It's only once I got to the domestic airport terminal batroom that I realized I really enjoyed the sun on the Bondi beach boardwalk that day, depsite the sun screen I applied !
Anyway, after collecting my bags back at the Holiday Inn at Potts Point and a 45 minute train ride to the airport, I arrived in a quite empty qantas domestic terminal to check myself in for my Melbourne flight, continuing to Hobart, the capital of Tasmania.


Right after the train exit, turn right :-)


Qantas domestic terminal SYD. The meaning of Qantas comes back at most of the Trivia Nights in my local pub, this is a good way to remember :-)




The terminal was not very crowded...


But I still wanted to use the priority check-in :-)

As you can gauge from the picutres, the check-in process was very swift, such as the security clearance, I even chatted a bit with one of the security officers who was commenting on all the electronic toys I had in my backpack.


Airside SYD domestic terminal


In case one did not understand, this is the Qantas terminal...

The Qantas domestic terminal in Sydney has a small museum about the airline history upstairs, which has free entrance, although the operating hours are somehow limited (and I was not able to visit it the year before). On top of some nice exhibits about the history of the airline and its developement since 1919, you can also enjoy nice outside view on the airport operations from there. Given it was a regular business day, the museum was open and I could enjoy it for a good 30 min or so. Note that the museum is located airside, so you will need to clear security, although it is my understanding a non-(QF) passenger can enter airside in domestic terminals across Australia (after clearing security of course), so in theory anybody can visit this place.


QF heritage museum in SYD domestic terminal entrance, top floor




Qantas memorablia




Flight attendants uniforms collection


Different travel classes at different times...






There are also nice outside views on the airport operations from this museum

After sometime in the musuem, I headed to the domestic Qantas business lounge for a very late lunch...
As in most major Australian airports, Qantas has two lounges : The so called Business lounge, where only Business class ticket holders or OneWorld Emerald card members can access (independent of the travel class), and the Qantas club, where OneWorld Sapphire card holders and Qantas Club paid members can access (also independent of the travel class). Since I am a BA Gold card member I could go to the nicer business class lounge.
While the food selection was relatively basic, I liked this place and found it comfortable. A better reviez of the lounge is available on my previous trip report


This time, turn left...


QF domestic business class lounge SYD












Follow the stock exchange live while following up on your flight status...




Sandwich fillings buffet


Before...


Make your own toasted sandwich !


... After ! (I know... Pure magic !)


Wine selection


That's going to be my lunch


View on the bar


Small sweet bites to finish...

Time eventually came when I left the lounge to board my flight to Melbourne.
Separate lines were provided for priority boarding and regular boarding. I was surprised that the (friendly) gate agent welcomed me onboard using my last name adding at the same time that since the flight was quite full, it would help if I could place my backpack under the seat. I indeed agreed with her suggestion..


Quite organized for a full flight...



VH-VYD Boeing 737-800 at the gate

Qantas QF447 – January 9th 2019
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - 16:00
MEL Melbourne Tullamarine – 17:35
Boeing 737-800 – VH-VYD – Seat 06C, Economy, aisle

The first row was full, but I still managed to score at online check-in an aisle seat at the front of the aircraft, at the thrid economy row. The seat was fairly comfortable, but certainly, the legroom was a bit limited given my height. A iPad/tablet holder was available at the front of the seat.




Row 6


Legroom was a bit tight, especially with the backpack under the front seat


Tablet holder included !

Despite the flight being almost full, seat 6B remained unoccupied for this flight, so I moved my big backpack below 5B and the seated position became a bit more comfortable...



That's better !

The short flight was otherwise pretty uneventful, beverages were served shortly after take off and a small but nice cheese snack box was also distributed free of charge. I visited the bathrooms in the back and although there were pretty small, those were clean with nice, thick paper towels provided (worth mentioning, this was economy class !)



Snack box QF Economy class SYD-MEL

We landed ontime in MEL and were parked at one of the terminal gates, after disembarking, one of the nicely painted QF dreamliners popped up, waiting right next to a SriLankan Airbus 330-300...


QF dreamliner vs UL Airbus 330-300


Next stop : Hobart (well, after the lounge !)

As you can expect from me by now, the next stop was indeed the new Qantas Melbourne Business class lounge... And since it was past 5 O'clock...


No flip-flops allowed !



Entrance to the new QF Business lounge MEL

This lounge was recently renovated and I have to say, Qantas did a pretty nice job doing so, it reminded me a bit the new AA lounges with similar high-end furnitures. It features a staffed cocktail and coffee bar, and a nice kitchen area with cooked-to-order food and self-serving buffet. Melbourne being one of the foodie capitals of Australia, they had to do something better than a sandwich bar !




Coffee and cocktail bar


Kitchen/buffet area


Nice corner views






Adult beverage list


Buffet


Buffet menu










Cooked-to-order food available


Drink with a view !


Spot the retro Qantas 737-800


Although I was not that hungry, I had to try the noodles...




I eventually had to leave the lounge at some point !

I think QF did a very nice renovation job with this lounge. The food, for what I've tried, was tasty and the place very comfortable, considering this was a domestic lounge.


On the way to gate 10


Gate 10 to Hobart

The flight boarded slightly later than scheduled, but given it was half empty, the boarding process was quite smooth and we managed to recover from the small delay at start-up.
I was once again greeted by name by the gate agent and I later discovered that the aircraft operating that flight to Hobart was the same as th eone I took from Sydney VH-VYD

Qantas QF1017 – January 9th 2019
MEL Melbourne Tullamarine – 19:40
HBA Hobart - 20:55
Boeing 737-800 – VH-VYD – Seat 04D, Economy, first row, aisle


Seat 04D, with the business class seat 03D upfront




Sneak peek at the cockpit

The flight was as mentioned before half empty and I was lucky to have the entire block of 3 seats just for me. The business class was occupied only by a few passengers.
This last flight to Hobart, operated by Perth-based crew was pretty short, and the nice cabin crew provided us with a small selection of mini-pies as a snack, together with a more conventional beverage selection.


A collection of warm mini-pies as snack for this short flight. Interesting...

After a small nap, we approached Hobart and landed slightly ahead of schedule, right during sunset.
The colors outside were pretty nice, and given that HBA airport has no jetties, the short walk to the terminal was a pleasure for my #avgeek eyes... (I got reminded by a handling agent that pictures were not allowed on the apron though - glad I snapped a few before )


A few minutes after sunset


Hobart airport apron


Obviously happy to be there !


Welcome in Tasmania !


VH-VYD Boeing 737-800 in Hobart


HBA airport departures (This is the biggest airport in Tasmania)


This gate, in the public area (so before security), is most likely used for scenic flights I suppose...


Luggage got delayed due to "tarmac congestion..." :-)

Luggage too quite some time to arrive and I was in 20 minutes to downtown Hobart thanks to the skybus connection. Other passengers on this bus included a couple of Swiss Germans who did not really know where to go and some Aussies visiting Tasmania for the first time. The ride took no time thanks to the great discussions with those riders !

I enjoy(ed) flying Qantas. The airport, lounges and onboard experiences were good and thanks to the great use of Avios reward flight savers, this journey from Sydney costed me 9000 Avios and 21 Euros of taxes. An absolute bargain considering the trip, including lounge access and checked-in luggage ! (Note that this flight was booked before the BA "enhancements" of last year related to reward flight savers on partner airlines. This flight would now cost 12000 Avios, which is still a sweet deal in my opinion).