I was more determined to get on the final 767 flight operating from Melbourne to Sydney on December 27 2014. But that proved impractical in that I had to get to Melbourne from Adelaide and then back to Adelaide from Sydney. A day trip was impossible and staying overnight just added to the cost. The next best option was QF686 that was scheduled to be operated by a 767 and fly back to Adelaide on the same day a couple of hours later. Fares booked for AU$95 each way. However about 10 days before departure date it happened again... Deja vu...

Qantas took the 767 off the route and it's now a standard 737-800. Bugger!!!. There goes my chance for a last ride on the 767. Remember Qantas pulled that stunt earlier this year?. The Unwanted 737-800 Qantas ADL-MEL-ADL (by Ryan h Nov 5 2014 in Trip Reports) http://www.jetspotter.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=14276
Thought about going through the hassle getting a refund, but going on the flight would a lot easier than pleading my case for a refund. Another member from the West Beach Aviation Group Ian, here in Adelaide had booked on the flight as well, once he heard the news, he was wondering how to get a refund, but haven't heard whether he went through the process.

Wednesday 17 December 2014
Adelaide (ADL) - Melbourne (MEL)
QF686 737-838
VH-XZP
21A

Despite the 767 not operating the flight, I will at least fly on the new 737 in the retro colors, so that sort of makes up for it.

Got a friend to drop me at the airport about 12 PM.

ADLTerminal by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

ADLTerminal-2 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

ADLTerminal-3 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

ADLTerminal-4 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

ADLTerminal-5 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Plenty of time for some spotting. Security was no issue. No queue and didn't make anything beep. Since I had checked in the night before, there was no need to do it at the airport.

Grabbed lunch and waiting for the retro to come. Met Ian in the terminal. Like me he had thought it was easier to go on the flight rather than messing about getting a refund.

JetstarA320-232-VH-JQG by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

JetstarA320-232-VH-VGN by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

JetstarA320-232-VH-VGN-2 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

JetstarA320-232-VH-VGN-3 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

JetstarA320-232-VH-VQQ by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-VXE by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-VXE-2 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-VZM by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantaslink717-2BL-VH-YQW by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantaslink717-2BL-VH-YQW-2 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

RFDSPC12-VH-FDE by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Once VH-XZP landed, went to gate 20 for boarding.

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-2 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-3 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-4 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-5 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-6 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-7 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-8 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-9 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Was one of the first on with the parents with kids etc. I'm a bit slower than everyone else and a bit unsteady when jammed into a crowd. One of the first on.

The interior is still fresh and new looking.

Also flying on it now means the seats still have their padding and are still comfortable before the padding gets squished and everyone else farts on it.

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-10 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-11 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Legroom.
Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-12 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-13 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-14 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-15 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Eventually everyone else boarded. Load would be 95%. thankfully the seat next to me remained empty but aisle seat was occupied. Occupant wasn't talkative and looked like he had been up all night or has a hangover.

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-16 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-17 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-18 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

We got going fairly quickly and take off was from runway 23. A smooth take off and climb. A little light turbulence not far from Adelaide but smooth apart from that.

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-19 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-20 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-21 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-22 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-23 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-24 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-25 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-26 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-27 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-28 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-29 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-30 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-31 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-32 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-33 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-34 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-35 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-36 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-36a by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Cheese and crackers were offered with tea, coffee and soft drinks offered.

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-37 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-38 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-39 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-40 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-41 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-42 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-43 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-44 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-45 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-46 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

A bit bumpy on approach to Melbourne, landed on runway 16.

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-47 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-48 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-49 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-50 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-51 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-52 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-53 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-54 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-55 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-56 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-57 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-58 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-59 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-60 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-61 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-62 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-63 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-64 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-65 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-66 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-67 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-68 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-69 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-70 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-71 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-72 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-73 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-74 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-75 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Once we arrived at the gate, most people got up and were standing there for a good 10 minutes before the door was opened. Why try to be the first off?.

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-76 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-77 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Waited for the crowd to get off had a chat to the captain, I think he was a bit disappointed it wasn't a 767 too.
Had my photo taken sat in the captain's seat.

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-78 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-79 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-80 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-81 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-82 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Qantas737-838-VH-XZP-83 by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

Spent the time in the terminal until it is time to get on the return flight.
Saw one 767 parked at the gate and another arrive, plus many 737s.

Qantas767-338-VH-OGM by ryanhothersall, on Flickr

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