Review of Virgin Australia flight from Sydney to Brisbane in Business

Virgin Australia VA909 Sydney to Brisbane

Flight details:
Airline: Virgin Australia
Flight: VA909 SYD - BNE
Reg: VH-YVA "Eurong Beach"
Aircraft: Boeing 737-8FE
Seat: 1F
Departure Sydney Airport Terminal 2 Gate 36: 7:00AM AEDT [Actual time:6:57AM]
Arrival Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal Gate 44A: 7:30AM AEST[Actual time:7:22AM]
Total time: 1hr 11mins

Video: Virgin Australia VA909 Sydney to Brisbane

Route

Introduction

This trip report is from Dec 2024. I had travelled to Brisbane and Rockhampton on Virgin Australia.

Pre-Departure

I booked the ticket through Virgin Australia website. Few days prior to departure received an email to upgrade to Business class.

I selected the offer and paid to upgrade.

Submitted the offer to upgrade both the outbound and inbound flight.

Business class facilities

I got notified by email about the offer being received.

My itinerary

Online check-in

I checked online for the flight when check-in became available. I completed check-in for all flights. Entered the personal details and booking reference to check-in

Prohibited items

After completing the declarations, website offered to sms or email the boarding pass.

I selected email the boarding pass.

Departure procedure explained

Carry-on information

After completing the check-in, I received email that I was upgraded to business for the Sydney-Brisbane sector. I had to re-check-in for the flight. I reselected the seat.

Rechecked all the flights.

New seat selection

Boarding pass with gate information

Flight departing from Terminal 2, I had got lounge access

Mobile version of boarding pass.

I checked flightradar24, it showed VA909 would be operated by Virgin Australia VH-IWQ.

Aircraft information.

Transport to airport

I was travelling light and planned to travel by train. I reached train station at 4.20a.m

Waiting for train to arrive. The train arrived at 4.27a.m ontime.

Arriving at airport

I arrived at airport at 5.15a.m on time. Check the flight schedule after exiting the train station.

Boarding gate was changed to gate 36.

Flight departing from Terminal 2. Followed the signs to departure.

Check-in

I decided to print the boarding pass to use at the lounge. I went to the self-check kiosk. Selected Virgin Australia and then followed the screen prompts.

All the flight were visible.

I could print the outbound leg and got 2 boarding passes.

Collected the boarding pass.

As a backup, took a photo.

Security

After collecting the boarding pass, I passed through security. It was a busy morning, took 5mins to clear. Clearing security, passengers take escalator to food court and then to boarding gates.

Virgin Australia Lounge

As I had the lounge invite, I went right instead of down the escalator. Virgin Australia lounge is next to security check.

Video: Virgin Australia Lounge, Terminal 2 - Sydney Airport

Entered the lounge and scanned the boarding pass.

I then checked the food offering. It was scramble egg, bake bean and bread next to toasting machine. Orange, apple juice. Coffee or tea could be ordered.

I had woken early and didn't have breakfast. I took scrambled egg, baked bean and yogurt.

Seating view

Window view blocked by air ducts.

Queued for coffee

Lounge was busy with people.

I exited the lounge after breakfast.

Took escalator down to food court.

✈ Spotting

I still had time before boarding. Planespotting domestic aircraft's. Got to see some arrival, departures and some special liveries. Runway 16R[main runway] was used for landing and takeoff's

Video: ✈ Spotting

Jetstar Airways

Qantas Boeing 737-800 to Hobart

Jetstar Airbus A320-200

Walking to gate

Boarding time was near, I walked towards the gate.

Walked 10 mins to reach gate.

Aircraft departing gate 36

I was near the gate by 6.25a.m.

I went to get fresh.

Boarding

When I returned boarding was in progress. Screen displaying final call.

I scanned the boarding pass and continued towards aircraft.

Most passengers had boarded.

Onboard

As I was seated in 1st row. I showed my boarding pass. Cabin crew asked me, how to pronounce my name. She welcome me with last name.

Plenty of legroom.

Window view

Crew asked me what I would drink, I asked for orange juice.

I checked the surrounding to familiarise, Boeing 737-800 window

Personal air vents

Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800

Tray in arm rest

As aircraft was not visible from gate, check details on flightradar24

Aircraft location

Pusbhback and taxi

Push-back commenced on time.

Virgin Australia terminal

Crew conducted safety demonstrations manually and audio was played with instructions.

Taxi to runway

Virgin's everywhere

During taxi saw Garuda A330 in 60's retro livery land on runway 16R.

Garuda taxi to gate

Departure

Aircraft turned left, it would be using runway 16L. A Jetstar Airbus A320 landed, followed by a Qantas Boeing 737departure.

Next in queue was VA909. Engines roared.

Takeoff towards the South followed by bank towards left to fly North.

Flying North over the Tasman sea

I had sea view for most of the journey, facing the sun as it was early morning.

Cabin service

Business breakfast service started 10mins after departure.
Cabin crew asked what I would like for breakfast, option was chicken sausage or beef. I chose chicken.

After breakfast, I rested. Beaches became visible, aircraft had flown overland after 45mins.

Being sunny outside, I downed the window shade and opened the air vent.

Seat Pocket Content

Seat pocket contained safety card and air sickness bag.

Boeing 737-800 issue 1.

Descend

Pilot announced descend would be commencing. I opened the window shade. With sun behind, beaches became visible.

View of M1 Motorway between Brisbane and Coolangatta [Gold Coast ]

Seat belt sign switched on for landing.

Landing

Aircraft landed on runway 01R-19L[Old runway].

Disembarkation

Seated in the 1st row, I disembarked with other business passengers.

Brisbane domestic terminal

Entered the terminal.

Aircraft had arrived at gate 44A

Then walked towards the main section

View of the Alliance Airlines Fokker 70 and 100.

Flight and aircraft information

Flight information from Flightaware website

Video: Virgin Australia VA909 Sydney to Brisbane flight information

Arrival information

Aircraft going to Cairns.

Flight was on time.

End of Trip

Hope you enjoyed this trip report.

Thanks for reading and watching the video.

:)