Review of Jetstar Airways flight from Sydney to Cairns in Economy

Jetstar Airways JQ956 Sydney to Cairns

Flight Details:
Airlines: Jetstar Airways
Flight: JQ956 SYD -CNS
Reg: VH-XNJ
Aircraft: Airbus A320-232
Departure Sydney Terminal 2: 7.35pm [Actual: 8.05 pm]
Arrival Cairns Domestic Terminal 2: 10:35 pm [Actual: 11.25pm]
Flight time: 3 hours 0 minutes
Distance: 1966 kilometers or 1222 nautical miles.

VIDEO: Jetstar Airways JQ956 Sydney to Cairns

Introduction

This trip report is from September 2022.

Booking Information

I had booked the ticket in advance through Jetstar website.

Selected seat while booking the ticket.

Paid for additional bag as I would be going for long duration.

Received confirmation email after payment.

Planned to drive to airport and leave car in Long term parking off airport.

Got email with details.

I had checked the flight details before travel, this flight was delayed everyday. I'm assuming due to this flight being the last destination for the aircraft and is the night stop.

I received email from Jetstar to check-in online. Completed the online check-in. Received a sms with boarding details and also downloaded the boarding pass in pdf.

On the day of flight, check aircraft information. It would be VH-XNJ arriving from Melbourne.

Sydney to Cairns route.

Arriving at Airport

I decided to start from home early as was unsure about the traffic. Reached airport at 5p.m.

Saw a RFDS Saab depart from runway 34R

Parked car in bay and waited at bus stop.

Sydney Emu Car park buses are now electric. Bus arrived in 5 minutes and was empty as it had dropped passengers at previous stop.

There was traffic jam close to the domestic terminal. It was 5.35pm by the time I alighted at domestic terminal 2.

Check-In and Baggage Drop

Jetstar was having issue and was in news for cancellations and baggage delays. I reached the self-check kiosk and printed the baggage tag along with boarding pass. As there were long queue for baggage drop, I joined the queue, ground staff announced that as if flight was more than 2 hours away, should join later.  I dropped out of the queue and waited for flight check-in.

I checked my bag weight from the machine under the flight information board.

Joined the queue again at 5.45pm. Line was snaking through two rows. Reached the check-in counter. Showed drivers license and credit card for identification. Bag was weighed. It was 15kg, way underweight.

Security

After completing check-in joined the security check queue. Queue was long as well but moving. I prepared self for security - laptop, belt and other stuff organised for quick check. It was almost 6.20pm by the time I cleared security.

Planespotting

While having dinner, planespotted Virgin Australia boarding.

Walking to Towards GATE

After dinner, passed through the food court towards Jetstar gates.

Flight Inforamation

Checked the flight information board and noticed, flight was rescheduled to 8.05pm.

Decided to sit near the gate. Passing the renovated section of the terminal - more shops and vending machines.

Flight Arrivals and Departure details.

Jetstar to Cairns would be departing from Gate 52.

Boarding

Inbound aircraft arrived at gate around 7.35pm from Melbourne.

Boarding call was made at 7.50pm after passengers had alighted from previous flight. Boarding pass was scanned. As I was seated in front section, boarded through aerobridge.

Onboard

Crew were at the door, directing passengers. Reached assigned seat 6F. Seat belt fastened waited for pushback.

Flight was full, doors were closed after boarding was completed.

Boarding pass

Pushback and Departure

Pushback commenced at 8.10pm.

Crew conducted safety demonstration manually as aircraft pushback commenced.

Window view as aircraft taxies.

As this flight is of longer duration and full load. Aircraft taxied to runway 34L - main runway at Sydney Airport. Departure would be towards North, flying over the Inner West, with view of Sydney city. Being full moon, it was bright outside. Watch video above to experience the departure.

SEAT Pocket MAterial

After departure, checked the seat pocket material. Containing the menu.

Menu middle page.

Last page.

Safety card and sickness bag.

Jetstar Airways A320-200 safety card.

Full view.

Inflight

After departure, crew commenced Buy on Board [BOB] service. As I had eaten earlier, skipped the service. Cabin light were dimmed after the service.

Full moon from window as aircraft headed North towards Cairns. During the flight, a passengers required medical care. Crew checked if there was a doctor on board. Luckily there was and he checked with passenger.

Landing in Cairns

Aircraft flew inland after departure. Pilot informed descend would commence. Crew conduced safety check. Aircraft would be approaching runway from North. Landed smoothly.

Disembarkation

Crew informed passengers that medical staff would be boarding the flight to assist the passengers. Disembarkation would commence after that.

As I was seated in front of the aircraft, disembarked through the aerobridge.

Aircraft was not visible, being parked at the end of the terminal - gate 22. Rego visible above the front wheel.

Long walk towards the terminal building.

Arrival information

Shops closed at the terminal.

Walking towards the exit to collect bag.

Reached the bag belt 3

Bags started to arrive after 10 minutes.

After collecting bag, exited the terminal building.

Taxi to Hotel

Exited the terminal building, it was warm but pleasant outside. Waited for taxi, there were 4 other groups ahead. It took 20 minutes to get a taxi.  Reached hotel at 12.20a.m.

Hope you enjoyed this trip report. Thanks for reading.
:)