Perth to Melbourne J Domestic or International?

[dvt]

I'll be flying from Perth to Melbourne and I'm wondering if I should make the effort of flying the 787 over the A330. I'm not concerned about the seat or the plane but more about the soft product. Will there be a more comprehensive J menu with more choice or will it just be a replica of a normal domestic J flight?

thanks

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I'll be flying from Perth to Melbourne and I'm wondering if I should make the effort of flying the 787 over the A330. I'm not concerned about the seat or the plane but more about the soft product. Will there be a more comprehensive J menu with more choice or will it just be a replica of a normal domestic J flight?

The catering will be international so arguably better meals but certainly better wines and actual champagne.
Also champagne on boarding instead of just water.
I think it is well worth the slight hassle of international terminals.

 

[sinophile888]

I have taken those 787 flights between PER and MEL and v v a number of times. My main reason for choosing those flights was the higher oxygen content in the cabin. I spoke to a number of staff and they all agreed that they felt much less fatigued at the end of each 787 flight. The oxygen level on the 787 is equivalent to an altitude of 6000 feet, compared to other aircraft flying the same route which have an equivalent altitude of 8000 feet. The oxygen concentration is much more important to me than the catering.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If I were doing that route, and had the time, ie nothing planned, for the rest of that day of the flight, and would not mind (in the end, if it comes to it, being relegated to the 737/330), I would pay to go the 787, wider windows are a plus in my pov.
Granted of course, the 787 could easily be swapped to a 737/330, if that 787 goes techo (technical fault that would prevent it from continuing PER - MEL), but...
Go the 787 first, book with that.
Then if they have to swap it, at least you have nothing planned for the rest of the day, so to speak.
You will have to go T3 to check in with photo id, and get orange sticker, and surrender your BP at the end of the flight in MEL T2 though, so no souvenirs of the BP is possible, unless you take a photo of it on your smartphone.
Not sure if a person flying PER - MEL only, can do OLCI as you have to provide id as its an international flight, or you might be able to do provisional OLCI, and go to a desk at PER T3 to show id. and get the paper BP.
I have done several 787s flights, with JQ and LA(TAM), can't complain, as I said, I am a fan of wide windows.
Edit: as we know, if you usually get QP/J lounge access, you would have to go to go to PER T4 QP/PER J lounge instead of T3 transit J lounge.

 

[gtrod]

I fly between MEL and PER every week. I generally try to avoid the 787 domestically. Just not worth the hassle with immigration and customs. The food I've had has been at the exact same level as the 330. Maybe you get better champagne (I don't usually order it) but I'd say just have a few in the domestic lounge beforehand if it's that important to you.

As mentioned by AustraliaPoochie you don't get to use the international lounge (it's only for international travelers), so you need to go to the domestic business lounge (which is excellent) but leave plenty of time to walk to T3 and go through immigration there. Usually doesn't take too long but always advisable to have a buffer.

If you are WP then flying MEL->PER on the 787 gets you into the Qantas First lounge. Great food. I've done it maybe 5 or 6 times when my schedule has forced it. That said overall I prefer the ease of getting through security and a J meal on the A330, than the hassle of international security (long lines) and a long walk. Just seem to waste a lot of time taking QF9/10.

 

[milehighclub]

QF10 has a slightly different meal service compared to domestic services. There is no starter.

QF9 is the same as a domestic flight heading to PER.

Both flights follow the international meal schedule so the menu doesn't change every week like domestic.