yohy?!
Established Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2009
- Posts
- 4,499
- Qantas
- Silver
Hello AFFers
Thought I should try to give a little back considering I have made some brilliant savings since seeking advice on this forum.
Today I took a trip to Port Macquarie for business. Thanks to my employer's best flight of the day policy I was booked onto the morning DJ E-170 flight to PQQ and back on the QFlink Q400 flight in the early evening.
Arriving at SYD (at an hour I'd sooner forget I was awake at) I passed by The Lounge wistfully on the way through security - will be sampling that also in a couple of weeks on my next DJ flight.
Boarding was quick and efficient, I was seated in seat 8D on VH-ZHA. Our 3 crew on this flight ranged from early 20s to mid 30s, a good mix I believe as I found them to be efficient and attentive.
The E-Jets seats are noticeably wider than DJs 737 ones however the pitch felt just as tight. Although this is an extremely short flight - 30 mins in the air the cabin service was good and I was grateful to receive a strong coffee to help wake me up.
I found the E-Jet cabin to have some strange high pitched whistling sounds I've not heard before in jet aircraft, nevertheless my flyers-anxiety was not playing up too badly because of it.
Our passage through the storm cells up the coast was relatively smooth with only some mild turbulence, I have to admit to being a little excited at the Captain reporting the possibility of a missed approach at PQQ due to the low cloud - I've read quite a few accounts of them as descrived as rollercoaster-like...fun!
We arrived on time to the minute into PQQ with a very soft landing comparable to others I've experienced in A320s...I've found DJs older 737s to be quite rough touching down.
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After an exhausting day dealing with a difficult client I was glad to be back at PQQ for the trip home.I was quite surprised that Qantaslink flights were not subject to security screening, I'm not sure I understand the logic of how prop planes are less likely to experience security incidents...perhaps someone knows the answer here?
Boarding through the 'pool fence' was thoroughly unglamourous, I certainly didn't expect it of a 'full service' airline. I have to admit to being a bit disappointed at the seat I was assigned following online checkin - 16C with a sequence number of 1! Again perhaps someone can enlighten me if this is normal on regional QF flights...
We had 2 crew on this flight, both who appeared to be products of QFs 'next generation' salary and benefit packages ie fancy suits and wrap dresses with minimal effort or interest.
I found the Q400 seat pitch to be quite nice and the seat comfortable enough for the short trip back to SYD. Having both the QF and QFlink inflight magazines on hand was a good touch too.
Following takeoff the seat belt stayed on for quite a long time following some mild turbulence, I found the cabin crew's giggling personal conversations via the crew intercom mildly amusing until we were told that due to the turbulence there would be no trolley service!
I'm all for safety and I understand the logic of not serving hot drinks in a possibly turbulent cabin environment but I'm also not a fool - I've been on DJ flights with cabin crew being flung on the floor that still managed to serve me a beer with a smile - not impressed!
I also found the Q400 WC to be slightly ridiculous, I wouldn't be surprised at larger pax having issues with using those facilities! I do realise this was a regional flight however I've been on NZ regional flights on smaller aircraft where the lav has been much more spacious.
After an uneventful landing with a very interesting (aand close up) fly past of the Kurnell refinery we were on the ground in SYD and stepping off onto the bus....good consistency QF, keeping in step with the unglamorous departure!
---------------------
In conclusion I'd have to say that I was very impressed with DJs E-jet product, it represented a 30% saving over the equivalent QF flight which kept my employer happy while delivery superior service, hardware and overall experience.
Thought I should try to give a little back considering I have made some brilliant savings since seeking advice on this forum.
Today I took a trip to Port Macquarie for business. Thanks to my employer's best flight of the day policy I was booked onto the morning DJ E-170 flight to PQQ and back on the QFlink Q400 flight in the early evening.
Arriving at SYD (at an hour I'd sooner forget I was awake at) I passed by The Lounge wistfully on the way through security - will be sampling that also in a couple of weeks on my next DJ flight.
Boarding was quick and efficient, I was seated in seat 8D on VH-ZHA. Our 3 crew on this flight ranged from early 20s to mid 30s, a good mix I believe as I found them to be efficient and attentive.
The E-Jets seats are noticeably wider than DJs 737 ones however the pitch felt just as tight. Although this is an extremely short flight - 30 mins in the air the cabin service was good and I was grateful to receive a strong coffee to help wake me up.
I found the E-Jet cabin to have some strange high pitched whistling sounds I've not heard before in jet aircraft, nevertheless my flyers-anxiety was not playing up too badly because of it.
Our passage through the storm cells up the coast was relatively smooth with only some mild turbulence, I have to admit to being a little excited at the Captain reporting the possibility of a missed approach at PQQ due to the low cloud - I've read quite a few accounts of them as descrived as rollercoaster-like...fun!
We arrived on time to the minute into PQQ with a very soft landing comparable to others I've experienced in A320s...I've found DJs older 737s to be quite rough touching down.
-----------------
After an exhausting day dealing with a difficult client I was glad to be back at PQQ for the trip home.I was quite surprised that Qantaslink flights were not subject to security screening, I'm not sure I understand the logic of how prop planes are less likely to experience security incidents...perhaps someone knows the answer here?
Boarding through the 'pool fence' was thoroughly unglamourous, I certainly didn't expect it of a 'full service' airline. I have to admit to being a bit disappointed at the seat I was assigned following online checkin - 16C with a sequence number of 1! Again perhaps someone can enlighten me if this is normal on regional QF flights...
We had 2 crew on this flight, both who appeared to be products of QFs 'next generation' salary and benefit packages ie fancy suits and wrap dresses with minimal effort or interest.
I found the Q400 seat pitch to be quite nice and the seat comfortable enough for the short trip back to SYD. Having both the QF and QFlink inflight magazines on hand was a good touch too.
Following takeoff the seat belt stayed on for quite a long time following some mild turbulence, I found the cabin crew's giggling personal conversations via the crew intercom mildly amusing until we were told that due to the turbulence there would be no trolley service!
I'm all for safety and I understand the logic of not serving hot drinks in a possibly turbulent cabin environment but I'm also not a fool - I've been on DJ flights with cabin crew being flung on the floor that still managed to serve me a beer with a smile - not impressed!
I also found the Q400 WC to be slightly ridiculous, I wouldn't be surprised at larger pax having issues with using those facilities! I do realise this was a regional flight however I've been on NZ regional flights on smaller aircraft where the lav has been much more spacious.
After an uneventful landing with a very interesting (aand close up) fly past of the Kurnell refinery we were on the ground in SYD and stepping off onto the bus....good consistency QF, keeping in step with the unglamorous departure!
---------------------
In conclusion I'd have to say that I was very impressed with DJs E-jet product, it represented a 30% saving over the equivalent QF flight which kept my employer happy while delivery superior service, hardware and overall experience.
