Preamble

This trip to ADL in October 2003 were to kill two things at once - attend a Conference for 2 days (Fri, Sat) and see one company client who has offices in all Australian major capital cities. I have the joy of having to visit their offices either every half-year (CBR, ADL and PER) or quarterly (SYD, MEL). So the chance to put them both together in one trip was too tempting...plus Mrs QF WP was joining me on Thurdsay PM so we could have the weekend in ADL.

Check-in

Mrs QF WP and our dog Bella dropped me off at the terminal at 5.45pm after work. Went inside to the Business Class queue and it was the longest I've seen it in a while: 10 or 12 pax long (but understandable given the hour). After a 10 minute wait, gave my Drivers Licence and QF Plat card to the CSA, she confirmed one bag to hopefully make it to ADL and she printed the boarding pass.

The BNE Domestic Terminal has changed. Gone are the days of going through security in the middle of the ground floor, a new security area has been built on the LHS of check-in (near the downstairs Gates 1 to 3), with 3 lines operating at peak times and purpose-built signage and tables for pax to pull their laptops out. This was a welcome sight to the BNE terminal, as pax numbers have been growing steadily as southerners realise what a great lifestyle and weather we have almost year-round. After security x-ray and wanding (together with the new bomb detection officer looking for likely suspects), two banks of escalators (depending on your Gate) take you through to the shopping/eating precinct and near to the Qantas Club (also known as the Qantas Pub by Australian FT'ers over at the Qantas Forum).

Arrived up in the QP and it was similarly busy with all the departing flights. Whilst it had been darkening weather-wise all afternoon, by now the impending storm approaching BNE had started to delay flights - I hadn't been given any warning of this downstairs at check-in that mine was delated to 6.35pm. I counted another 6 flights delayed so knew it was going to be a bumpy flight and chaotic in the QP around the Gates tonight.

Scrounged a minestrone soup from the servery, but it turned out to be chicken and corn (wrong sign must have been out). Normal fare for tonight - bread rolls, fruit, processed chicken slices, cheese, pitted black olives, feta and potato wedges were out for consumption. Along with my favourite QP beer - Hahn Premium.

After finishing my pre-dinner snack, my flight was called at Gate 18 - one of the gates out on the pod directly opposite the QP.

Airline & Flight Number: QF665 BNE/ADL
Mileage: 1,008 miles
Rego: VH-TAX (B737-300 in all Y config)
Sequence: 100
Seats: 5D
SDT: 6.25pm
Pushback: 6.40pm, ADT: 6.50pm

Cabin crew were now wearing the new QF uniform, bland and boring colour-wise however with new name tags. Capt was advised to be Rod Finden, F/O Matt. CSS was Paul May and Stephen (in J) whilst Kelly and Mitchell were serving my aisle. As this wasn't a CitiFlyer flight (between the major capitals), alcoholic drinks had to be purchase. I declined as I had my fill of HP's already.

Capt announced that we would be tracking via Mildura with flight time of 2hr 20 mins, cruising at FL280. Very precise announcement.

Turbulence at 7.10pm delayed the meal service until 7.25pm. Meal time came with my special meal (Low Fat) turning up - chicken breast and salad (lettuce, carrot, tomato, cucumber, corn kernels) with Kraft Italian Cholesterol Free/Oil Free dressing. Alongside on the tray was the standard bread roll, OJ and a mandarin. Trays were collected at 8.05pm. I then freed myself from my seat and wandered up to the galley after the crew had finished cleaning up and chatted to them for 20 mins, until more turbulence mnade me return to my seat to be buckled-up again.

Touch-down at ADL was 8.45pm (local time) - had no idea of the runway. ADL airport never changes - when will then upgrade their facilities to include gates - surely it is the laughing stock of the mainland capital cities, still having to de-plane on the tarmac and the walk over to the terminal.

Thankfully, my bag was first out as I was walking to the Belt, so I hoisted it without breaking stride and made my way first to the taxi rank for the trip to the Hilton.