Next trip to Australia

[rugbyref]

Our son is finally out of hospital in Sydney, so we going back out there in October (will do a trip report of course). But I was determined to try to use my Avios and Qatar Q miles. Well, it took several hours, 3 calls to Qatar customer services and heaps of grief before we were booked. Apparently it was not enough to link the 2 sets of airmiles, they had to be combined! Using 224,000 miles eventually saved £1400, but it would have been cheaper at first attempt is Qatar’s first 2 reps knew their job.

Anyway, we are now booked on A350-1000 out of Heathrow, with A380 on the other leg (and both return legs.) Pity the B787 route from Gatwick did not feature in the options (too popular?)

[rugbyref]

I am in Australia at the moment, and there is significant media coverage of the denial of extra Qatar flights into Aus. The very strong inference is that Qantas and Alan Joyce exercised undue influence over government and its decision. Joyce is now being summoned to appear before a govt committee, and will not be getting an easy ride!

[billsamuels]

Interesting developments down-under.

TBH, I do have a certain amount of sympathy for the QF position. Coming from an airline/travel background, the Arab airlines have grown from oil money and not from organic growth, there’s no question about that. I don’t normally have an issue with this type of Governmental support, that’s how Countries grow their economies. But Emirates, for one example, generally strangle the national carrier on their home turf. It starts with the point-to-point traffic (LON-DXB) and then they flood regional feed, in this case; LGW, BHX, MAN, NCL, GLA, EDI… 

If I were there defending Qantas’ position I’d be putting up massive flak to defend its position. Just look at what happened to Air New Zealand and their European network… They got smothered, and despite retrenching their network over the North Atlantic, they found it impossible to compete on the UK-NZ route.

Don’t think the current situation can be reversed but stunting their growth, I believe, is a good thing.

Safe travel Phil, hope you’ve seen a few goodies and many more.

Bill

[rugbyref]

After a night at Premier Inn at T4, we walked through to the terminal for our 3 October trip to Sydney via Doha. A7-AND A350 did this short hop in 6 hrs 4 mins, from which we transferred onto A380 A7-APF for our 13 hour 51 min leg to SYD. Not much chance of logging anything during transit, with just 3 hitting the book, B737s A4O-MD, A4O-MH and A6-FKK.

Landing at SYD, just 2 logged that were needed, A330 RP-C8764 and B787 ZK-NZR. A320 ZK-NHD, B777 N774CK, B737 VH-YNU of Air Nauru were logged but not needed.

We checked in at our usual apartments in Zetland, but as one of two lifts was still out of action, I did not request our usual 19th floor room with view of airport, and settled for easier access on ground floor, so no early morning spotting from the room.

After so many trips, I needed just small numbers of Qantas, Jetstar, Rex and Virgin Australia mainline fleets, so those recorded were good gap fillers.

5 Oct
VH-NXO B717 of Qantaslink
VH-VUR B737 of VOZ
VH-XNI A320 of Jetstar

each turned our way after departure during breakfast.

6 Oct
A pair of R44s were buzzing up and down the shoreline, VH-SJK and VH-BCJ
Fiji A330 DQ-FJT was not needed.

7Oct
More eggbeaters along the shore, this time VH-DFN Bell 206 and VH-XWY R44 and VH-X2V EC20
B350 VH-FIY was doing circuits (imagine that at LHR!) and N988NC G6 departed
Cebu A330 RP-C3901 was not needed.

These were seen from our son’s garden a couple of miles from the end of the shorter runway at SYD.

[rugbyref]

Part 2.

This trip was much happier, as our son is out of hospital after his cardiac arrest and coma (or winter hibernation as we now call it.)

8 Oct

B787 ZK-NZF
AW139 VH-TJG
Dash 8 VH-QOY
A320 ZK-NHF

were each logged around or departing SYD, while
VH-XVX E190 and T7-999 G6 were OTT

Interestingly the Gulfstream was trailing at FL450, and was the first trail I can ever recall seeing in Australia. Air temperatures must be markedly different from here.

Retro scheme VH-VXQ B737 was seen but not needed.

9 Oct

Jetstar A320s VH-YXV and VH-YXQ were joined in the book by B350 VH-AMQ (reg previously seen on B200), new Fiji A350 DQ-FAM, and from the Rex fleet Saab340 VH-ZPC and B737s VH-RQG and VH8KH. Global N360HP completed the log for the day,

[rugbyref]

Part 3.

10 Oct

Just B407 VH-EXV hit the book this day.

11 Oct

A bit more variety today.

OTT
VH-UZH E190
VH-VEB Saab 340
9M-MTW A330

SYD
VH-YQM B737
N850XR Hawker
VH-CRW FA7X
VH-VUJ B737
CC-BGJ B787
VH-YXT A320
ZK-FXJ B737
VH-8JS B737 (cleared Rex B737s)

12 Oct

VH-VZQ B737 (cleared Qantas 737s)
CC-BGT B787
9M-XBI A330

13 Oct

VH-NXH B717
VH-OFY A321

14 Oct

VH-UQD F100 went OTT
08-8202 C17 overflew SYD inbound RAAF Richmond, but not needed.

15 Oct

We took the ferry to Watsons Bay for lunch, and at Rose Bay en route C208 on floats VH-IOV cleared Sydney Seaplanes fleet.
AW139 VH-TJE
ZK-NZE B787

16 Oct

HS-XTC A330

[rugbyref]

Part 4

17 Oct

I took the bus to SYD, then shuttle bus to Blue Emu car park and a short walk to the dedicated observation area called Shep’s Mound. From 08.00 to 13.30 I needed the following.

VH-OFW A321
VN-A815 A330
HL7634 A380
VH-VER Saab 340
VH-SRI Saab 340
ZK-NNC A321
VN-A891 A350 ( my last Vietnam 350)
VH-EJT C525
9M-LRU B737
RP-C8786 A330
JA921A B787
VH-TQE Dash8
VH-TQN Dash8
RP-C3900 A330
N258X FA7X
9V-OJF B787
VH-VLT Legacy
F-ONET A330

[rugbyref]

Part 5.

19 Oct

From our son’s garden then onto SYD for our flight home.

VH-UYX Phenom
VH-YQR B737
VH-AMM PC24
HL8502 A330
JA925A B787

First leg to Doha on A380 A7-APE 14 hours 39 mins.

I left needing just 4 Jetstar A321, 2 VOZ B737s plus the Maxes being delivered.

20 Oct

At Doha in transit I made

A4O-MJ B737
A7-BSH B737
A7-BSA B737
A7-AHO A320
A7-BOD B777

and the final leg of 6hr 40 mins was on A380 A7-APJ, which is in much better nick regarding seats and IFE than its older siblings.