Guys - just reporting back on my first JASA trip. Completed this JASA, but had to cut the last leg MEL-SYD out for work reasons (would you believe I had to head back to PER on the Sunday night for work!)
So ended up doing SYD-MEL-PER-MEL starting at 6am on Sat 5th May.
SYD-MEL (40SC + 40SC double offer = 80 SC...both have already hit my account)
Was on a small B734 departing at 6am. The flight was FULL of qantas staff members hitching a ride to Melbourne. Got chatting with one of them and it appears they are all new recruits heading to Melb for training. They were all about 20-30 year olds and mixed roles. Looks like Q is getting some young blood. How refreshing. Let's hope these guys are on different award systems and actually fear for their jobs...might see the customer service stepping up (finally!). Nevertheless, I was in J so the service was great expect for a young newbie attendant on his first flight who split a full glass of juice over a J passenger's head/back - ouch!
MEL-PER (80SC + 80SC double = 160SC...both have hit)
Was on a B737 and left Melb around 8:30am. Spent some time in the Melb J lounge. Service on this flight was excellent. I fell asleep before taking off, and woke up after the breakfast service. J host was kind enough to catch me as I was going to the bathroom and told me she can warm up my food again and bring it over. I just smashed some toast down and hit the sack again given they werent serving alcohol yet!
PER-MEL (80SC + 80SC double = 160SC...both have hit)
Same plane & crew back departing PER at 11:30am. Unsurprisingly, 30 mins into the flight I got the question "hey we're confused, weren't you just with us to Perth...?", to my response "sure was...can i have some Scotch now?.
This time I stayed awake for the full 3 course meal. Entree was soup and sourdough, Main was a choice between Chinese chicken and rice or a Pesto crusted Barramundi and mash. Dessert was a chocolate pudding or cheese and crackers. Food and service, all top notch.
I have family in Melbourne, so got out and spent the night. End result, I catapulted through Gold (even before the DSC points hit).
The biggest let down of the trip was having to head back to Perth again on Sunday night -- this time in Y!
Luckily, my new shiny Gold status opened up the Emergency Row seating.
Should hit WP with a couple more trips planned thru the USA end May.
Thanks to all for the advice! Giddy up!