DJ 393 CNS-SYD 21 July

We decided to take another side trip on travels, this time up to Cairns to go to The Great Barrier reef. We arrived at Sydney airport to early enough but our driver just dumped us at the Jetstar part of the domestic termainal. This ment that we had to drag all of our bags over to the virgin blue check in and we werent going to pay $4 for some shoddy looking trolleys. We were able to check in at a line that said virgin atlantic/ United airlines FF. We had already purchased Blue zone seats a few days before for $30 which was really just an exit row. They checked us in with no problems and very efficently and guided us to the security checkpoint. No crowds were found here so we breezed through and headed for the lounge.

So we walk into the lounge and produce our boarding cards and our gold cards to the woman at the front desk. She informed us that we werent allowed to use the lounge as we had to be comming off a virgin atlantic flight as they pay the $30 to let you use the lounge. I told her that we came off the Sydney flight a couple of days before but still no joy. At this point im asking myself what the actual benfits of gold are. You cant use the Virgin blue lounge as a FF AU but Virgin blue FF's can use the VS lounges where ever. Compleat rubish if you ask me abd im sure that VS could spare the $30 since they have made so many cutbacks espically in the MEAN kits.

Anyway we broused around the terminal which was a nice little one with some great view of the ramp, espically from the food court where you can virtually touch the winglet of the aircraft parked by it. Boarding started around 10mins late due to the plane comming in late and soon the Ryanair inspired rush for the plane began even though its assigned seating. We boarded our 737-800 (VH-VOS)with winglets. Settled in the row 1 and we found that we hada free middle seat and unlimited legroom. Yepeeeee. The captain announced a flying time of just under 3hours.

We taxied out to the runway and not long after we took off. About 10mins later the crew started their inflight service which was buy on board (bob). The selection was good enough and reasonably priced. It was also a semi freedom menu which was order when you like. Not much IFE except for inflight audio or looking out the window. Digi players are avaible on flights over 3hrs so we just missed out in that department. Instead I lashed out the laptop and began to write some trip report (by the way this 1 is being written on EI 711 to ORK)

We started our decent and landed on time. I was granteed access to the flightdeck after we had landed and had a quick chat about Irish avaition with the pilots who had both flown in Ireland for many years. The great cabin crew wished us a great holiday. The airport itself is small and kind of reminds me of Kona in Hawaii. Bags came out quick enough and we were soon on our way.