Flight: QF566
Carrier: Qantas
Aircraft: Boeing 767-336
Registration: VH-OGP
Delivered: May 1996
Scheduled Departure time: 15.15
Duration:4h 15m
Scheduled Arrival time: 10:30
Routing: Perth T2 (Domestic) (PER) - Sydney Domestic (SYD) T3
Class: Domestic Economy
Seat: 23A (seat plan)


VH-OGP ready for boarding

Boarding had already started, but it seemed as though there was no priority boarding in place at all, so long queues had formed. This was a little annoying and would have been more so if I was travelling in Business Class.

Despite the queues, I was onboard at 3pm and had already put my stuff away in the overhead locker before my seat mate joined me.

The legroom for 23A on this aircraft was not quite as good as on the previous flight, mainly due to the fact that the bulk head goes right down to the carpet, unlike before we you could tuck your feet under the Business Class seat in front. Still, it remains one of the best seats in economy and it would do fine for this 4 hour flight.


Legroom

The plane seemed pretty full, with people endlessly making their way ‘down the back’ as I got settled in for the flight ahead.

The Captain came over the PA just before our scheduled departure time of 3.15 and announced a short flight time of only 3 hours and 45 minutes, which is quite a difference from the outbound flight, I suppose due to favourable winds in this direction.

The doors were closed on time and the CSM introduced himself and the crew. One of the crew members walked down the aisle on the A side offering newspapers, perhaps these were left over from Business Class?

Next was the safety video and this was the first time that I got to see the famous ‘John Travolta’ presentation. For me, it was cringey, I didn’t like the use of the word ‘team’ to describe the crew. Afterall, this wasn’t Virgin that we were flying on, I would have thought that Qantas would like to project a more professional image.

We took off at about 3.30 and soon after the seat belt sign was switched off. The CSM announced the meal choices, chicken stir fry or vegetable tortellini which were exactly the same as the outbound flight. He also announced that wine and beer were complimentary on this flight, again, same as before.

Lunch/Dinner was served pretty quickly, only 20 minutes after take off and whilst the chicken sounded the same, it was not. It was a bit sloppy and definitely not as good as before. Gone was the chocolate Father Christmas too .


Meal time

Still, the food was fine and I finished most of it. I didn’t bother with the free wine. Too much white wine gives me a headache.

Despite serving the food really quickly, it took an age to collect the trays, although the crew did come around offering tea and coffee before hand. 50 minutes after serving, my tray was collected and I was able to position my iPad more comfortably.

The man next to me started to be rather annoying at this point. He was reading a newspaper and kept encroaching on my space with the paper and his arms. I tucked myself in towards the window but there wasn’t much room to keep away from him.

A quick glance out the window revealed that we were passing over some beautiful coast line as we made a relatively straight path to Sydney.


Coast somewhere between Perth and Adelaide

At this point, the crew came around with the obligatory ice cream, this time a mango and vanilla ‘Duo’ bar which is very similar to what I had on my Sydney to London trip on the A380. It was ok, I much prefer the Mars Ice Creams that I’ve had before ex. London.


Ice Cream

I took a quick trip to the loo, now that meal service had finished and happened to notice the abundance of iPads on this flight. It seems like people have wised up and are bringing their own IFE.

At 6.45pm Perth time the First Officer announced that we would be starting our descent in 10 minutes and gave us an update on our expected landing time, 10.25pm Sydney time on stand.

We started our descent at 7pm Perth time and had a very smooth landing into Sydney, 20 minutes later. The airport seemed deserted! We were on stand only 3 minutes later, however, strangely, despite no other aircraft landing at this time, there was a short delay in attaching the air bridge.

I was off the aircraft shortly after and quickly made my way out and down to the baggage belt. The airport was closed, indicating that we were in fact the last arriving flight of the day.

I checked my phone to discover that a train would be leaving in about 15 minutes time. The entrance to the station is close to the baggage belt and I knew that if my bag came out quickly, then I should make it. Just as I thought that I’d never make it, my bag appeared and a quick sprint later and I was on the train, heading home to Milsons Point.

I was actually home by 11.10pm which is only 50 minutes after landing, not bad at all!

Verdict

I pretty good flight overall, nothing particularly memorable however, the crew were reasonably friendly, the food wasn’t as good as the outbound and my position in the cabin was not as good (no mini cabin). However, there is nothing that I can really fault Qantas on, a standard flight.

The lounge at Perth was fantastic (apart from the telling off from the staff). It was bright and airy with modern fittings and furnishings, all of a high standard and to a contemporary design. I hope that this model will be adopted across the Qantas domestic network.

In the months after this flight, Qantas announced some aircraft changes that would mean that a 747 would return to the route again. This internationally configured aircraft will provide a two class service, with angled lie flat sleeper seats in Business (Sky Bed Mk1) and in seat IFE for all passengers in economy. This is to compete with Virgin Australia (previously Blue) who will deploy their new A330 aircraft on the route. Given the choice, the chance to fly domestically on a 747 is too good to pass up and should I visit Mum again, I’ll be choosing a flight where this aircraft is scheduled.

What Else?

Well, it’s been several months since I made my journey from the UK to Sydney, and also quite a few months have passed since I took this flight. It was immediately followed by New Year’s Eve and the spectacle that is the Sydney Fireworks and then immediately after that, I flew home to the UK for a brief visit (which you can read about here).

In the following months a number of events have occurred that I’d like to share. Firstly, I took advantage of the amazing views that Sydney offers of arriving and departing aircraft. You can literally get within a wings tip of the aircraft as they taxi to the runway. I was lucky enough to visit at a time when the European flights were heading off, including a Qantas A380 and BA 747, truly amazing.


QF A380 – Bound for Singapore then London


BA 747 – Bound for Bangkok then London

Also, back in at the end of February a unique event occurred in Sydney Harbour. Two great ships, the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth made history by meeting for the first time in the harbour. I got up at about 5am and headed down to the water to see the display that these giants put on for those that had ventured out at this rather early hour. As they passed each other, their horns rang out in salute. It was truly magical and I admit to being a little emotional at the sight of these two amazing British cruise liners coming to visit Sydney together.


The QM2 – Turning to face the Queen Elizabeth

Upcoming Trips

In about four weeks time I embark on the big one, my first ever First and probably what will be one of my longest trip reports. I am flying to the UK for a week for a friend’s wedding, trying to cram in a holiday along the way too. Here is my planned itinerary:

- SYD to BKK – British Airways, First Class, 747 (my first ever flight in First Class on any airline), including a visit to the Qantas First Class Lounge in Sydney
- One night in the Grand Hyatt, Bangkok
- BKK to LHR – British Airways, First Class, 747
- A morning in the Concorde Room in LHR Terminal 5
- LHR to CDG – British Airways, taking my sister to Paris for the day
- CDG to LHR – Return Flight
- Several days in the UK including Sussex and London
- London Gatwick to Cork, Ireland on Aer Lingus – Heading to my friend’s wedding in Killarney
- 3 nights in Killarney, at the Europe Hotel and Resort
- Cork to LHR – Aer Lingus
- Kent
- LHR to BKK – British Airways First Class 747
- Three nights at the Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa
- BKK to SYD – British Airways, Club World, 747 Upper Deck

And then….. back to work .

Fingers crossed that everything works out ^.