Virgin Australia VA970 Brisbane to Sydney
Flight details:
Airline: Virgin Australia
Flight: VA970 BNE - SYD
Reg: VH-IJU
Aircraft: Boeing 737-8SA
Seat: 1C
Departure Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal Gate 38: 5:05PM AEST
Arrival Sydney Airport Terminal 2 Gate 32: 7:40PM AEDT
Total time: 1hr 35mins
Video: Virgin Australia VA970 Brisbane to Sydney
Flight routing
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- 4VA970 - Business - Brisbane → Sydney - Boeing 737-800
Introduction
This trip report is from Dec 2024. I had arrived in Brisbane on Alliance Airlines VA1240 from Rockhampton.
I had 3hr and 5mins transit in Brisbane.
Pre-departure
I had bid for upgrade and was successful.

Flight information below.

I had checked online and received boarding pass in email.

Mobile version from the website.

Virgin Australia - Domestic Lounge
I had access to the VA domestic lounge. I followed the lounge sign.

Entered the lounge by scanning the boarding pass.

Lounge was busy with people.

Video: Virgin Australia Lounge Brisbane Airport
Cheese and crackers.

Found a seat and got food and drink.

some more

Dessert

I had plenty of time and had some rest.

I checked flightradar24 and it showed delay.

Just to confirm that information was correct, I checked the departure schedule. It showed a 20 min delay.

Aircraft information
Virgin Australia VH-IJU would be operating the VA970.

Aircraft was 10yrs and 1month old.

Aircraft was operating VA333 from Melbourne.

Flight was late everyday in the previous week.

Virgin Australia VA970 route. I checked the previous weeks performance to gauge possible delay.

Aircraft had departed Melbourne late and would be arrive at 5.05pm.

Departure area
I waited in lounge till 4.30pm, it was time to check out the waiting area. I exited the lounge and walked to the gate to check the situation.

Passengers had gathered around the gate and place was crowded as the aircraft had not arrived. I decided to explore the other parts of the terminal.

✈ Spotting
Planespotted aircrafts arriving on runway 01R-19L
Royal Australian Air Force Airbus 330MRRT

Video: Brisbane Airport ✈ Spotting
Alliance Airlines VH-QQW in 100th years England-Australia livery.

Checked flightradar24, aircraft was on finals.

Virgin Australia VH-YIS "Casuarina Beach" Boeing 737-8FE

Alliance Airlines VH-UQC Fokker 100

Link Airways VH-VEB SAAB 340B+

Virgin Australia pushback

Aircraft arrives
Virgin Australia VH-IJU arrived as VA333 from Melbourne at 5.05pm. I knew flight is going to be delayed further.

Parked at Gate 38.

Alliance Airlines VH-UQN Fokker 100

Waiting area
I checked the flight schedule, flight estimated time of departure was 17.43 with status - Go to gate.

Passengers had queued at the gate. I waited on the side for boarding call.

Boarding
Boarding was called at 5.35pm.
I was seated in row 1C. Seated in aisle seat in 1C meant every passengers would be passing by. I waited for as many passengers to board and joined at the very end when final call was made.

Scanned the boarding pass at the counter.

Boarding was split with row 1-15 passengers by aerobridge and the row 16 onwards using the stairs.

One of the last to board, showed the boarding pass, got welcomed. I put my bag in the overhead bin. Flight was full with both business and economy occupied.

Cabin service
I was asked what I would like to have for drink - I chose apple juice. Last few passengers were boarding.

Cabin view

I wore the seatbelt in preparation for pushback.

Seat pocket contained the safety card.

Pushback, taxi and departure
Boarding was complete, Cabin crew welcomed passengers. Door was closed after the departure time.

Aerobridge was withdrawn.

Cabin crew performed safety demonstration. I had front seat view of the safety demonstration.

Pushback and safety demonstration complete, Cabin lights changed to mood lighting.

Personal air vents and window view

Mood lighting

Information

Aircraft departed from runway 01R-19L after a short taxi.

Cabin service
Virgin Australia provides meal to business passengers and Buy on Board service for economy passengers. Cabin service commenced after seatbelt sign was turned off. 15mins after departure.
Crew asked me what I would like, option was macroni or beef. Cheese and cracker was common for both options.

I chose the macroni option which came with cheese and crackers.

Cabin lighting.

Resting after food.

Seat Pocket Content
Virgin Australia Safety card

VA logo

Aircraft Boeing 737-800

Arriving in Sydney.
Pilot announced aircraft would be descending shortly. Lights was turned back to normal. Safety check was conducted.

Still bright outside as daylight saving started in Nov.

Aircraft landed on runway 16L-34R. Followed by a long taxi to Terminal 2.

Disembarkation
Aircraft arrived at gate 32, door was opened. Business passengers were let out first.

Entering the terminal

Gate was close to exit.

Walking towards exit.

Way out and baggage claim sign

After exiting took escalator to lower floor, passing the baggage claim.

Train to City
I continued in direction of train station

Escalator to lower floor

I took train to Central station.

Flight and aircraft information
Flight information from Flightaware website

A great FR in a country that doesn't get much coverage compared with the rest of the world. Nice discovery of product J, which as everywhere remains a little expensive for 01h30 flight.
Thanks for sharing ;)
Fares are on higher side due to lack of competition and regulation. Thank you for your comments.