QF Flights LST-BNE 22/6/20

[drron]

Another report of flights during Covid disruption.This time totally different to the flights down to Tassie in early April just after Tassie had closed their border.
I got to LST at 1500 for a 1645 flight.The last time I was flying out of LST checkin opened 90 minutes before the flight.This time checkin was already open.One counter open all the time and one with one of the ground staff who had to go and do other jobs at times.
15 people in front of me.not everyone social distancing despite the marks on the floor.The couple in front of me were virtually touching the woman in front as was the fellow behind me.checkin was slow.The highlights were a young couple walking to the front of the queue-served straight away as the ground crew fellow was just returning to the counter.They wanted to be upgraded to business class on the Dash 8.
Then a young woman with a large back pack weighing 31 kg.She argued that she shouldn't pay any extra for her large set of golf clubs.The fellow was brilliant-That's OK you don't have to pay but your golf clubs will be staying here.

Lounge not open.No problems with security.As I told them about my knee replacement they didn't require me to take off my shoes and belt.Had to be wanded. of course.As that finished a woman virtually ran in front of me to be first into the departure lounge which meant she was the one to have the secondary explosives test.I walked out with a big grin.

Boarding was as usual-no priority call.but all pax now were perfectly behaved and social distancing kept even when on board.Staggered seating with 1 seat in each pair vacant as was Row 1.3 couples were seated together.Usual good service from crew and a snack and bottle of water handed out.But we got a savoury pack first and a little later a pack of small choc chip cookies.
..

Left about 10 minutes late but arrived 5 minutes before scheduled.The passengers again were very good with social distancing which was maintained throughout the deplaning proceedure.I was in 3A but had to wait for my hand carry so able to see the passengers getting off through the windows.

 

[drron]

Then a bit of a wait for QF634 to BNE.Again no lounge and only the Amcal pharmac_ open.Only 1 other QF flight to SYD due to depart when i arrived.So i contnued reading my book-Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
A bit of a problem when boarding approached.I had my BP sent by SMS but when I tried to bring it up I got the revolving circle.I tried to load it 3 times so decided to go to the desk.The fellow insisted I load it again-it worked.But then i noticed they had moved me from 7A to 5A.

Once again no priority boarding calle.the call was for rows 15-30 to board first.2 J pax did go to the empty priority lane but the 1 agent was working the economy lane.They got called over after about half of the first lot had boarded.Virtually no social distancing.I and about 3 others kept our distance.As with the first flight you could pick up a comfort pack when boarding.on the LST flight most took this and wore the mask.i was already wearing my mask.On the BNE flight very few took a pack.they were handed out before boarding but probably only about 10% of pax wore a mask.

What surprised me was that when I boarded there were only the 2 seated in J. J was full though.Which meant that 6 J pax plus however many elites were on the flight showed absolutely no evidence of entitlement and just followed instructions. In fact it appeared the 6 J pax were the last to board.

We left about 30 minutes late.The plane had flown from BNE and was late arriving.however we arrived only 5 minutes after scheduled arrival.so i presume headwinds from BNE-MEL.Soon after take off served exactly the same savoury pack as the first leg but just the bottle of water in addition.So more catering on the 1 hour Dash * flight than the 2 hour 738 flight.
..

A young girl in 5C.She wanted a gluten free meal but hadn't ordered it.They eventually found something.I continued reading my book.

They handed out QLD arrival forms to be answered as well as the QLD exemption I already had.Once again no social distancing when getting off the plane.met by the Army directing you to the initial inspection force.Two Army fellows inspecting the paperwork plus ID of those with an exemption form and 2 others seated for those that didn't.
Then down to another inspection point.Queenslanders to the right and reviewed by another Army fellow who had a list of passengers which looked though it might have been for the day as it was a few pages.Checked off and out of there.
Interstate residents to the left and interviewed by a police officer.there were about 8 of them.Having the Exemption pre approved online certainly sped things up.

QF didn't disappoint with their priority baggage policy.6 bags came out individuaaly.Then another 30 or so with another 3 minute wait for the next group and mine was near last of those.

 

[RooFlyer]

QF didn't disappoint with their priority baggage policy.6 bags came out individuaaly.Then another 30 or so with another 3 minute wait for the next group and mine was near last of those.

Well, its nice to see some things in flying haven't changed

 

[VPS]

Do you have to self isolate for two weeks now or are you exempt?

 

[drron]

No No isolation at all for me.They trust me!

 

[Ekka]

God help us. A "gluten free" meal, eh? Such did not exist until recently.

What would have happened if the crew had not been able to find one? Would this prima donna have had anything to eat? For an hour or two. She would starve, wouldn't she?

Good grief.