March 31, 2008
Alice Springs - Sydney
Qantas Airways Economy Class
Boeing 737-800 VH-VYL
Located about 10 miles south of the city center, Alice Springs Airport may well be the nicest little airport I have ever been in. The modern terminal building is attractively designed, spacious and blissfully air conditioned. Check-in was handled quickly and efficiently, an area in which – from my experience, at least – Qantas excels. I asked for and received an exit row seat, so once again I offered thanks to the seating gods. Every time I’ve flown in Economy Class on this trip, I’ve sat in an exit row seat.
Once past security, passengers have a variety of options available aside from a seat in the gate lounge. Cafe Alice offers coffee, meals and snacks. The Todd River Ale House looks like a nice place to relax over a cold beer or a cocktail. Both of these establishments have access to a large outside patio for those who enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of an airport with their food and drink. A fairly large gift shop offered overpriced clothing and Aboriginal artifacts. A touristy Australian T-Shirt was selling for $26.00. Another shop sold opals and other locally made jewelry. I ignored all these and made my way to the Runway News Agency where I purchased a copy of the local news. Cops Shoot Giant Croc Chasing Drunk Swimmer! screamed the headline. I couldn’t resist. I took a seat in the gate lounge and looked with longing at the Qantas Club entry along the far wall. If only Qantas were a member of Priority Pass!
When boarding was called, we all proceeded outdoors and strolled down a nicely landscaped promenade to the tarmac. Awaiting us was a gleaming two year old 737-800 named “Wangaratta”. The airplane looked quite smart in Qantas’ attractive red, white and gold livery. I took a quick snapshot before heading up the covered stairway and into the air conditioned cabin.
Wow – Qantas’ Business Class seating is no better than Alaska’s or Northwest’s. Seat pitch can’t be any more than 37”. At least the sixteen seats are configured 2-2. Given the huge amount of money Qantas charges for a seat up front, I would have expected better. Hopefully they make up for it with a nice meal.
Continuing on past the divider and into the Economy cabin, I made my way down the aisle to my spacious exit row seat. Once again, I counted my blessings for having snagged an exit row seat because seat pitch on this 737-800 could not have been more than 31”. After exchanging pleasantries with the lady in the window seat, I reclined my aisle seat and listened as a flight attendant regaled us with information about the exit row seating requirements and then admonished me to return my seatback to its full upright position.
Despite temperatures in excess of 30°C, Alice Spring’s 7,998’ runway provided more than enough length for our CFM-56 powered 737 to win the twin battles of lift versus weight and thrust versus drag. As we soared into the clear desert air, I found myself yearning for one last view of Alice Springs. I really like this town as well as this region. Hopefully next time I can stay a month or more.
Flight time over to Sydney was announced as 2hours and 30 minutes. Clear skies and smooth air were the order of the day and I briefly considered offering the lady in the window seat a small bribe if she’d switch seats with me. Alas, all I had was $11.00 and a bag of beer nuts. Something in her countenance suggested she’d require an inducement of somewhat greater value. Then again, if she ordered a beer, those beer nuts might be pretty enticing…
As things turned out, she ordered a tea and spent the entire flight reading her book. I ordered a Coke and spent much the flight reading the inflight magazine and seeing how many questions about Australian trivia I could answer. I managed eleven. What glances I did get out the window showed a flat, rust colored landscape. I was reminded of a flight I once did on Air Namibia between Swakopmund and Windhoek.
Luncheon arrived with the time honored query of “Chicken or Beef?” Chicken, please. I was handed a packaged sandwich with a label that described it as Thai Sweet Chilli Chicken with Lettuce & Cucumbers on Panini Bread. Hmm… It was tasty enough, but for all the extra money that Qantas charges, especially on this two and a half hour flight, I was hoping for something hot.
Overall, this was a pleasant enough flight. However, Qantas is no discount carrier and in fact presents itself as a full service airline. Having recently flown each of Australia’s three discount carriers, I’d say that with the exception of the complimentary soda and sandwich, the overall comfort and service I experienced on Qantas was no better than any of the discount carriers. So the question I have to ask myself is this: on routes where I have the option of flying one of Australia’s discount carriers, should I pay all that extra money for a seat and program miles on Qantas or should I buy a sandwich and a drink (about $11.00 aboard the discount airlines) and enjoy what is often a substantial savings?
SYDNEY LAYOVER
My flight to Singapore was not due to leave until the next day at 4:30pm. Faced with a 23 hour and 50 minute layover, I needed to find a place to stay for the night. In years past, I’ve found budget accommodations reasonably close to Sydney’s airport. When I say budget, I mean my own private room (not a hostel) for under $40.00 per night. Of course, the last time I paid those kinds of rates in Sydney was in 1995. This time, using the Internet, I was unable to find anything even remotely close. So, I decided to splurge and buy a room in an airport hotel.
My first choice was the Formule One hotel, located just a ten minute walk from the airport. Formule One Hotels are like these giant prefabricated hotel kits - some assembly required. The rooms are very small but also very functional. They include a queen sized bed, a television, an air conditioner, a writing desk and a bathroom with shower. I’ve stayed twice at the Melbourne Airport Formule One and at $59.00 per night considered it a good deal. The Sydney Airport Formule One cost $105.00 per night. Not a good deal. Why not pay just a little more for a decently sized room with airport transfers?
After checking through a variety of last minute discount booking sites, I was able to find a room at the Sydney Airport International Inn for just $118.00. The standard room was described as having a double bed with a floral bed cover. Seriously, the description actually included mention of a floral bed cover. Well isn’t that the kicker! I wasn’t going to reserve the room but when my wife heard about that floral bed cover… I checked for customer reviews and read that the rooms were pretty small. Worse, I found some pictures that showed a very basic room with three single beds. Any hotel that would use a single bed for anything other than a child’s accommodation certainly isn’t worth $118.00.
Finally, I settled on the Gemini Hotel, located in the nearby suburb of Randwick. I’d stayed there two years ago for $99.00 per night and found the property very nice. This time the rate was $135.00, a new record for the most I’ve ever paid to stay somewhere overnight. I’ve flown to Europe for less. The hotel provides complimentary airport transfers and the surrounding neighborhood has plenty of interesting and affordable restaurants and bars as opposed to the overpriced ones found in an airport hotel.
After collecting my baggage, I caught a van over to the Gemini Hotel. I hadn’t eaten dinner yet but I found a nice Thai restaurant around the corner where a very tasty Panang Curry cost me just $8.00. In the morning I took advantage of the hotel’s breakfast buffet, scarfing down eggs, sausages and tomatoes with abandon whilst perusing complimentary copies of that morning’s Australian and Sydney Herald. By noon I was packed and on my way back to Sydney’s Kingsford-Smith International Airport.
Alice Springs - Sydney
Qantas Airways Economy Class
Boeing 737-800 VH-VYL
Located about 10 miles south of the city center, Alice Springs Airport may well be the nicest little airport I have ever been in. The modern terminal building is attractively designed, spacious and blissfully air conditioned. Check-in was handled quickly and efficiently, an area in which – from my experience, at least – Qantas excels. I asked for and received an exit row seat, so once again I offered thanks to the seating gods. Every time I’ve flown in Economy Class on this trip, I’ve sat in an exit row seat.
Once past security, passengers have a variety of options available aside from a seat in the gate lounge. Cafe Alice offers coffee, meals and snacks. The Todd River Ale House looks like a nice place to relax over a cold beer or a cocktail. Both of these establishments have access to a large outside patio for those who enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of an airport with their food and drink. A fairly large gift shop offered overpriced clothing and Aboriginal artifacts. A touristy Australian T-Shirt was selling for $26.00. Another shop sold opals and other locally made jewelry. I ignored all these and made my way to the Runway News Agency where I purchased a copy of the local news. Cops Shoot Giant Croc Chasing Drunk Swimmer! screamed the headline. I couldn’t resist. I took a seat in the gate lounge and looked with longing at the Qantas Club entry along the far wall. If only Qantas were a member of Priority Pass!
When boarding was called, we all proceeded outdoors and strolled down a nicely landscaped promenade to the tarmac. Awaiting us was a gleaming two year old 737-800 named “Wangaratta”. The airplane looked quite smart in Qantas’ attractive red, white and gold livery. I took a quick snapshot before heading up the covered stairway and into the air conditioned cabin.
Wow – Qantas’ Business Class seating is no better than Alaska’s or Northwest’s. Seat pitch can’t be any more than 37”. At least the sixteen seats are configured 2-2. Given the huge amount of money Qantas charges for a seat up front, I would have expected better. Hopefully they make up for it with a nice meal.
Continuing on past the divider and into the Economy cabin, I made my way down the aisle to my spacious exit row seat. Once again, I counted my blessings for having snagged an exit row seat because seat pitch on this 737-800 could not have been more than 31”. After exchanging pleasantries with the lady in the window seat, I reclined my aisle seat and listened as a flight attendant regaled us with information about the exit row seating requirements and then admonished me to return my seatback to its full upright position.
Despite temperatures in excess of 30°C, Alice Spring’s 7,998’ runway provided more than enough length for our CFM-56 powered 737 to win the twin battles of lift versus weight and thrust versus drag. As we soared into the clear desert air, I found myself yearning for one last view of Alice Springs. I really like this town as well as this region. Hopefully next time I can stay a month or more.
Flight time over to Sydney was announced as 2hours and 30 minutes. Clear skies and smooth air were the order of the day and I briefly considered offering the lady in the window seat a small bribe if she’d switch seats with me. Alas, all I had was $11.00 and a bag of beer nuts. Something in her countenance suggested she’d require an inducement of somewhat greater value. Then again, if she ordered a beer, those beer nuts might be pretty enticing…
As things turned out, she ordered a tea and spent the entire flight reading her book. I ordered a Coke and spent much the flight reading the inflight magazine and seeing how many questions about Australian trivia I could answer. I managed eleven. What glances I did get out the window showed a flat, rust colored landscape. I was reminded of a flight I once did on Air Namibia between Swakopmund and Windhoek.
Luncheon arrived with the time honored query of “Chicken or Beef?” Chicken, please. I was handed a packaged sandwich with a label that described it as Thai Sweet Chilli Chicken with Lettuce & Cucumbers on Panini Bread. Hmm… It was tasty enough, but for all the extra money that Qantas charges, especially on this two and a half hour flight, I was hoping for something hot.
Overall, this was a pleasant enough flight. However, Qantas is no discount carrier and in fact presents itself as a full service airline. Having recently flown each of Australia’s three discount carriers, I’d say that with the exception of the complimentary soda and sandwich, the overall comfort and service I experienced on Qantas was no better than any of the discount carriers. So the question I have to ask myself is this: on routes where I have the option of flying one of Australia’s discount carriers, should I pay all that extra money for a seat and program miles on Qantas or should I buy a sandwich and a drink (about $11.00 aboard the discount airlines) and enjoy what is often a substantial savings?
SYDNEY LAYOVER
My flight to Singapore was not due to leave until the next day at 4:30pm. Faced with a 23 hour and 50 minute layover, I needed to find a place to stay for the night. In years past, I’ve found budget accommodations reasonably close to Sydney’s airport. When I say budget, I mean my own private room (not a hostel) for under $40.00 per night. Of course, the last time I paid those kinds of rates in Sydney was in 1995. This time, using the Internet, I was unable to find anything even remotely close. So, I decided to splurge and buy a room in an airport hotel.
My first choice was the Formule One hotel, located just a ten minute walk from the airport. Formule One Hotels are like these giant prefabricated hotel kits - some assembly required. The rooms are very small but also very functional. They include a queen sized bed, a television, an air conditioner, a writing desk and a bathroom with shower. I’ve stayed twice at the Melbourne Airport Formule One and at $59.00 per night considered it a good deal. The Sydney Airport Formule One cost $105.00 per night. Not a good deal. Why not pay just a little more for a decently sized room with airport transfers?
After checking through a variety of last minute discount booking sites, I was able to find a room at the Sydney Airport International Inn for just $118.00. The standard room was described as having a double bed with a floral bed cover. Seriously, the description actually included mention of a floral bed cover. Well isn’t that the kicker! I wasn’t going to reserve the room but when my wife heard about that floral bed cover… I checked for customer reviews and read that the rooms were pretty small. Worse, I found some pictures that showed a very basic room with three single beds. Any hotel that would use a single bed for anything other than a child’s accommodation certainly isn’t worth $118.00.
Finally, I settled on the Gemini Hotel, located in the nearby suburb of Randwick. I’d stayed there two years ago for $99.00 per night and found the property very nice. This time the rate was $135.00, a new record for the most I’ve ever paid to stay somewhere overnight. I’ve flown to Europe for less. The hotel provides complimentary airport transfers and the surrounding neighborhood has plenty of interesting and affordable restaurants and bars as opposed to the overpriced ones found in an airport hotel.
After collecting my baggage, I caught a van over to the Gemini Hotel. I hadn’t eaten dinner yet but I found a nice Thai restaurant around the corner where a very tasty Panang Curry cost me just $8.00. In the morning I took advantage of the hotel’s breakfast buffet, scarfing down eggs, sausages and tomatoes with abandon whilst perusing complimentary copies of that morning’s Australian and Sydney Herald. By noon I was packed and on my way back to Sydney’s Kingsford-Smith International Airport.
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