Quick J Status run MEL-OOL-MEL

[dzinh]

I finally found some time to write up a review on my recent status run 2 weeks ago MEL-OOL-MEL.

Flight #DJ733 Dep MEL 09:25 Arr OOL 10:30 - Tues 9/10
Plane Rego: VH-YIB
Same plane and crew back to MEL.


Thanks to the J sales Virgin had a couple of months ago I decided to start chasing SC and work my way up the membership tier. It was my second time on a BSI aircraft and my seat selection was 2D, im a asile person plus my name starts with D so i though what the heck.

I started the day off by parking in the main car park at MEL because I really couldnt be bothered parking and waiting in the long term car park, I nearly missed my SC run to BNE the following week because the bus drivers had to go on break and was told to wait for other buses. I opted to use passbook and give it a play since I recently got my IP5! Walked straight into the lounge and tried to scan my boarding pass on the lounge entry scanner (silly me, you can tell I dont visit the lounge often ^^ ) The lady behind the counte saw me and gestured me over, where i showed her my boarding pass and into the lounge I went. I would probably say it was my 4th time into the lounge, I found a table and immediately went to get some pancakes! Kept my eye on the time and wandered to the gates a couple of minutes before boarding was announced.

The was around 15 people in the normal security line so I made my way down the priority lane, lovely Virgin rep was policing the line and gave me a brief smile, didn't need to show any confirmation of status or BP. Made way through security and was asked to stop for an explosive test. 2 minutes later i was at gate 5, stood around and saw my first glimpse of one of the A330's! Boarding was called and made way to PB and found myself at the aircraft door, thanks to whimming through some threads on AFF i knew where to look for the aircraft rego! Got welcomed by CSM Shane Roberts and was offered juice or water. If my memory serves me right there was only 2 in the J cabin, I found the galaxy tabs tucked away in the seat pocket and the headphones on the arm rest.

There was a DYKWIA pax in row 3, storing his luggage in my overhead locker!!! I only flew with a small bag so I had it tucked in the seat next to me, but I really didn't want to start up anything... mainly because I couldnt be bothered!! I was already getting in the mood and focusing on watching Brave hehe
Shane then went around and started taking snack orders, I got offered the quiche with salsa (correct me if im wrong!) and a bowl of fruit salad. Shane was great, professional and cheerful! I stuck to water for the entire flight so he was in and out of the kitchen area topping up my water. Shout out to Joel who was assigned up front with Shane.



We landed 3 minutes early and i realised that daylight savings applied so it was only 10:30AM OOL time. DYKWIA pax from row 3 decided to step into the J cabin and grab his items and wait for the doors to open, Once doors were open i excused myself and offloaded before him Shane thanked us for flying and hoped to see us again soon. He saw me sooner than he expected, I immediately went into the lounge and asked if I could be moved to the earliest flight back to MEL, lovely lady behind the counter checked the system and transferred me to the 11AM flight, meaning I had roughly 30 minutes to explore the OOL lounge. I must say, the view is pretty amazing! I grabbed some fruit salad and as I sat down I received a call from a local number, I was quite hesitant to answer and I was thinking who on earth is calling me from this state, yet again who else knows that I'm even in the territory! :shock: I answered and it was the loveley lady from downstairs! She told me since it was such short notice there wouldnt be a meal for me! Not a problem at all, as long as I was on the flight I couldn't care if I got a meal or not.

Boarding was called and made my way downstairs, thanked the lovely lady again (I forgot to grab her name) and made way to the gate, there already was a line queuing in the normal lane snaking around the tables of the food court.. The gate agent was pretty puzzled and shocked when she saw me and asked "Didn't you just get of that flight??" I just smiled, and a coule of minutes later i was walking towards the aircraft, I walked up the stairs and saw Shane and Steve chatting away! Shane saw me and it was lovely to see a puzzled faced Shane welcoming me back.. He told me he thought that i'd forgotten something on board until I handed him my BP.. I responded by to him "I bet you weren't expecting to see me back so soon!" Steve directed me to my seat of 1D and offered me a glass of water, had some small talk and Steve commented "So I heard you recently flew with us" I had a large grin and Steve offered me the galaxy tab.

There was another pax in 1F and seeing that 1A&C was empty I popped my head into the kitchen and told Shane that I was moving to 1A, no problems at all and a couple of minutes later he came out with a fresh glass of water. He asked me if I was aware I wasn't being cated for and asked If i wanted anything off the menu, chesse and crackers would do I told him and he went onto other pax. There was 4 in J, and only 2C got catered for, Pretty sure she got the quiche as well! Shane was back and handed out the cheese and crackers and offered coffee or tea, I accepted the coffee and resumed watching more movies. I kept glancing up at the ceiling to watch the colours and then it was time for descent into MEL, the tablets were collected, window shades were put up. I had a urge to head to the restroom so poked my head behind the curtain and saw the crew loading items into their bags, not that it was any of my business but just stating what I saw



We landed on the dot at 14:20 and, was asked by Shane if I had any more flights.. I chucked and told him no Shane commented that if I like flying so much I should become flight crew, I told him if it included SC then sign me up! :mrgreen:

Overall very good service from the crew, very responsive and cheerful! Loved the BSI aircraft. I would definitely fly J again if there was another J sale :mrgreen: I'm a self funded traveller so flying J would probably be pretty rare unless it was a special occasion or so, If only I was at my previous job where travel was included! But that was when i was a FF virgin and would fly on all airlines :evil:

Thanks for reading and hopefully there are more trips in the near future

 

[JessicaTam]

A good read, thank you. I am on my inaugural DJ J flight next week (MEL-BNE) so I have a bit of an idea what to expect.

Incidentally, where is the aircraft rego?

 

[Deewhy]

Thanks for the report. Keep up the good status chasing!

 

[wallacej]

A good read, thank you. I am on my inaugural DJ J flight next week (MEL-BNE) so I have a bit of an idea what to expect.

Incidentally, where is the aircraft rego?

It can be found painted on the back side of the plane if you are looking from outside. Also the last two letters are also on the front wheel flaps, harder to see sometimes.
If you miss those, then another chance as you walk through the entry door, there is a plaque on the top of the door well. You need to be quick though, sometimes stamding there staring at the door well can make others nervous.

Sometimes, there migt also be a plaque on a bulk head wall inside, not often there though.

Aussie planes start with a VH- followed by three more letters.

Another thing to try and catch is the plane name, on virgin, under the left and rigt side of the nose, under the pilots windows, quite low down.


....sent from the place closest to the airport I just arrived at.

 

[dzinh]

Incidentally, where is the aircraft rego?

Thanks JessicaTam! the rego should be on the top right of the door as you are entering, a silver rectangle plate! but then again other flyers please correct me if im wrong!

 

[JessicaTam]

It can be found painted on the back side of the plane if you are looking from outside. Also the last two letters are also on the front wheel flaps, harder to see sometimes.
If you miss those, then another chance as you walk through the entry door, there is a plaque on the top of the door well. You need to be quick though, sometimes stamding there staring at the door well can make others nervous.

Sometimes, there migt also be a plaque on a bulk head wall inside, not often there though.

Aussie planes start with a VH- followed by three more letters.

Another thing to try and catch is the plane name, on virgin, under the left and rigt side of the nose, under the pilots windows, quite low down.


....sent from the place closest to the airport I just arrived at.

Thanks JessicaTam! the rego should be on the top right of the door as you are entering, a silver rectangle plate! but then again other flyers please correct me if im wrong!

Oh ok, so the same as QF. I thought due to the reference it may have been somewhere different.

 

[Major]

I did this trip in reverse earlier this year when VA were offering double SC's. Earned 240 SC's for OOL-MEL-OOL in J

 

[Blinky]

Thanks for the report. I may have to do a MEL-OOL-MEL early next year with my wife (who gives me her SCs) to maintain Gold. We'll stay overnight (at least). I haven't been to OOL since the Lounge has been open, so I'm looking forward to checking it out.

 

[JohnK]

Nice trip report dzinh!

 

[dzinh]

Thanks JohnK, I have a work trip with death.... Er I mean Jetstar/ Qantas this week! So I will try to write up a brief report