Trip Report : Brisbane - Singapore on Qantas

Airlines: Qantas
Flight: QF51 BNE-SIN
Reg: VH-QPF "Esperance"
Aircraft: Airbus 330-303
Departure BNE International Terminal: 13:40
Arrrival SIN Terminal 1: 19:30
Flight time: 7 h 55m
Distance: 6,155 kilometers or 3,825 nautical miles.

Introduction

This trip was undertaken in 2010. I was flying to Singapore and onwards to Shanghai. After checking the available options, found flying via Brisbane as the cheapest option.

Below is the trip report of the flight.

Full Trip Video: Qantas QF51 Airbus A330-303 BNE - SIN

Do watch the video.

Note: Long video : 14 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2gQZqFfigU

Arriving @ Brisbane International Airport

After arriving by Qantas shuttle bus from Brisbane domestic airport, got dropped at the entrance of the International terminal.



Flight Schedule



Check-in area





Departure

As my bag was already checked all the way to Singapore. I went straight to immigration and security.



Departure area

After completing security, entered the departure area.



Departure Schedule



Departure Gates





Spotting

With time to spare for departure, spotting the planes at Brisbane.

Singapore Airlines [SQ] A330



Thai Airways [TG] arrives from Bangkok



Etihad[ EY] to Singapore





Pushback





Art work



BNE Waiting Area



TG from Bangkok





Tarmac action





Aircraft details



SQ to Singapore



Walk back to gate

QF51 was departing from the other end of the terminal



Waiting area





Duty free shops



Internet Kiosk

Didn't have Wi-fi in those days.



QF51 to Singapore and Mumbai



QF close up



Code Share partner



QF51 BNE - SIN





Waiting for boarding call

Boarding call was made for passengers on QF51. Passport and boarding card was checked before being allowed to proceed.



On board



View from seat

After finding the allocated seat.



Window View



Flight Information



Waiting for Pushback

Door was closed after the boarding was completed.



Menu card

It was lunch time, checked the menu card. What was coming during the flight.



Menu





Taxi

Pushback commenced and after a short taxi, were holding short of the runway.



Window View



Departure from Brisbane

Watch video for departure and arrival . Take off was quiet. It was cloudy outside.

Cruising

After departure made series of turn to head north west towards Singapore





Small Windows





Flight information



Cabin View





Port to Starboard side view





Safety Card



A330 Safety card





Seat pocket material

Inflight magazine, duty free magazine, Q entertainment, Safety card, Air sickness bag





Inflight Magazine



Lunch Presentation

Lunch service commenced soon as it was lunch time by the time flight departed Brisbane,



Lunch

Teriyaki Chicken, veggies with rice, bread and Mousse for dessert



Window View

Cloudy outside, the year Brisbane got flooded due to heavy rain.



Flight Information





Flight map





Flight details







6 hrs 44 mins still left









IFE menu

There were entertainment options, I didn't watch any entertainment and decided to rest as I had a long day ahead.



IFE Remote





Back side



Window View





Snoozed off for the remaining flight and woke to somewhere near Indonesia





more detailed map



Flight Information



Refreshment

Light refreshment was served before arrival in Singapore



Veggie Roll



Window View



Flight Path





Flight Information



Over Batam- Indonesia

The crew distributed the immigration forms, I wasn't carrying a pen, asked if I could borrow pen, was told by the crew member that he had passed the pens out and he can't provide the pen. I had to borrow pen from my fellow passenger to fill the form. Having flown Singapore Airlines numerous times, If customer makes a request for a pen , it gets provided, point of difference in customer service between the two carriers.

Had similar experienced before with Qantas, when flying to Hong Kong based on that experience had stopped flying with them for many years.





Sunset as flight approached Singapore





Beautiful view outside





Approaching Singapore





Landing

Landing was smooth, watch video to experience the arrival into Singapore.

Arriving @ Terminal 1



Disembarkation

All passengers were required to disembark, The flight was Mumbai bound and it was departing from different gate.





Preparing for next flight

The aircraft was returning back to Australia



Terminal 1

After disembarkation, headed for immigration and baggage collection.



Baggage Carousel



Baggage Carousel 16

Received my bag within few minutes and exited the terminal.





Hope you enjoyed the report. Thanks for reading.

End of Trip




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OP, I have thoroughly enjoyed this and your other recent reviews of ~7-8 year old trips. Even though it has not been that long the product has certainly changed since then. Love how you let the pictures do most of the talking. Thank you.

An767 wrote:

If you stopped flying QF because they never had a pen, sorry but that is not a crisis that cannot be overcome with a bit of thought.
The flight does not continue to Mumbai, that leg is normally a codeshare on Jet Airways from Singapore.
AN767

Incorrect, QF flew their own metal SIN-BOM-SIN for a number of years (and I believe it was an extension of the QF51/52 BNE-SIN service), dropping it in 2012. The OP is right.

And really, QF charge at times a not insignificant premium over their competitors yet their service standards can be hit and miss. Just give the customer a pen.

An767 wrote:

Not a bad report until I saw this
"The crew distributed the immigration forms, I wasn't carrying a pen, asked if I could borrow pen, was told by the crew member that he had passed the pens out and he can't provide the pen. I had to borrow pen from my fellow passenger to fill the form. Having flown Singapore Airlines numerous times, If customer makes a request for a pen , it gets provided, point of difference in customer service between the two carriers. "

If you stopped flying QF because they never had a pen, sorry but that is not a crisis that cannot be overcome with a bit of thought.
The flight does not continue to Mumbai, that leg is normally a codeshare on Jet Airways from Singapore.
AN767

I used the word similar not same in the next line for experience. Pen was just an example. It signifies the poor understanding of customer needs. It not the pen but the attitude that's what was the issue. Others I know have shared similar experience.

wj888 wrote:

OP, I have thoroughly enjoyed this and your other recent reviews of ~7-8 year old trips. Even though it has not been that long the product has certainly changed since then. Love how you let the pictures do most of the talking. Thank you.

An767 wrote:

If you stopped flying QF because they never had a pen, sorry but that is not a crisis that cannot be overcome with a bit of thought.
The flight does not continue to Mumbai, that leg is normally a codeshare on Jet Airways from Singapore.
AN767

Incorrect, QF flew their own metal SIN-BOM-SIN for a number of years (and I believe it was an extension of the QF51/52 BNE-SIN service), dropping it in 2012. The OP is right.

And really, QF charge at times a not insignificant premium over their competitors yet their service standards can be hit and miss. Just give the customer a pen.

Qantas initially flew Sydney - Mumbai direct with a technical stop in Darwin on return leg. It was changed to Brisbane in the later stage. True, Qantas can be hit and miss.

Thanks for your comments.

Very concise TR and enjoyable to read although I do find the 'pengate' incident a bit silly. If you are a seasoned traveller then you should be aware that some form of immigration document may need to be completed so therefore really it's your responsibility to bring the appropriate writing implements.

Dont blame the crew for the airline not providing pens for government documentation.