Introduction:
Well on October 9, Jetstar announced their first Boeing 787 routes and put them on sale. I immediately booked the inaugural flight (JQ432 MEL-OOL 13/11/13). I have already posted a report for this flight which can be found here…
http://www.jetspotter.com/forum/phpB...p?f=11&t=13996
So all I had to do was figure out how to get down to Melbourne! I decided to fly down to Melbourne the day before (12/11/13). Luckily for me all the major airlines were doing a Melbourne sale at the time. Qantas and Virgin were a similar price and I went with Qantas. I would fly on the Dreamliner to the Gold Coast and I decided to go back to Melbourne that afternoon on Virgin Australia. I would fly to Sydney the following day (14/11/13) on Qantas and stay there for 4 days for spotting!
On Monday 18/11/13 I would return to Brisbane. I was originally planning on going Virgin direct but I then thought about going via Newcastle and trying out Brindabella Airlines. I then checked flights from NTL-BNE on that day and saw that the midday Virgin flight was to be operated by a Boeing 737-700, and that sealed the deal! The only downside is the price for the Brindabella flight………$150!!! But I wanted to give them a go so I booked the morning flight. It worked out really well and I couldn’t wait for the trip!
Tuesday, 12 November
Brisbane Airport:
I got to the airport at about 7:30am, my flight wasn’t due to depart til 11am but the night before I saw that China Southern A332 B-6528 in Skyteam colours would be in BNE. I have been chasing her for a while so I went early to see her. My dad dropped me off and I then walked up to the top of the multi-storey carpark, I got there just as China Southern was on finals!
Finally got you! That Skyteam livery is great!
VH-OEH rotating nice and early for the quick hop down to Sydney as QF8
After that I walked down to the terminal and dropped my bag off before heading up to the boarding gates. I grabbed some breakfast and found a good spot to watch the morning movements.
Busy morning!
It was just the usual stuff at BNE. At about 10:20, a Qantaslink Boeing 717 did a go-around due to a Virgin Australia Embraer 190 still being on the runway. He must have needed a little extra time to get ready for take-off. It was a pretty cool sight; those 717 sure do get up quickly! I then walked down to the Qantas end to capture my plane arriving. VH-VXG would be taking me down to Melbourne. Unfortunately she no longer has the Bring it on titles!
Due to the late arrival of VXG into Brisbane, my flight down to Melbourne was delayed (originally a 11am departure). Boarding started at about 11:20am.
November 12, 2013
Qantas
QF617
BNE-MEL
VH-VXG B738
Seat 21A
On-board in Seat 21A!
We taxied out to RWY01 for take-off, and it was very good timing! We waited for a Cathay A333, Air NZ B77W and Qantaslink 717 to take-off and a couple of domestic departures. We took off and made the 180 degree turn to the south. On the flight they showed the morning news followed by Gruen Planet and then a doco on Casey Stoner. Complementary lunch was offered on today’s flight. It wasn’t much though; just a chicken pie (which was quite nice) and I took a can of coke.
Climbing up to 38000ft
Cruising down to MEL
Lunch time!
Soon we were descending into a very wet and rainy Melbourne. We landed on RWY16 and taxied over to the Qantas terminal passing the international which I could barely make out through the rain.
Taxiing into the gate
Well after another enjoyable Qantas flight I went and collected my bag before running through the rain to my hotel. It continued to bucket down for the rest of the day so I couldn’t get out and do any spotting!
Wednesday, 13 November
Ok so now I will pick up where I left off on my 787 trip report.
Which can be found here…
http://www.jetspotter.com/forum/phpB...p?f=11&t=13996
Gold Coast Airport:
Brock had dropped me off at the terminal. I had already checked in online so I could go straight through security. Unfortunately it was the late afternoon rush and the line for security was massive. I finally made it through security and I was surprised to find that boarding had almost finished for my flight! So it was straight on-board!
November 13, 2013
Virgin Australia
VA744
OOL-MEL
VH-YFF B738
Seat 16A
VH-YFF would be taking me down to Melbourne!
Boarding via the rear stairs
On-board in Seat 16A
We taxied out to RWY32 and with nothing to wait for we took off straight away. We made the usual right turn at 500ft and continued around to track for Melbourne. We climbed up to 36000ft for this flight. I decided to get something to eat; I got a Chicken, Tomato, Lettuce and Mustard sandwich and a can of coke.
Cruising along
YFF unfortunately isn’t fitted with the new wireless IFE which was a shame as I had downloaded the app and was hoping to give it a go! Oh well! The flight passed quite quickly and before I knew it we were landing on RWY27. Hopped off the plane and walked back to my hotel.
Look who I saw on my walk to the hotel! VKA after her first day in passenger service.
