Qantas A330-200 Business Class MEL-SYD
Now that I had my fun flying Qantas’ 787-9 to somewhere I didn’t need to go, I had to get to Sydney where the trip home would commence the following day. However by total coincidence, Qantas opened a remodeled business class lounge in Melbourne the day before. So arriving in Melbourne this day missed the grand opening by a day. Good enough however.
Glasses please.
It is an attractive lounge with a nice view of the airfield, but I wouldn’t call it cutting edge in terms of new architecture. Yet it was plenty large with various types of seating, with or without tables.
Apparently there will be a sit down dining area which hadn’t been completed.
Your typical assortment of lounge food with the ever present Barista, which is such a nice feature US lounges don’t have.
This was interesting.
A tea station with various brands of local teas.
After a tea it was off to the gate. Being towed was the special livery “Yam Dreaming” Qantas 787.
Other plane photos including 2 special livery Qantas 737’s, 2 A380s and an arriving China Airlines A350.
The A330 cabin has the same seats as the 787, except with a different finish and seat cover., both which I like better on the 787.
A comparison of finishes, A330 left, B787 right.
A non-retractable privacy divider between center seats.
The front cabin.
Seat 4K, a window hugging seat.
Other views of window seats and center seats.
I picked the right flight. The Melbourne Sydney corridor is one of the busiest air routes in the world. Qantas flies almost on the half hour. The prior flight was delayed and the next flight after mine was delayed. It was a beautiful day in Melbourne, not quite as nice in Sydney.
Before long a light snack was served, impressive on a 70 minute flight.
Moving Map but I question the time.
Did I mention the weather was going downhill?
Sadly it was foggy and drizzling into Sydney which prevented any photos on arrival.
Redemption Pricing
When this option to fly the 787 to Melbourne came about I called American and tried to get a single ticket for 20K points. The agent priced it as 2 awards for 40,000 points but I asked for a single 20K award. He went offline and came back with an affirmative that he could do the trip for 20K. After a couple days it hadn’t ticketed, was just reserved in my account so I called. I was told that the price was 40,000 points, which I wasn’t about to pay for this folly.
Avios to the rescue again. The original plane was Brisbane to Sydney for 9,000 points on a 737. Melbourne to Sydney is also 9,000 points, with a number of flights on A330s. So I paid an extra 15,000 avios to fly 2 hours on the 787. (And take a wide body on a 70 minutes flight to Sydney.) I’d do it again.
Carrier: Qantas
Date: August 2018
Route: Melbourne - Sydney
Flight #: 426
Aircraft: Airbus A330-200 (June 2008 delivery)
Configuration: C28 / Y243
Seat(s): 4K
On Time: Yes
Reward Flying Rating: 6.1 out of 10 ✈
Cabin:
✔︎This is an above average cabin with forward facing seats.
Seat Comfort:
✔︎There are some good Vantage XL seats and some that are not. Getting a seat next the window for solo travelers and 2 seats together in the center for couples is the best best.
Cabin/Seats Rating: 6 out of 10 ✈
Meals: Quality:
✔︎A small light breakfast was served.
Amenity/Food rating: 6 out of 10 ✈
IFE:
✔︎A decent airshow and full range of entainment. The 787 monitor seemed to be a little sharper.
WiFi:
✔︎ WiFi This aircraft does not have WiFi.
IFE rating: 6 out of 10 ✈
Flight Attendants:
✔︎Flight attendants were nice and completed a meal service in under 30 minutes, not bad!
Flight Attendant rating: 7.5 out of 10 ✈
Aircraft:
✔︎A330 - This was 10 year old aircraft. I find the A330’s to be the noisiest of all widebodies.
Aircraft rating: 5 out of 10 ✈
Nice flight. Qantas is a great airline. Overall I just happen to think Virgin Australia is a bit better.
