Review of Jetstar Airways flight from Sydney to Melbourne in Economy

JQ - Jetstar Airways

Flight taken on 19 March 2025

JQ507

Sydney Melbourne

SYD

MEL

08:20 01h 35m 09:55

Model Airbus A320

Class Economy

Seat 9F

Jetstar JQ507 Sydney to Melbourne

Flight details:
Airline: Jetstar
Flight: JQ507 SYD - MEL
Reg: VH-VFH
Aircraft: Airbus A320-232
Seat: 9F
Departure Sydney Airport International Terminal 1 Gate 57: 08:20AM AEDT
Arrival Melbourne Airport International Terminal 4: 09:55AM AEDT
Total time: 1hr 08mins

Video: Jetstar JQ507 Sydney to Melbourne

Introduction

This trip report is from Mar 2025, report cover the journey from Sydney to Melbourne.
I transited through Melbourne to board an onward flight.
I chose this Jetstar flight to leave enough time between the flights.

Pre-departure

I booked the ticket through Jetstar website, selected seat and paid to check-in bag.
I had checked for this flight online.

Transport to airport

Being an early flight, I chose to take a train to airport. I checked the train schedule day earlier.

Video: Train ride to airport

Flights are weather dependent and weather check for Sydney and Melbourne

Melbourne showed sunny weather after 10am, which was good as the city experiences 4 seasons in a day.

I reached the train station on time and then changed to the airport line. Disembarked at Domestic airport station.

Arriving at the airport

Exited the paid concourse area and then an escalator to passage between the Terminals.

Arrival and departure information displayed on the screen

Checked the flight schedule. JQ507 departing gate 57.

Check-in

Terminal 2 is used by Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Rex, Link and Air Pelican. Departure check-in is located on upper floor.
As I had a check-in bag, I went to the check-in bag drop.

Entered the booking reference in the self-check kiosk. Received boarding pass and baggage tag. I stuck the tag on the checked bag and went to the bag drop counter.

At the bag drop, I showed the booking barcode. Ground staff scanned the barcode to retrieve the information.

Bag was weighed, I asked if I was carrying powerbank. I said its in the handbag. All good. I was on the way to security check. Whole process took 10 mins.

Security

Entered the security check and was directed to not so busy lane. Placed bag in the tray. In Australia's major airport, electronic items don't have to taken out of bag, making the experience less cumbersome.

Got scanned through the body scanner and was allowed to collect bag. Process took about 5mins.

Departure area

After completing security, took escalator to lower level. Passed the food court.

Sydney airport has curfew till 6a.m Aircraft operations about to commence for the day.

I decided to sit close to the gate. Gate 57 for Jetstar to Melbourne. I was early and the area was deserted.

Jetstar boarding completed.

✈ Spotting

I had plenty of time and indulged in plane spotting. Runway 34L and 34R was used for arrivals and departures.
I watched the Jetstar VH-VFH Airbus A320-232 arrive from Melbourne.

Nose in parking, aircraft receiving attention from ground crew.

Qantas domestic flights passing close to the terminal.

Soon to retire, QantasLink VH-TQS De Havilland Canada Dash 8-200 probably to Lord Howe island

Singapore Airlines 9V-SKN Airbus A380 arrives as SQ221

Taxies to gate

Video: Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport ✈ Spotting

QantasLink De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400

Departure Gate

It was soon boarding time, departure gate was filled with passengers.

Flight schedule

Time was 7.34am and boarding gate indicated open.

Sydney International Terminal 1 in view

Boarding

Flight ready to board passengers.

I took a photo of the boarding pass.

Boarding had commenced and I joined the queue. As it was seated in the front section, I was able to board late.

Boarding pass scanned.

Onboard

I reached the selected window seat. View of the airside.

Boarding in progress.

Seat pocket content

Being a short flight, I checked the seat content containing the safety card, menu and airsickness bag.

rear side

Buy on Board [BOB] menu

Beverages

Snacks

Meals

jetstar Airbus A320-200 safety card

front

rear

Pusback

Flight was full and boarding was completed on time. Crew welcomed passengers and introduced self and other crew. My neighbour was a Chinese girl.

Pushback commenced on time. Safety announcement was conducted manually by crew as the aircraft was pushed. A long taxi followed to runway 34R.

Video: Departure | Jetstar JQ507 Sydney to Melbourne

Take off was towards the North then a sharp turn to East and then South. Sydney's 3 runways in a single frame below.

Domestic and International terminals on the right bottom.

Turning South over the Tasman sea.

Window shades.

Flying South over Port Kembla.

Cabin view with individual air vents, lights and crew call button.

Inflight

Aircraft flew past Canberra, Australian Capital Territory [ACT] as it was cloudy didn't see much below.

Entertainment

Entertainment is available through own device. Entertainment does not interest me.
It was early morning, I didn't check the streaming.

Cabin Service

Crew commenced BOB service after attaining cruise. I didn't buy anything and spent time resting as my body was not ready for food.

Descend in Melbourne

Pilot announced descend would be commencing, Crew cleared rubbish and checked the cabin. Aircraft posited to approach from East.

Video: Flight route

Melbourne suburbs probably Broadmeadows below.

Video: Landing in Melbourne

Aircraft landed from the East on runway 27-09, A long taxi followed. Arrived at the Terminal 4 parking bay 22.

Disembarkation

Disembarkation by stairs

Seat in front emptied, I followed and exited the aircraft.

Crew clearing the cabin of rubbish.

Terminal 4

Entered the terminal and followed the exit signs.

Jetstar boarding in progress.

Walking towards exit

Walked for 10 mins

Departure schedule

Exiting the secure area following the way out sign.

Baggage claim

Exited the arrivals and followed the baggage claim sign.

Escalator to lower level.

Escalator to check-in and baggage claim.

Arrival and departure information

Bags arriving at Belt 7.

Waited 5mins to get bag.

SkyBus stop outside the Terminal 4.

Flight and aircraft information

JQ507 flight was ahead of schedule on previous days as aircraft had completed 1 sector.

Aircraft information

Jetstar VH-VFH routing

Flight route

End of trip

Hope you enjoyed this trip report.

Thanks for reading and watching the video.

:)

Display all

Tourism bonus

koresh invites you to continue reading with the tourism bonus section below :

The drama

I had plenty of transit time and decided to take a Skybus to Melbourne city. I went to the international arrivals area to drop bag at the storage.

The counter staff took checked bag and then x-rayed, she then informed me that she had called the AFP [Australia Federal Police] as my bag indicated explosives. I was like what, I just flew from Sydney and had no issues.

She said Will have to wait till AFP arrives and she can't provide ETA when they will turn up. I waited for 5 mins for the AFP.

I said to her, it may be perfume as I had to remove the packaging.

Anyways AFP turned up, asked if I consented to the bag being checked and that I can refuse. I was like I want to store the bag.
I will open you can check.

I said to the officer, I have perfume and chocolates.
I opened the bag while he was looking, I was asked what I do and where I was coming from. I answered, he responded, you are no concern to us. Got the all clear.

I paid $20 to experience this drama and left the bag in storage.

In Melbourne arrivals, you will find taxi touts who target overseas students and visitors. As I was leaving the arrivals, I was approached by couple of these taxi drivers. Anyone visiting Melbourne, avoid these scammers. These people are themselves migrants but indulge in these activities to flee their fellow country people.

I went to Terminal 3 and bought a Skybus return ticket for $41.50. Melbourne airport is expensive to visit as transport to and from airport is limited to bus or car.

As I reached bus stop outside, bus was boarding. Scanned the ticket and I was on board.

Bus started from Terminal 3 then using Tullamarine Freeway to Southern Cross station.

View of Melbourne Star Observation Wheel

Melbourne buildings are more colourful than Sydney.

Disembarked at Southern Cross.

Walked towards the CBD.

Melbourne trams

Flinders street station

Melbourne landmark

It was a hot day, I went to Melbourne Central shopping centre.

Chinese - Dim Sim and dumpling

Melbourne State Library, Victoria

It was hot and I rested on a bench.

I hate everyone cohort

Being a hot day, sat in shade.

Watched people play street chess.

Around 3.40pm, decided to start return journey.

Melbourne has creative designs everywhere.

Street view

Restaurants close to Southern Cross

Restaurants near Southern Cross

Melbourne PT

Within CBD limits tram is free, announcement is made to tap myki if travelling outside the zone.

As I'm a interstate traveller, I didn't know and asked a fellow passenger for information.

After the tram ride, returned to Southern Cross station.

Entered the Factory outlet, then returned as I didn't find what I was looking.

Evening time is peak at Southern Cross for people returning from work.

Bus waiting at the start point

Melbourne Skyline

Product ratings

Airline

Jetstar Airways 6.0

Cabin7.0 / 10
Cabin crew7.0 / 10
Entertainment/wifi5.0 / 10
Buy-on-board menu5.0 / 10

Departure airport

Sydney - SYD7.5

Efficiency7.5 / 10
Access7.5 / 10
Services7.5 / 10
Cleanliness7.5 / 10

Arrival Airport

Melbourne - MEL7.4

Efficiency7.5 / 10
Access7.5 / 10
Services7.0 / 10
Cleanliness7.5 / 10

Conclusion

Jetstar flight departed and arrived on time. Crew was friendly.
Sydney airport was easy to navigate and reach.

Melbourne arrival experience was smooth till the bag storage drama.

Overall a satisfactory trip.

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Comments (2)

KévinDC 2025-04-01 03:11:31

Every time I've been in Australia, I've always been tempted by Jetstar's low price, but then end up paying more for QF flights, because Jetstar flights don't earn miles on any oneworld programme outside of QF, of course. But Jetstar really do seem like a good option and it's great that they've rolled out streaming IFE, which is useful on longer flights. Though I believe you have to pay for it, but still...nice to have the option. Only thing missing is some USB ports, which I believe they only have on the A321neos.

Thanks for sharing!

koresh 2025-04-15 14:22:01

JQ offers value for money on short flights. IFE is user pays model. I haven't flown on the A321neos, USB charging would be useful on transcontinental flights.

Thanks for your comment. 😀

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