Review of Regional Express flight from Sydney to Melbourne in Economy

Rex Airlines ZL9 SYDNEY - MELbourne

Flight details:
Airline: Rex Airlines
Flight: ZL9 SYD - MEL
Reg: VH-PAG
Aircraft : Boeing 737-8FE
Seat: 4A
Depart Sydney Terminal 2 : 7:00 AM
Arrive Melbourne Tullamarine Terminal 4 : 8:35 AM
Total time: 1 hour 35 mins

Video: Rex Airlines ZL9 SYDNEY - MELbourne

Introduction

This trip report is from April 2024. I would be flying to Melbourne on Regional Express [REX].

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Pre-Departure

I booked the flight through the airline website.

I searched the website

Found the time of my convenience.

Checked the flight information, Details were not available.

Melbourne airport arrival information

ONLINE Check-in

Day before departure, Logged through the website. Provided reference number to continue check-in.

Continued with check-in

Health acknowledgement was ticked.

Provided contact number for contact tracing

Seat selection

Dangerous good declaration

Check-in complete, boarding passed emailed.

Received email with flight boarding pass with check-in baggage details.

Travel to Airport

On day of travel, I took train to Central and then changed to platform 23 for Airport line.

Arrived at domestic terminal station and followed terminal 2 direction.

Following the signs, I then took escalator to Departure area.

Check-in

Check-in for the flight was through self check kiosk. I wasn't having a check-in bag. Selected the Rex logo and then continued to the next screen.

I printed the boarding pass as backup.

Boarding pass

Security

Security queue wasn't long as electronic devices don't have to be removed for x-ray. Completed security within 2 mins.

Departure Area

I checked the flight schedule and then walked towards the gate. Airside with near the food court.

Walking towards gate.

Terminal 2 upgraded section.

Walking till the end

Boarding gate

Passengers waiting for boarding call.

I checked the flightradar24 and found the aircraft details.

Boarding for business and economy through separate lanes

REX VH-PAG operating ZL9 Sydney to Melbourne.

Sat near gate for boarding call.

Boarding

Boarding call for business passengers

Soon economy passengers also called for boarding. Load was light on this flight. Probably 25 passengers in total.

Boarding pass scanned and allowed to continue.

Boarding through stairs

Not many to board, was quickly inside aircraft.

Onboard

Crew at door welcoming passengers, As i was seated in the front. Found seat and got settled.

Cabin view as boarding continued.

Window view

Last passengers boarding

SEAT pocket Content

Checked the seat pocket content. TrulyAus - inflight magazine, safety card, menu and air sickness bag.

Flipped

Buy on Board menu

Meal tray

Waiting for door to close.

Individual air vents and lights.

Boeing 737-800 window with shades

Pushback

Cabin crew closed door and welcome announcement. Followed by Captain providing flight information. Pusback back commenced on time.

Crew conduced safety demonstrations followed by check.

Airside view

Taxi to runway

Crossing runway 07-25

Four season Airbus parked in remote bay.

Sydney Air control and Shep's Mound - planespotting spot with car parked to watch the action.

Heading towards runway 16L.

No queue, quick roll on the runway for departure.

Sunrise as aircraft picked speed.

Botany port

View after departure

Flying South over the Tasman sea. Aircraft flew inland after Wollongong.

Cabin Service

Cabin crew announced complimentary service of tea/coffee with sweet or savoury would be provided. I chose biscuits and milk tea.

Buy on Board was also available from the menu.

I finished the tea and waited for the rubbish collection.

Rex Boeing 737-800NG safety card

Cabin was empty with my aisle neighbour having moved to different seat after the service.

Cabin view - plenty of space onboard.

Checked the recline, which was adequate for the duration the flight.

Winglet view

On Approach

Flying over Victoria.

Captain announced descent would be commencing, crew checked the cabin.

Aircraft lining to land

Landing was on runway 27

View of Qantas domestic terminal and extended section of international terminal.

Landed earlier than schedule

Crossing runway 16-34, Melbourne's main runway.

Long taxi to gate

View of runway 16-34

Crossing the runway towards terminal gate.

Long taxi

Turning towards Terminal 4

International section

Local time

View of Cathay Pacific Airbus A350.

Arriving at gate

Parking next to Virgin Australia Boeing 737

Waiting for stairs

Ground crew in action

Stairs rolled towards aircraft

Disembarkation

Passengers queued for disembarkation

View of aircraft

Inside Terminal 4

Inside terminal

Flight schedule

Planespotting towards exit

Walking towards exit

Departure schedule

Walking towards the exit

Arrival Area

Exited the departure area and walked towards the escalator to the lower level

As I did not have check-in bag, I looked for Skybus ticket machine.

Baggage collection is on lower level.

Melbourne Airport Bus

Melbourne does not have train to airport.  
Option is to take a taxi or bus for those without personal transport.

I bought bus ticket to city. Bus to city is outside the arrivals.

Bus has wi-fi  onboard is every few minutes to city and also to Melbourne Avalon Airport.

Got on board

Bus stops at International and Qantas domestic terminal .

View of Qantas jets

Travelling on Tullamarine freeway.

Video: Melbourne Skybus Ride

View of city

V-Line train to Geelong and skyline

Motorway upgrade underconstruction as Melbourne becomes largest city in Australia.

Arriving in Southern Cross station

Deboarded at last stop

Walking towards the station

Southern Cross Station

V-Line train platforms for regional Victoria

Flight Information

Aircraft information

Aircraft rotation

Video: Rex Airlines ZL9 Sydney to Melbourne Route

I went for a walk in the city from Southern Cross station.
Hope you enjoyed the trip. Thanks for reading.

End of Trip

:)