Hello Flight-Report #Avgeeks. After a brief but enjoyable visit to Cairns it was time to make the slow and multi-stop trip back to the US, the wrong way of course. Originally this trip had almost a week in Australia, Cairns and Brisbane being the choice cities. My return home was on Singapore and ANA in first class using a no longer available 125K point redemption, which was a grand steal. When I booked it a year out there was rumor the new A380 would fly the SYD-SIN route. Singapore flies 2 A380s between these cities. BOTH were available when I booked it. But I picked the wrong one, and by the time I realized it, the new A380 was not available.
So for months that gnawed at me. Then SQ started publishing routes for their new B787-10. Reward Flying wanted to fly that plane. And I found Malaysia A350 too. And I found a waitlist on the new SQ A380. And I found space on Cathay's A350-1K. So I blew up the trip and ultimately had tickets on all these aircrafts.
Proud of my accomplishment I became tired just looking at the travel I was facing.
So I blew it up again. However all these aircraft are booked for travel in the next few months, as well as some others (hint: QR Qsuites, QR A350-1K, SQ URL) And the good news is CX swapped out the A350-1K on my flight and MH had an aircraft swap as well.
And in the end I lucked into QF's 787 plus an incredible dose of first class to return home.
KLM ORD-AMS B747-400 Business Class - click to view
KLM AMS-CDG B737 Business Class - no report
Qatar CDG-DOH B777-300 Business Class / Qatar CDC Lounge - click to view
Qatar DOH-SYD A380 First Class / DOH Al Safwa First Class lounge = click to view
Qantas SYD-CNS 737-800 Business Class - click to view
Virgin Austrailia CNS-BNE 737-800 Business Class - click to view
Qantas BNE-MEL B787-9 Business Class - click to view
Qantas MEL-SYD A300-200 Business Class / MEL 2nd day open Business Class Lounge - This report
Singapore Airlines SYD-SIN A380 Suites Class / SYD Krisflyer First Class Lounge - to come
Singapore Airlines SIN-PEK B777 First Class / SIN Private Room - to come
Lufthansa PEK-MUC A380 First Class - to come
Lufthansa MUC-FRA A321 Business Class / MUC First Class Lounge - to come
Singapore Airlines FRA-JFK A380 Suites Class - to come
JetBlue JFK-ORD E190 Economy Class - no report
Now that I had my fun flying Qantas’ 787-9 to somewhere I didn’t need to go, I had to get to Sydney where the trip home would commence the following day. However by total coincidence, Qantas opened a remodeled business class lounge in Melbourne the day before. So arriving in Melbourne this day missed the grand opening by a day. Good enough however.
Glasses please.
It is an attractive lounge with a nice view of the airfield, but I wouldn’t call it cutting edge in terms of new architecture. Yet it was plenty large with various types of seating, with or without tables.
Apparently there will be a sit down dining area which hadn’t been completed.
Your typical assortment of lounge food with the ever present Barista, which is such a nice feature US lounges don’t have.
This was interesting.
A tea station with various brands of local teas.
After a tea it was off to the gate. Being towed was the special livery “Yam Dreaming” Qantas 787.
Other plane photos including 2 special livery Qantas 737’s, 2 A380s and an arriving China Airlines A350.
The A330 cabin has the same seats as the 787, except with a different finish and seat cover., both which I like better on the 787.
A comparison of finishes, A330 left, B787 right.
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A non-retractable privacy divider between center seats.
The front cabin.
Seat 4K, a window hugging seat.
Other views of window seats and center seats.
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I picked the right flight. The Melbourne Sydney corridor is one of the busiest air routes in the world. Qantas flies almost on the half hour. The prior flight was delayed and the next flight after mine was delayed. It was a beautiful day in Melbourne, not quite as nice in Sydney.
Before long a light snack was served, impressive on a 70 minute flight.
Moving Map but I question the time.
Did I mention the weather was going downhill?
Sadly it was foggy and drizzling into Sydney which prevented any photos on arrival.
Nice to see QF with some of these transcon-configured A332s on the MEL-SYD run. When I was in Australia 2 years ago, the only 332s on that route had domestic J seats in a 2-3-2 layout...not nearly as exciting. Totally agree on the good QF domestic (and Trans-Tasman) J award availability. Can't wait to get back down there and take advantage of that.
Hi KévinDC, this was the 2nd time I've taken a A330 with the Vantage XL on this route. In fact on this Saturday there were 3 in a row going to SYD, one before me and one after me all to depart within 90 minutes of each other. I guess the MEL-SYD sector is one of the busiest in the world. But if you do get down there, I'd go with the VA A330, in my opinion it's much nicer. Thanks for reading Kévin!
Ah yes, I remember that was the first time you said you didn't like the Vantage XL seats. Hmm....I'm usually loyal to oneworld, but I do have quite a few DL SkyPesos left so VA is a good idea...oooh, I could so a VA 330 one-way and a QF 330 the other. Thanks for the idea!
Or better yet, If you have any AMEX points, transfer to Etihad and fly MEL-PER for 21,800 points!
Thanks for another excellent report, Mark.
"It is an attractive lounge with a nice view of the airfield, but I wouldn’t call it cutting edge in terms of new architecture. Yet it was plenty large with various types of seating, with or without tables. "
-Goodness, that's a beautiful J lounge. Is this the domestic J lounge or International...or is there a difference?
"The A330 cabin has the same seats as the 787, except with a different finish and seat cover.."
-Oh dear, those seat covers look like they're from an LA city bus...
"Before long a light snack was served, impressive on a 70 minute flight."
-Qantas have the best breads. All the pics I see look delicious.
Thanks for the 787 v. A330 look and happy flying.
Hi Christian,
-You're welcome!
-This was the domestic lounge for sure in terminal 1. International is out of T2 primarily in Melbourne
-They are terrible, cold to sit on.
-Not bad for an hour flight. It can be done AA/UA!