QF MEL-PER-MEL in J
Nov 29, 2005 | 9:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2001
Programs: IHG Diamond, HH Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 4,345
QF MEL-PER-MEL in J
I booked this early this year, as part of my burning through QF points before they devalued them even more.
As is often the case, I went off to drop my car at a friend's place near the airport, which is a good excuse to catch up and chat for a while. QF now has new QuickCheck terminals in front, so we can use them when checking bags again. I was initially allocated 1A, but changed it to 3F, which had nobody allocated next to me.
QF653 MEL-PER 734 3F 17/11/05 2110-2220 (actual 2130-2210)
J (5 rows of it) was only half full, but Y was about 85%. The seat next to me was indeed free. The usual pre-departure drinks were followed after takeoff by hot towels, newspapers, packets of almonds and cashews, and drinks. I ordered dessert wine and it was the Cookoothama Botrytis Semillon. Quite yummy. My half glass didn't last long, but was refilled a while later.
Dinner included bread roll, salad, white macadamia royale chocolate. The main dish I chose, beef in "asian sauce" with bok choy and rice, was much better than its description sounded. More dessert wine accompanied it.
As the movie was to be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I'd not put any books in my hand luggage. Bad move. Something was wrong with the tape (2 days after they started showing it!), so they showed some crap about a boxer. I used my laptop most of the time instead.
Dessert was vanilla bean and elderflower ice cream. This was accompanied by (more) dessert wine. The FA was learning, and eventually just dumped the rest of the bottle into my glass.
After a nice fast landing with the terminal ahead of us and to the right, my bag was the first out on the carousel and I was outside really quickly. My taxi, in the form of a friend, Peter, had only just got there, and we went out and paid for parking, though we probably shouldn't have had to. The machine said my Amex had expired, even though it's not. (It does, however, expire this month.) I tried it again just for the hell of it. I used another card, adding the better part of a minute to the process. Up to 5 mins is supposed to be free, but Perth airport appears to add an extra bodgy minute, stating 25-19=7!
Had a great time in Perth, as always. When it was time to return, Peter whisked me to the airport during his lunch hour. We were nice and early, which, of course, meant the plane was quite late.
Suddenly, I seemed to be enveloped by a silliness field! Checkin involved the usual silliness of requiring photo ID. The checkin agent warned of future silliness: They are apparently having their QuickCheck machines installed during (rather than before or after) the Xmas rush. More silliness at "security", as I was taken aside for random bomb screening.
He then performed the most cursory "search" possible and let me go on my way.
QF PER-MEL 763 4K 28/11 1355-2020 (actual 1432-2059)
This time, J was full, with Y fairly full too. Service was pretty similar, but with no hot towels. Nuts and dessert wine were the same. I was quite happy with the chicken in cream sauce with broccolini and mashed sweet potato. The cookie cream commotion ice cream was great. Again, the dessert wine was poured in small portions, but I got them up to speed on refills eventually and, again, ended up with the last of it being poured into my glass.
The movie, while not stunning, was at least the correct one this time. Must Love Dogs. Nothing to race out and see, but not too bad. Ended up chatting a little to my seatmate, a PBL (Crown Casino/Burswood Casino) bloke.
We caught up no time after our late departure and my bag apparently hadn't been corrently tagged (or the J tag had come off), so it took 30+ mins after landing before my bag appeared. Then it was off to chat to friends, collect car, and off home.
As is often the case, I went off to drop my car at a friend's place near the airport, which is a good excuse to catch up and chat for a while. QF now has new QuickCheck terminals in front, so we can use them when checking bags again. I was initially allocated 1A, but changed it to 3F, which had nobody allocated next to me.
QF653 MEL-PER 734 3F 17/11/05 2110-2220 (actual 2130-2210)
J (5 rows of it) was only half full, but Y was about 85%. The seat next to me was indeed free. The usual pre-departure drinks were followed after takeoff by hot towels, newspapers, packets of almonds and cashews, and drinks. I ordered dessert wine and it was the Cookoothama Botrytis Semillon. Quite yummy. My half glass didn't last long, but was refilled a while later.
Dinner included bread roll, salad, white macadamia royale chocolate. The main dish I chose, beef in "asian sauce" with bok choy and rice, was much better than its description sounded. More dessert wine accompanied it.
As the movie was to be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I'd not put any books in my hand luggage. Bad move. Something was wrong with the tape (2 days after they started showing it!), so they showed some crap about a boxer. I used my laptop most of the time instead.
Dessert was vanilla bean and elderflower ice cream. This was accompanied by (more) dessert wine. The FA was learning, and eventually just dumped the rest of the bottle into my glass.
After a nice fast landing with the terminal ahead of us and to the right, my bag was the first out on the carousel and I was outside really quickly. My taxi, in the form of a friend, Peter, had only just got there, and we went out and paid for parking, though we probably shouldn't have had to. The machine said my Amex had expired, even though it's not. (It does, however, expire this month.) I tried it again just for the hell of it. I used another card, adding the better part of a minute to the process. Up to 5 mins is supposed to be free, but Perth airport appears to add an extra bodgy minute, stating 25-19=7!
Code:
ENTRY : 17/11/05 22:19 EXIT : 17/11/05 22:25 PARKING TIME : 00:07 FEE PAID : $ 3.70
Suddenly, I seemed to be enveloped by a silliness field! Checkin involved the usual silliness of requiring photo ID. The checkin agent warned of future silliness: They are apparently having their QuickCheck machines installed during (rather than before or after) the Xmas rush. More silliness at "security", as I was taken aside for random bomb screening.
We usually use this machine *pause* *embarrassed look* ... but it's broken. May I look inside your bags?
QF PER-MEL 763 4K 28/11 1355-2020 (actual 1432-2059)
This time, J was full, with Y fairly full too. Service was pretty similar, but with no hot towels. Nuts and dessert wine were the same. I was quite happy with the chicken in cream sauce with broccolini and mashed sweet potato. The cookie cream commotion ice cream was great. Again, the dessert wine was poured in small portions, but I got them up to speed on refills eventually and, again, ended up with the last of it being poured into my glass.
The movie, while not stunning, was at least the correct one this time. Must Love Dogs. Nothing to race out and see, but not too bad. Ended up chatting a little to my seatmate, a PBL (Crown Casino/Burswood Casino) bloke.
We caught up no time after our late departure and my bag apparently hadn't been corrently tagged (or the J tag had come off), so it took 30+ mins after landing before my bag appeared. Then it was off to chat to friends, collect car, and off home.
