Wednesday 24th April 2024

Woke up far too early this morning and while I tried to get back to sleep, it didn’t necessarily work. But with the time to actually get up, I showered and got myself ready to leave. Made sure I had packed everything (short trips are usually when I forget things) and I loaded up the car. I was driving to the airport since this was a short trip and it would cost less than a return Uber trip or taxi. 

I made good time on the road with not too much traffic, even at 6: 30 in the morning and made it to the airport parking lot right when I was aiming for.  The shuttle was rolling in right when I walked up and the next stop was Domestic on the Qantas end.  This was fine, I could get off at either stop and then just walk down to Rex Check In.  Rex bag drop was visible, but it was tough to see the Business Class check in, hidden over behind all the bag drops, right next to the big giant Net Jet Express line and totally not staffed.  I asked a staff member about Business Class check in, expecting him to just tell me to use the kiosk, but he walked me over and checked me in.  This pissed off someone in the NJE line who thought I was jumping the queue.  Sucks to be you buddy!

All checked in with no issues (I was expecting a lot of issues after the schedule change drama I had been through) but it was all great.  Now you would be wondering why I used the Business Class line, well I had bid on an upgrade but made sure to bid the very minimum ($40) and never expected it to clear.  Well it did the day prior.  Craziness!

So I waited in the really big line for security and headed into the terminal.  Since it was just an upgrade, I did not get access to any business lounge (though I am unsure if Rex actually has a lounge in Brisbane).  Instead I walked through the terminal to get my morning walk in, ( a full lap and back of the entire domestic terminal) and found a place to grab a coffee for breakfast.

Eventually the inbound pulled into the gate and I was happy to see that the inbound was an ex Virgin Australia aircraft and it meant I would have a much better experience this time compared to the old.  Once everyone was off, there was a little wait until it was our turn to board.  I did not mind, I was happy reading my book.

Regional Express – ZL325
Brisbane to Sydney
0930-1100
Boeing 737-800 (VH-RQC)
Business Class (Seat 2A)

Boarding: 0902 (Gate 38)
Push Back: 0928
Take Off Roll: 0939 (Runway 19L)
Top of Descent: 1025
Touch Down: 1052 (Runway 34R)
Shut Down: 1100 (Gate 39)

Boarding was called and it did not look like today was going to be a full flight and I was the second person headed down the jet bridge behind another Business Class passenger.  The aircraft was indeed still in a very ex virgin fit out even with the purple divider between business and economy.  I got situated and was quickly offered a glass of sparkling water or orange juice.  We were fully boarded in less than 20 minutes (again putting the USA to shame) and business class was full.  I was seated to what was some sort of Rex pilot as he was greeted by the flight crew who came out to talk to him, maybe chief pilot?  Not sure.

We pushed out of the gate and headed towards the end of 19R and since it was a fairly empty time we did not have to hold and were soon powering down the runway and into the sky.  In true Australian fashion, the seat belt sign went off mere moments off the runway and then the crew started service asking us what we would like to drink and if we would like something to eat today.  Today’s meal had a choice of a “meat pie” or a “healthy bowl”.  I took the pie as I wasn’t sure what the “healthy bowl was”.  I wasn’t all that hungry for a pie at 930 in the morning, but it was fine.  The pie turned out to be more vegetable than meat and was served with a warm carrot cake muffin and a bowl of citrus segments (pretty sure it was grapefruit… maybe).  I just had it with coffee and some sparkling water and I was pretty happy for my second breakfast.

It was a pretty uneventful flight, we started to descend towards Sydney Airport and everything was already cleaned up and tidied up.  We came in over newcastle and the northern part of Sydney and I could see the Brooklyn rail bridge as well as Palm Beach and the Pittwater in the distance, and I was hoping we would get a great flight in over the city towards the runway, but we did not.  We turned to head out to sea.  As we were lining up for a landing from out over the water, a Qantas 787-9 buzzed below us with good separation but it was sooo close looking. It was great.  Thanks to the free wifi I found out the flight was heading to Melbourne as what looked like a repositioning or a charter.

We came in from the ocean side of the airport and landed on the runway out in the middle of nowhere and started taxiing into the gate.  We didn’t really need to stop so it didn’t take too long to make it to the gate.  We pulled into the gate and soon enough we had a jet bridge attached.  I took my time getting stuff out from underneath my seat and getting myself ready to walk out.  I only had my backpack but had to pick up my suitcase from baggage claim (I just didn’t want to deal with it).  I was the last person in the business cabin to walk off but I was soon into Sydney Terminal 2 (essentially the Common user terminal where Virgin, Jetstar, Rex and everyone else live for domestic flights) and the gate area looked almost as bad as SeaTac.  But to be honest, it didn’t look any different since the last time I was there.

Made it down to baggage claim to wait for the bag and it didn’t take too long.  There was clearly no priority baggage that I was meant to have, but it was fine.  I was still in time to hoof it over to the train station and make the next train which was thankfully delayed and I made it by a few minutes.   It was time to head into the city for some Anzac day traditions with the family.