Hello Flight-Report #avgeeks. This begins the trek home from Australia. What a beautiful country.
jetBlue A320 Ecomomy service ORD-JFK
Singapore Airlines A380 Suites Class JFK-FRA / JFK Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse
Singapore Airlines Suites Class FRA-SIN / FRA Air Canada Lounge
Thai Airways A350 Business Class SIN-BKK / SIN The Private Room
Thai Airways B747 First Class BKK-SYD / BKK Thai Royal First Lounge and Spa
Air New Zealand B787 Business Class SYD-AKL / SYD Air New Zealand Lounge
Air New Zealand A320 Economy Class AKL-WLG / AKL Air New Zealand Domestic Lounge
JetStar A320 Economy Class WLG-AKL
Emirates A380 Business Class BNE-SYD / AKL Emirates Lounge
Qantas B737 Business Class BNE-SYD / BNE Priority Pass Lounge
American Airlines B777 First Class SYD-LAX / SYD Qantas First Class Lounge
Virgin America A320 First Class LAX-ORD
After a very enjoyable few days in Brisbane it was back to the skies. When I arrived in Brisbane I mistakenly assumed the fastest and least expensive route to the CBD Hilton would be an Uber. That USD$45 mistake was replaced with a AUS$16 (or about USD$12) train ride from downtown back to the airport. The train runs at least every 30 minutes and is about a 25 minute ride. The CBD train station is 1 block from the Hilton.
The walk from the "Airtrain Station" to the terminal doesn't even qualify as daily exercise.
Qantas is very advanced with an automated check in and bag drop process. Don't even think of getting a bag past the weight limit. Put your bag on the scale, get a baggage tag and load it on the conveyor.
While Qantas had a lounge, and they usually have excellent lounges, I had something I hoped would be better up my sleeve, Priority Pass. Priority Pass has two lounges in the Brisbane domestic terminal which aren't lounges, they are restaurants.
The Priority Pass program allows, in lieu of a lounge visit, a one-time charge of AUD$36 per registered person for food or drink at these locations. So if your Priority Pass card allows a single person lounge access you get a one-time charge of AUD$36. If you have guest privileges on your card you get AUD$72 on a one-time charge. So don't order a drink, then decide to order something else after you've paid. If you order more than the maximum allowed you will be charged the excess separately and you can't add tips on to the Priority Pass "gift card" amount.
Bar Roma was the first I came across. Brisbane domestic has two wings, one for Qantas and one for Virgin Australia. Bar Roma is located after you enter airside on the connecting walkway between the two wings. There is seating in the back or you can order and go.
Not awed I figured I'd check out option two before deciding. The second lounge is Graze Grill and it's located at the end of the Qantas wing, where Retro-Roo was parked.
Graze's menu looked a little better to me.
As did their grab and go items.
So I order from the menu. The Priority Pass offer had been in place for a number of months but the cashier had no idea how to ring it up. Nonetheless after a few minutes, and a couple customers behind me getting impatient, she figured it out. I signed the bill and took a seat. In a few minutes lunch was served.
Not your typical lounge food meal ehh?
Nor a domestic lounge food presentation, ha!
The above burger and coffee was about AUD$30, so I hadn't reached my limit, but as I mentioned it's a one time shot. Unless of course you have TWO Priority Pass cards.
What an awesome deal!
Time to board Qantas 737 for the short hop down to Sydney. I was somewhat surprised.
These are nice seats.
Qantas likes to block business class seats. Row 3 was all that was available for pre-assignment, not that any are different. 3A was mine.
Very good legroom.
Seems the aisle seat has the A/V box out of the way as well.
Subtle reminders of how filthy airplanes are.
Speaking of IFE. The true in-flight entertainment was out the window on this flight!
On time we go.
In the photo below is the flight attendant for the front cabin. There was a meal service on this short flight which was soup and a sandwich. Except I was never asked if I wanted anything! He had offered a beverage upon boarding but never asked if I wanted lunch. I know it was soup and sandwich because the guy next to me had it. Maybe the FA knew I was a Priority Pass member!
It didn't matter, the view was too good.
Closer
Some lucky folks live down there.
Approaching Sydney.
Zooming in.
Just another winter day in Australia.
The approach took us over the airport to the south.
I remember visiting Sydney many years ago and I thought it reminded me of San Francisco. Guess the airport does too!
Flight Path
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Thanks for the report! The Priority Pass offering in Brisbane is pretty great, but I’m not sure who told you that you weren’t eligible for lounge access. Even without status, a domestic business class ticket offers access to the dedicated business lounge and even has guesting privileges (for one guest that doesn’t have to be travelling). The Qantas Lounges in Brisbane were relaunched in March this year and are pretty good.
The service onboard sounds bizarre, and completely unacceptable.
Hi Nathan, and thanks for reading!
-I guess we need to chalk this up to a cognizant disfunction moment considering last year I flew QF domestically from MEL-SYD-PER and visited the business class lounges in Melbourne and Sydney! But thanks for the memory jog, I'll change it.
Agreed, Qantas does have nice lounges, but my sights were set on Priority Pass, and next time in BNE will be as well.
Thanks for your comments Nathan, happy reward flying.
I would definitely complain to QF that you were skipped over for meal service. Appalling and absolutely unacceptable in business class.
Of course you are correct Eminere, but I've probably let too much time pass to credibly post a complaint. I would have declined the meal anyway so it wasn't a big deal to me at the time. Just horrible customer service.
Thanks for reading!