Virgin Australia Boeing 737. Photo / Flickr Creative Commons, user deangawler
Regan Schoultz flies VA517 from Sydney to the Gold Coast.
The plane: A Boeing 737 flying from Sydney to the Gold Coast.
Class: Right up the front in Business.
Price: Around $490.
On time: We were kept waiting on the tarmac for around half an hour after we were due to take off. Not sure what the holdup was for, but with a comfy seat and miles of leg room I did not mind one bit. Oh, and the glass of wine upon taking my seat was another great distraction.
My seat: A1. A window seat but unfortunately the weather was rubbish so it was not the ideal day to admire the scenery. This did however give me more time to check out Business Class and it was impressive. With only eight seats, there was nearly constant attention from a very friendly flight attendant who was able to tell us lots of interesting information about our destination and about the plane.
Fellow passengers: The flight was a press famil to the Gold Coast hosted by Virgin Australia so I sat among fellow journalists from various New Zealand publications.
How full: All eight seats in Business Class were full with press but the flight attendant told me the Business class seats were regularly sold out. As for the rest of the plane, as far as I could see, every seat was taken.
Entertainment: I was handed an iPad after take-off which had the latest movies for my watching leisure. To my utter dismay I fell asleep five minutes into my chosen movie possibly due to the comfort of the seat. It really was the first flight I have been on where sleep actually was a choice not a struggle.
The service: The crew were all extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the plane.
Food and drink: Unfortunately for everyone on board we hit turbulence about half an hour into the flight meaning service had to be suspended. Luckily, I had already gulped down two glasses of orange juice so I wasn't too fussed. Although can't actually comment on the food, the menu looked decadent.
The toilets: Clean but very small, as most plane toilets are.
Luggage: I only took hand luggage. In Business I was allowed three items weighing no more than 10kg each.
The airport experience: Check-in at Sydney Airport was hassle-free, and having priority check-in worked a charm. It felt great to skip the line. After check-in however, I unfortunately didn't have enough time to check the place out as my flight to the Gold Coast left almost immediately.
Would I fly this again: Yes, if I had the chance (and the money).
From burning snowmen to guilt-free chocolate, there are many reasons to pay a visit.