[munitalP]

Melbourne – Gold Coast

(Sunday 22nd April 2007) - I’m about to embark upon a road of pain, suffering and acceptance to manhood. I will throw all comfort away while seeking enlightenment, I will offer my sole to the Gods (so be it only the little minor Gods), I will put up with exhaustion, hunger and pain, I will fly Jetstar!

Ok, so the flight was worse than that, but there’s nothing like understating the actual event.

A 0800 Monday morning meeting at Mudgeeraba put me in the usual situation of having to travel interstate the previous day to make the deadline. I originally booked my flights through our psychotic corporate travel agent in WA – these were JQ442 and QF637 (BNE/MEL). Normally I would QF both ways to BNE but to be honest, I just couldn’t be bothered with the drive from BNE to Surfers where I was staying.

My original flight was for a late PM departure until Mrs! saw a Jetstar itinerary to the Gold Coast. She offered a direct challenge to me – take her with me or she was going to tear my head off – she won. I booked an earlier flight over the internet for her then rang Jetstar to change my flight. Being a flexible flight I thought that this wouldn’t be an issue and it wasn’t. I spoke with a very pleasant person at Jetstar who immediately arranged my flight to match my wife’s and ensured seats 2E and 2F were assigned to us.

My dog’s malting at the moment – anyone who knows what a Malamute is will know that this is a understatement for the word mess. My dog had been in the back of my Patrol a couple of times recently so I had three choices available to me, these were - 1. Find a cold homeless person and give them all my dogs fur to keep them warm on cold nights (my wife nipped this idea in the bud), 2. Have my wife clean it up 3. Leave the car at airport parking and have them clean it. As I’m sure ya’ll guess, number 3 won…

[munitalP]

After a quick trip to the airport, we dropped the car at the car wash people and I paid $139 for a detail inside and out. I arranged a PIN number for after hours pick up, and headed for the terminal. A quick 5 minute walk later and we were standing in a line waiting to be served by JQ staff.

JQ. Where are you going?
Mr! Gold Coast
JQ. ID
JQ. No flammables?
Mr! Nah
JQ. Enjoy your flight – leaving gate 6 at 1230

Mrs! She was so rude!
Mr! Nah – efficient, precise, accurate and should be working for QF

My wife was then the victim of an unprovoked attack. The X Ray Nazis. After a few minutes delay where she removed nearly every accessory, boots and belt, it turns out her TAG Heuer watch was setting the metal detector off. I have a matching TAG only a bigger face, mine didn't set off the detector. Again, this was the right side detector (I have said this in previous posts) and again I am astounded that the accuracy varies so much between machines and airports. Mrs! travels reasonably frequently and knows the do’s and don’ts, what to wear and what not to wear – she however has patience with these gorillas dressed in uniforms, a patience I will never have.

Qantas Club, hadn’t changed in a few days, no new art on the walls, no fresh feel about the place – typical Qantas Club, I was impressed though that the bouncer looked at my card reasonably close – I normally just flick my boarding pass at them and get waved through – maybe they have had a few interlopers recently invading the QC.

Food out was a tasty selection of – who am I trying to kid? Food was ordinary Qantas Club. Little attention being shown by the serving staff – bread rolls – no fillings or fillings and no bread rolls. The coffee was OK

We wandered down at the assigned time for boarding, I don’t know if the QC called the flight or not. At the gate there as a child having a tantrum – good start I thought. Boarding was fast and efficient, no body in seat 2D – great, will get Mrs! to move to the isle, I’ll turn sideways to be able to stretch my legs out as they wont go under the seat in front – mental note – EXIT rows if I every fly feralstar oops I mean jetstar again.

Tantrum kid on board still having a tantrum

Flight took off on time and was again Jetstar efficient with the food and drink service etc – Mrs! managed 3 stubbies of chardy and I managed a small sleep listening to a collection of Pink Floyd. I just found on my iPod I can make playlists as I go – anyone wants to know to do this, just pvt msg me.

Tantrum kid still making noise – lots of noise – I pity people sitting near row 12

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Arrival was on time even with a diversion around runway roadworks and the luggage was soon on the carousal. AVIS was the next visit only to be informed that my pick up time had not been changed from my previous time (being about 2030) and there was no SAAB available, however, there was one being cleaned that had to be returned to BNE as there was a dent in the bumper – if I wanted that one, there would be no one way charge – suits me!

The dent in the bumper was so minor it took Mr. AVIS and Mr! a while to find it J

After a couple of attempts to get the roof down with the luggage in the trunk – there are sensors that stop the roof folding correctly, we were on our way. I love the SAAB convertibles – wouldn’t buy one, but they are nice to rent. The day was warm, the sun was out, Mr! & Mrs! on the way to the hotel.

Crowne Plaza Towers was the choice of abode with a nice package deal, ocean facing balcony on the 14th floor with breaky the next morning. For the price, I personally thought the room was ordinary however Mrs! liked it. Down to the bar, a couple of drinks, then up to the revolving restaurant for dinner. Over all, a nice experience hotel wise.

(Monday 23rd April 2007)

Back in the SAAB, we have picked up a passenger, my business associate checked into the hotel the night before and both of us rearing to go. Blasting south from the hotel, music playing, top down, not a care in the world until we hit NSW and still had not reached our destination of Mudgeeraba. After asking a nice bloke in a car next to us, he pointed out we were about 15km south of where we wanted to be – OK, no probs, U bolt and off to find Mudgeeraba.

After a couple of meetings and a good blast down the freeway to Brisbane, we dropped my associate at his new hotel and Mrs! and I drove north to kill the rest of the day.

4E and 4F as assigned seats, nice J. It’s always nice when your profile criteria is met.


An hour and a half in the BNE QC, 3 or 4 Heinekens and we boarded our flight to MEL.
Food out was a tasty selection of – argggh, done it again! OK, BNE, give lessons to MEL QC – BNE had Dim Sims, Spring Rolls, Cheese etc. The only real complaint is you near need to set a table up alongside the server at BNE QC as there’s always too many people and not enough food. I have likened the hot food rush at BNE QC as similar to Dingo’s fighting over a dead roo.

The flight pushed off on time and landed in MEL almost on time. The luggage arrived – number 4 on the carousel (my previous best was number 5 – yes I do keep tabs on silly things like that!) and we were off out the door.

The Qantas flight crew were extraordinarily pleasant to everyone I noticed. I would say that the flight crew was the best I have ever had. I have also sent a letter to Qantas to say as much.

A brisk walk in the chilly Melbourne air took us back to long term where my sparkling Patrol waited gleaming in the sodium vapour haze.

All in all, except for the tantrum kid who made a flight very unpleasant for all on board (except those with iPods or ear plugs), we had a pleasant overnighter to QLD.

By the way, the sole I offered to the small Gods was the sole of my RMW’s as they went through the X-ray

Mr!

[JohnK]

Very enjoyable trip report Mr!

[ioki]

a very good read!