Trip Report: JQ NTL-OOL (PHOTOS)

[Jack Melon]

Introduction

Before we go on, please be nice, it’s my first TR ever!

Well its school holidays again, time to book another week and a half holiday to OOL! So time to jump on another jetstar flight to the Gold Coast (OOL), from my hometown Newcastle (NTL). Booked the tickets around the last week of June for JQ492 on the 9/7 ($99), and the return flight JQ493 on the 19/7($35 BARGAIN!) relatively cheap i must say. I fly to OOL from NTL every holidays because my pop lives at a 5 star Ocean Plaza Resort in Coolangatta, only a 1km drive away. We have passes to Dreamworld (love the wipeout), and keen to test out there new moderate thrill ride "ShockWave”. Choose my seats online 19F going, and 17A return ($8 out of pocket). Both flight’s very full during the on-line seat selection, most probably due to the holidays, and no competition. Jetstar has it easy, lucky for them. This would be between my 10th-15th time on the Airbus A320, it’s an ok modern aircraft, but i much prefer the Boeing 737NG.


The Itinerary!

JQ492
DATE: 9th July, 2011
AIRLINE: Jetstar
AIRCRAFT: Airbus A320-232
REGISTRATION: VH-VQX
SECTOR: Newcastle/Williamtown (NTL) - Gold Coast (OOL)
SEAT: 19F
GATE DEP: 2
GATE ARR: 3
TAKEOFF RWY: 30
ARRIVAL RWY: 32
ETD/ATD: 1440/1534
ETA/ATA: 1545/1631
FLIGHT TIME: 57 Minutes
LOAD FACTOR: 100%- No seats left at all.

My flight wasn’t until 2:40pm, so no worries about sleeping in! I stayed at my other nan's house for that night as my other nan who i live with, was flying the day before me to Melbourne from Newcastle on Virgin Australia!!!! grrrrr lucky her! Anyway, that morning had a shower, packed the rest of my junk into my trunk and was already to go. At around 12:30pm, we went out to the car and started the 35-40 minute drive to the airport. Smooth drive, no traffic. At around 1pm, we pulled up at the rank to drop people off, got out our hand luggage and said our final good byes and revived the regular "have a good time" reply.

Walked into the very clean and modern NTL terminal, we made our way over to the Jetstar self-serve check-in kiosks, every time it seems it doesn’t want to scan the barcode on the itinerary with Jetstar, so i just put the Reference number in. Quick and easy, printed out myself and my sisters boarding pass, no troubles at all. Then i looked at the departure screens and my flight was showing On-time! Oh my god, for the first time ever it was on-time! Couldn’t believe my eyes! We headed over to the newsagency, brought my Australian Aviation magazine, something to read, then we walked over to Hungry Jacks for lunch, got my Bacon Deluxe Meal with a Chocolate Thick shake, Hahaha Brock, the shake machine was working here :P and got our meals, headed over to security, no line up, headed straight through.


Boarding Pass

When through, VH-ZPI just landed from Melbourne as DJ1589, then off to Melbourne again as DJ1590. Then VH-VGH just landed from Melbourne after Zippy, as JQ474, then off to Brisbane. Shortly after the E190 left, my plane landed VH-VQX (first time) from Brisbane, and taxied over to the gate.


I thought this was really funny! A VA ground worker running in her high heels, me and my sister were laughing like hell!


VH-VGH just arrived from Melbourne!


Zippy (VH-ZPI) taxiing out to Runway 30 of on another domestic 1hr 30min flight to MEL!


My plane VH-VQX has arrived from BNE!

We then went to line-up, and just as we were about to board, they informed us of a technical difficulty in the cockpit, so they said a 15 minute delay. We said ok, nothing to bad. Then when 15 minutes was over we heard this: “Ladies and Gentlemen, those passengers on service JQ492 to the Gold Coast unfortunately this service will be delayed for another 40 minutes due to engine problems, then I got angry, but I watched them test and start the engines about 10 times, then they fixed it, and were welcomed for boarding through gate 2. Boarding took 20 minutes, 2 of the 4 flight attendant’s didn’t smile at all, 1 was rather attractive .

As time went by, boarding was complete, bags were done, and refuelling was done. Time to close the doors and start the engines! (Hopefully they worked). Usual safety demo done, with not much enthusiasm, regular checks, made our very short taxi over to runway 30. Lights dimmed, regular loud music playing then we lined up for takeoff!

Video of takeoff here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix2Zp0xwkPU

Then we climbed up to our cruising altitude.


Climbing to our cruising altitude!


I decided to include the famous legroom shot! I don't know if it is just me or the seats have gotten closer together, or i have just gotten taller! They are so close together, my legs were digging into the chair, poor person in front! Wouldn't do jetstar on 2+ hour flights cause of the lack of legroom.


Also, i noticed new safety cards, they are now a single double sided laminated sheet instead of the old booklet grey style, i personally like the new ones.


Now at our cruising altitude, only for 10 minutes!

During the climb the crew did the usual jetshop cafe service quickly, i didn’t buy anything.

After between 5-10 minutes of cruise we started our decent!


Speed brakes up, coming in for an approach!

Landing video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iS6MvkWItE

Once we landed we taxied to T1 apron, pulled into gate with other aircraft including a jetstar A321, and parked next to jetstar A320 VH-VQC, and when we were there a man was arrested with police so that was interesting! (After disembarking).


Parked at the gate next to VQC.

Took about 5-10 minutes for them to hook up the stairs and open the doors, as a melon i am, i wait and i am usually one of the last off the aircraft, said good bye to the cabin crew, the hot one :P. Went onto the tarmac, said goodbye to VH-VQX, not like I’m going to miss it, but another rego in my data base that i can remember from. Went inside the terminal to be greeted by my pop and uncle, went out to the car, and drove to the apartment at Ocean Plaza Resort!

Conclusion

That concludes my 57MIN flight to OOL from NTL for my 5th time, and there will be plenty more to come!

Did not enjoy the 1 hour delay, and it turns out jetstar have been questioned by the CASA or whatever it is over safety concerns; well that explains a technical fault, and broken down engine!

Bring on Dreamworld, the beach, pool, spa, surfers, plane spotting at OOL and lots more!

Thanks so much for reading my first ever trip report; i hope it is up to your standards, if there’s any improvements i can make please tell me!

Thanks for reading!

Peace out!