Trip Report: Sydney - July 4 & 5 2009

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Hi all,

 

Hope this is the correct section to be posting a trip report.

 

I typed this up mainly for my own historical reference, however thought I'd add it here in the hope that some others find it interesting.

 

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Saturday July 4 2009

 

Virgin Blue

 

MEL-SYD

 

DJ849

 

737

 

VH-VBJ

 

Seat 18F

 

14:15 departure

 

As someone who very rarely gets the opportunity to fly, I was very much looking forward to this flight. I had purchased a new digital camera the day before and was also able to score myself a window seat for the trip. This would be my first flight where I was able to have the camera with me and take snaps during the flight.

 

Check-in was easy enough, boarding was fast enough and we departed on-time.

 

I was lucky to have what seemed to be one of only a few spare seats next to me for the flight (18E). This worked out great as it provided me with a little extra 'elbow room' when taking photos.

 

We climbed to 33,000ft, although flights travelling in the opposite direction must have been flying higher as I did not see any pass by during the flight.

 

Accommodation:

 

Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport.

 

Room: 10th floor looking South over Sydney Airport with 180 degree views.

 

Being both a railway and plane buff, this hotel was a standout choice.

 

I don't normally see justification to pay more then $100 a night at any hotel, however given the location and views provided, I was comfortable spending $165 for the night.

 

From my room on the 10th floor I was:

 

*0.46 miles or 0.74kms from RWY25

 

*1.06 miles or 1.70kms from the International Terminal (overlooking RWY 16R and Domestic Terminal)

 

*2.27miles or 3.36kms from the start of RWY34L

 

*Freight railway line to/from Port Botany just below my window.

 

And considering this, still found the room to be sufficiently quiet.

 

The room was spacious, ready upon my arrival and was clean and seemingly well looked after. Credit to the Hotel's staff there.

 

Sunday July 5 2009

 

Tiger Airways

 

SYD-MEL

 

TT525

 

A320

 

VH-VNF

 

12:45 departure

 

I arrived at Check-in with the hope of requesting a window seat for the relatively short flight to Melbourne.

 

As I began to ask this question, the attendant behind the check-in desk cut me off mid-sentence nodding their head saying "I know what you are going to ask".

 

I said no more at this stage as the attendant looked through their computer and soon got back to me with "you're in luck I can fit you in a good seat near the front of the aircraft".

 

"Ok thankyou" I said as my boarding pass was being printed out.

 

As I walked over to the screening area, I was assuming this kind attendant had done well for me by securing a window seat somewhere close to the front of the aircraft. Unfortunately for me, the attendant and myself were on a different wave-length when it came to the definition of what a 'good' seat actually is. I looked at my boarding pass to see that I had been given a row 'E' seat.

 

My heart sank as I had been looking forward to the flight and window seat after just purchasing batteries for the camera at one of the terminal's shops.

 

I thought about going back to check-in to request a different seat (even if it wasn't a window seat, at least an aisle seat with an empty seat next to me), although I was part to blame for not speaking up more during my original check-in, plus the attendant only had good intentions and truely felt they were doing me a favour by seating me near the front of the aircraft.

 

So in the end I didn't change seats, and being stuck in the middle of the row, I was unable to take any photos during the trip to Melbourne. Which was a shame as we passed at least 4 Sydney bound aircraft enroute, all leaving behind nice contrails.

 

Other then my given seat, the rest of the flight was fine.

 

Credit goes to Tiger and its staff as the flight was ontime at both ends of the journey.

 

Photos can be seen here:

 

http://photobucket.com/adam_2009_album

 

(I am new to photobucket, so I am not sure what size the images are presented. Hopefully you can access 'full size' photos if needed.

 

Photos are not titled, although all have been given 'descriptions' as captions)

 

 

[Guest Chainsaw]

Nice trip report and pics ads! Which camera did you get?

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

Nice report and pics mate. Thanks for sharing

 

 

[Guest ads]

Thankyou both.

 

I was using a Canon A2000 IS compact camera.

 

The 6xoptical zoom was certainly put to good use!

 

 

[cavalier]

Nice to hear that you had a nice trip flying with Virgin Blue & Tiger,like you I always try & get a window seat even if it means checking in myself instead of getting the desk to check me in.not sure if Tiger have this facility.My wife & I are thinking about going to Sydney later this year before heading down to Hobart so the info on the hotel was very useful.Looking forward to having a look at you photos.

 

Cheers

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

Guys, don't forget when onboard if you have not got a window seat and there is some free ask the flight attendant. We will usually move people after the seat belt sign is off after take-off as long as it is within the same seating zone

 

 

[Guest OzChris]

Great report mate - pitty about the seating though....But as Darren said ^ Dont be shy :]

 

 

[Guest ads]

Thanks to whoever moved this thread. I did not even know this forum had 'The Lounge' section! My apologies.

 

Thanks for the info re: possible seat changes Darren; good to know for future reference.

 

As for being quiet and shy that was 1 part of the problem; it was actually the first time I ever 'spoke up' when I asked the staff at check-in if there was a chance I could get a better seat. Although as I said in the report, I didn't get the chance to finish my sentence at the time and explain that the seat I wanted was a window seat. The check-in staff assumed I just wanted a 'better seat' near the front of the plane.

 

Anyway, I am not bitter with the check-in staff at all as I know they were only trying to do their best for me; albeit under a false assumption.

 

Just bad luck really.

 

The 2nd part of the problem was that (in my opinion) the Tiger website did not clearly explain how the 'seat selection' process worked during the online booking. I assumed that I would be able to log-in days closer to the departure and select my seat then, instead of selecting it on the day that I booked (2 months before the flight).

 

As it turned out that wasn't an option, although (and looking back this where I get more frustrated with myself)if I had enough time and patience, I could have rang tiger airways and selected my seat over the phone.

 

Oh well, all a learning experience for next time.

 

cavalier - I would be happy to answer any specific questions you may have about the hotel or flights.

 

cheers