After waking up early to get to the airport on time, we checked in at the Brisbane international terminal. I hadn't been in the BNE international terminal before and I found it much nicer than the domestic terminal. Since QF26 is an international flight, (LAX-AKL-BNE-SYD) we got special 'domestic' stickers put on our boarding passes when we checked in. This was so that customs would know that we were only travelling on the domestic leg of the flight.
We made our way to the gate where OJI was waiting for us. The windows at the gate lounge were nice and big so we had a good view of the aircraft as well as the active runway behind it.
I found this photo of OJI, probably at the same gate, about to embark on the same flight (but taken a few weeks before I made the trip). Should give you a good idea of my view from the gate lounge.
Unfortunately, there wasn't too much interesting traffic to watch, the best being a JAL 744 taking off.
When called, we boarded the aircraft and found our seats. I find the Qantas 744 economy interiors very nice:
We waited for quite a while before pushing back. Eventually we got rolling though. I snapped this photo during pushback. In it you can see an Air Niugini 767, Eva Air A332, and two other QF 744s. We taxiied a short way to the threshold of runway 1 and waited for a QF 737 to depart ahead of us.
Then we turned onto the runway as the four RR engines spooled up. Since we obviously didn't have full fuel, acceleration was quick and the takeoff roll was relatively short. We soared off the runway at 1025, and I got this shot a few seconds after takeoff:
We made a big right turn and headed south towards Sydney. As we climbed to our cruising altitude, breakfast was served. The meal included muesli, (with milk to go on it) a small pastry, and a banana. The aircraft was equipped with PTVs and Qantas' 'Q' IFE, but the usual choice of video/audio channels, games, etc. wasn't available on this short flight. Instead, an information video about Sydney was shown.
We began our descent into Sydney, and this time continued past FL280. As we were tracking south along the coast, the city would have been visible out the right side of the plane but I was seated on the left. Instead, I had a view of the sea and some fluffy clouds. At one point another aircraft passed way below us, heading out over the Pacific.
When we were south of the city and harbour, we made a series of right turns to line up for finals. We touched down very softly on runway 34L at 1135 and taxiied in to the international terminal.
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Overall, it was a pretty routine flight, especially compared to the night before. The thing that made it a bit of a treat was the aircraft. Much better than the usual 767 or 737!
But most importantly, we actually made it to SYD this time.
ZKSUJ From New Zealand, joined May 2004, 6934 posts, RR: 10 Reply 1, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 3 days ago) and read 6668 times:
Wow, nice to have a 744 on such a route. I remember having a QF 743 from PER to ADL, I don't know if it is common but it is another case of a big plane on a short flight.
Good report
QF747 From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 164 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 6431 times:
Nice to see you enjoyed aircraft. The only time I've been on a QF744 on the MEL-SYD flight. At the time it seemed as we were climbing all the way and no sooner had we leveled off we had to begin our descent into SYD.
Thadocta From Australia, joined Aug 2001, 396 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (8 years 8 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 6073 times:
"It's always more exciting to check-in, depart from and arrive at an International airport."
The Qantas Club's at the INT terminals have self-service bars available throughout the lounge opening hours, whereas the DOM lounges do not open their bars until 1300. Yet ANOTHER reason to use INT flights.
(Information meant purely for those of us who finish work at OMG o'clock, when the rest of you are just starting to stir, and we find ourselves wanting a beer when you all want a coffee!)
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