Time for JASA:
MANY pics taken of the travelling beanie, some may be posted later
Saturday/ Sunday
Summary:
BNE-ADL QF661 2F on VH-VXQ CSM Rod
ADL-PER QF587 2F on VH-VXQ CSM Rod, Captain Mike McCubben
PER-KTA QF915 2F on VH-VXQ Captain Mike McCubben, CSM Vera
KTA-PER QF916 2F on VH-VXQ Captain Mike McCubben, CSM Vera
PER-MEL QF648 2A on VH-VZO Captain Matt Penrose, CSM Travis
MEL-BNE QF604 1F on VH-VXT Capt Pete Spalding.
Yup, 5 of 6 sectors on old 737, only VH-VZO (Prostate cancer) on refurbed a/c
Yup, 4/6 sectors on VH-VXQ
Yup, same flight crew on three sectors.
"international" catering on ADL-PER and PER-MEL flights.
Started the entire trip with two other AFFers, and another joined the gang with BNE-PER direct.
BEST PARTS:
1) sharing it with like-minded loonies, er, travel enthusiasts who wouldn’t bat an eyelid at the lunacy of 25 mins on the ground in KTA: thanks for the company and the laughs. You know who you all are
2) sharing the excitement of one of the travelling group who reached Gold for first time ever as flights credited en route, and getting BPs reprinted with Gold Status
3) Seeing the beauty of desolate West Australia
4) Getting all flights credited by the time I arrived home (awaiting DSC posting)
5) The bemusement of cabin crew and lounge crew
6) Actually managing to get some productive work done on the BNE-ADL and ADL-PER sectors
7) The service on all sectors was very consistent
Worst parts:
1) my inability to refuse food…gluttony!!!!
2) The long (4+ hour) wait in PER (note to self, see of you can break the journey if there’s a “next time”).
3) Only getting refurb metal on 1 sector
4) That each time I drifted off to sleep, the captain makes announcement 30 mins out from each arrival and wakes everyone up!
5) That one of (but not all!) was pulled aside in KTA by police because of “suspicious travel activity” of immediate turnaround in KTA
6) The chicken schnitzel on the “ international dining” menu: don’t bother!
New experiences:
1) Taking advantage of DSC for first deliberate SC run.
2) Meeting fellow AFFers on the road
3) The “international” food service on ADL-PER