Fly Corporate another Australian domestic airline

[Bundy Bear]

After reading about a trip report about another Australian airline that most didn't know about I thought I should add a quick report on another small local airline.


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Fly Corporate have a fleet of SAAB340B and Metro 23 aircraft.

A lot of their schedule is to provide service to routes and smaller towns that could not be supported with 50 seat aircraft.

The Metro 23 has seats for 19 passengers while the SAAB340B has seats for 34 passengers and a flight attendant.

The SAAB340B operates flights on BNE-CFS.

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The Fly Corporate schedule is geared towards residents of the smaller cities allowing them to catch and early morning flight and then depart Brisbane to arrive home at night.

I have made 3 round trips on Fly Corporate.

One of those trips was a quick trip to Coffs Harbour to have dinner with a few friends, and still make it back to work in Brisbane the next morning, due to the afternoon departure from Brisbane and early morning departure from Coffs.

 

[Bundy Bear]

FC552 BNE-CFS SAAB340B 5:30PM-6:30PM

Fly Corporate have a website that allows easy booking of flights, that doesn't keep adding extras, I am looking at you Jetstar.
Originally you could only use Visa/Mastercard but now you can use American Express.

The afternoon departure allows people living in Coffs Harbour could visit Brisbane during the day and head back at night.

Web checkin is available at 24hours before flight, whih is handy if you don't have luggage and might miss the check in time for the flight.

The checkin desk is behind the Jetstar check in area in the middle pier at the Brisbane domestic airport.

Boarding was called at 5:10pm of around 23 passengers, I haven't seen a full 34 flight with most loads about 18 passengers.

This Friday afternoon flight meant a bit of a delay before the engines were started, a previous mid week flight we were able to get away by 5:25pm.




Once take off occurred the flight attendant came around to provide, cheese and biscuits, chips and a choice of wine or beer.

On this flight I had wine but previous have had beer.




Being a late night departure, and a scratch window you don't see much during cruise.



The SAAB340 has 34 passengers in a 1 - 2 seat layout, on these props I find a seat behind the wing probably the quietest part of the plane.



The 1 hours flight has generally been smooth after talking to the cabin crew one flight had a bumpy landing into Coffs Harbour due to strong wind, usually during cruise of 18,000 feet the flight is usually rather smooth.



The plane parked in Coffs Harbour for the night, only the Friday schedule returns to Brisbane with Saturday and Sunday morning with no service.

A 1 hour trip to Coffs from Brisbane is better than 3 hour trip via Sydney on Qantas, a 5 hour car trip, a 8 hour bus trip or an 6 hours overnight trip via train. I have done all options.

 

[Bundy Bear]

5 JAN-2017 FC551 CFS-BNE 7:00AM-7:10AM

The previous trip to Coffs Harbour was a flight on Fly Corporate and a return via train, the trip to Coffs this time was via car before getting up early on the 5 January to start work for 2017.

It is nice to fly from a small airport, a 10 minute drive with no traffic lights and I was at the airport by 6;30 for a 7:00am departure.

Check in at Coffs airport for Fly Corporate is to the left of all the other check in areas of Qantas/Virgin and Tiger.

As Coffs Harbour has jet aircraft then there is a secure area, easy to go through security after the 6:00am flights of Qantas and Virgin have already left for the day.





Take off towards the south with a left turn out to sea.



This time I was behind the wing, I find it a little quieter.





Another 1 hour flight and we were served a croissant a biscuit, with choice of tea or choice.

A previous flight the breakfast was slightly different with the yogurt replacing the croissant.




This flight being the earlier time we didn't have to do any circles south of the Gold Coast and were a few minutes early.

Currently the afternoon flights during daylight saving time depart Brisbane at 5:30pm and arrive into Coffs Harbour at 7:30pm, the return flight departs at 7:00am and arrives into Brisbane at 7:10am.

Once Daylight saving finishes the departing flight time is 6:00am with a 7:10am arrival into Brisbane, mornings are not my favourite time of day.

The arrivals board shows other options for airlines, including Jetgo that flies a few routes up and down the east Coast of Australia, it is on my bucket list for 2017.

 

[docjames]

Nice write up.

What are usual fare levels?

 

[Major]

I used to fly this route in the 80's with the now defunct Oxley Airlines. It was sort of a milk run with stops at OOL and if necessary Lismore, Ballina and Casino. Then from there to Coffs.

They were a lot smaller aircraft with seating for about 10 or 12. No service and no frills

 

[Simo]

I am guessing no FF program

 

[kamchatsky]

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Another 1 hour flight and we were served a croissant a biscuit, with choice of tea or choice.

A previous flight the breakfast was slightly different with the yogurt replacing the croissant.

Great trip report on another small airline.

Now I don't get it, I fly QF and VA Y short haul, and why can't they even provide food and drinks like this on the plane, but Fly Corporate can?

 

[Bundy Bear]

Nice write up.

What are usual fare levels?

Cheapest I have seen is $136,

Current fare levels for a flight I am planning next week are>

Web Deal SOLD OUT
Discount $189
Saver $269
Flexible $449

One time I booked the flight 24 hours before flight, as I had to cancel a Qantas flight via Sydney and I think I paid $320.

I used to fly this route in the 80's with the now defunct Oxley Airlines. It was sort of a milk run with stops at OOL and if necessary Lismore, Ballina and Casino. Then from there to Coffs.

They were a lot smaller aircraft with seating for about 10 or 12. No service and no frills

I flew Brindabella from Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour then onto Brisbane in 2009 on a Jetstream 41? just a little smaller than a SAAB340, best thing about that flight is that I used a Qantas award, SYD-PQQ-CFS-BNE 8,000 points and about $20 in tax, absolute bargain for a little sight seeing trip up the east coast.

I am guessing no FF program

Have qualified QF Gold, and VA well I have given up trying to keep status with them, why connect when you can fly direct.

Great trip report on another small airline.

Now I don't get it, I fly QF and VA Y short haul, and why can't they even provide food and drinks like this on the plane, but Fly Corporate can?

My last morning flight on Qantas was an egg and bacon muffin with a drink, certainly a drop from the good breakfasts that Qantas used to serve in 2011 and before.

Time moves on, I really thing the lounges have picked up their game, its the onboard service that has got less, but then the entertainment options have got more so you win some and you lose some.

Thanks for reading and the replies.