Bonza Airline Discussion

[Melburnian1]

Sure. I’ll use Monday & Friday’s schedule in June as an example of what I was looking at.

Aircraft 1:
AB631 MCY0645 - 0845TSV
AB927 TSV0915 - 1030ROK
AB928 ROK1100 - 1225TSV

Aircraft 2:
AB583 MCY0715 - 0935CNS
AB911 CNS1005 - 1145ROK
AB912 ROK1215 - 1400CNS

Let's hope in June that Rocky Airport, and Bonza staff numbers, can cope with two concurrent AB B738s (plus maybe other operators) at 1145 hours if the first flight is 45 minutes late and the second one is timely.

 

[clifford]

Let's hope in June that Rocky Airport, and Bonza staff numbers, can cope with two concurrent AB B738s (plus maybe other operators) at 1145 hours if the first flight is 45 minutes late and the second one is timely.

A bit like when recently I was flying to MIM on a QF Dash-8 and it couldn't land because there were already 2 aircraft parked at the terminal (a QF Dash-8 and a ZL SF3)...

 

[Melburnian1]

A bit like when recently I was flying to MIM on a QF Dash-8 and it couldn't land because there were already 2 aircraft parked at the terminal (a QF Dash-8 and a ZL SF3)...

IIRC ZL only operate SAAB 340Bs, but your point remains valid. The Metroliners were ditched years ago.

 

[henrus]

So I'm now back from the first and second flights, some further comments below. Happy to answer any other questions.

Booking via the app is quick and easy however it fails to remember any bookings you've made, there is a need to re enter your booking ref and last name each time. I passed this feedback onto the Bonza team and they agreed.

On both flights today the ordering system was chaos, they ran out of some options (hot dogs) before take off because you can order whilst still on the ground and on the flight up they made an announcement apologising that they had missed some orders. I guess on normal flights this would be less of an issue with less people ordering but otherwise if you're after a particular food item it's best to order it ASAP (particularly the hot dogs).

I don't know if it's just the first day but on both legs they only used front stairs. I assume down the track they'll use both for faster turns.


Onboard is zero reference to the 737 Max, all branding is B737-8. Regardless I've now flown a United 737-8 and a Bonza 737-8 and both were great rides. They have removed the LOT branding inside the aircraft however the audio system that would normally be used to play boarding music/make announcements was not working (on exiting I noticed it had an INOP sticker - probably not the best look on the first day).


Very minor but Row 1 whilst having more legroom (I'd say it was similar to VA's row 3) requires you to share USB ports as the row has only two USB ports and two power points between the 3 seats (normal rows have 3x USB and 2x power sockets).

The on board portal has dismissal entertainment, currently some free podcasts, books and a few random games (like 2048 game). Some examples below, personally I don't think too many of the passengers are going to read Pride and Prejudice. Some Bonza staff agreed but I don't know if this will change because they're low cost carrier and it costs money to acquire content.

 

[justinbrett]

So I'm now back from the first and second flights, some further comments below. Happy to answer any other questions.

Booking via the app is quick and easy however it fails to remember any bookings you've made, there is a need to re enter your booking ref and last name each time. I passed this feedback onto the Bonza team and they agreed.

On both flights today the ordering system was chaos, they ran out of some options (hot dogs) before take off because you can order whilst still on the ground and on the flight up they made an announcement apologising that they had missed some orders. I guess on normal flights this would be less of an issue with less people ordering but otherwise if you're after a particular food item it's best to order it ASAP (particularly the hot dogs).

I don't know if it's just the first day but on both legs they only used front stairs. I assume down the track they'll use both for faster turns.
View attachment 315467

Onboard is zero reference to the 737 Max, all branding is B737-8. Regardless I've now flown a United 737-8 and a Bonza 737-8 and both were great rides. They have removed the LOT branding inside the aircraft however the audio system that would normally be used to play boarding music/make announcements was not working (on exiting I noticed it had an INOP sticker - probably not the best look on the first day).
View attachment 315468

Very minor but Row 1 whilst having more legroom (I'd say it was similar to VA's row 3) requires you to share USB ports as the row has only two USB ports and two power points between the 3 seats (normal rows have 3x USB and 2x power sockets).

The on board portal has dismissal entertainment, currently some free podcasts, books and a few random games (like 2048 game). Some examples below, personally I don't think too many of the passengers are going to read Pride and Prejudice. Some Bonza staff agreed but I don't know if this will change because they're low cost carrier and it costs money to acquire content.
View attachment 315469View attachment 315470View attachment 315471

Good reporting. This probably deserved to be published as an article @AFF Editor

 

[sudoer]

Some info about the in-flight menu also in this article:

Purple budgie smugglers and Chekhov on tap as Bonza the ‘bogan airline’ finally takes to the skies

After a long delay, Australia’s first major new airline for 15 years gets off the ground offering a breezy, no-frills approach

www.theguardian.com

 

[AviatorInsight]

Onboard is zero reference to the 737 Max, all branding is B737-8.

And you won’t. Not even the manuals state the difference between the Max and an -800. They have the Max written as 737-8. Which at first was a little confusing.

Outside is probably the only place it may be written and even then some carriers are removing the word Max also.

For reference, this is how to differentiate between types:

Type	ICAO CODE	IATA CODE
737-800	B738	738 / 73H (pax with winglets)
737 Max 8	B38M	7M8
737 Max 10	B3XM	7MJ

Great report into the first flight.

 

[MooTime]

And you won’t. Not even the manuals state the difference between the Max and an -800. Outside is probably the only place it may be written and even then some carriers are removing the word Max also.

For reference this is how to differentiate between types:

Type	ICAO CODE	IATA CODE
737-800	B738	738 / 73H (pax with winglets)
737 Max 8	B38M	7M8
737 Max 10	B3XM	7MJ

Great report into the first flight.

So we'll always still be able to know what exact wings we're on, via Flightraddar24 & the like right?

Thanks for the above reference.
Mind you I have absolute no issue with the Max, if anything look forward to stepping onboard.

 

[AviatorInsight]

So we'll always still be able to know what exact wings we're on, via Flightraddar24 & the like right?

Thanks for the above reference.
Mind you I have absolute no issue with the Max, if anything look forward to stepping onboard.

Yes, absolutely. The apps we know and love (FR24 and Flight Aware) have them written by the ICAO code. On Flight Aware, you can actually track by aircraft type and see every Max airborne at that time.

 

[justinbrett]

So we'll always still be able to know what exact wings we're on, via Flightraddar24 & the like right?

Or just look at the safety card

 

[henrus]

Or just look at the safety card

Yes and no... Bonza's safety card just has 737-8 (which technically is it's correct name now) however during a conversation with a non frequent flying friend today, they said they would have had no idea the B737-8 is actually the B737 Max unless I'd said that.



Mind you I'd have no problems flying a max again and I think United has done a really good job explaining the before and after max systems:

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/inflight/aircraft/737-MAX.html

 

[justinbrett]

Yes and no... Bonza's safety card just has 737-8 (which technically is it's correct name now) however during a conversation with a non frequent flying friend today, they said they would have had no idea the B737-8 is actually the B737 Max unless I'd said that.

View attachment 315551View attachment 315552

Mind you I'd have no problems flying a max again and I think United has done a really good job explaining the before and after max systems:

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/inflight/aircraft/737-MAX.html

But that's just it. 737-800 = classic. 737-8 is max.

The classics were never referred to by single digits.

And it's not just the 737 max - all new boeing products are numbered like this (787-9, 747-8 etc)

 

[Saab34]

Does the cabin still have LOT logos? I think I noticed one in a news video up near the front galley.

 

[Captain Halliday]

And you won’t. Not even the manuals state the difference between the Max and an -800. They have the Max written as 737-8. Which at first was a little confusing.

Outside is probably the only place it may be written and even then some carriers are removing the word Max also.

For reference, this is how to differentiate between types:

Type	ICAO CODE	IATA CODE
737-800	B738	738 / 73H (pax with winglets)
737 Max 8	B38M	7M8
737 Max 10	B3XM	7MJ

Great report into the first flight.

Slightly OT, but where does the NG fit?

I have an SQ flight scheduled where the booking says 737-800 NG.

I assume it’s a max given Silkair has been absorbed into SQ.

 

[henrus]

Slightly OT, but where does the NG fit?

The NG is the 737-800 (also known as the 737 next generation)

Boeing 737 Next Generation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I assume it’s a max given Silkair has been absorbed into SQ.

SQ have both maxes (aka 737-8) and ng's (aka 737-800).

This was actually raised yesterday during a couple of the press conferences, the media did ask about the aircraft and comments from the Bonza team were just pushing it's fuel efficiency. It's a double edged sword, I like United's approach to details the changes made whereas most airlines prefer to just sweep that under the rug.

Regardless, there were a couple of Boeing representatives on-board yesterday and they even brought along a mechanic (I guess an issue during the first flight would have been a PR disaster!).

 

[AviatorInsight]

Slightly OT, but where does the NG fit?

I have an SQ flight scheduled where the booking says 737-800 NG.

I assume it’s a max given Silkair has been absorbed into SQ.

Technically, the NG (next generation) series are given to the 737-600, -700, -800, and -900 aircraft.

The 737-300, -400, and -500 are referred to as the classics.

And the 737-100 and -200 known as the originals.

Now the Max is the 737-8, -9, -10.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Todays Sunshine Coast Daily =
Why CEO is challenging the way we fly and slashing airfare costs

The Article here minus the pictures =

He is too unassuming and goal-focused to dwell on titles. But Tim Jordan could very well prove to be a colossus of the aviation industry and a cape-less little Aussie hero to millions of prospective regional passengers.
When Australia’s only independent low-cost airline fired up the engines on its first commercial flight – AB 777 from the Sunshine Coast to Whitsunday Coast – on Tuesday, January 31, the quietly spoken Bonza CEO took his 12A window seat on the port side.
It was a telling example of his overarching philosophy on flight: that air travel shouldn’t be just for the “high-flyers” in the first rows.
Mr Jordan believes the joy of flying – the places it takes us and the connections it creates – should be available to everyone everywhere at affordable prices.

<remainder of article redacted>

 

[dajop]

I wonder if will introduce luggage yield management to Australia? Most of us on AFF are familiar with yield management for seats on the plane, whilst Jetstar charge a flat amount for luggage based on distance and weight.

However, I noticed when booking and travelling on Easyjet in October and December (3 flights, all different lengths), is they seem to be yield managing checked luggage and wheel-aboard luggage (with free carry-on being under certain sizes, i.e. predominantly backpacks). Sometimes fares were high, but luggage cost low, sometimes fares low and luggage high, sometime fares low and luggage low, and of course fares high and luggage high and repeat and rinse with hand luggage pricing. For a given amount of luggage, It certainly wasn't fixed by route or distance.

 

[Saab34]

I always thought they could inflate baggage fees in say the last 48 hours. These passengers are last minute, urgent, not price sensitive.

 

[dajop]

I always thought they could inflate baggage fees in say the last 48 hours. These passengers are last minute, urgent, not price sensitive.

Not always, depends on the route and the individual. Most of my "last minute" travel is not urgent, entirely opportunistic and discretionary. I usually can take or leave it.