QF Minimum Connection Time - Is 30 mins enough? xMEL connecting to PER

[AustraliaPoochie]

One thing to note, that MEL - PER 330 can always be swapped, best of wishes it sticks to the 330 though.
Nice wide bird that one.
The shoulder to waist aircraft sash seat belts is a nice feeling, esp if you or I in the case I used it, have always been used to the left to right side to side aircraft seat belt.

 

[astrosly]

13th and 3 passengers. When I booked the reward seats the only flights with J on A330 was Syd -Mel-Per. Looking at the schedule above the first two are probably too early and the 10pm won't arrive in time for the connection. I'll keep an eye out for any changes. I'm thinking it's going to be a nervous wait leaving Sydney... hopefully on time!!

The 13th currently has those four flights scheduled with the A330.

With 3x reward seats you probably will find it difficult to secure an alternative flight on a B737 closer to the date as this is 1/4 of the cabin, especially if you are disrupted on the day. It is also unlikely that the A330 from MEL to PER will be your arriving aircraft from SYD as 30mins is too short to turn it around. Recently I flew into SYD with a 45min transit and as my arriving flight was taxing to its parking bay I passed the gate where my onward flight was due to depart and noted to the cabin staff that my plane wasn't there yet and it is due to leave in 40mins. They said that was very unusual as it should be there at least 40mins and as it turned out it was but I was looking at the wrong gate.

With my experience of J on the A330 flights between SYD and MEL in the past year I wouldn't look forward to it too much and you would probably have a better experience in J on the B737 because the flight is short, on the A330 there are two aisles and lot of seats to service and you get very little attention during the flight. I have found the A330 has poor and limited choices of food and wine, wifi doesn't work (if available) and you don't have time to watch a movie. My most recent flight I didn't have a drink at all on the flight because it took so long for the cabin staff serving my aisle to come back and remove the horrible grenache that was given as the only red that she took it away without offering another - even though I asked as she was turning away - yet the other aisle was being served seconds and thirds. As you are on the A330 from MEL to PER that would be a more enjoyable experience of the wide body than SYD to MEL.

A fair portion of the flights running earlier than 17:30 have 3x J seats available at this time (16:00 already gone) but are limited and probably will disappear closer to April especially as this date is approaching the Easter holidays. I would suggest you look at moving to an earlier flight on a B737 to ensure you make the connection and enjoy the A330 on the longer leg.

 

[Rusty776]

The 13th currently has those four flights scheduled with the A330.

With 3x reward seats you probably will find it difficult to secure an alternative flight on a B737 closer to the date as this is 1/4 of the cabin, especially if you are disrupted on the day. It is also unlikely that the A330 from MEL to PER will be your arriving aircraft from SYD as 30mins is too short to turn it around. Recently I flew into SYD with a 45min transit and as my arriving flight was taxing to its parking bay I passed the gate where my onward flight was due to depart and noted to the cabin staff that my plane wasn't there yet and it is due to leave in 40mins. They said that was very unusual as it should be there at least 40mins and as it turned out it was but I was looking at the wrong gate.

With my experience of J on the A330 flights between SYD and MEL in the past year I wouldn't look forward to it too much and you would probably have a better experience in J on the B737 because the flight is short, on the A330 there are two aisles and lot of seats to service and you get very little attention during the flight. I have found the A330 has poor and limited choices of food and wine, wifi doesn't work (if available) and you don't have time to watch a movie. My most recent flight I didn't have a drink at all on the flight because it took so long for the cabin staff serving my aisle to come back and remove the horrible grenache that was given as the only red that she took it away without offering another - even though I asked as she was turning away - yet the other aisle was being served seconds and thirds. As you are on the A330 from MEL to PER that would be a more enjoyable experience of the wide body than SYD to MEL.

A fair portion of the flights running earlier than 17:30 have 3x J seats available at this time (16:00 already gone) but are limited and probably will disappear closer to April especially as this date is approaching the Easter holidays. I would suggest you look at moving to an earlier flight on a B737 to ensure you make the connection and enjoy the A330 on the longer leg.

Thanks astrosly for your comprehensive reply. I've tried the Qantas line but not holding out much hope there. I might try go to the airport earlier and see if they can book me on an earlier flight.

 

[RichardMEL]

QF778 PER-MEL in an A330-200 is scheduled to arrive MEL at 1830 on 13/4.

I would be willing to put decent money that that would then turn for the return to PER an hour later.

 

[Rusty776]

Thanks Richard... if your prediction turns out to be correct even more reason to try and get a slightly earlier flight to Mel to make sure I'm there in time.