Trip Report: MEL-SYD-MEL - DJ B777-300ER Special Flight

[Oliver Gigacz]

Yesterday when Virgin Australia announced that they would be putting a Boeing 777-300ER on a Sydney to Melbourne leg, it was impossible to resist. So I used some of my Velocity points to book a return trip.

I booked the earliest flight up to Sydney, which was DJ803, leaving Melbourne at 06:00. I checked in online the night before, and selected seat 7F.
I arrived at Melbourne Airport around 05:10. I had a quick snack in the lounge, before I proceeded through security. DJ803 was leaving from Gate 3, and I was one of the first to board. We had a slight delay, but soon we were rolling down RWY16.

Date: 1st November 2011
Route: Melbourne to Sydney
Airline: Virgin Australia
Flight Number: DJ803
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800 (VH-VUL)
Class/Seat: Economy - 7F
Distance: 705km
Departure Gate: T3 – Gate 3
SCH/ACT Departure: 06:15am / 06:10am
SCH/ACT Arrival: 07:25am / 07:30am
Arrival Gate: T2 – Gate 32

The flight was uneventful, and went by very quickly. Soon we were touching down on RWY16R at Sydney Airport. We arrived at Gate 32.


Virgin Australia - Boeing 737-800 - VH-VUL (Inflight) by Oliver Gigacz, on Flickr

After disembarking I went immediately to the check in counters, and checked in for DJ9502, the B77W flight to Melbourne. I had preselected seat 11K in premium economy, and was pleased to see it written on my boarding pass.


My Ticket For DJ9502 - Boeing 777-300ER - VH-VPE (Sydney Airport)

I then went straight to the lounge and found myself a nice seat looking onto the apron.

At first glance I saw my first Virgin Australia ATR-72, and Emirates' brand new A380 (A6-EDP). I also managed to get a few regos I had yet to record.

I left the lounge around 09:15, and walked down to Gate 41. As soon as I got to the gate I noticed five buses ready to take us to our Boeing 777-300ER, which was being operated by VH-VPE. The staff were all trying to get things sorted for this very unusual flight, and they had a few hiccups with their system software.

Busses Await To Take Us To Our Boeing 777-300ER - VH-VPE (Sydney Airport)

Date: 1st November 2011
Route: Sydney to Melbourne
Airline: Virgin Australia (Operated by V Australia)
Flight Number: DJ9202
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER (VH-VPE)
Seat: Premium Economy - 11A
Distance: 705km
Departure Gate: T2 – Gate 41
SCH/ACT Departure: 10:30am / 10:42am
SCH/ACT Arrival: 12:00pm / 12:07pm
Arrival Gate: T3 – Gate 12

Soon I was on walking onto Bus #1. It was only then that I realized that this flight was NOT going to be packed. It looked like there was only 100 people lining up, and in the end they got everybody quite comfortably into just two buses.

We were soon moving across the tarmac, getting very close to a QantasLink Dash 8 DHC-200 and a Qantas B747-400. We had to wait around five minutes for a Qantas B767-300 to taxi, but then it was a wide open road and VH-VPE was getting bigger and bigger.



Virgin Australia - Boeing 777-300ER - VH-VPE (Sydney Airport)

The bus stopped right in front of the stairs and before I knew it, I was sitting in seat 11K with plenty of legroom. It took just five minutes to get everyone on-board and, of the 40 seats in Premium Economy, only 8 people, including myself, we're being seated there. In fact I had the entire row 11 to myself.


Boarding - Virgin Australia - Boeing 777-300ER - VH-VPE (Sydney Airport)


Premium Economy - Virgin Australia - Boeing 777-300ER - VH-VPE (Sydney Airport)


Premium Economy Legroom - Virgin Australia - Boeing 777-300ER - VH-VPE (Sydney Airport)


We had to wait for around 10 aircraft to either take off or land, so we were on the ground for a good twenty minutes. Finally after Virgin Australia E190 cleared the runway, we were roaring down 16R, with some great wing flex.


Virgin Australia - Boeing 777-300ER - VH-VPE (Inflight)


Virgin Australia - Boeing 777-300ER - VH-VPE (Inflight)

The self-serve bar was not in use for this flight, but they did offer us complimentary cheese and biscuits and bottled water.

This was the first time on a Boeing 777 for me, and with basically no one around it was very peaceful and enjoyable.

We were soon descending into Melbourne. We landed on RWY16 and taxied to Gate 12 at Virgin Australia's T3. This was the first time in a while (if not the first time ever) that a B777 had parked at this gate. The aerobridge was not used, as it isn’t high enough.


Virgin Australia - Boeing 777-300ER - VH-VPE (Melbourne Airport)

Overall I think the Boeing 777-300ER is an amazing aircraft, with a great inflight product. I am very grateful for Virgin for putting this aircraft on a domestic leg.

P.S: I will have some videos ready by tomorrow.

Lots more photos can be seen here. Melbourne/Sydney Airport - 1st November 2011 - a set on Flickr

 

[TravelingSmithy]

Thanks for that report. I have flown on an older 777 & on on CX in December which I am looking forward to.

Great report thanks. Like the format you have used. Very comprehensive.

Cheers

 

[gwilli1]

Just arrived back in Sydney after the "flying" visit to Melb on the 777.

Great report Oliver , you didn't waste any time getting that up .

 

[pauly7]

Thanks for the report! There are rumors being retweeted on Twitter that the flight only carried about 50 pax?! True??!

 

[dk4]

Great report, excellent pics.

Seems like the light load provided Virgin with an easy going opportunity to test and prove that it can and will step forward, as one of our national flag carriers, during a crisis situation.

And aside from the external PR opportunities, going by the number of staff in all the pics, a great boost to VA's team spirit & confidence, preparing them for next the time that VA has to swiftly ramp up services in the national interest, when things might be a bit more hectic.

 

[gwilli1]

Thanks for the report! There are rumors being retweeted on Twitter that the flight only carried about 50 pax?! True??!

I think there was around 120 on the flight .

 

[ojm]

Hey Oliver, thanks for the photos and review!
How did you find the PE? Will be flying next year on V Australia from SYD to AUH in PE. What were your thoughts on it (albeit on a short flight!)?

Thanks

 

[Oliver Gigacz]

Hey Oliver, thanks for the photos and review!
How did you find the PE? Will be flying next year on V Australia from SYD to AUH in PE. What were your thoughts on it (albeit on a short flight!)?

Thanks

I found it great. Much better then Qantas' domestic business

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Out of curiosity, did you have a particular reason for choosing the PE cabin over J? I was pre-assigned 1A (J cabin sold as PE), and was unable to alter the seat selection or check-in online (I wasn't going to argue with a J seat though haha)!

 

[Febs]

I found it great. Much better then Qantas' domestic business

Hold up though, wasn't this a one-off promo flight, and not really indicative of a standard Virgin domestic seat?

Bit like someone who caught the QF 388 MEL-SYD flight saying "Wow the Skybed was SO much better than the Virgin business class seat"

Or is the 777 PE seat what Virgin are installing in all domestic aircraft?

 

[ojm]

Hold up though, wasn't this a one-off promo flight, and not really indicative of a standard Virgin domestic seat?

Bit like someone who caught the QF 388 MEL-SYD flight saying "Wow the Skybed was SO much better than the Virgin business class seat"

Or is the 777 PE seat what Virgin are installing in all domestic aircraft?

I was asking how it was as I am flying the V Australia PE next year. I think the comparison to the Qantas domestic business was to give a comparison for what I could expect.

 

[Febs]

I was asking how it was as I am flying the V Australia PE next year. I think the comparison to the Qantas domestic business was to give a comparison for what I could expect.

Ahh, yep I see now. Fair enough.

 

[Oliver Gigacz]

Hold up though, wasn't this a one-off promo flight, and not really indicative of a standard Virgin domestic seat?

Bit like someone who caught the QF 388 MEL-SYD flight saying "Wow the Skybed was SO much better than the Virgin business class seat"

Or is the 777 PE seat what Virgin are installing in all domestic aircraft?

The original question was from someone who is travelling V Australia to AUH in PE.

 

[Mal]

Thanks for the report.

I believe there were at least 4 AFF'ers on that flight ... Small world ain't it

 

[LiamR]

Thanks for the Trip Report, great pics.

I dare say this turned more into a PR stunt from Virgin trying to 'save the day' than helping pax.

There seemed to be plenty of availability on SYD-MEL when I checked the night before.

Nevertheless, who would turn down the opportunity to catch this flight? Sounds like you had a good time, wish I could have made it.

 

[wenglock.mok]

There seemed to be plenty of availability on SYD-MEL when I checked the night before.

Hi Liam,

I suspect most of the existing services were probably close to full as evidenced by the fact that none of the services in the morning from SYD-MEL had any Saver fares left and only had less than 5 flexi and premium seats for sale, and as they did not have much scope for accommodating other passengers, decided to put on an extra service. Perhaps again, in the process, there was no other aircraft they could have used and so we ended up on the B777-300ER.

But yes, if this was a publicity stunt, they did a fabulous job! The cabin crew were absolutely fantastic!

 

[pauly7]

I think there was around 120 on the flight .

Thanks Ouch expensive exercise for VA.

 

[jpp42]

Thanks Ouch expensive exercise for VA.

Not necessarily. The plane sits idle during this time, it wasn't going to bring in any revenue that way. Previously VA had been flying it to Fiji and return in the same timeslot, often with similar load factors - this went on for many months, not just one day! The 120 pax would have been enough to cover fuel costs; the rest of the expense was probably worth it given the publicity. Probably the managers and crew enjoyed the effort of putting it together, giving them a morale boost too, which is hard to quantify.

 

[Noob]

Would the longer than expected take off and wing flex be reflective of a high amount of cargo?

 

[airtraveladdict]

awesome! i wish i was on that flight just for the fun of it.