Review of Qantas flight from Melbourne to Perth in Business

Qantas QF9 Melbourne To Perth

Flight Details:
Airlines: Qantas
Flight: QF9 MEL - PER
Reg: VH-ZNE "Skippy"
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Class: Business
Departure Melbourne Terminal 2 - Gate 3: 4.30pm
Arrival Perth Terminal 3: 5:50pm
Flight time: 4 hours 00 minutes
Distance: 2706 km or 1461 miles
Landed: Runway 21

VIDEO: Qantas QF9 Melbourne To Perth

Introduction

This trip report is from Dec 2022. I was transiting through Melbourne on the way to Perth. You can read the tripreport-> Qantas QF427 Sydney to Melbourne.

Flight Routing below:

I was originally booked to fly Economy flight.

I received an email 2 days before flight to upgrade to Business. I bid for the upgrade and was successful. Upgrade charges was deducted from the credit card.

I had also received check-in email earlier and I had checked in for the flight. 

Economy class baggage allowance

As I received email of upgrade day before flight. I logged again in Qantas website and selected seat and re-checked of the flight. On completing check-in, message was to collect boarding pass at airport.

I had read the Domestic travel requirements on international flights

I had few hours of transit, found a spot in front of the check-in counter and completed work.

As I was running out of battery, I walked around to find a power point. Flight schedule from Melbourne. Found a spot to charge machine and continued with work.

After receiving the upgrade confirmation, I logged and re-selected the seat, I had limited seat choices due to late upgrade.

Check-in

Boarding for the flight would open at 1.50pm.

At 1.50pm, I returned to International section for check-in.

Check-in had opened and not many in the queue.

Entered the check-in area with 3 passengers ahead.

At the check-in counter, bag was weighed. I was asked for ID, showed my drivers license[DL].

Boarding pass was printed with DL details written on it. I was informed to pass immigration and show the Boarding pass and DL at border control.

I was also given a baggage receipt and informed of gate no and time of boarding.

Security and Immigration

After receiving the boarding pass, I headed towards the security which took about 10mins as the queue was long due to multiple departures. But it was moving, new x-rays at Australian airport have made the process quicker as now people don't have to remove laptop and other electronic devices from bags. Body scan was conducted for everyone. Completed security without issues.

At immigration, there was separate counter for domestic passengers flying on international flight. Border staff checked the boarding pass and DL and then stamped the boarding pass. It took less than a minute to complete immigration.

Departure area

After competing immigration, checked the departure board.

QF9 had check-in status.

Duty Free Shops

All passengers have to walk through the duty free shops to reach departure gate. As I was flying domestic with nothing to buy, I walked through the duty free section.

Reached the gate, which was empty.

I had forgotten about the lounge access and walked around to complete daily steps.

QF9 would be operated by VH-ZNE, as the aircraft was hidden, could only see the rego on zooming.

I had to select seat 11k as the other seats were occupied or unavailable.

Planespotting

Malaysian was parked in the neighbouring gate.

Qatar Airways and Emirates

Walking towards the extended departure area.

Walking around

Towards extended area.

Virgin Australia Domestic terminal.

Cathay Pacific

Video: SriLankan Arrival in 8k video

Srilankan arrives from Colombo at gate D4.

Boarding

Soon it was boarding time. Separate queue were formed for Business and economy passengers. Business and Qantas members were boarded first, followed by economy. Ground staff asked passengers to scan their boarding pass.

View of aircraft before boarding.

Passengers at the entrance. I joined the queue later.

Onboard

Cabin crew greeted, checked boarding pass and directed me to seat.

View of seat before sitting.

Crew came and asked if I would like something to drink. I asked for champagne. View of the outside. Malaysia Airlines in OneWorld livery.

I had the drink and glass was cleared before pushback.

Seat controls and amenities - water, headphones and sidelight.

IFE with seat number and flight details.

I explored the seat while waiting for pushback. IFE remote control in side panel, which had a mirror. Power points and usb charger.

Legroom- seat converts to bed with controls in the armrest.

SEAT Pocket MAterial

Seat pocket contained the Inflight magazine, safety card and air sickness bag.

Qantas Boeing 787-9 safety card

Full view

Seat controls - with back and butt massaging option

Pushback and Departure

Pushback commenced on time. Safety demonstration was conduced through video. A long taxi followed, aircraft departed from runway 34. Watch video to enjoy the experience.

Inflight

After departure, crew had left the window controls free for passengers to set.

Inflight magazine and safety card in the box.

Flight map after departure.

I had darkened the window to rest and watch movie.

Cabin Service

After departure, crew came with drinks trolley.

I chose Penfolds Shiraz Cabarnet - red wine and got roasted almonds.

Entertainment

As I wasn't sleepy, decided to watch Top Gun: Maverick.

Reclined the seat for comfortable viewing.

Dinner Service

Crew came and asked about the meal. As there was no menu provided. I chose the corn soup.

Main meal: Salad of herbed lemon chicken with chickpeas, balsamic onions, broccolini and saffron aioli

Dessert: Cheesy platter. Ice cream was also an option but I declined.

Watched movie with 1 eye as I felt sleepy after the wine.

Flight path

After a while, got up for toilet and a quick view of the cabin.

Arrival in Perth

Time passed and captain announced descend would commenced soon.

Cabin prepared for arrival. The customer service manager came to each seat and thanked passengers.

Aircraft approached Perth to land smoothly on runway 21. Exited runway and after a short taxi reached gate.

Window view as aircraft reached gate.

View of seat 10K. Announcement was made for those passengers flying to London had to disembark with their bags, complete security and enter the departure area.

Waited for door to open. Business passengers disembarking first

View of aircraft

Aircraft preparing for next flight as QF9 to London - currently world's 3rd longest flight.

Entered the Terminal 3 building with view of the Terminal and 1 and 2 on the other side of runway.

Immigration and Baggage Collection

Only Qantas domestic and international operate from Terminal 3, all other airlines operate from the other terminal. After walking through the corridor, took a escalator down to immigration, which had 2 counters open.

I was lucky to be among the first 4 as other passengers had to join a different queue.

After completing immigration, where the Border staff checked the boarding pass and ID, was allowed to enter baggage claim. Baggage is just behind the immigration counter.

My bag came with 5 minutes.

Exiting the Terminal

To exit the terminal, passengers have to pass through a passage, where border staff collects the boarding pass. After handing the boarding pass, entered the arrival area.

Being first time to Perth, I checked the sign board of car rental.

Terminal 3 Car rentals are on the left side after exiting arrivals then another left and walk straight. Walk straight behind the taxi board in this picture.

Reached the car rentals. I provided details and got the car key.

I had rented a KIA Stonic during my stay in WA. Next thing to do was drive to hotel.

I hope you enjoyed reading this trip report.

Thanks for reading the report and watching the video.

:)