QF615
BNE-MEL
VH-VXE
Seat 2C
737-800

After the delayed boarding, the CSM (Susan) was busy apologising to every passenger as they boarded. The captain explained the reason for the delay was that the aircraft had been hit by lightning the previous day and had to undergo extensive systems tests before it could be returned to service. The tests were apparently completed successfully. The captain also mentioned they had taken on some extra fuel and would be fling faster than usual to try to make up some of the lost time.

The snack on this flight was a choice of fruit salad or a ricotta bake with ham and gourmet sausage (whatever that means??). This was offered with the usual bakery items and beverages.

There were 9 passengers in J (out of 12 seats). Next to me was a Qantas flight attendant on her way to Melbourne to start her day’s work. Her first duty flight for the day was to be MEL-BNE. The economy cabin was probably around 65% full.

We landed around 1pm, a little under an hour late.

After arriving into MEL I wandered over to the International terminal to try to get my boarding pass for the MEL-LHR flight later in the evening. I wandered past all the QF check-in desks looking for the First Class check-in desk, but could not find it. Then I spotted the new F check-in facility near the main entrance to the terminal. There were two counters, with one agent processing check-ins and a porter on hand.

I asked about the possibility of a window seat, knowing the 2F is probably my least preferred F seat (not there are no bad F seats ). I was offered 1A or 4K for the HKG-LHR leg, but 2F was the only options available to me for MEL-LHR as the F cabin was completely full. I took the option of two different seats for the two sectors. I like 4K as it has a very wide storage area between the seat and the window where the bassinet is located. This comes in very handy for storing things like pillow, sleeper suit, laptop, reading material etc. It is also easy to catch the FA’s attention when I need a top-up.

Then it was back down to the domestic arrivals level for a taxi into Melbourne for an afternoon in the office. At Beer O’clock it was off to the pub next to the office for a few quiet ales with my Mexican colleagues, and a little after 7pm I headed back to the airport to sample the new FLounge.

On arrival back at MEL, I again stopped by the F check-in room and asked if anything had changed in the way of window seat availability. Again it was clear the cabin was full (as was the whole flight), but they did manage to swap me with 3K, for which I expressed my gratitude.

Immigration was a breeze at that time of night, with no waiting at all. X-Ray screening was also fast, but of course since I was the only person passing through, guess which person was “randomly” selected for explosives trace testing and pat-down. Oh well, at least it only took a few minutes. Then it was through the Duty-Free maze and up to the new FLounge.