2018 – Part 51 – Flight Report Jetstar Brisbane to Cairns
Our alarm woke us up before 5am. Dressed, packed, we headed downstairs to check-out, and then made the walk to the terminal.
Trip Plan
Flying northwest up the eastern coast of Australia. Upon arriving in Cairns our goal was to visit the Great Barrier Reef and take in the tropical weather of Australia.
Walk to Airport
The walk to the terminal from the Ibis hotel was simple and straight forward. One item that caught my eye was the Qantas LEGO model on display in the walkway.
With luggage, our walk was around fifteen minutes to the domestic terminal. Taking the escalators to ground level we had arrived at our check-in area for Jetstar along with discount and regional carriers.
The self-serve terminals allowed us to easily check-in and confirm our emergency exit row seats and get our tags for our checked baggage. A helpful agent overseeing the terminals came to our assistance to ensure we had tagged our baggage correctly, and even showed us how to load it onto the conveyor. With our baggage checked, we headed upstairs and cleared security in less than 10 minutes.
Looking down to check-in from security
Domestic area
Qantas area of airside terminal
Boarding call for flight
Breakfast & Priority pass
The reason for the early start, was not only because boarding was to commence at 6am, but also to give us time to have breakfast. One of our credit cards included membership in Priority Pass. Unlike US-based credit cards, the benefit provided a few complimentary visits per year. As part of planning for this trip it came to my attention that instead of airport lounges, Priority Pass was accepted in some airside restaurants in Australia. Here was our chance to put this to use.
After clearing security our gate was the first we walked past (yeah, it’s not far away). Even better was that the restaurant we selected, Bar Roma, was a short walk, maybe 2 or 3 gates, away. Initially we thought that a cooked breakfast was not possible as the sign said breakfast started at 6am. When we asked, the barista/cashier confirmed we could order anything from the kitchen.
What did we get? A cooked breakfast. And tea. And banana bread, and…
And a fruit cup! It was a lot of food. To me the value for money using the Priority Pass was well worth it.
After we downed as much breakfast as we could handle, the banana bread stuffed in our carry-on, we grabbed our tea and headed to the waiting area.
Boarding
We arrived to our waiting area just as boarding commenced. During the announcements I heard that take-away coffee and tea wouldn’t be accepted (I then started to imagine what scenario caused this rule to be enacted). We waited until the line for boarding has dwindled maximizing our time to drink our tea. Just like Melbourne & Hobart, boarding used both front and rear doors, even though L1 was connected via jetway.
Flight
Jetstar JQ928, Airbus A320
BNE-CNS (Brisbane to Cairns)
Schedule
Departure: 6:30am
Arrival: 8:55am
Seats 13A & B (Emergency Exit Row)
Boarding was completed shortly after we were seated. Like our two other Jetstar flights to and from Tasmania, we were briefed about our requirements being seated in an emergency exit seat. Fuel for the plane completed shortly afterward and pushback began at 6:30am.
With the early hour, the plane taxied without delay to the runway and took off immediately. Within five minutes after take-off the seatbelt sign was turned off. When the plane was near cruising altitude, the captain, Andrew, did an extended greeting and introduction. He made note of the coastal sights that we should see during our flight, namely Sunshine Coast, Fraser Island, and Whitsundays, and even with a delay due to fuelling, expected the flight to land in Cairns on time.
Departure from BNE
Departure from BNE
Amber ordered tea, while I enjoyed the banana bread from Bar Roma. Without any in-flight entertainment, we both read, occasionally looking out the window.
Around 8:30, in flight service concluded and descent to Cairns airport began. The flight was smooth, with the approach and landing no exception either.
We were on the ground, at the gate, and exiting the plane at 9am.
Once in the airport, we found our baggage carousel with our checked luggage arriving quickly thereafter. From there we headed to the car rental desk to pick-up our 5th rental car in less than 3 weeks.
Read more about our trip by clicking here.