Review of Jetstar Airways flight from Sydney to Melbourne in Economy

Jetstar JQ63 Sydney to Melbourne

Flight details:
Airline: Jetstar
Flight: JQ63 SYD - MEL
Reg: VH-VKE
Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
Seat: 24A
Departure Sydney Airport International Terminal 1 Gate 50:03:50PM AEDT [Actual time:05:11PM AEDT (1hr 21mins late)]
Arrival Melbourne Airport International Terminal 2 Gate 18:04:51PM AEDT [Actual time:06:23PM AEDT (1hr 32mins late)]
Total time: 1hr 12mins

Video: Jetstar JQ63 Sydney to Melbourne

Introduction

This trip report is from Nov 2024. I had travelled to Melbourne on Jetstar Airways from Sydney.

Pre-Departure

I had booked ticket from the Jetstar website and had selected seat at time of booking.

I wanted to seat in the front of the aircraft and paid extra for the seat. Selected seat 24A.

This flight departs from International terminal and had to reach airport 3hrs before departure.

To receive boarding pass, have to show identification at the check-in counter and to clear immigration.

I also booked hotel in Melbourne after booking the ticket.

Online check-in

Prior to departure, I logged in the Jetstar website and tried to complete the check-in. Check-in was not open.

Before departure logged again and received message that this flight was not eligible for online check-in.

Flight and aircraft history

Checked the flightradar24 website for flight and aircraft information. Aircraft information was not available.

Checked the aircraft rotation, I assumed that aircraft would be VH-VKE as it had flown the Ho Chi Minh City route earlier in the week.

Arriving at airport

On the day of travel, I checked aircraft information again. My assumption had been correct. Jetstar VH-VKE would be operating to Sydney. Weather wasn't good and it was raining heavy. Flight was on schedule to arrive on time.

As I was travelling with handbag, I was taking a train to airport. I started at 10.20am to catch the train that connected with airport line service. 
While waiting for train, I checked flight radar and it showed flight delayed. I didn't want to miss flight and decided to wait for the train.

I then received an email from Jetstar, flight was delayed. Now I had the confirmation, As I had just arrived at the station. I returned home to have lunch.

After resting for sometime, I returned to train station at 12.00pm. Checked flightradar24 and aircraft information was available.

Video: Train ride to International Airport

Arrived at International Terminal station.

Escalator to terminal building

Checked the check-in details after entering.

Took another escalator to departure level.

Check-in

Checkin was in counter K and had started.

Walking to check-in K

Check-in was in progress for Queenstown and Melbourne flight.

I entered and joined the check-in queue for Melbourne.

4-5 passengers ahead of me, I didn't have to wait long.

I showed the booking reference and handed my drivers license [DL]. Ground staff printed the boarding pass [BP] and noted the DL number on the BP.

I was asked to check if the number was correct and then signed under the number.

I was asked if I was carrying any powerbank and if I had check-in bag.  I said no. I weighted the handbag to check my weighing scale was accurate.

I got the boarding pass and it still had the original departure time along with gate number.

Departures

I walked to the departures entrance, passing the food court. I wasn't hungry as I had eaten before coming to airport.

Security and Immigration

Entered the departures area. I was directed towards the section for domestic flyers on international flight.

In this section, security is conducted first. Laptop and other electronic devices can be left in the bag. Had a bag and full body scan.
After security is immigration. Where the boarding pass and driver license has to be shown again. Officer will stamp the boarding pass.

Departures

After completing immigration, entered the departures area.

Check flightradar24, flight delay with no time departure estimate.

✈ Spotting

Runway 16R was in use for landing and takeoffs.

Video: Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport ✈ Spotting

After watching the air-side action, I moved to different section to watch the aircraft's at gate.

China Airlines Airbus A350-900

Sichuan Airlines Airbus A350 in special panda-themed livery

It was close to departure time.

Walking towards the departure gate

Reached the gate and checked outside the window. Jetstar VH-VKE was operating JQ63.

Aircraft information from airfleets website.

Tianjin Airlines GS7939 in neighbouring gate.

I checked the gate information screen, boarding would start at 4.00pm.

Waiting area was full.

I explored the terminal.

Boarding

On returning, passengers had queued before the boarding was called.

Boarding started at 3.50pm by rows.

I was seated in the front section and waited for the final call sign to show.

Boarding pass was scanned and was allowed to continue to board.

Queue had formed on the aerobridge, I had few passengers behind.

Onboard

Upon entering my seat was in the second row. The aisle and middle seat was occupied by a Lebanese couple going to Melbourne.

Window view

I checked behind my seat and noticed the flight was full. Most passengers were flying to Melbourne with few onwards to Ho Chi Minh City.

Seat Pocket Content

As it was a short flight, I checked the seat pocket content after boarding.

Safety card was worn out

Jetstar Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

The overhead bins were full, I kept my bag under the seat as I didn't want to wait after on arrival.

Economy seat was in leather in a 3-3-3 config. I found the seat, OK for short flight. I wouldn't want fly in them for longer flights. Cushion was there but felt hard, I reckon think the seat would not be comfortable to seat for longer flights.

Inflight entertainment

Jetstar logo on display on personal screen.

While waiting for the door to close, a women informs the crew that she forgot her bag and would like to go back and get it. Crew spoke to ground staff and her bag was found. An announcement was made that they are waiting for a crew to join and that is causing delay for the flight.

Inflight entertainment

With not much happening. Crew informed that aircraft was undergoing some technical check.

Checked flightradar24, time was passed the estimate departure time.

I checked the 9" IFE screen

USB-A charging port and headphone jack

Flight map with incorrect information, probably due to aircraft programmed to show location on arrival.

Flight location

Aircraft information

Economy class

Flight time and distance to destination

Melbourne local time same as Sydney as both have Daylight saving in summer.

Seat row

Personal air vents and light

Galley between the cabins

Window control were locked and had a yellow tint.

my battery was discharging quickly, plugged to keep the power going. By now the crew had boarded, it was the pilot, he had flown from Melbourne and the incoming flight was delayed. 

Pushback

Announcement were made that ones the paperwork is complete, flight would leave. Estimated time for pushback was 4.45pm

Actual push-back occurred at 5.00pm. Safety demonstration was conducted during pushback by crew.

Taxi to runway

Sichuan Airlines Airbus A350 in special panda-themed livery

Qantas Airbus A380-800

Qantas Freight Airbus A330-200F

Reached the runway and held for turbulence to subside from previous departure.

Aircraft departed from runway 16R, towards the South in direction of Melbourne

With clouds being low, ground visibility disappeared after departure.

Buy on board service [BOB]

Announcement was made to keep seat belt fastened while seated. Followed by BOB service.

Flight map

It was cloudy all the way till Melbourne

Menu card as crew conducted the service.

I continued charging the phone after departure.

Flight status

Flight information

Aircraft took a diverted route instead of flying straight.

Descend

Cloud broke and ground became visible. Pilot informed descend would commence and crew to prepare aircraft for arrival. Aircraft had taken Eastern approach over the Snowy mountains.

World clock

Directions on digital compass

Descend in progress

Aircraft shadow visible on the ground

On final approach

Crossing Sunbury road, entering the airport perimeter.

Landing in Melbourne

Aircraft landed on runway 27-09.

Seated in the front, landed smoothly, braking felt hard.

Cleared runway to enter taxiway as a Srilankan Airbus 330-300 passed ahead.

Arriving at International terminal 2

As the aircraft flies later to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrived at International terminal gate 18

Flight route

Disembarkation

After the aerobridge was connected , crew opened the door and blocked the path of economy passengers to allow business passengers to alight first. My neighbour and her boyfriends bypassed the crew and exited.

I picked my bag and exited the aircraft.

Entering the terminal

Entered the terminal and followed the arrows for arrival and way out / bag claim

Escalator and stairs to arrival area.

Following the directions and other passengers

Srilankan arrived at gate

Video: SriLankan Airlines 4R-ALQ Airbus A330-343

Front view with Emirates Airbus A380-800 in remote bay

Video: Melbourne Tullamarine Airport Arrival to Immigration

Immigration and Quarantine

Continued walking for another 10 mins

Corridor towards immigration

Passengers had queue for completing the arrival information on self check kiosk prior to clearing immigration through Smartgate.

As I was travelling domestic, this steps is not required.

More self check kiosk, passengers were rushing to immigration. On entering found the queue was disorganised.  Australian/ NZ citizen and some nationalities could use the smartgate to complete immigration. For other they had to complete immigration through manned counter.

Air India from Mumbai and Srilankan from Colombo had arrived at the same time as the Jetstar flight.

I joined the queue for domestic passengers, while waiting I directed a Srilankan group to the right queue.

Immigration took time, probably walking and waiting in queue took 30 mins. Reason to fly on a domestic flight to domestic terminal to avoid this extra step and waste of time in completing the procedure. I had taken the flight to experience flying the Boeing 787-8 domestically.

When my turn came, I handed the boarding pass and drivers license. Officer checked and handed bag both the documents.

I didn't have any bag to collect and went straight to the quarantine queue, where the officer kept the boarding pass and told me to go straight.

I walked out of the arrival area.

Exited arrival area

Meet and greet area outside the arrival.

Flight schedule after exiting the arrival area.  As can be seen, aircraft landed at 18.26 and clock showed 19.05.

I went in the wrong direction to exit.

Found the correct exit.

I booked the ParkRoyal hotel near the airport.

I walked to the hotel.

Hotel check-in

It took me 5 mins to reach the guest lift. Went to reception on 4th floor.

I had paid for a king room with runway view, I got the room assigned on the topmost floor.

Video: PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport

King bed with view

I reached the room at 7.20pm, almost 50mins after landing.

Welcome message on the Tv with my name on the screen

Window view

Video: Melbourne Airport Timelapse

Flight and aircraft information

Delayed flight

Flight information from Flightaware website

Video: Jetstar JQ63 Sydney to Melbourne flight information

Delay with departure at 5.10pm

Flight route from flightradar24

Flight seems to be delay almost every time.

Aircraft VH-VKE  rotation

Delayed flight to Ho Chi Minh City

End of Trip

Hope you enjoyed this trip report.

Thanks for reading and watching the video.

:)