PaulST
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- Feb 12, 2014
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QF21 SYD - NRT in VH-OJA - Premium Economy (updated)
(scroll down to go straight to the video)
This was the first time I’ve flown this route and I’m still reasonably new to flying in general (and flying premium economy).
Below are a few points of interest and I’ve also put together a ‘flight review’ video (approx. 4mins) which I’ve uploaded onto Youtube. For the proper aviation nerds out there, I’ve also uploaded a video of the entire take-off (3 mins). The vision is only average but the engine noise is amazing!
I arrived at the airport early as I planned on dropping off my bags and then leaving the airport to catch up with friends at a nearby restaurant. This is certainly a situation where Qantas’ all-day check-in and bag drop is fantastic as I was catching a train up from Wollongong.
Premium Economy (PE) passengers have a dedicated check-in queue that they share with QF Silver (one world equivalent) and QP members. This was great for me as there was a huge line of school students (I’d guess 60 or so) who were lined up in the Economy queue.
At the boarding gate PE passengers were given priority boarding (with Business) which was the first time I’ve seen this. On my two other PE flights (QF63,64), we boarded with economy passengers. This was a pleasant surprise as those school children were all there and obviously on the same flight.
I got a brief glimpse of the plane while boarding and boy did it look old. A close up of the door made me think of those old WW2 planes you see in aviation museums. As so happens, the plane was VH OJA which was the first 747-400 delivered to Qantas and this flight would be its second last revenue flight before being sent to aircraft heaven. It wasn’t one of the refurbished 747s so the inside felt its age. I wish I’d known which plane this was before the flight as I’d have given it more respect.
The PE cabin was fine and as I was in the front row (29K), I had heaps of leg room. At full extension (at the knee) I was unable to reach the wall in front and being well forward, you get a great view of that massive Jumbo wing and the 4 RR engines.
The cabin crew were OK but not as friendly as the other two PE flights. One of the female FAs was quite abrupt although she did redeem herself when I ran into her at the airport and she gave me directions towards the exit. I must have got her on a bad moment.
Dinner was either chicken or barramundi and I went for the former. It was OK. Forgotten which white wine I had, but it was good nonetheless (as you’d expect coming from QF’s business class selection).
The IFE was quite cough for two reasons. The TV screen folds away so it has to be hidden away on take-off and landing. There was also a limited number of programs (refurbished 747s, A380s and A333s have far more content I believe) and, unfortunately for me, everything was the same as my last flight returning from JNB in early October. Ah well. It was a night flight so after some more wine, I had some shut-eye which was average at best but that’s more to do with me than the plane. I’ve applied for an upgrade to J on the way back (QF128) so we’ll see how I go with that and if I sleep any better flat.
Breakfast was served and, well, it was unpleasant. It seems that no airline can do hot breakfasts (in Y or PE) so I’ll go with cereal from now on. It was OK but it just seemed like the egg started life as powder and the meat was offcuts off the floor. Sorry I love QF, but, I ate breaky again at the airport.
The view east from the aircraft was beautiful before we headed through cloud to land in an overcast, dark NRT. We landed around 30mins ahead of schedule (after delaying our departure in SYD too) after what I imagine were favourable winds. I roughly remember quite a bit of turbulence (the most I’ve felt in a wide-body) but the wine made that part of the trip a bit vague.
Over-all it was as good as a night flight can be and (for me) a fitting send-off for VH-OJA. Happily, with one less old 744 in QF’s fleet, there’s a better chance of finally testing the refurbished 744s on QF128 in Jan next year.
I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.
As always, checkout the videos and feel free to ask any questions or request any more photos.
[video=youtube;PCVeh0VETH8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCVeh0VETH8&feature=youtu.be[/video]
(scroll down to go straight to the video)
This was the first time I’ve flown this route and I’m still reasonably new to flying in general (and flying premium economy).
Below are a few points of interest and I’ve also put together a ‘flight review’ video (approx. 4mins) which I’ve uploaded onto Youtube. For the proper aviation nerds out there, I’ve also uploaded a video of the entire take-off (3 mins). The vision is only average but the engine noise is amazing!
I arrived at the airport early as I planned on dropping off my bags and then leaving the airport to catch up with friends at a nearby restaurant. This is certainly a situation where Qantas’ all-day check-in and bag drop is fantastic as I was catching a train up from Wollongong.
Premium Economy (PE) passengers have a dedicated check-in queue that they share with QF Silver (one world equivalent) and QP members. This was great for me as there was a huge line of school students (I’d guess 60 or so) who were lined up in the Economy queue.
At the boarding gate PE passengers were given priority boarding (with Business) which was the first time I’ve seen this. On my two other PE flights (QF63,64), we boarded with economy passengers. This was a pleasant surprise as those school children were all there and obviously on the same flight.
I got a brief glimpse of the plane while boarding and boy did it look old. A close up of the door made me think of those old WW2 planes you see in aviation museums. As so happens, the plane was VH OJA which was the first 747-400 delivered to Qantas and this flight would be its second last revenue flight before being sent to aircraft heaven. It wasn’t one of the refurbished 747s so the inside felt its age. I wish I’d known which plane this was before the flight as I’d have given it more respect.
The PE cabin was fine and as I was in the front row (29K), I had heaps of leg room. At full extension (at the knee) I was unable to reach the wall in front and being well forward, you get a great view of that massive Jumbo wing and the 4 RR engines.
The cabin crew were OK but not as friendly as the other two PE flights. One of the female FAs was quite abrupt although she did redeem herself when I ran into her at the airport and she gave me directions towards the exit. I must have got her on a bad moment.
Dinner was either chicken or barramundi and I went for the former. It was OK. Forgotten which white wine I had, but it was good nonetheless (as you’d expect coming from QF’s business class selection).
The IFE was quite cough for two reasons. The TV screen folds away so it has to be hidden away on take-off and landing. There was also a limited number of programs (refurbished 747s, A380s and A333s have far more content I believe) and, unfortunately for me, everything was the same as my last flight returning from JNB in early October. Ah well. It was a night flight so after some more wine, I had some shut-eye which was average at best but that’s more to do with me than the plane. I’ve applied for an upgrade to J on the way back (QF128) so we’ll see how I go with that and if I sleep any better flat.
Breakfast was served and, well, it was unpleasant. It seems that no airline can do hot breakfasts (in Y or PE) so I’ll go with cereal from now on. It was OK but it just seemed like the egg started life as powder and the meat was offcuts off the floor. Sorry I love QF, but, I ate breaky again at the airport.
The view east from the aircraft was beautiful before we headed through cloud to land in an overcast, dark NRT. We landed around 30mins ahead of schedule (after delaying our departure in SYD too) after what I imagine were favourable winds. I roughly remember quite a bit of turbulence (the most I’ve felt in a wide-body) but the wine made that part of the trip a bit vague.
Over-all it was as good as a night flight can be and (for me) a fitting send-off for VH-OJA. Happily, with one less old 744 in QF’s fleet, there’s a better chance of finally testing the refurbished 744s on QF128 in Jan next year.
I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.
As always, checkout the videos and feel free to ask any questions or request any more photos.
[video=youtube;PCVeh0VETH8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCVeh0VETH8&feature=youtu.be[/video]
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