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Trip Report: QF/JQ/VA BNE-SYD-MEL-SYD-BNE + AIRSHOW (Photos)
Introduction:
From February 28 to March 4, I went down to Melbourne to attend the Avalon Airshow. As soon as the dates of the show were announced I looked at flights. I thought, rather than go direct to Melbourne, why not go via Sydney to go on more flights ;) I decided to fly down on Thursday February 28, I would fly on QF8 from BNE-SYD on a Boeing 747-400ER, and then I would have about five hours in Sydney before flying on JQ35 from SYD-MEL operated by an Airbus A330-200. On Monday March 4 I would fly on VA813 from MEL-SYD operated by an Airbus A330-200 and I would have most of the day in Sydney before flying on QF538 from SYD-BNE operated by a Boeing 767-300ER. It worked out great! However, about a month or so after booking I looked on the Virgin Australia website and noticed that my flight from MEL-SYD had been changed from a A332 to a B738 :( I asked around, and I found out that Virgin had stopped using A332’s on the SYD-MEL-SYD route. Bugger! I wanted to give the VA A330s a go! Things then got worse, about a month after finding out one of my flights had been changed, two more had been changed! QF8 BNE-SYD had been cancelled for Thursday 28 February! And so had JQ35 SYD-MEL!!! I had been switched to QF509 BNE-SYD operated by a Boeing 737-800 and JQ589 SYD-MEL operated by an Airbus A320!!! And then of course a few weeks after those two, I found out that my fourth and final flight had also been changed! QF538 SYD-BNE was cancelled and I was put on QF536 SYD-BNE operated by a Boeing 737-800! So I had been switched from flying on all wide bodies to all narrow bodies! How unlucky! I booked the hotel, bought the train tickets to Avalon and the Airshow tickets closer to the trip, so I was all set. The plan was to look around Melbourne on Friday 1 March, and then attend the Airshow on Saturday 2 March and Sunday 3 March. Even though all my flights were changed I was still very much looking forward to going to the Airshow. Thursday 28 February Woke up at 5am, I had packed all my stuff the night before so I just did a quick check in the morning. Left the house at 5:45am, traffic was much worse than expected! But surprisingly we made it to the airport at 6:30am. Said goodbye to Dad and I made my way to the Qantas terminal. I had already done the online check in so all I had to do was drop-off my bag which was quick and easy. Brisbane Airport Made my way through security and then up to the boarding gates. I was feeling a bit unwell in the morning so I just went straight to my gate and sat down. Qantas line-up http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8...314cd7fe6d.jpg VH-VXK would be taking me down to Sydney this morning. She seen here arriving from Sydney as QF500. New rego for me. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8086/8...87c2b95a2a.jpg VH-VXG in the new “Bring it on” livery was parked at the gate next to VXK. Wish I was on her! She was heading up to Cairns. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8...a38e1b66a1.jpg At 0725 boarding commenced. February 28, 2013 Qantas QF509 BNE-SYD VH-VXK B738 Seat 21F Seat 21F, strange to see the Air Vanuatu B738 parked at the domestic! http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8110/8...6744728e88.jpg We taxied out to RWY01, no aircraft to wait for so we were taking off right away! Climbing out of Brisbane http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8...edc46aecca.jpg Brisbane Airport http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8...fd312ac1f0.jpg Nice right turn http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8...681285e5f5.jpg We cruised at 30000 feet. We received breakfast on the flight which was cereal, orange juice and a muffin. On descent http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8...df28d2f421.jpg What a view! http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8...449a52407e.jpg Sydney! http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8103/8...748a5ef82a.jpg Got some spectacular views on downwind for RWY34R http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8...4dd2e59cf6.jpg Bondi Beach http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8...0ef839e695.jpg Sydney Airport http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8108/8...4f32798143.jpg |
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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8245/8...5bd46949_m.jpg My flight was due to leave at 12:15 but due to the late arrival of the aircraft this time was pushed back to 12:45. Once I saw VH-VGI arrive I went down to my gate as I assumed I would be flying on her down to MEL, and I was right. Another new rego for me. VH-VGI at my gate http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8527/8...214c60303f.jpg Boarding commenced at about 12:30. February 28, 2013 Jetstar JQ589 SYD-MEL VH-VGI A320 Seat 07F Seat 7F http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8514/8...ca949655ea.jpg We taxied to RWY16R, and held for a while. The captain said that ATC were expected a strong wind change shortly so they would be switching from RWY34R/L ops to RWY16L/R ops. We were first in line so once the wind hit we would be off to Melbourne. After about a 10 minute wait we were on our way! Holding short of RWY16R, with an Air China 777 and a BA 747 close by. Soon Air China will change back to A330s and BA will start to send B77Ws! We took off close to an hour late. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8...39d63cef59.jpg Cruising at 36000 feet http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8...1c266ae76d.jpg The flight passed pretty quickly. We landed on RWY16 and taxied to T1. Sichuan Airlines Airbus A330-200 B-6518, the inaugural Sichuan service to MEL! http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8...87d893cea5.jpg Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 9V-SKK http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8...d21fa8d51b.jpg On our way to T1 http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8...ce9cdb4dfb.jpg We made up a little time in the air and ended up arriving at 1420. Only 30 minutes late. I picked up my bag and caught the sky bus into the city which takes 20 minutes. From Southern Cross Station it was about a 10 minute walk to my hotel. Friday 1 March On the Friday I went looking around Melbourne. I went to Docklands, Federation Square, up Eureka Tower and to the MCG, Melbourne Park and AAMI Park. Photos from the day can be found here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon...7632923051541/ Saturday 2 March and Sunday 3 March On the Saturday and Sunday I spent all day at the Air show. Photos from the Airshow can be found here. Saturday 2 March http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon...7632920660646/ Sunday 3 March http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon...7632917079079/ Monday 4 March Well after a fantastic time in Melbourne and at the Airshow it was time to head back to Brisbane. Got up at 4am, made sure I had everything packed and then walked to Southern Cross station. Got there a little earlier than planned, caught the 4:45am shuttle to the airport. Got to the airport just after 5am for the 7:15am flight, printed my boarding pass out and dropped my bag off before going through security to my gate. The flight would be departing through Gate 8, and VH-YFC was parked there. The first Virgin plane that received the new livery! And a new rego for me. Melbourne Airport Bondi Beach at Gate 8 http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8...c6f6f45928.jpg I started to hear over the P/A that most flights to Sydney were delayed. So I checked the board at my gate and saw that my flight was due to leave around an hour late, all the delays were due to Sydney ATC. Since my flight was delayed I sat down at Gate 11 and got some photos. VH-VBU waits for an available gate http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8...72041da4dd.jpg VH-ZPR looking awesome in the morning light, she was off to Adelaide. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8...ca72274d0d.jpg |
VH-OQI arrives from London via Singapore
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8...87eb5234c6.jpg A6-EDA arrives from Dubai http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8086/8...8d3dc97eca.jpg ZK-OJK ready to depart for Auckland http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8...428bb30e62.jpg VH-VUT looking awesome http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8377/8...d6375d0175.jpg VH-YFC is finally nearly ready to fly to Sydney http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8508/8...f557727535.jpg Boarding commenced just before 8am. March 4, 2013 Virgin Australia VA813 MEL-SYD VH-YFC B738 Seat 29A On-board in Seat 29A http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8526/8...986fdec2bf.jpg Takeoff on RWY16 http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8...e78c22747f.jpg On our way to Sydney http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8527/8...b6072e5392.jpg Passing Albury http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8...499d76cb6e.jpg Cruising at 37000 feet http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8240/8...5ca90696ca.jpg On downwind for RWY16R passing Bankstown Airport http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8...15fdc301d0.jpg On finals for RWY16R passing the Sydney CBD http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8231/8...b46ae72260.jpg Landing on RWY16R http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8...5408a3f522.jpg Taxiing to T2, we arrived at 0930, about 50 minutes late. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8...43f313874c.jpg A6-EDB departs for Auckland http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8...c483c9d127.jpg |
VH-FVX taxies out for a departure to Port Macquarie
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8...d857ef4011.jpg Interior of VH-YFC http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8514/8...d359865cd7.jpg Spotting in Sydney Disembarked the aircraft, then went to the food court and picked up some breakfast before going down to get my bag. Walked to “The Stairs” to do some spotting, there were some good movements. VH-VXB “Yananyi Dreaming” departed for BNE and Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747-8F B-LJB arrived from Hong Kong. The first 747-8 I’ve seen! Just before 12pm I walked over to T3 to check in for my flight to BNE and to drop my bag off. I then caught the train to the international terminal to go up to the observation deck. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8...e6c962f8_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8...84a79f0a_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8...13881b9d_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8391/8...a485eb95_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8...6af1678a_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8...f532b60f_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8...cac465dc_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/8...61ea0699_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8...3f7be513_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8...6d41b79a_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8...d16d53e8_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8521/8...bfbd6931_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8...ab0c7305_m.jpg |
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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8...52ae324e_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8...543fcb56_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8...52fa5090_m.jpg http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8...db5bb43e_m.jpg At about 2pm I caught the train back to the domestic terminal. VH-OGN getting ready to go to Melbourne http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8...d24ed9d9d9.jpg VH-VXB “Yananyi Dreaming” departs for Brisbane. Wish I was put on this flight! http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8525/8...0d487cf238.jpg VH-VXP arrives from Brisbane. She would be my plane to Brisbane. Another new rego for me. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8527/8...cb5552a377.jpg I went upstairs to the Qantas Heritage Collection to have a look around. You get a pretty good view from up there. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8...cd63995a21.jpg VXP getting ready to take me to BNE http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8...8a5681ae3f.jpg VXU arrives from the Gold Coast http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8...6ff651c5c2.jpg VH-OQG getting towed over to the international terminal http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8...777edd9353.jpg Boarding commenced at 3:45pm. March 4, 2013 Qantas QF536 SYD-BNE VH-VXP B738 Seat 21F On-board in Seat 21F next to VH-QOI and VH-QOJ http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8...752143f755.jpg Taxiing out to RWY16L http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8...c55fc9a87a.jpg Lining up on RWY16L http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8526/8...f2e07b7c7a.jpg |
Takeoff on RWY16L
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8...0c7db33ee8.jpg Nice big left turn http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8...2e8d738f3d.jpg On our way to Brisbane http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8...7476c4d549.jpg Passing Newcastle I think http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8...5aa8c5e905.jpg Cruising at 37000 feet, the refreshment for today was a cookie or orange slice as well drinks http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8...5f6b21cf89.jpg Commencing our descent http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8...dc1ed9b8f3.jpg A nice rainbow as we descend http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8...9f41b2d09e.jpg On finals for RWY19 http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8...09963bc0a5.jpg VH-EBV can be seen taxiing out for a departure to Perth http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8...7699fe2ac3.jpg Landing on RWY19, we arrived right on time http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8530/8...c16d7b47c2.jpg Parked at Gate 21 http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8...ea269703f2.jpg Interior on VH-VXP [img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8241/8531634345_5a3c***c13.jpg[/img] VH-VXB prepares to head back to Sydney http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8...4efd38c895.jpg Went down and got my bag, and then went to the pick-up area where my Dad picked me up. Conclusion: What a great trip! All the flights were good, and of course the Airshow was fantastic. I will definitely try to go to the 2015 show. Next trip for me is a big one and I am really looking forward to it. In May/June I will be going to the USA and the Caribbean with my friend Josh. I will fly with Virgin Australia to LAX, stay in LA for 6 nights where we will of course spend a few days spotting, fly with Virgin America to Seattle and stay there for 2 nights and do the Boeing factory tours, then fly American Airlines to Sint Maarten via Miami and stay in Sint Maarten for 6 nights. We will spend most of the time in Sint Maarten on Maho Beach of course! :D We also have daytrips to St Barths and Saba on Winair. Can’t wait!!! |
Well done Brandon! Great pictures and report... :)
It is so frustrating when you've carefully selected flights for a reason ie aircraft type, and they go and change it. It is hilarious about what happened to all four of your flights - what are the odds. I actually missed out on going to the airshow in 2011 because "Tiger Airways" rescheduled the morning flight to be a lunch time flight, only a couple of weeks before the airshow, so I couldn't go as remaining airfares on other airlines were very expensive. I was apparently getting a refund from Tiger for this, and I never received it despite following it up many times... Keep up the good work... Steve S |
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