Review of Qantas flight from Broome to Sydney in Economy

Qantas QF1043 Broome to Sydney

Flight details:
Airline: Qantas
Flight: QF1043 BME-SYD
Reg: VH-XZP "James Strong"
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Seat: 10A
Departure Broome Airport Gate 3: 11:45AM
Arrival Sydney Airport Terminal 3: 6:00PM
Total time: 03hr 45mins
Age: 10.8 Years
Seat Config: C12Y162

Video: Qantas QF1043 Broome to Sydney

Introduction

This trip report is from Sept 2025. I had arrived in Broome from Darwin few days earlier, trip report - Air North TL332 Darwin ✈ Kununurra ✈ Broome.

This is the last report of this series. 

Booking

I booked this flight from the Qantas website. 

This route operates few times a week. Not many options, alternative was to fly via Perth.

This flight flies directly to Sydney.

Choosing the fare

Flight info

Upgrade was available

Seat selection

I chose standard seat

Seat availability for standard seat. I chose 20A

Entered personal details

Flight booked

2 weeks prior to departure , I received an email to upgrade. 
I logged in the managing the booking to check the price.

Business upgrade available.

I bid but was not successful.

Online check-in

Prior to departure, I logged again and proceeded to complete the check-in

Pre-flight Acknowledgement

Safety check

Battery restrictions

Check-in competed

Digital boarding pass

Arriving at Airport

I arrived at airport early to return the car.

Car rental return direction

Walking

Paid parking boom gate

Airport Entrance 

Australia, Aboriginal and State of Western Australia flags

Arrivals terminal

Arrivals terminal after dropping the key

Walking towards Departures

Departure terminal

Entering the Departures terminal.

Video: Broome Airport | Entry to Departure

Check-in

I entered the terminal, Qantas check-in was open.

Flight schedule

I joined the check-in queue.

Two counters were open, check-in took about 10mins.  Few passengers ahead,I had to drop bag.

My turn soon.

Check-in bag weight

Security

With nothing to do outside, I proceeded for security check. It took about a minutes and I was in the departure wating area.

Waiting area was full due to two flight load of passengers. The waiting area has a coffee and souvenir shop.

QantasLink Fokker Aircraft to Perth. 

The view is limited closeup due to grill size.

Perth Flight was delayed and the Sydney flight had landed.

Qantas has a lounge for business passengers, Sign pointing the lounge direction.

Boarding

Walked around a bit to explore the space.

Boarding soon

Boarding was from gate 3.

Boarding was called by seat numbers. Aircraft was not visible from the terminal. After scanning the boarding was allowed to continue towards the aircraft. 

Qantas VH-XZP in special livery and named "James Strong" was operating QF1043 Broome to Sydney.

Trivia:
This aircraft was painted in the Qantas retro 'ochre' livery.  During the Melbourne Airshow 2015, this aircraft was on static display for public viewing.

Retro roo tail

View of fuselage

Onboard

Entered the aircraft from the rear stairs and walked towards the selected seat.

Cabin view

Reached assigned seat and settled.

View of aisle and starboard side window

Boarding was completed. The seats next me remained empty. Ground crew removing the witch hats.

Seat pocket content

I checked the seat pocket which contained the Qantas magazine, air sickness bag and safety card.

Magazine front

Magazine rear

Seat view

It was departure time and crew closed the overhead bins.

IFE controls in the seat handle

Ground staff deplaned. Doors closed. Pilot and crew welcomed passenger and provided flight information.

Taxi and departure

Engines spooled and performed a turnaround. There was no pushback tug used in regional airports. View of QantasLink Fokker.

Taxi to runway

Passing the offshore helicopter service bays

Turning to line up with the Broome Highway along the airport border.

Last view of the Broome airport

Take off from runway 10-23, towards the North.

Flying over Cable beach

360 degree turn towards the East

Video: Departure | Broome Airport

View of Broome town and airport over Cable beach.

Broome airport as aircraft gained altitude.

Smoke from the backburning before summer season

Last view of Broome

Sea view as aircraft head inland

Headphones

Cabin view after departure

Flight information

Flight route as aircraft head East

Flight information, 4 hrs of flying remaining.

Cabin view

Flying over Gibson desert

Cabin Service

Cabin Service commenced after half an hour of departure

Crew distributing meal. Option was chicken curry rice or Meat pie. 

I chose chicken along with red wine

Opened box which was hot.

Close up, curry had flavour.

After food, continued sipping the wine.

View of dried salt over Lake Mackay.

Flight information

Aircraft location

Flying close to Uluru. Passengers on the starboard side had a view of Uluru rock.

Tea or coffee was available for those wanting a drink.

Flight information

Flight map

I felt sleepy and had the whole row to stretch. Must had slept for an hour. View on waking.

Cabin view

Arriving in Sydney

Time passed and Sydney was visible. Pilot announced descend would commence. 

Flying over Royal National Park in the South.

Video: Landing | Sydney Airport

On approach over the Pacific ocean.

Sun setting as clock ticked towards 6pm.

Landing on runway 34L-16R, Main runway in Sydney.

Flaps down as aircraft exited the runway.

Taxing to domestic terminal

Flight information during taxi.

Heading towards the Domestic terminal 3, passing the pond.

View of Qantas Boeings

Parked in the bay.

Disembarkation

Disembarkation was from the forward door connected by aerobridge.

Entering the terminal.

Walking towards the exit.

Qantas baggage service direction

I forgot powerbank and cap on the aircraft. 

I went to the baggage claim and informed the staff. After 10mins I got the powerbank.

Baggage claim 

I collected my bag and walked towards the train station.

Following the trains direction

Escalator to lower level

Following the sign

Train down the escalator

Domestic train station

Tapped the Opal card to enter the paid area.

Heading towards City.

Catching train home.

Aircraft and flight information

Aircraft arrived on time.

Video: Qantas QF1043 Broome to Sydney flight information

QF1043 flight information

Aircraft rotation

Tourist bonus

Sharing below photos and videos of the Unseen Australia series from Kununurra to Broome.

Kununurra Spillway Lookout

Video: Scenic Lookout Spillway | Kununurra

Halls Creek sunrise

Distance to cover in a day.

Road status information

Sunrise 

Video: Victoria Highway | Halls Creek to Broome

Termite mounds can be found all over Northern Australia from Queensland to Western Australia

Kms to drive

Long straight road of nothing

Boab tree in rest area

Video: Australian Boab Tree

Highway Intersection

Single lane bridge warning sign

Single lane bridge

Broome - Gantheaume Point

Video: Gantheaume Point

Sun set, what does this remind you off. 

Gantheaume Beach

Gantheaume Beach with Suv's

Streeter's Jetty Broome

Video: Broome Streeter's Jetty

Town Beach Jetty

Video: Town Beach | Broome

Cable beach

Video: Cable Beach

Beach view

End of Trip

Hope you enjoyed this trip report.

Thanks for reading and watching the video.

:)