QF9 - the short leg in J

[chooms]

Had to go to Perth for work. Damn, that's 9 hours up in the air I'll never get back. Oh well, better make the most of it.

Luck be have it, I was due to be in Melbourne the day before I had to be over there... maybe I could jag the domestic leg of QF9 across. The temptation of a couple of hours in the MEL Flounge and dodging a B737 from BNE actually means I was a little excited about this trip.

Booking this trip wasn't all smooth sailing... as I was going for work, our travel people said it couldn't be done. Wasn't able to book QF9 - I'd have to go on a QF flight either side which were both B737s. Screw that.

[SIDE RANT: Bring back the A330's for transcon! Stuff the PER-SIN-PER or trans-tasman 3 hour jobs!]

Ok, what are my other options. Would the client book and pay for the flights? I was due to travel with them, so I could see if they would do it directly. Yep, they would... but I would have to travel with them in VA J. Well, as a QF WP, travelling with VA is quite unacceptable... but I'd suffer through VA's transcon J if I must.

I would be flying back solo PER-BNE direct, so I was free to choose whatever flight I wanted.

Done. Booked.

A couple of days out from travel, the client had to pull out, but I was told to still go. Fine, I thought. Could I change to QF9? Why not... just get over there to the wild west so they wouldn't have to go.

A couple of hours later, new ticket issued and I started thinking of how much salt and pepper squid I could eat...

 

[chooms]

Day of travel, I rushed out of my last meeting and high-tailed it to MEL. I timed it almost to perfection with only a minute or so wait for F check-in to open.

It was when I got to security, I realised I made a rookie mistake – I was taking carryon only and had all my toiletries. Luggage was a little lighter after making it through… I’d have to pick up new deodorant, toothpaste and shaving cream in Perth. Oh well.

Now, I’d never been out of MEL international terminal. I now rate it worse than JFK T8… lounge so poorly signed, I ended up out on the satellite terminal and had to do the walk of shame back past everyone on the travelator.

Finally found an escalator (that was facing the tarmac, not the walkway) and made my way up. I was in. No massages available though – all booked/reserved for the PER-LHR people.

 

[chooms]

Didn’t take a snap of the summer menu, but it’s on AFF somewhere…



Ordered the salt and pepper squid and a bao. Funnily enough, I was in a Chairman’s Lounge a couple of days before this and had the squid there… maybe it was the semi-frequent eating of the dish that has made it lose its lustre for me. The bao… delicious.





Next up: the cheeseburger. I didn’t get through it all. Left most of the bun and all the chips. My gluttony had got the better of me… and I had to save room for the plane.



But... I had to get the dessert. Not a huge fan of pavlova, but these are delicious!

 

[chooms]

QF9 MEL-PER

PDB: choice of sparkling wine or still water... why not both!



Menu:



Rabbit food and carbs (which appeared without both the bread and the dressing... FA was all over the shop). White was a Leeuwin Chardonnay - was OK.



After asking, the carbs appeared, still no sign of the dressing. Oh well.



Zucchini and basil soup. Quite nice.



Salmon salad. Again, actually quite tasty. I had something on a JFK-LAX QF flight a couple of years ago...



Cheese plate (plus sticky):



Retired to G+Ts for the remainder of the flight... which came with these new bags. Never seen them before. Not a fan... bring back the wasabi peas!



Pretty standard J class trip. Service was ok, but I think they were training as a heap of FAs on the flight. Would do again, even with the hassle of the International Terminal, which was quickly forgotten on entering the F Lounge...

 

[chooms]

QF596 PER-BNE

Now, what was that about avoiding the B737’s on the transcon route at all costs? How did I overlook the longest flight of my week when planning? This error has cost me dearly… QF B737 for close to 5hrs with a hangover.

I turn up to the PER J lounge. Coffee now me need. The barista was good enough to understand my mumbled request. Caffeine in hand, I move to a lounge to wallow in my own self-loathing and declaring I shall never drink again. Particularly with my Perth friends.

Finally, it was time to board. Gate 9? Where the hell was that. Oh it was a remote stand gate. Fantastic. I love to have to manage a suit pack, roller and backpack going down and up stairs. Bloody Qantas.

The searing heat from the tarmac was horrendous. Get me out of this hell.

On board, the FAs have no interest in taking my suit pack from me to store in the closet and I’d have to hold on to it until the collected it later. Seriously? I am standing right next to the closet, want me to do it myself?

Anyway, I get to my seat (2A). Now, I have no problem with QF B737 J seats on the golden triangle. Perfectly fine for those 1-2 or even a 3 hour flight. To have these on transcon paying over $2k one-way for a J seat it just outrageous.

PDB was served (sparkling water or apple/guava sparkling juice... I got the juice, but didn't get a pic). My suit pack was still with me on my lap.

PBD glass was collected. My suit pack still remained on my lap.

Fed up, I pushed the call button for the first time in recent memory, please take this and hang it up, throw it out the door, do whatever you want with it. I just wanted this plastic blanket off my lap.

The FA grumbled as she took to presumably air in the lavatory with the potpourri of funky smells that usually emanate from that area.

Feeling like I’ve been entombed for my flight, I pull out the headphones and try and forget about the world. Problem was, my seatmate didn’t recognise the international signal for not wanting to talk (headphones). Tap tap on my shoulder…

“Hi! I’m on vacation from Texas with my husband, he sits in coach, but I have to sit in First class. It will be our first time in Brisbane, but we’re only there for six hours… what should we do?”

Christ help me.

“You know, we’ve managed to get a lot done in America since President Trump was elected...”

Get me off this bloody plane now.

A good half hour later, I finally managed to get some peace. They got the hint.

Time to eat. I was hungry.

Bearing in mind my hangover, I clearly wasn’t in the mood for issues.

My seatmate, as cultured as they were, didn’t understand half the things on the menu and proceeded to go through every option with me. I had enough. “You may want to ask the flight attendant about the menu,” I said.

“What a good idea.”

Had I given too subtle a hint that I didn’t want to talk? Clearly not…

“What is chili over here?” Seriously. It’s not even on the menu. “Is it beef?”

Kill me.

Anyway, orders were starting to be taken. FA arrived to me.

"Water. Lots of it. Sparkling please."

“Yes, that’s fine Mr Chooms, but what will you be eating?”

“Mozzarella and the beef salad thanks.”

“I’m sorry Mr Chooms, we’re out of the beef salad.”

I’m in seat 2A and they had already run out the beef salad. Are you kidding me.

“Fine, the pithivier,” I grumbled back.

FA turns to my seatmate, asks the question.

“I’ll have the beef salad please,” my seatmate says back.

Head. Desk.

Drink service: sparkling water and almonds



Menu:



Starter: Mozzarella (delicious)



Main: The pie (aka, pithivier). Pastry was soggy. Meat was dry. So bad. And just call it a bloody pie!



Dessert: apologies for the photo quality...

 

[chooms]

So, what did I learn from this visit over west? Not much… stick with trying to get the QF9 flight over, and avoid the B737s at all costs.

 

[serfty]

Nice report.

I would suggest that once you reach the qualification with QFF that you desire and have another opportunity, try the VA service. You may be surprised.

 

[cambriamarsh]

So, what did I learn from this visit over west? Not much… stick with trying to get the QF9 flight over, and avoid the B737s at all costs.

Condolences, thanks for sharing

 

[chooms]

Nice report.

I would suggest that once you reach the qualification with QFF that you desire and have another opportunity, try the VA service. You may be surprised.

Thanks, yeah I was actually OK with trying VA J on the A330. Oh well, another time.

 

[danintas]

You won’t be disappointed with VA J... much much better than QF.

 

[kermatu]

VA J on the A330s is so far ahead of QF these days. A no-brainer.

The F lounge in MEL is a factor, and in my experience VA switches to 737s more regularly than QF. Otherwise 100% of my trans-con flights would now be VA.

 

[QF_Flyer]

VA J on the A330s is so far ahead of QF these days. A no-brainer.

Agreed, as a QF WP I gravitate to QF obviously, but don't hesitate to fly VA J MEL-HKG. Never done it transcon, but I assume it's the same, just for half the time!

Definitely beats QF's 2-2-2 old layout, although I quite like their 1-2-1, if you're in an even numbered row, on a window, having the shelf etc. between you and the aisle is quite good privacy wise.

 

[kermatu]

Agreed, as a QF WP I gravitate to QF obviously, but don't hesitate to fly VA J MEL-HKG. Never done it transcon, but I assume it's the same, just for half the time!

Definitely beats QF's 2-2-2 old layout, although I quite like their 1-2-1, if you're in an even numbered row, on a window, having the shelf etc. between you and the aisle is quite good privacy wise.

QF's refurbed J hard product is better IMHO, but the soft product leaves a lot to be desired and is getting worse.

 

[QF_Flyer]

QF's refurbed J hard product is better IMHO, but the soft product leaves a lot to be desired and is getting worse.

Actually that's a good point. My most recent trip involved VA (MEL-HKG), SQ (HKG-SIN), BA (SIN-SYD) and QF (SYD-MEL), and the only thing that stood out to me was the service on QF - it wasn't particularly bad, more that I felt like I was putting the crew out asking for simple things like a drink and a blanket (this was in J).

Crews on the other 3x carriers I can rarely fault (BA particularly, their hard product isn't amazing, but the crews are usually excellent).

 

[kermatu]

Crews on the other 3x carriers I can rarely fault (BA particularly, their hard product isn't amazing, but the crews are usually excellent).

Albeit a bit limited but that's been my experience too - BA crews almost seem to treble their effort given the hard product is pretty ordinary, and they know it.

 

[stm1sydney]

That laughable side salad on your QF9 flight! Surely they have had so much feedback by now on their "side salad" that they would do something about it?

 

[Pushka]

I really enjoyed your trip back to Brisbane . I think I must have a glare face on, I don’t like talking to people on planes either although I did have a great convo with the person next to me on one recent trip. It started when we both groaned at the behaviour of the FA. Nothing like a joint groan to get the talk started.

 

[Flymeanywhere]

And you missed out on one of the best cheeses ever that is often served on QF9. The FA couldn’t remember the name of it and even went searching for it but no luck. It was one of the creamiest soft cheeses but can’t remember whether a Camembert or a Brie. It’s served MEL-PER and I would kill for it.

 

[Berlin]

Thanks for the nice review! I’m due to fly the short leg between Melbourne and Perth on the Dreamliner and can’t wait to finally experience it. I saw the first of these babies on the manufacturing at Boeing almost two years ago and still haven’t been on it which sucks.

With regards to different aircraft types, I’m the first one to watch out for it and book my flights accordingly. And while I agree, the 737 config is vastly inferior to the 330 or even, I’d guess, the 787, same cannot be said about the service in my experience. While bad service on Qantas tends to be incredibly rare (I had one experience only just recently and that must have been the first one in easily over a year, and I fly lots), I often find that J service on the small planes is particularly attentive and heart-felt. On the bigger planes, you can sometimes get the feeling that everyone is lost a bit. Best example is defo the EK business class cabins which are just so huge that you almost feel like being back in Economy some times. But I get a bit of that vibe on the bigger aircraft on QF too.

So am I going out of the way to avoid the 737s? No, I don’t really though I can, I’d prefer the A330 services (I fly mostly trans-Tasman where this is the usual choice). But I DID go out of my way to fly via Melbourne to get into QF9 to Perth in a month’s time, that was too important to cross off my bucket list

 

[Port Power]

So, what did I learn from this visit over west? Not much… stick with trying to get the QF9 flight over, and avoid the B737s at all costs.

I will no longer pay for business class transcontinental, nor waste my points to upgrade. The 737 J class should be billed as Premium economy at best. Unfortunately ONLY the 737 flies PER-BNE, but I make sure to not book it to/from Sydney or Melbourne if at all possible. Cleanliness of J seats on my last five flights was bad enough (crumbs on the tray table and rubbish left in the side bins), then the same bad state in economy last week. But... I am looking forward to the F international lounge next week!