Landed in SYD, then we were ferried to the landside of Terminal 2 via a shuttle bus which picked us up from the tarmac position.
We all got off the bus and proceeded through the baggage claim area up to check-in. A little annoying that we had to walk across the entire length of the arrivals level to reach the escalators to go up, but such is and not a big deal.
Once we got up to the departures level, we went to a DJ kiosk. I had checked in all of us via mobile at OAG, but Mobile CI with DJ doesn't give a barcode for use at the gate. Instead, all that DJ Mobile CI does is guarantee that (a) you are intending to board your flight, and (b) you get the seat you requested (minus all the operational yadda yadda yadda). You still need to go to a kiosk to get your BP for the gate, and the bag drop queue if necessary. Hopefully DJ implement a more effective Mobile CI soon.
Anyway, the kiosk sprung to life as I proceeded to find our booking. It's useful that that you can look up a booking using your name or the PNR, since I often can't remember the latter off by heart and having to set down your carry bag to pull out your itinerary is a pain. There was quite a pause between the screens of the kiosk check-in, but eventually I managed to get all of our BPs printed and, with interlined bags, we were off through security. The lines for security were quite short, which was rather amusing in some ways considering the capacity of queue tape that was set out for the potential crowds.
Quickly went through security to avoid a swab down, then we all had to make a decision. With about 30 minutes left, where do we go? Gate 33 for our flight? Food court to swing a meal? Or Qantas Club (yes, in the company of non-AFFers, it's probably best not to say QP or its meaning)? Well, my supervisor is WP, and so am I, and I had to remind my supervisor that we were allowed to take guests (2 of them). I also had to break the news to him that next February was when they were stopping the anytime access policy. He didn't seem phased, whilst my other colleagues (who aren't frequent flyers) chuckled that the reason (according to their deduction) was that the access right was being "used and abused". I would respond except being that I was flying the competition and using QF's lounges, I probably didn't have a right to rebuttal.
Inside the T2 QP (flash of the card, no checking names here), we went straight to the bar and ordered some beers. One of our colleagues had been keeping away from the alcohol during the entire trip; mainly because he had to drive (not that the rest of us drank silly amounts anyway), but as a personal choice. However, the allure of free alcohol and the need to not have to drive nor work probably lightened his mood a bit. The un-saving grace from him was that he ordered a VB. Yuck.
Whilst my colleagues took a small dish of bar snacks back with them, I went straight to the main food selection. The food selection is considerably better compared to the last time I walked into a QP in the evening (which admittedly was a fairly long time ago now), with a couple of decent looking salads, a few other fresh selections, cheese plate and two kinds of hot pizza - one vegetarian and one meat.
I took a couple of slices of pizza back to the standing table where we were, and one of my colleagues - again, obviously not a frequent flyer - was very surprised that there was actually hot food available. My supervisor, who wasn't intent on having anything a shade substantial, remarked that the pizza was "too tempting to pass up". Soon, everyone had wandered over to the buffet and returned with a couple of slices with pizza, and my colleague who had earlier got a VB atoned for his sin by returning with a glass of red.
The pizza was actually quite good. The mushroom and cheese pizza base was a little on the soft side and flavour could have been better, but was alright. The meat pizza had some sort of pepperoni or other spiced sausage, which actually had some bite in it. The meat pizza also had a nice crispy base and tasted great. Not sure about "wood fired" for either pizza, but the pizzas still tasted quite good and not like it was simply the boxed pizza you get in the supermarket freezer (even though it just might have been). I think it was the pizza bases that made a considerable impression on me.
We had enough time for a small chat, a couple of drinks each and a few snacks before it ticked past 1900h, which was probably a good time to start moving towards the gate (T-30 minutes). Quite a few of the QantasLink flights were delayed according to the FID board inside the QP, but I didn't expect the DJ flights to be quite so delayed.
But they were.
Our plane had just arrived when we left the QP, along with another plane which parked at a gate adjacent to ours. I found out later that this other plane was also bound for BNE, and I believe it was considerably late since the flight number was "less than" ours (if that makes sense).
Boarding didn't start for at least another 15 minutes once we arrived at the gate, and when it did, the same mindless scrum occurred at the gate as it did in BNE, with no enforcement of priority boarding, even for special assistance passengers and even though priority passenger boarding was announced. Additionally, the gate agent announced that there were issues with Web CI printed BPs, which had to be verified at the agent counter rather than the regular BP readers, which created additional mental strain (not for us seasoned travelers, of course).
I think priority boarding is mostly farcical when announced because most people don't know what elite status is, or even understand that it exists. So they just go forward because all they understand is "boarding", not "Velocity Gold" or whatever like that. Maybe some of them are trying to push the equality argument (i.e. elite status is a farce, a customer service travesty, a point of discrimination and a violation of a human right or something along those lines), but mostly from what I could see, it was pure inexperience. And it never helps when the staff at the gate don't enforce priority boarding or provide clear demarcations. Hope this is something that both major domestic carriers in Australia can fix up.
Flight: Virgin Blue DJ985 Sydney (SYD T2) - Brisbane (BNE D)
Depart: 1930h Sched; 1937h Actual
Aircraft: VH-VOM "Little Blue Peep" Boeing 737-800
Class: Economy
Seat: 29C
I specifically selected my seat so I could be near the rear door and use the airstairs. Certainly made it easier to get the aircraft registration, and was almost as quick as trying to board through the airbridge with the most forward (non-middle) seat I could get with no status.
The FA who greeted the pax at the rear entrance didn't seem all that glad to be there and seemed to have some trouble putting up a smile. Probably had a long day like some of us. Dryly, I was directed to my seat. One thing is that DJ seem to put up (or their pax seemed to like doing this) the armrests, only to tell everyone that these must be lowered before take-off. In the USA, they seem to put them up as well, but seem to have no qualms if they remain up.
We taxiied to the third runway and was on our way to BNE. It was a very turbulent ascent particularly as we were going through the clouds, and we probably didn't see the seat belt sign turn off until well after 35 - 45 minutes into the flight. I wonder if it's just me or do DJ pilots hit the accelerator a bit more than QF. I noticed our taxi seemed rather speedier than my experience with QF. I noticed this both times (BNE/SYD and SYD/BNE flights) but perhaps seating position in plane had something to do with it.
Irrespective of the turbulence and the seat belt sign, the cabin crew sprang to life as they prepared to wheel out the service carts. I did wonder whether it was a good idea or not to offer the service during turbulence. I noticed one of the parked carts rocking laterally and dangerously; I almost thought it might tip over and fall on some aisle pax, but it thankfully didn't happen.
I didn't buy anything, but the lady next to me parted with $13 to get a bag of mixed nuts and a gin and tonic. Since the cart was parked a few rows away, the FA served her selection back to her on a small tray not much bigger than a magazine. Once again, our cabin crew were certainly younger than the average QF FAs, but as far as service goes they were not spectacularly better than QF. The same FA who greeted the rear boarding pax in particular seemed enthusiastic only to see through this flight. She must've been pretty tired - poor girl.
As the FAs finished the service, I couldn't help but overhear their conversations in the galley (since it was a mere 2 rows away from me). I'm sure we've all heard FAs mouth off pax before. We never hope to actually hear it, but I certainly did. Not the most pleasant impression anyone would like to take away about an airline's crew for sure.
As we descended into BNE, the CSM gave a seemingly standard plug for the rental car companies (and a reminder that all car rentals can earn Velocity points), but we landed with a considerably rough bounce in BNE, and before long we had parked at our gate a mere 10 minutes behind schedule.
Bags took only 5 minutes to start being fed to the belt - very good.
I know some people fly a considerable amount of DJ, but from my assessment of two flights with them?
The service I received was as expected for any decent airline. The staff did their jobs, and did it without a bad attitude. Perhaps my QF status greases some wheels, so to speak, when I fly with them, but there were still some little things with DJ even if I discount any favouritism that elite customers receive.
Most of my issues that I had with DJ had to do with the professionalism of the staff. And of course there was the unfortunate overhearing of some gossip from the FAs on the SYD-BNE flight which should be delayed until off the aircraft and not within a passengers' earshot. I think everyone - FAs included - on the SYD-BNE flight was tired so not a big deal even if the FAs' dispositions were a bit errant, and I think this applies (or could apply) to any airline (perhaps less so in the premium classes).
Loyalty is a genuine pull for many flyers, and I'm no different, so my WP status will naturally bias me to fly QF even at additional expense (as I'm sure it also does for Velocity elites). But DJ is definitely not on my "no fly" list; I certainly don't have a good reason (apart from attitude, but it would take considerably more flights to come to that conclusion) to strike them off. Were they miles better than QF? From the two flights I had, no. I realise the sample size is too small to make any blanket judgement, plus experiences are based on the person and are very circumstantial. But, based on my two flights, I hereby submit my assessment.
Maybe one day, DJ.........
Fin
