about what they do – right down to the way they tell stories, as well as the types of stories they tell. There is beauty to be found in humble storytelling. Where would you like to travel next? Easy – I want to bike-pack Mongolia and then hopefully get down into Antarctica within the next couple of years. GETTING SETTLED With a dedicated boarding queue, there’s no hurry-up-and-wait when it’s time to start your journey. A flight attendant was on hand to greet us with a glass of champagne as we got settled in, so you get to be one of those smug people already sipping some bubbly as the rest of the passengers finally traipse past to find their seats behind the curtain. With only 32 to 40 seats in a private cabin and its own dedicated flight attendant, the Qantas Premium Economy experience immediately feels more personal and intimate. LEANING BACK Ergonomically designed, the seats are wider, have more legroom, and go further back. You won’t get to lie completely flat the way you can in business or first, but Qantas Premium Economy seats feel luxurious to those of us who normally fly cattle-class. If you’re looking for specific measurements, Qantas Premium Economy seats are 19.5 inches wide with a foldout (Continued on page 13) MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE // 11