- Joined
- Jul 17, 2004
- Posts
- 3,979
Feb 18 2022
BNE-CBR QF1793 717-200 VH-NXN
I had wanted to plan a quick trip somewhere, pretty much anywhere, i wanted to burn some flight credits and go for a run in another part of Australia.
Currently my 2 main hobbies are running and flying, and there is a little running event called parkrun which is held in over 20 countries around the world and over 400 locations in Australia. I have run in all states and territories in Australia and now want to complete volunteering in all states and territories, ACT is my 7th area, I still have WA to finish as a volunteer, but a small problem with border closures, I visited WA in 2021 but somehow picked the 1 event in the state that was canceled at the last minute.
I had plans to do a trip report on that trip but life and work got in the way, since this Qantas 717 has no IFE and I forgot to download an episode of Manifest from Netflix I thought to write a trip report.
I flew to Perth in November for a weekend during the time a few weeks that Queenslanders could visit, wanted to catch up with a few friends. One friend had moved into age care, lucky the other 2 friends were still living in their own homes, although the friend i had stayed with one of his friends had died in the previous week and so was attending a memorial service, while I visited my friend in the age care. On the way back to Fremantle i caught the train into town with a bunch of cricket supporters the wamens BBL cricket team were playing their grand final, no COVID in Perth at that time.
I somehow got into walking/running in 2009 when AFF group entered in the Global Corporate Challenge. I still have a backpack that I still use from time to time.
Back to this trip
I picked an evening departure on Qantas and after work got a lift to the airport. From Facebook memories 2012 I also visited the airport to catch up with a bunch of other flying friends some of them might even be AFF members.
There was no premium entry open so it was through the regular entry, the stand in the one spot with your arms above your head machine wasn’t in operation which was good.
Checkin area was large with lots of machines but not sure who really uses them now, most of it would be now done via phone, maybe some people are more comfortable check in with an agent but generally I am sure more and more people would be checking in with via mobile phone.
I had a quick walk around the terminal went as far as the central pier where i saw a Rex 737 which was heading to Melbourne.
Off to the lounge for a bite to eat and a few beers.
Entry wasn’t that simple as i had to scan my boarding pass and show my vaccination status.
Once that was completed off to the bar for a drink, beer, good choice of beer, sometimes there are too many choices.
A pasta with sauce was being served which was a good snack, in some ways COVID has meant a change in serving .
That reminds me on a previous trip i crossed the NSW/Qld border and had an afternoon snack in the made up Hilton lounge, afternoon snacks and again for breakfast were brought to you after ordering. I hate having to make up a breakfast and serve myself I am more than happy for someone to do it for me especially the hot food.
Ok back to this story. Brisbane had just had a passing afternoon storm so it meant a 20 minute delay cough 30 minute delay i had already had a 2nd beer I wasn’t going for a 3rd but i did go for a 2nd sweet snack.
At about 10 minutes after the new boarding time was posted but still not called for boarding i decided to head to the gate, generally they are pretty good at announcing flights but I didn’t want to miss my flight because the one time you don’t go early boarding and then your name is called.
Onboard the 717 was pretty empty seems like Qantas are running more flights than really necessary but travel will likely tick up in no time and Qantas want to be ready but also gives everyone a bit if practice and space.
Service onboard was a chicken leek and ham pie which was pretty nice along with a beer.
A 2nd beer was served during the rubbish collection service.
Landing in Canberra was pretty much standard although being 2nd off the aircraft i was a little lost finding the exit.
Into the taxi and on my way to the Crowne Plaza for the night.
Up early for a run/walk to the event where i would photograph and walk the course and talk to the other volunteers most who are locals, not a crazy person from Brisbane wearing a lions cap.
After the event was finished and 100 or so photos later it was a 2km walk back to the hotel although I did stop by the Coffee Club for my regular latte, no sugar, about 6 months ago i stopped adding sugar in coffee and cereal, supposed to be good for you and it certainly lost a few kgs but that might be due to the 20kms i am running most weeks.
I will be increasing that km as I plan to run the Gold Coast marathon in July 42.195kms thats like 8 x 5km park runs. I did run the 2019 half marathon, and to run the New York marathon is on my bucket list.
While drinking the latte was deciding how to get back to the airport uber was one option, think of the Qantas points or I could catch a bus, A few trips to Canberra earlier I had caught a bus but that was more of a shuttle, looks like there was a regular bus service every 30 minutes to the airport. I should have read the AFF thread about cheapest way to the airport but with the help of google it wasn’t too hard to find you just need to keep searching.
Back to the hotel change, check out and walk to the closest bus stop 350m away, only to find the bus stop didn’t have a fare vending machine.
Another 500 metres to the city bus stop and find the ticket vending machine. I picked the $5 option which seemed to be the cheapest option although there was a $2.50 fir concession.
Found that i had likely missed the 11:01 am service and have to wait for the 11:31am which would arrive at 11:57 only 20 minutes before scheduled boarding.
Bus arrived ontime and on the way to the airport with the light traffic was there in 20 minutes.
Through security and up to the lounge, arrived at 11:59am dropped the bag and asked one of the staff serving coffee what time was the bar open.
12:00pm which is now, I think that started a trend.
There was different lunch options including prepared sandwiches which looked nice but I was confident that i would be served a sandwich onboard.
Beer consumed phoned partly charged and boarding was called about 5 minutes early.
I had considered flying Virgin as i still have a $100 credit with them, Qantas had a flight 20 minutes later and could burn some points and i noticed no business class available, a one class plane?
I chose Qantas as I didn’t have to call Virgin. The last time I phoned Virgin the wait time was only 5 minutes but even that seemed like too much hard work, and there was an award available for the lunch time service so it was easier to do that option instead of talk to someone.
Off to the gate where boarding was underway, i stopped at gate to take a photo of the plane to note that the same plane would take to Brisbane.
19-FEB
CBR-BNE QF1760 717-200 VH-NXN seat 1F
Same plane same seat, different crew.
We left the gate a good 10 early and were into the air. A few clouds but no bumps.
Lunch was served Roast chicken with cheese and avocado sandwich accompanied by tea/ coffee and water/juice, don’t remember there being wine or beer.
The flight back to Brisbane I was able to take a few more photos, and listen to a play list I created, which i hope to use for my 50th, 50 or so songs from the past 50 years.
Depending on what you google will depend on the top song for that year.
Most aircraft have the flight map so you know exactly where you are, not on this 717 but I did get a nice shot of Southport spit.
Landed in Brisbane and caught uber I had considered taking the bus to skygate and then a bus to get home but there was some track work and I couldn't be bothered checking options so stuck with uber.
Not a lot has changed in 10 years or so, although most of the booking and checking in is done via phone so you don’t need a paper boarding pass.
I have a complete scrapbook of boarding passes, now that its full my need to collect boarding passes has passed.
Thanks for reading.
BNE-CBR QF1793 717-200 VH-NXN
I had wanted to plan a quick trip somewhere, pretty much anywhere, i wanted to burn some flight credits and go for a run in another part of Australia.
Currently my 2 main hobbies are running and flying, and there is a little running event called parkrun which is held in over 20 countries around the world and over 400 locations in Australia. I have run in all states and territories in Australia and now want to complete volunteering in all states and territories, ACT is my 7th area, I still have WA to finish as a volunteer, but a small problem with border closures, I visited WA in 2021 but somehow picked the 1 event in the state that was canceled at the last minute.
I had plans to do a trip report on that trip but life and work got in the way, since this Qantas 717 has no IFE and I forgot to download an episode of Manifest from Netflix I thought to write a trip report.
I flew to Perth in November for a weekend during the time a few weeks that Queenslanders could visit, wanted to catch up with a few friends. One friend had moved into age care, lucky the other 2 friends were still living in their own homes, although the friend i had stayed with one of his friends had died in the previous week and so was attending a memorial service, while I visited my friend in the age care. On the way back to Fremantle i caught the train into town with a bunch of cricket supporters the wamens BBL cricket team were playing their grand final, no COVID in Perth at that time.
I somehow got into walking/running in 2009 when AFF group entered in the Global Corporate Challenge. I still have a backpack that I still use from time to time.
Back to this trip
I picked an evening departure on Qantas and after work got a lift to the airport. From Facebook memories 2012 I also visited the airport to catch up with a bunch of other flying friends some of them might even be AFF members.
There was no premium entry open so it was through the regular entry, the stand in the one spot with your arms above your head machine wasn’t in operation which was good.
Checkin area was large with lots of machines but not sure who really uses them now, most of it would be now done via phone, maybe some people are more comfortable check in with an agent but generally I am sure more and more people would be checking in with via mobile phone.
I had a quick walk around the terminal went as far as the central pier where i saw a Rex 737 which was heading to Melbourne.
Off to the lounge for a bite to eat and a few beers.
Entry wasn’t that simple as i had to scan my boarding pass and show my vaccination status.
Once that was completed off to the bar for a drink, beer, good choice of beer, sometimes there are too many choices.
A pasta with sauce was being served which was a good snack, in some ways COVID has meant a change in serving .
That reminds me on a previous trip i crossed the NSW/Qld border and had an afternoon snack in the made up Hilton lounge, afternoon snacks and again for breakfast were brought to you after ordering. I hate having to make up a breakfast and serve myself I am more than happy for someone to do it for me especially the hot food.
Ok back to this story. Brisbane had just had a passing afternoon storm so it meant a 20 minute delay cough 30 minute delay i had already had a 2nd beer I wasn’t going for a 3rd but i did go for a 2nd sweet snack.
At about 10 minutes after the new boarding time was posted but still not called for boarding i decided to head to the gate, generally they are pretty good at announcing flights but I didn’t want to miss my flight because the one time you don’t go early boarding and then your name is called.
Onboard the 717 was pretty empty seems like Qantas are running more flights than really necessary but travel will likely tick up in no time and Qantas want to be ready but also gives everyone a bit if practice and space.
Service onboard was a chicken leek and ham pie which was pretty nice along with a beer.
A 2nd beer was served during the rubbish collection service.
Landing in Canberra was pretty much standard although being 2nd off the aircraft i was a little lost finding the exit.
Into the taxi and on my way to the Crowne Plaza for the night.
Up early for a run/walk to the event where i would photograph and walk the course and talk to the other volunteers most who are locals, not a crazy person from Brisbane wearing a lions cap.
After the event was finished and 100 or so photos later it was a 2km walk back to the hotel although I did stop by the Coffee Club for my regular latte, no sugar, about 6 months ago i stopped adding sugar in coffee and cereal, supposed to be good for you and it certainly lost a few kgs but that might be due to the 20kms i am running most weeks.
I will be increasing that km as I plan to run the Gold Coast marathon in July 42.195kms thats like 8 x 5km park runs. I did run the 2019 half marathon, and to run the New York marathon is on my bucket list.
While drinking the latte was deciding how to get back to the airport uber was one option, think of the Qantas points or I could catch a bus, A few trips to Canberra earlier I had caught a bus but that was more of a shuttle, looks like there was a regular bus service every 30 minutes to the airport. I should have read the AFF thread about cheapest way to the airport but with the help of google it wasn’t too hard to find you just need to keep searching.
Back to the hotel change, check out and walk to the closest bus stop 350m away, only to find the bus stop didn’t have a fare vending machine.
Another 500 metres to the city bus stop and find the ticket vending machine. I picked the $5 option which seemed to be the cheapest option although there was a $2.50 fir concession.
Found that i had likely missed the 11:01 am service and have to wait for the 11:31am which would arrive at 11:57 only 20 minutes before scheduled boarding.
Bus arrived ontime and on the way to the airport with the light traffic was there in 20 minutes.
Through security and up to the lounge, arrived at 11:59am dropped the bag and asked one of the staff serving coffee what time was the bar open.
12:00pm which is now, I think that started a trend.
There was different lunch options including prepared sandwiches which looked nice but I was confident that i would be served a sandwich onboard.
Beer consumed phoned partly charged and boarding was called about 5 minutes early.
I had considered flying Virgin as i still have a $100 credit with them, Qantas had a flight 20 minutes later and could burn some points and i noticed no business class available, a one class plane?
I chose Qantas as I didn’t have to call Virgin. The last time I phoned Virgin the wait time was only 5 minutes but even that seemed like too much hard work, and there was an award available for the lunch time service so it was easier to do that option instead of talk to someone.
Off to the gate where boarding was underway, i stopped at gate to take a photo of the plane to note that the same plane would take to Brisbane.
19-FEB
CBR-BNE QF1760 717-200 VH-NXN seat 1F
Same plane same seat, different crew.
We left the gate a good 10 early and were into the air. A few clouds but no bumps.
Lunch was served Roast chicken with cheese and avocado sandwich accompanied by tea/ coffee and water/juice, don’t remember there being wine or beer.
The flight back to Brisbane I was able to take a few more photos, and listen to a play list I created, which i hope to use for my 50th, 50 or so songs from the past 50 years.
Depending on what you google will depend on the top song for that year.
Most aircraft have the flight map so you know exactly where you are, not on this 717 but I did get a nice shot of Southport spit.
Landed in Brisbane and caught uber I had considered taking the bus to skygate and then a bus to get home but there was some track work and I couldn't be bothered checking options so stuck with uber.
Not a lot has changed in 10 years or so, although most of the booking and checking in is done via phone so you don’t need a paper boarding pass.
I have a complete scrapbook of boarding passes, now that its full my need to collect boarding passes has passed.
Thanks for reading.
Last edited:
