Link Airways (Fly Corporate) Trip Report BNE-ZBL on a Metroliner

Status
Not open for further replies.

WillBa95

Newbie
Joined
Jan 24, 2021
Posts
4
On Monday 18 Jan I flew from Brisbane (BNE) to Biloela/Thangool (ZBL) with Link Airways (formerly Fly Corporate) on a Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner (VH-VET).

I haven't flown on the Metroliner before and I had a trip planned to QLD/NSW, I'm based in SA.

I was originally going to travel with Link from Armidale to Brisbane but due to the SA/NSW Border closing I changed to just stay within QLD and Biloela/Thangool was the only flight within QLD that Link offer (all Link's other flights from BNE are interstate) and is also on the metroliner and not to far from 1770 in QLD where I was planning on going now that I was only staying in QLD, so win win. Link let me change for free and just pay fare/tax difference which was $3.00. Original fare to Armidale was around $140.00.

Flight to Biloela/Thangool was FC 443 and it departs every Monday at 7:50AM and arrives at 9:00AM. Return flight to Brisbane departs not long after. Flights go on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and some Saturdays (only one flight a day).

Check In area for Link at Brisbane Airport was behind Jetstar, as it's a small plane, luggage is 15 kilos and carry on is 7 kilos and my carry on was weighed. You can pay extra for another checked in bag or pay per extra kilo if your checked in bag is over 15 kilos. Check in was quick and painless.

We were delayed by around an hour due to a jam with the luggage area at BNE. We ended up leaving without a bag but thankfully it wasn't mine. The missing bag wasn't Link's fault (was BNE airport's fault) and they said the bag would go on a flight to Rockhampton then be bussed to Biloela so the passenger who didn't get their bag would get it that night.

Once we boarded, getting on the plane was quick and when boarding the plane everyone was offered a bottle of cold water and a snack, I wasn't hungry so I didn't take a snack.

I'm over 6 foot 1 and the head room is very low on the Metroliner, I had to duck all the way to my seat which was 4B (seating is 1-1).

The Metroliner carries 19 passengers but only 9 passengers were on this flight so I was able to put my bag on the seat in front of me, this meant I had more leg room. Leg room was good but would be tight if you cant put your carry on somewhere else.

Flight time was around an hour once we took off.

Overall flight was very smooth, the crew on the plane is the 2 pilots and no other crew on the plane.

Biloela/Thangool is a small airport and only has Link Airways flying there, there is a Budget/AVIS/Hertz desk and a vending machine (waiting area is air-conditioned).

I had a hire car pre booked with Hertz and was in the car with my bag within 10 minutes.

Customer Service for Link Airways was great, crew were great. Link have a lot of exciting routes and we need more people to support airlines like Link, Fly Pelican, REX, Skytrans, Sharp etc... Qantas keep cutting in on routes that these airlines offer and then they beat them on price as Qantas can afford to lose money on certain flights, and often the smaller airlines will pull out or go bankrupt and then Qantas end up leaving that route down the track anyway.

So where possible, if you can please support our small or regional airlines.
 

Attachments

  • ANMP0002.jpg
    ANMP0002.jpg
    166.6 KB · Views: 35
  • ANMP0003.jpg
    ANMP0003.jpg
    132.4 KB · Views: 35
  • ANMP0008.jpg
    ANMP0008.jpg
    133.1 KB · Views: 35
  • ANMP0013.jpg
    ANMP0013.jpg
    120.8 KB · Views: 32
Thanks for the trip report.

I do enjoy flying on the Metroliners, even if the cabin is a bit squishy (particularly if you have hand luggage). Every passenger gets an aisle and a window seat, and you can even see what the pilots are doing.
 
Another vote of thanks. I have only flown one of these once nearly thirty years ago and remember it being a bit of fun. Being slightly taller than you I remember having to do a very crouched shuffle to get to my seat.
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

and you can even see what the pilots are doing.


If only you could hear them too. haha.

Without a toilet, the longer (over 90 minutes) flights can need a bit of forward planning.

The last time I took such a flght it was nearling its destination when a technical issue meant a return to SYD. Mmmm total flight time (terminal to terminal) approaching 3 hours.

A bit of a challenge if the Qantas Club was used before hand (as was available then).

Planned:

IMG_1974.png



Actual:


IMG_1973.png
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the trip report.

I do enjoy flying on the Metroliners, even if the cabin is a bit squishy (particularly if you have hand luggage). Every passenger gets an aisle and a window seat, and you can even see what the pilots are doing.
Thanks Matt, i really enjoyed the flight and flying on the Metroliner was good, not many planes around the word where you can go on a commercial flight and see the coughpit during the flight.
 
If only you could hear them too. haha.

Without a toilet, the longer (over 90 minutes) flights can need a bit of forward planning.

The last time I took such a flght it was nearling its destination when a technical issue meant a return to SYD. Mmmm total flight time (terminal to terminal) approaching 3 hours.

A bit of a challenge if the Qantas Club was used before hand (as was available then).

Planned:

View attachment 239123



Actual:


View attachment 239124
Yeah i went to the toilet before the flight and didn't drink much of the water provided but only being an hour it was fine, most Metroliner flights are around an hour assuming there aren't delays.
 
On Monday 18 Jan I flew from Brisbane (BNE) to Biloela/Thangool (ZBL) with Link Airways (formerly Fly Corporate) on a Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner (VH-VET).

I haven't flown on the Metroliner before and I had a trip planned to QLD/NSW, I'm based in SA.

I was originally going to travel with Link from Armidale to Brisbane but due to the SA/NSW Border closing I changed to just stay within QLD and Biloela/Thangool was the only flight within QLD that Link offer (all Link's other flights from BNE are interstate) and is also on the metroliner and not to far from 1770 in QLD where I was planning on going now that I was only staying in QLD, so win win. Link let me change for free and just pay fare/tax difference which was $3.00. Original fare to Armidale was around $140.00.

Flight to Biloela/Thangool was FC 443 and it departs every Monday at 7:50AM and arrives at 9:00AM. Return flight to Brisbane departs not long after. Flights go on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and some Saturdays (only one flight a day).

Check In area for Link at Brisbane Airport was behind Jetstar, as it's a small plane, luggage is 15 kilos and carry on is 7 kilos and my carry on was weighed. You can pay extra for another checked in bag or pay per extra kilo if your checked in bag is over 15 kilos. Check in was quick and painless.

We were delayed by around an hour due to a jam with the luggage area at BNE. We ended up leaving without a bag but thankfully it wasn't mine. The missing bag wasn't Link's fault (was BNE airport's fault) and they said the bag would go on a flight to Rockhampton then be bussed to Biloela so the passenger who didn't get their bag would get it that night.

Once we boarded, getting on the plane was quick and when boarding the plane everyone was offered a bottle of cold water and a snack, I wasn't hungry so I didn't take a snack.

I'm over 6 foot 1 and the head room is very low on the Metroliner, I had to duck all the way to my seat which was 4B (seating is 1-1).

The Metroliner carries 19 passengers but only 9 passengers were on this flight so I was able to put my bag on the seat in front of me, this meant I had more leg room. Leg room was good but would be tight if you cant put your carry on somewhere else.

Flight time was around an hour once we took off.

Overall flight was very smooth, the crew on the plane is the 2 pilots and no other crew on the plane.

Biloela/Thangool is a small airport and only has Link Airways flying there, there is a Budget/AVIS/Hertz desk and a vending machine (waiting area is air-conditioned).

I had a hire car pre booked with Hertz and was in the car with my bag within 10 minutes.

Customer Service for Link Airways was great, crew were great. Link have a lot of exciting routes and we need more people to support airlines like Link, Fly Pelican, REX, Skytrans, Sharp etc... Qantas keep cutting in on routes that these airlines offer and then they beat them on price as Qantas can afford to lose money on certain flights, and often the smaller airlines will pull out or go bankrupt and then Qantas end up leaving that route down the track anyway.

So where possible, if you can please support our small or regional airlines.
Great little aircraft, twin turboprop really screams when powered up. Took the "flying cigar tube" on Sharp from AVV to Flinders Island. Very comfy, but, I am only short & still had to duck up the gangway.
You get weighed in, like in Fiji, so they know how much freight they can load.
 
Must have been 1982/83 I flew with Bush Pilots Airways when they introduced a Metroliner milk-run service from Brisbane. Route: Brisbane-Rockhampton-Mackay-Townsville (I think -- the little grey cells aren't working too well now). Great fun if you're not in a hurry and you see a lot more of the country than you do on a jet.
 
On Monday 18 Jan I flew from Brisbane (BNE) to Biloela/Thangool (ZBL) with Link Airways (formerly Fly Corporate) on a Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner (VH-VET).

I haven't flown on the Metroliner before and I had a trip planned to QLD/NSW, I'm based in SA.

I was originally going to travel with Link from Armidale to Brisbane but due to the SA/NSW Border closing I changed to just stay within QLD and Biloela/Thangool was the only flight within QLD that Link offer (all Link's other flights from BNE are interstate) and is also on the metroliner and not to far from 1770 in QLD where I was planning on going now that I was only staying in QLD, so win win. Link let me change for free and just pay fare/tax difference which was $3.00. Original fare to Armidale was around $140.00.

Flight to Biloela/Thangool was FC 443 and it departs every Monday at 7:50AM and arrives at 9:00AM. Return flight to Brisbane departs not long after. Flights go on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and some Saturdays (only one flight a day).

Check In area for Link at Brisbane Airport was behind Jetstar, as it's a small plane, luggage is 15 kilos and carry on is 7 kilos and my carry on was weighed. You can pay extra for another checked in bag or pay per extra kilo if your checked in bag is over 15 kilos. Check in was quick and painless.

We were delayed by around an hour due to a jam with the luggage area at BNE. We ended up leaving without a bag but thankfully it wasn't mine. The missing bag wasn't Link's fault (was BNE airport's fault) and they said the bag would go on a flight to Rockhampton then be bussed to Biloela so the passenger who didn't get their bag would get it that night.

Once we boarded, getting on the plane was quick and when boarding the plane everyone was offered a bottle of cold water and a snack, I wasn't hungry so I didn't take a snack.

I'm over 6 foot 1 and the head room is very low on the Metroliner, I had to duck all the way to my seat which was 4B (seating is 1-1).

The Metroliner carries 19 passengers but only 9 passengers were on this flight so I was able to put my bag on the seat in front of me, this meant I had more leg room. Leg room was good but would be tight if you cant put your carry on somewhere else.

Flight time was around an hour once we took off.

Overall flight was very smooth, the crew on the plane is the 2 pilots and no other crew on the plane.

Biloela/Thangool is a small airport and only has Link Airways flying there, there is a Budget/AVIS/Hertz desk and a vending machine (waiting area is air-conditioned).

I had a hire car pre booked with Hertz and was in the car with my bag within 10 minutes.

Customer Service for Link Airways was great, crew were great. Link have a lot of exciting routes and we need more people to support airlines like Link, Fly Pelican, REX, Skytrans, Sharp etc... Qantas keep cutting in on routes that these airlines offer and then they beat them on price as Qantas can afford to lose money on certain flights, and often the smaller airlines will pull out or go bankrupt and then Qantas end up leaving that route down the track anyway.

So where possible, if you can please support our small or regional airlines.
Great feedback. We've just returned from a tour and cruise in Tassie and changed our flights home from Qantas Hobart/Mel/Canberra to Hobart/Canberra on Link Airways to avoid Mr Andrews lockdowns. Link has daily HOB/CBR return flights. Ours was on the Saab340 and took two hours. Two pilots and a cabin attendant and we were offered free snacks, wine, beer or soft drink, very impressive. So we are very happy Link customers. Incidentally our cruise was on "Coral Discoverer" owned by Coral Expeditions and it was good to see an Aussie travel company back in business with excellent Covid precautions including a pre boarding covid test.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top