Virgin CBR-SYD flights restarting

[Inlander]

Took VA 0641 CBR-SYD this week, . Left and arrived on time with friendly Hostess and Pilots. Bus shuttle on Sydney tarmac, left gate 2 CBR.. For newbies to the Saab, wise to utilise the ear plugs on them, as they can get rather noisy. great views on this route of the Blue mountains etc for a Northern 16R approach. Just a 'Health" cookie and water offered, but what else do you want for around 40 mins in the air?

 

[AIRwin]

For newbies to the Saab, wise to utilise the ear plugs on them, as they can get rather noisy.

I didn't know and found them in the seat pocket only at the end of the flight...

 

[jakeseven7]

For newbies to the Saab, wise to utilise the ear plugs on them, as they can get rather noisy.

Really? Or joking?

 

[jase05]

Really? Or joking?

Having flown on the Rexy Saab’s many times I do find that the noise can be unbearable at times

 

[jakeseven7]

I didn't know and found them in the seat pocket only at the end of the flight...

Oh its not a joke. Yea, nah.

 

[Happy Dude]

WRT noise levels within the Saab 340 cabin, I measured 86dBA in 2008 on a Rex flight from Mt Gambier. Such was the highly noticeable level of noise, uncomfortable even in IMO, that I was prompted to whip out my sound level meter. Looking at the data, there's a large tonal spike at 80Hz, hence the noticeable annoying character of the noise, of 108dB (~84dBA).

The WHS criteria for 8hours exposure is 85dBA. There won't be any flights long enough to exceed the criteria for pax, but crew may need to manage coughulative exposure to avoid hearing damage.

I'm happy that VA CBR-SYD flights are happening but I won't be forgetting my NC headphones (which have a frequency response of 20Hz - 20kHz).

 

[Mattg]

Nice that you at least get a free cookie (and earplugs!) on these flights. You don't get any food for free on VA mainline these days.

 

[jakeseven7]

WRT noise levels within the Saab 340 cabin, I measured 86dBA in 2008 on a Rex flight from Mt Gambier. Such was the highly noticeable level of noise, uncomfortable even in IMO, that I was prompted to whip out my sound level meter. Looking at the data, there's a large tonal spike at 80Hz, hence the noticeable annoying character of the noise, of 108dB (~84dBA).

The WHS criteria for 8hours exposure is 85dBA. There won't be any flights long enough to exceed the criteria for pax, but crew may need to manage coughulative exposure to avoid hearing damage.

I'm happy that VA CBR-SYD flights are happening but I won't be forgetting my NC headphones (which have a frequency response of 20Hz - 20kHz).

Somehow I don’t think the APS staff will flood to this service.

 

[Harrison_133]

Nice that you at least get a free cookie (and earplugs!) on these flights. You don't get any food for free on VA mainline these days.

Probably better for the Link crew to offer a small snack than nothing at all. Can’t imagine the Saab’s would have much room to keep all the stock for the buy on board menu either.

 

[Inlander]

I didn't know and found them in the seat pocket only at the end of the flight...

Yep they dont make an onboard announcement about them

 

[kookaburra75]

Somehow I don’t think the APS staff will flood to this service.

They didn't the first time they set up the flights when Rex was first formed, after Ansett had folded. They even set up a lounge in Canberra to counter the excuse that they didn't have a lounge. However, the APS couldn't even book on the Rex flights - maybe as Qantas Business Travel had the all-of-government contract at the time?

 

[antycbr]

They didn't the first time they set up the flights when Rex was first formed, after Ansett had folded. They even set up a lounge in Canberra to counter the excuse that they didn't have a lounge. However, the APS couldn't even book on the Rex flights - maybe as Qantas Business Travel had the all-of-government contract at the time?

QBT is required to follow best fare of the day rules, they are a travel agent that just happened to be owned by QF. If ZL didnt make their flights available through the relevant GDS link to QBT, then they wouldnt be able to be booked.

Of course, there's a million tricks which APS staff are aware of that ensure they end up on QF (and ideally on a jet service).

 

[jakeseven7]

Of course, there's a million tricks which APS staff are aware of that ensure they end up on QF (and ideally on a jet service).

Yup more like 1 billion tricks. Its easy.

 

[Mattg]

Any thoughts on the best seats on the Link Airways Saab 340?

This is the seat map. There's no charge to pick an exit row, so I assume that would be a good option?

 

[aus_flyer]

Not row 2 - no window

 

[jakeseven7]

Any thoughts on the best seats on the Link Airways Saab 340?

This is the seat map. There's no charge to pick an exit row, so I assume that would be a good option?

View attachment 294772

Ok from my experience sampling this aircraft recently just avoid all rows 1 through 11

 

[Ade]

Any thoughts on the best seats on the Link Airways Saab 340?

This is the seat map. There's no charge to pick an exit row, so I assume that would be a good option?

View attachment 294772

I usually take row 1. Pretty good.

 

[Scarlett]

Any thoughts on the best seats on the Link Airways Saab 340?

This is the seat map. There's no charge to pick an exit row, so I assume that would be a good option?

View attachment 294772

Pity the real seats on an SF340 are much smaller and packed closer together, compared to this ‘idealised’ seat map.
Sort of like some of those food packaging shots comparing the ‘representative’ image to the real meal…

 

[kookaburra75]

Any thoughts on the best seats on the Link Airways Saab 340?

This is the seat map. There's no charge to pick an exit row, so I assume that would be a good option?

View attachment 294772

Back in the days of Kendall doing the run between Canberra and Sydney, I would say that 11B is something a bit different. Unlimited legroom, can see what the pilots are doing. Downside, lack of tray table for snacks or if you want to get a bit of work done.

 

[Mattg]

I've now done this flight, and was happy with 6A. Good legroom being an exit row and I do like the solo window seats on the left side. You don't get much of a view with the engine in the way, though - you would see more if sitting further back.

1BC legroom was good, 1A looked like a poor seat. But the legroom in the standard seats didn't seem as bad as I thought it would be.

Maybe it was my imagination (or the slim seats), but it felt like you got more legroom than you do on a Rex Saab 340.