Review of Qantas flight from Sydney to Perth in Business

Qantas QF5 Sydney to Perth

Flight Details:
Airlines: Qantas
Flight: QF5 SYD - PER
Reg: VH-ZNB "Waltzing Matilda"
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Class: Business
Departure Sydney Terminal 1 Gate 8: 6.20pm
Arrival Perth Terminal 3: 9.20pm [Actual: 9.04pm]
Flight time: 4 hours 32 minutes
Distance: 3500 km or 2174 miles

VIDEO: Qantas QF5 Sydney to Perth

Introduction

This trip report is from June 2023. I booked flight to Perth with Qantas.

Booking

I booked flight through the Qantas website.

I checked the options as I wanted to return on Friday and rest over the weekend.

As I wanted transport during the trip, I booked car rental through the Qantas booking.

Payment completed, received email with booking details.

UPgrade

Few days prior to departure, received upgrade offer. I bid for the upgrade.

Two days prior to departure received an email, bid was successful. Amount charged to credit card.

Online Check-in

I logged in the Qantas website after receiving the email to select seat and complete check-in.

Being an international flight, I wasn't able to select the seat, I could only choose aisle or window option. I selected the window but selection was not saved.

Travel information for domestic travellers on International flights.

Check-in opens 3 hours prior to departure.

Pre-Departure

QF5 operates from Sydney to Perth and onwards to Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, Fiumicino - Italy.

As I knew the flight would be a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, checked the routes of the special liveries aircraft's.

VH-ZNJ on its way to Perth.

VH-ZND on its way to Sydney from Santiago. Confirmed, not a special livery aircraft for QF5.

I was not able to find the likely aircraft that would operate the route.

Qantas Boeing 787-9 Seating

Boeing 787-9 specifications from Qantas website.

Arriving at Airport

On the day of departure, I booked taxi at 2.55pm.

Taxi arrived at 3.10pm. I told driver to take the toll route as I wanted to reach early. Due to opening of the M4-M8 motorway connector, I was able to reach airport by 3.45pm. Faced traffic at the end of the motorway near the domestic airport signal. Paid the driver and collected bag.

Checked the flight information, QF5 check-in row C.

Check-in

Qantas check-in was just next to the entrance.

Business class check-in was next to self-check kiosk. As seen below, empty.

Ground staff asked me for passport and where I was flying. I told her, I'm going to Perth and handed her my drivers license. We had a laugh. Boarding pass was printed and orange sticker with D was stuck. My drivers license number was written and was asked to sign on the sticker.
As I was completing the formalities, forgot about the seat selection. I did not check the seat number. I realised later that  was assigned a aisle seat.

I wanted to reduce the drag and lift. After my previous trip, I reduced things that I was carrying and so the bag was well below the allowance weight.

Immigration and Security Check

After check-in, I walked to following the departure sign.

As I was flying domestic, I had to get boarding pass stamped by border officer. I joined the immigration queue.

Immigration was not busy, there were 9 people ahead with 6 belonging to one family group.

Two counters were open, processing was slow. Took almost 5 minutes for 3 people be be processed. Lucky the group went to one counter and third counter opened.

I handed drivers license and boarding card. Orange sticker to indicate domestic passenger. Border officer wasn't having the stamp and had to leave desk to get the stamp the boarding pass.

I was allowed to continue towards security.  I emptied pocket and removed all metal items from person.

Security process was quick as not many international flight depart early evening. The usual x-ray and physical exercise in the full body scan followed.

Process was quick about 3-5 mins.

Departure Area

Entered the duty free area, I had to access to the business lounge.

I walked straight following the lounge sign. Flight boarding from gate 8. 5 mins walk was close to the lounge.

Took the escalator and turned left and long corridor to enter.

Qantas Business Lounge

Entered the lounge and showed boarding pass to the receptionist.

She scanned and stamped lounge on the boarding pass. As seen below, boarding pass plain, no logo with just flight details.

Video: Qantas Business Lounge

Dinner

I would be arriving late in Perth and from my last experience, I had difficulty in finding food.

I wanted to sleep and avoid driving as I had to wake up early next morning.

After settling in the lounge, I got food.

Sat by the window to view the airside.

View of Sydney skyline from the lounge, with Qantas VH-ZNB arriving in the foreground. I didn't know at the time, this would be aircraft operating to Perth and on to Rome.

Food and drinks counter.

I had Moscato wine.

All day snacking menu

All day snacking menu

Cheese pasta

Dessert

Planespotting

While having dinner, saw Srilankan airlines and UPS depart. As it was getting dark, reflection was unavoidable.

UPS Boeing 747-8 to Honolulu

Walk to Gate

I had rest for sometime and then explored the lounge area. Flight schedule for the evening.

Lounge was getting busier, I walked towards the exit.

Escalator down to the departure area.

Boarding ARea

I had plenty of time for boarding, walked to complete the daily steps target.

Flight schedule

Tourist refund near the gate

Empty boarding area

Returned to the departure area

Terminal 1- Flight Departures

Getting busier with more flight departing in close proximity.

Food court near by. I was burning calories, did not walk near the food stores.

Boarding

I returned to boarding area around boarding time of 5.50pm and waited for boarding call.

Boarding call was made on time. I joined the queue to board.

Boarding pass and identification was checked for passengers travelling to Perth. Those flying to Rome had to show passport.

Aircraft was parked a the furthest gate from the terminal, which meant a long walk to reach the aerobridge.

 A short queue to board, boarding pass was checked and was directed to seat. This is where I checked the seat number and realised I was assigned the aisle seat.

OnBoard

I reached the assigned seat it was aisle not a window as I was thinking. As can be seen, pillow, blanket, menu was placed along with headphones and water. I put the handbag in the overhead bin.

The passenger behind was travelling to Rome with son. 

Cabin Service: Welcome Drink

As I sat on the seat, crew checked if I wanted champagne or sparking wine. I chose champagne.

Passengers were still boarding, while I sipped on the drink.

Opened tray to avoid spilling on self.

Boarding continued for some more time. Business was full on this flight.

Menu

Unlike the last Qantas business class, this time menu card was provided. Read QF9 experience - Qantas QF9 Melbourne To Perth

Menu was written in Italian on one side and English on other. I browsed the menu and decided what I would order.

Drinks information

Pushback and departure

Departure time neared, captain welcomed and announced flight details. Aircraft would arrive 15 minutes early.

Cabin announcement followed. Safety demonstration was conducted by crew and also displayed on personal screen.

Pushback commenced on time.

Sash belt fastened. Ready for departure

As the aircraft was parked close to the runway 16R, long but quick taxi followed as there was no traffic.

Flight information

Light changed to moodlighting and then dimmed for takeoff.

Sydney Departure

Flight lined on runway 34L and departed towards North and then turned West followed by changed in direction towards South.

Checked the flight route simulation

Inflight

A smooth departure and cruising, I checked the seat settings.

Route information, 4.30 hours - flight time

I charged the phone for sometime after departure.

Flying South

I got up to use the toilet, which was clean with handwash and cream.

Cabin view while returning to seat.

Seat number on the overhead bin

Flight information

CAbin Service: Drinks

Half hour after departure, crew commenced drinks service.

Crew serving drinks

Chilli cheese ball

I wanted to have a different drink and chose Campari with soda.

Campari tasted bitter with orange and cherry flavors. I sipped slowly and finished the cheese ball.

Checked the weather while sipping the drink.

Waiting for collection.

Cabin SErvice: Meal

Drinks was followed by parsnip soup with sourdough croutons and red wine

Soup served 1.30 hours after departure.

I ate and waited for dishes to be cleared.

Sipping red wine waiting for main. Main served 2.10 hours after departure.

I had informed crew regarding the main when she had conducted a round to note order.

I ordered the Tasmanian smoked salmon, check menu for other ingredients. Food tasted good.

After meal, I had selected ice cream for dessert

Ice cream was hard, waited sometime for it to melt.

Resting

Flight information

I had drunk enough and felt sleepy,

Took rest and probably snoozed for sometime.

Arrival in Perth

Captain announced flight descent would be commencing shortly as aircraft would land early. Crew announced and cleared cabin. Crew manager came and thanked each passenger.

Flight information

Flying towards Perth.

Sash belt buckled and ready for landing.

Aircraft approached runway 21 from North.

 Landing felt smooth as seated in the front.

Flight time: 4.31 hours

Aircraft reached gate.

Local time was 9.10pm

Disembarkation

Disembarkation commenced with Business passengers deboarding first. All passengers had to deboard the plane. Seated a 1 seat away from the door, exit was quick off the aircraft.

View of aircraft after disembarkation. Qantas VH-ZNB "Waltzing Matilda" would continue on to Rome.

Walking through corridor to reach escalator towards immigration

Immigration

As was early off the aircraft, Immigration was quick. Showed the boarding pass and drivers license and was allowed to continue towards baggage claim behind the counter.

Baggage Claim

Baggage claim started to fill with passengers, while waiting collected few tourist guides. Bag arrived within 10 minutes of arrival.

Exiting Terminal 3

Collected the bag and walked towards exit. No one manned the exit nor collected the boarding pass.  Exited the arrivals area.

After exiting the terminal, I followed the car rental signage.

As this was second trip, I knew the direction.

Walking towards car rental kiosk.

Drive to Hotel

I got the car key after making payment.

Loaded bag and arranged setup the drive.

Time was almost 10.10pm when I was ready to drive.

As this was second booking with same motel reached quickly.

Hope you enjoyed the trip. Thanks for reading.

End of trip

:)