Part 6

Route: SYD-OOL
Airline: Jetstar Airlines
Aircraft: A320
Seat: 4F
Flight number: JQ404
Class of service: Economy
Scheduled departure time: 09:00
Scheduled arrival time: 10:20[/SIZE]

Arriving at 7am after my A380 flight from Singapore, I headed for Jetstar’s check-in desks. My bag weighed in at 21.5kgs (allowance was 20kgs) and as the lady attached a ‘Heavy’ tag (never had one of them before!) she asked whether I would bring it below 21kgs by taking out a book for example. I had a book in there, so I put it into my hand baggage. Scales now read 20.6kgs and she was satisfied. If only my wife was so easily pleased! Security was quick and I positioned myself at the end of the Virgin Blue gates close to gate 40 in order to enjoy the fantastic view of airfield operations and catch up with this Trip Report.


The gate area looked particularly busy and once everybody had boarded, there were not too many spare seats remaining. There was allocated seating, unlike so many other low cost carriers, and I had reserved mine when I bought the ticket online. The seat itself seemed to had particularly limited legroom; my knees were only a couple of centimetres (when in Rome..) from the seat in front and I distinctly recall thinking ‘please do not recline your seat during the flight!’. Thankfully she did not. The flight lasted a little over an hour and from my seat on the right hand side of the aircraft I was provided some fantastic views of the northern New South Wales coastline. Food and drink were offered for sale onboard but I was not particularly hungry.


Soon enough we were descending towards OOL. Once on the ground we taxied to our ramp position. There are no jet bridges at OOL and all passengers descend down the steps, across the tarmac and into the terminal building. Personally, I quite enjoy that as it exposes your senses to the smell, sight and noise of the being up close with the aircraft.

Alamo Car Rental Gold Coast Airport

As the carousel had not yet started, I figured that I’d sort out my hire car first. I had arranged to collect the rather attractive Nissan X-Trail at 12:00 despite knowing that my flight was due to arrive at 10:20. As my car was not yet ready, this was politely pointed out to me. I waited for my luggage and then sat and checked a couple of things on my computer to waste a bit of time. 15 minutes the lady beckoned me back to the counter. The car was now ready for me. However, it took her over 20 minutes to sort out the paperwork for my rental as a queue began to grow behind me as only one employee was manning the desk.

She first quote a figure that was much more expensive than the price I had been confirmed. She struggled to get the rate to match my travel industry staff discounted rate. She tapped at the keyboard, apologised, tapped some more, huffed, puffed, apologised, called a colleague in the Virgin terminal and apologised again. She did this routine three times before giving up and finding a rate lower than the one that I had booked. By this time, she really didn’t care and just gave that rate to me. I was then sent over to the Virgin Terminal to collect my keys for my upgraded car.

Thing was that I had been upgraded from the lovely Nissan X-Trail that I had deliberately booked and was actually quite looking forward to driving about to a flipping dog ugly Ford Falcon STATIONWAGON!!!!!!!!! Having had quite enough with the wait to get this car in the first place, I got in, familiarised myself with the control layout and attempted to hide my face from public view as I began to drive this brick.

What I should have had:

My 'upgraded' car:

Radisson Resort Gold Coast

The hotel was quite nice but to be honest I didn’t really get to see much of it. Check-in was quick and efficient. I had feared that I’d be in for a long wait as I entered the building because there was one huge (I’d guess around 30 people) group of Chinese tourists in the lobby. However, there were just waiting around and I walked straight up to the desk. I was informed that I had been upgraded and pointed in the direction of my room. The rooms are in small three floor blocks and my room was on the first floor. I quick look determined that there were no lifts and I began to lug my baggage up the stairs. I was so glad that I was only on the first floor.


The room itself was spacious, had two queen beds as I had requested (as there was a chance that my uncle may come and stay with me on the last night) and a balcony with a couple of chairs and a table that gave a good view out over the golf course. The pool looked good but I think it was a little too cold to go swimming. All considered it was not bad at all for AU$99 per night!

[B[Gold Coast/Brisbane[/B]

As this area was the only one where I actually knew people, I didn’t do much of the tourist thing and spend time with them instead. I left the airport and headed straight for my uncle’s place. He was not expecting me and we spent a few hours catching up.

I had been in communication with BundyBear prior to my arrival and we had arranged to meet up. I met him at this place of work and we attended the EKKA Agriculture Show in Brisbane.

We then headed into the city for some good food. Thanks to some GPS aided poor navigation, we took a bit of a detour that gave us a fantastic view of Brisbane at night.


I suppose I had best admit up front that it was an ‘English Pub’ before he divulges my little dark secret. I just wanted something without rice after a week or two in Asia and this place just happened to be there.

JohnK arrived for a few drinks and we chatting away into the evening, discussing miles and points. It must be said at this point that BundyBear’s advice about wearing trousers and a jumper seemed sensible. Dressed in shorts and a short sleeved shirt, I could most certainly feel the winter evening chill. I got back to the hotel at around midnight but as I had doubled my average annual caffeine intake in one evening, I soon encountered problems. It had gone 05:30 before I actually feel asleep!