Trip Report: QF/JQ/VA BNE-SYD-MEL-SYD-BNE + AIRSHOW (Photos)

[Brandon Giacomin]

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


VH-VXK would be taking me down to Sydney this morning. She seen here arriving from Sydney as QF500. New rego for me.


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.


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!


We taxied out to RWY01, no aircraft to wait for so we were taking off right away!

Climbing out of Brisbane


Brisbane Airport


Nice right turn


We cruised at 30000 feet. We received breakfast on the flight which was cereal, orange juice and a muffin.

On descent


What a view!


Sydney!


Got some spectacular views on downwind for RWY34R


Bondi Beach


Sydney Airport