This week, Graeme Kemlo spoke to Tongan-born Silva McLeod recently about her new book, Island Girl to Airline Pilot, which launches this week.

Silva met and married an Australian electrician, despite disapproving looks from some of her fellow Tongans.

Urged on by her ailing husband, Ken, Silva became Tonga’s first female airline pilot, eventually fulfilling a fantasy to ultimately fly a Virgin Australia 777. Ken’s dying wish was that she might be able to support their two daughters after he passed away from multiple myeloma.

Silva endured and has as written a warts-and-all account of her life, her love, her triumphs and her grief. It is a great human-interest story and Graeme confesses it brought him to tears.

Island Girl to Airline Pilot: A Story of Love, Sacrifice and Taking Flight is published by Exisle Publishing.

Click here to listen to the interview on Travel Writers Radio.

#tonga #aviation #avgeek #publishing #newbook #pilot #airlinepilot #silviamcleod

Flying to Europe is quite a journey; so the decision on the airline as well as the day that you choose to fly is important.

I live in Melbourne and I prefer to fly with one of the three Middle Eastern airlines operating out of Melbourne Airport.  Their flight times and routings suit my personal travel patterns. They all depart late, somewhere between 7.30pm and 3.00am and the longest leg (almost 14 hours) is the first one.  I get on board after a full day; then enjoy a late dinner, a drink, a movie and with luck I then sleep for up to eight hours.  I arrive in the Middle East in time for breakfast, after which it’s only a short eight hour daylight flight to my destination.  As I arrive in the middle of the day, I find the transition to local time is easier because of the shorter time span before I revert to a “normal” sleep pattern.

Friday is my favourite day for business travel, as I end one working week at home and start another overseas, and that works best for me.  On holiday it is less important but I prefer flying midweek (Tuesday – Thursday) as it often less crowded on board and because I arrive in the middle of a working day, which can mean less crowds and traffic on arrival.

Whoever you choose to fly with make sure that you pick the airline and the departure day that works best for you.

There is something about air travel that gets me in, I am not sure exactly what it is but it starts at the airport where I like to check in early, and take my time through the process. I don’t like being rushed or racing through the departure area as the final call announcements are being made. I am happy to sit in the airline lounge or the departure area for a couple of hours, and soak it all in, whilst my wife browses the duty free shopping precinct.
I also believe that the best way to get that elusive and unexpected upgrade is to get there early and to “be ready”! Airlines are more likely to upgrade passengers who have checked in on time, than those who are late. They also tend to favour passengers who are well presented and smartly but comfortably dressed. Airlines will, of course, upgrade loyal clients first, so the higher your status with the airline you fly with the better.
The age old question is do you ask? The correct answer is that depends! On your history with that airline and whether you already have been told that an upgrade “may be possible”. If you think it might be there then ask, the worst they can say is no and they may well say yes. A word though, if it is no, then accept it, do not make a fuss about being promised it would be there, that is a no-no. Do that and believe me, your card could well be marked for life depending on how much fuss you create. It is not worth it.
If you get one, say thank-you and enjoy it, quietly and without making a great fuss, that way you may well get another one on a future flight.