This trip was part of the Qantas double status credits offer and in response to the downgrade of QP - priority check in etc. Mrs ZX was about 150 points shy of retaining silver and I wanted to have a shot at gold this year.
The booking made as a JASA for the SYD-AKL for 36,000 points plus $227 including taxes each. A good deal I thought for 2,013 FF points and 80 SC x 2. On booking we selected seat 4 A&B, at T-80ish moved to 2 A&B in the front section of J. The AKL-SYD was a standard $220 Y fare for 1,677 points and 20 SC’s – all including the silver and class bonus.
It was way to early on a clear and cold Thursday morning when Mrs ZX and I got up to get to Sydney scaryport T1 by around OMG 4.30am for a 6.15 departure. I know you only need 60 minutes but with recent experiences, an hour leaves you no time in the lounge and generally rushing anyway to get to the gate in time.
We had pre-booked some parking for $122 for the 4 days. Check in was smooth with Mrs ZX learning that there was a small benefit in flying at OMG hour we would be in J, sky seats MK1, it was her birthday after all, which the checkin person noticed and said happy birthday!
During customs we were joined by a large crowd of Japanese students that were on the Narita flight that had been delayed from the night before. They looked worse that we did, and I had some (if not a lot) of sympathy. Nice touch was the duty free man that asked for duty free forms in Japanese, the not nice touch was the security person that select both of us for wandy, sniffy treatments. He didn’t understand that I understood his English, the security process and could stand with my feet slightly apart while he sniffed and wanded up down and around… but please hurry up I am missing lounge time.
We had a short stay in the quiet international lounge, with a little breakfast and OJ before boarding the plane. I noticed that they had a cooked breakfast in the lounge of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages etc. Looked fairly edible but thought we would get better on the plane.
VH-EBH Hunter Valley A330-200 36J/199Y (the Qantas source has the plane as EBL in One World livery but I didn’t see this) was waiting for us and once seated we were offered a glass of water, OJ or Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, which I thought was good for the morning J wake me up. We waited for the last pax and luggage but still got away on time. J was about 2/3rds full.
We had the JT safety demo, the first time I have seen this, didn’t like it. The pilot came on with the usual comments and said how hard it was at this time in the morning and breaky would be on soon. Breakfast (menu below) was served about an hour into the flight, a little slow for my now very awake stomach and wasn’t going to leave me with any snooze time so was watching movies. This A330 goes to NYC, so had full international on demand IFE. The seat went back to relax mode and I settled into the flight. The senior Customer Manager (go JT) came and had a chat but left us alone pretty quickly as we weren’t in a chatty mood (no breakfast yet) and no business attire. Breakfast is an OR version so not continental and cooked but the Corn Cakes were ok, I think most were opting for this version. During breakfast I gave Mrs ZX a birthday card from the dog, complete with paw prints and then one from me. This was observed by the CSM and some crew who commented and wish her a happy birthday. Later on the flight, a small gift of Pinot Gris was received, much unexpected and appreciated… I might have to try this on my next flight J
The rest of the flight was pretty good plenty space to move around even thought its only 3 odd hours. Touch down was from the north so we ended up at the gate a little early for the gate mover and had to wait a couple of minutes and then another couple to try again at the right height. Then off the plane to customs, bags and exit t the background music of bird sounds.
The booking made as a JASA for the SYD-AKL for 36,000 points plus $227 including taxes each. A good deal I thought for 2,013 FF points and 80 SC x 2. On booking we selected seat 4 A&B, at T-80ish moved to 2 A&B in the front section of J. The AKL-SYD was a standard $220 Y fare for 1,677 points and 20 SC’s – all including the silver and class bonus.
It was way to early on a clear and cold Thursday morning when Mrs ZX and I got up to get to Sydney scaryport T1 by around OMG 4.30am for a 6.15 departure. I know you only need 60 minutes but with recent experiences, an hour leaves you no time in the lounge and generally rushing anyway to get to the gate in time.
We had pre-booked some parking for $122 for the 4 days. Check in was smooth with Mrs ZX learning that there was a small benefit in flying at OMG hour we would be in J, sky seats MK1, it was her birthday after all, which the checkin person noticed and said happy birthday!
During customs we were joined by a large crowd of Japanese students that were on the Narita flight that had been delayed from the night before. They looked worse that we did, and I had some (if not a lot) of sympathy. Nice touch was the duty free man that asked for duty free forms in Japanese, the not nice touch was the security person that select both of us for wandy, sniffy treatments. He didn’t understand that I understood his English, the security process and could stand with my feet slightly apart while he sniffed and wanded up down and around… but please hurry up I am missing lounge time.
We had a short stay in the quiet international lounge, with a little breakfast and OJ before boarding the plane. I noticed that they had a cooked breakfast in the lounge of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages etc. Looked fairly edible but thought we would get better on the plane.
VH-EBH Hunter Valley A330-200 36J/199Y (the Qantas source has the plane as EBL in One World livery but I didn’t see this) was waiting for us and once seated we were offered a glass of water, OJ or Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, which I thought was good for the morning J wake me up. We waited for the last pax and luggage but still got away on time. J was about 2/3rds full.
We had the JT safety demo, the first time I have seen this, didn’t like it. The pilot came on with the usual comments and said how hard it was at this time in the morning and breaky would be on soon. Breakfast (menu below) was served about an hour into the flight, a little slow for my now very awake stomach and wasn’t going to leave me with any snooze time so was watching movies. This A330 goes to NYC, so had full international on demand IFE. The seat went back to relax mode and I settled into the flight. The senior Customer Manager (go JT) came and had a chat but left us alone pretty quickly as we weren’t in a chatty mood (no breakfast yet) and no business attire. Breakfast is an OR version so not continental and cooked but the Corn Cakes were ok, I think most were opting for this version. During breakfast I gave Mrs ZX a birthday card from the dog, complete with paw prints and then one from me. This was observed by the CSM and some crew who commented and wish her a happy birthday. Later on the flight, a small gift of Pinot Gris was received, much unexpected and appreciated… I might have to try this on my next flight J
The rest of the flight was pretty good plenty space to move around even thought its only 3 odd hours. Touch down was from the north so we ended up at the gate a little early for the gate mover and had to wait a couple of minutes and then another couple to try again at the right height. Then off the plane to customs, bags and exit t the background music of bird sounds.
:arrow:
