QANTAS pictorial flight report #1

oneWorld · Post by **oneWorld** » 23 Jul 2004, 16:15

Hello guys!!

Welcome to Part I of the Qantas flight report (pictorial) series.

This time I am trying to do something a bit more interesting... Of course there's no way it becomes a big deal to fly Qantas; but what's special is I've made a few careful and specific choices on my flights so as to get myself onboard ALL the major aircraft series operated by the airline throughout the journey. Yes, I do mean ALL (**does not include Qantaslink) of them, inclusive of the B747 (400), B767s (both 300 and 200), A330s (both 300 and 200), B737s (400) and Jetstar's B717-200. If this idea doesn't excite you then let me tell you how hard it takes me to match all the flights with the "right" aircraft type, which inveitably involves me flying at the most awkward hours, paying extra to make connections, transfering through terminal buildings and chasing for flights, etc ... Hopefully you will still take pleasure of those "ordeal" that I am taking on !!

So without further adue let's start kicking in the reports. For starters, we have the Boeing 737-400 trip between Adelaide (South Australia) and Perth (Western Australia). Please note that it was only the return leg of the journey becuase I had very unfortunately lost my other memory card where I saved the photos. And I was surely devastated to lose all my reocrds here.... Anyway, I hope you enjoyed what were remained here! And after all I thank you for your viewing!!

Buy firstly: my apology for the rather inferior quality of photos!! apparently I was having some problems to focus in the dim light....

Date: 28 June 2004
Flight number: QF 599
Itinerary: Adelaide-Perth
Aircraft: Boeing 737-400
Registration number: VH-TJK "Ibis"
Est. Depature time (local): 19.40
Actual Depature time (local): 19.52
Est. Arrival time (lcoal): 21.25
Actual Arrival time (local): 21.47
Duration: 3hr 15 mins
Time difference between ADL and PER is 1.5hour
Qantas operate 4x daily between the 2 cities.

Check in: It was a breeze: no queue and very efficient staff. The whole procedure took barely a min and I was very impressed!!

I collected my booking pass.

I was terribly early for my flight!! With nothing much to do at the rather dull Adelaide terminal, I'd decided to make a leisurely stroll to the Virginblue "terriotry"... Indeed Qantas and Virginblue share the same terminal building in Adelaide, so it was only a min away.

Adelaide is having a new airport terminal in 2005 8) . Hopefully somebody will come up with a few more exciting ideas for amenities; apparently the current terminal was a big boredom!!

QF 599, Scheduled for boarding at 19.20, in the end it was delayed for 10 mins. Across the building, Virginblue also operated a flight to Perth at the same depature time, what a competition!!

Raining hard: now pax were running to board the aicraft in the downpour... not very pleasant!!

This B734 was actually of 13 years old!! Thanks to recent cabin refurbishment in 2003, the aircraft didn't reveal its true age to the "unsuspected"....

As seen, part of the refurishment included the installation of the new economy "slimline" seats, with adjustable head wings.

Take a 2nd look. I was the only pax on the last row.

Rain was looming, and certainly not much a view outside...

Our inflight entertainment system... and guess what? It's a SONY

The inflight magazine (QANTAS: THE AUSTRALIAN WAY), featuring Mr George Gregan on the cover

It's a fact: oneworld offers more lounge access, more recognition, more awards, and more about you!!

Qantas' route map: on the domestic front

Qantas' route map: the global reach

Safety card: Qantas has differnet colour codes for different aircraft types.

I love these cute LEGO men and women

Still at the safety card and we're turning over to the next page..

And flip over to the last page.

Safety demonstration; interestingly, the flight was served by a full male crew

And they were all from Sydney.

Goodbye Adelaide!!

Turn on the entertainment, we had a few sitcoms and a feature movie presnetation tonight

Feature movie of the night: Dirty dancing 2, I'd finished watching the movie; but if you ask me i think it was pretty crap!

A whole pile of headphones sitting next to me

Dinner of the night: some sort of Greek chicken salad, it tasted all right

. Apparently there wasn't a hot meal because PER-ADL wasn't a Cityflyer service. Cityflyer mainly serve high yield trunk route with heaps of biz-oriented traffic.

Reached Perth finally, and ready to alight...

Finally out of the B734, and realised that I was actually on the ground!! Gate #5 at PER wasn't equipped with any aerobridge facilities.

Coming across some cute little Bae146s

Yes the journey stopped here and I'd enjoyed it. 8)
Generally speaking the inflight service was excellent and crew was helpful and accommodating to the pax. Personally I was impressed with them working almost non-stop throughout the 3hours and still maintaining the best courtesy and smiles. I think it was great professionalism! If you ask me, I think I am ready to rate my journey 4 out of 5 stars!!

Nevertheless, I am also conveniced that Virginblue will make a good contender with its lower fare and newer aircrafts... So let's see... 8)

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 23 Jul 2004, 17:06

Very interesting report, the use of all the photos really gives it "atmosphere".

interestingly, the flight was served by a full male crew

That's how all flights should be

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » 23 Jul 2004, 17:59

very nice report

MD-11er · Post by **MD-11er** » 23 Jul 2004, 18:21

Hi Oneworld,

Very nice report,

I coming over downunder in October will fly worlds safiest airline through the whole month I will be there.
I will even fly Australian Airlines from MEL to SYD, I can't wait to be downunder and spot some of the most beautifull airlines ever.
Like my 2 favorites

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=433467

and

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=612242

Looks like it are your favorite airlines too?

Might see you there.

You can always contact me via pm.

8)

dna · Post by **dna** » 23 Jul 2004, 19:33

Fab report!

I can't wait to come back to Australia. Hopefully next spring. I might actually go and work for SBS, so fingers crossed!

Dave

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 23 Jul 2004, 20:16

Thanks for this very nice report.

I've just one question. You said that Virgin Blue operated the same flight at the same time. So I wonder, how was the Loadfactor on you B737-400.

And if the competition is really hard on that route, I suppose that you didn't have to pay much for your ticket ?

Greetz
Chris
8)

nwa757 · Post by **nwa757** » 23 Jul 2004, 20:26

Thanks for the awesome report. Makes me want to fly to Australia! You were very lucky to have some IFE on that short flight. In the U.S., you can't even get any IFE (except the magazene) on a cross-country flight (not even in first class).

A318 · Post by **A318** » 23 Jul 2004, 21:56

Great report and yes your pictures made it even more interesting to read.
Don't worry about your 13 year old 734, in 1998 I was flying a 722 from 33 years old (first flight was in 1965)!, maintenance is the magic word

Greetz,

Erwin

nwa757 · Post by **nwa757** » 24 Jul 2004, 02:08

A318 wrote:Don't worry about your 13 year old 734, in 1998 I was flying a 722 from 33 years old (first flight was in 1965)!, maintenance is the magic word

That is very true. If an aircraft is properaly kept up, they can fly for forever (almost). For instance, look at all of the DC-3s still flying. I have been in some DC-9s that were 40 years old and they looked brand new. (If you fly on NW a DC-9 is the aircraft you will probably fly on because they make up most of NW's fleet).

Post by **sn26567** » 24 Jul 2004, 22:08

Excellent report, oneWorld. I really enjoyed it.

I hope to read more from you in the near future.

Captain · Post by **Captain** » 25 Jul 2004, 11:57

Very good report. Do you know if Virgin Blue offer a similar level of service for that particular route (inflight entertainment, meal)?

Captain

Jumbolino · Post by **Jumbolino** » 25 Jul 2004, 12:55

oneWorld, thanks for the report, inner-australian trip reports are rare here

oneWorld · Post by **oneWorld** » 25 Jul 2004, 14:22

Thank you guys

I love a pictorial report too cause it saves me from writing long paragraphs.

MD-11er: Enjoy yourself down under!! 8)
QANTAS QANTAS NEVER CRASH and I reckon it's an excellent airline too. But I didn't realise AO actually operate between SYD and MEL, good on you mate! Anyway could I have the flight number of your AO flights? I am just being curious here, haha 8)

I doubt CX will send the jumbos to OZ anymore, now it's an all A330-300s lineup...

dna: good on you!! I am a fan of SBS as a matter of fact

Avro: The flight was pretty filled up, possibly with the excpetion of no more than 10 seats which were unsold. I wasn't sure about the loadings on Virgin. But I would imagine competition is really neck-to-neck !!

nwa757: Wait till you see the next QF A330-300 report, it really takes the quality of inflight service to the next level!! 8) As for now, just let me say it's a 5-star "economy" service.

Captain: Virginblue is a no-frills airline, so there is no inflight movie, no free meal, etc. Actually I am having a Virgin report waiting to be posted up soon, hope it will answer your question by then.

sn26567, Jumbolino: Thanks for your comments!

A318: Yeah it's true, as long as the cabin stays clean and comfy, I am happy

MD-11er · Post by **MD-11er** » 26 Jul 2004, 00:23

Hi Oneworld,

I will fly AO the 14th of Nov. from MEL to SYD as AO 7868 ETD 06.00 ETA 07.20
The only thing where I am a little upset is that I am a QF frequent flyer and I ahd to puy a bonus to get on the AO flight iso a QF flight and I won't have some miles for it.
But most import will be that I will fly that Orange beautifull plane.

If you are in AUS from the 17OCT untill 17NOV don't forget to contact me via PM.