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Hi all. This is my first trip report, and I hope to be contributing more as I have a few upcoming flights in December and January. I recently took a two week vacation to Darwin, Alice Springs, the Barossa Valley and then back to Melbourne via the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road, and this trip report covers the first (and only flying) leg of the trip. Decided to fly the late night JQ flight as it was more than half the price ($142 all in, no checked baggage) of the day time flight and either of the DJ or QF alternatives. Thought this to be extremely good value, and I do not mind flying budget if it provides significant cost savings.
Having an extremely busy day, I was running way behind schedule by the time I reached Southern Cross Station to catch the Skybus to the airport. Cost of the bus is $16 one way or $26 return, which is good value if you are traveling by yourself or with only one other person as one way taxi fare to the airport is around $45 from the city. I got onto the bus at the terminal at 8.43pm, but the driver told me to head to the ticket office 10 metres away to purchase the ticket. After doing so at 8.44pm, the driver of the 8.45pm bus just drove off as I was 5 metres from the bus! This caused me to barely make it to the airport on time to check in, arriving at 9.25pm when gates closed at 9.35pm.
Skybus station at Southern Cross Station. Don't be late!
I was pretty disappointed to be issued a receipt like boarding pass at the check in counter, and was told by the staff that I could only get a normal sort of boarding pass from the self-check in koisk. I had refrained from doing online check in because I wanted a normal boarding pass, but this is not a big issue.
After passing security, I had a few minutes to take a picture of the aircraft I was going to be flying to Darwin on, VH-VQI. The glass was thick and dirty, and the surrounding very dark, not good for photography at all.
VH-VQI tonight as JQ678
The flight was supposed to take off at 2205 hrs, but boarding only commenced around 2200 hrs if I remember correctly. Pretty crowded waiting area, Gate 10 in the Qantas domestic terminal.
I have never really understood why people love carrying their own pillows on board. It must be quite inconvenient carrying them on and off the plane and transporting them around, especially if you are on holiday.
Having an extremely busy day, I was running way behind schedule by the time I reached Southern Cross Station to catch the Skybus to the airport. Cost of the bus is $16 one way or $26 return, which is good value if you are traveling by yourself or with only one other person as one way taxi fare to the airport is around $45 from the city. I got onto the bus at the terminal at 8.43pm, but the driver told me to head to the ticket office 10 metres away to purchase the ticket. After doing so at 8.44pm, the driver of the 8.45pm bus just drove off as I was 5 metres from the bus! This caused me to barely make it to the airport on time to check in, arriving at 9.25pm when gates closed at 9.35pm.
Skybus station at Southern Cross Station. Don't be late!
I was pretty disappointed to be issued a receipt like boarding pass at the check in counter, and was told by the staff that I could only get a normal sort of boarding pass from the self-check in koisk. I had refrained from doing online check in because I wanted a normal boarding pass, but this is not a big issue.
After passing security, I had a few minutes to take a picture of the aircraft I was going to be flying to Darwin on, VH-VQI. The glass was thick and dirty, and the surrounding very dark, not good for photography at all.
VH-VQI tonight as JQ678
The flight was supposed to take off at 2205 hrs, but boarding only commenced around 2200 hrs if I remember correctly. Pretty crowded waiting area, Gate 10 in the Qantas domestic terminal.
I have never really understood why people love carrying their own pillows on board. It must be quite inconvenient carrying them on and off the plane and transporting them around, especially if you are on holiday.
. However, I had my iPod handy and was able to drown out most of the crying except for the occasional wailing outburst.
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