A flight with personality, just over one hour wasn’t enough to experience all that this flight had to offer.

Flight Details
Date: 3 October 2012
Seat: 3E
737-800

Flight rating
4.5 planes out of 5

Luggage allowance

Checked in baggage

Three pieces of luggage at 23 kilograms (50 pounds) per piece can be pre-purchased up to one hour before departure of your flight either online, via the Virgin mobile application or by contacting the Guest Service Centre where a service fee may apply.

Pre-purchased checked baggage costs less than luggage purchased at the airport.

Cabin baggage allowance

7 kilograms carry-on baggage is allowed fee free per ticket.

Check-in

There was no line at check-in so, with two tickets purchased separately, we chose this option rather than checking in online or via the automatic booths.

Michelle checked us in and notified us that according to recent training, aerosols are now allowed to be packed in checked in baggage as long as they are locked or have a lid.

Mobile Check In

A mobile boarding pass can be used via the Virgin Australia app available for smart phones.

Mobile Check-in is available from 24 hours up to 30 minutes before your scheduled flight departure.

Lounge access

The Virgin Australia Lounge is located opposite Gate 41.

Cabin conditions

Cabin configuration

Business: 2-2
Economy: 3-3

The plane was in pristine condition at 5.9 years old.

Bathroom Facilities

One bathroom located at the front of the plane for business class and two bathrooms located at the rear of the plane for main cabin passengers.

Rear bathrooms were clean and due to the plane not being at capacity, there were no long queues.

Seat comfort

The seat pitch in a standard row in economy is 31-33 inches with an average seat width of 17 inches or 43 centimetres.

The material and cleanliness of the seats was impressive.

Positioned in aisle 3 we were privy to extra leg room but no under seat storage of carry on luggage.

Onboard catering

The standard domestic menu was available and I selected only complimentary tea for this flight.

Cabin staff service

Jo was by far one of the most professional, courteous and helpful flight attendants I have ever come across on a flight.

From her warm greeting to providing us with information on the entertainment system (see below) with being positioned in an aisle without a screen, she went above and beyond to chat with us and ensure that we were comfortable and happy throughout the flight.

The flight attendants were all dressed immaculately regardless of the fact that they had rushed from another flight that was running late.

Service was prompt, we were assisted within seconds of asking for anything.

Inflight entertainment

Aisles 3 and 4 are not fitted with television screens so we were offered complimentary digiscreens and headphones for the flight.

Whilst these do not offer free-to-air and Foxtel channels, they are equipped with a wide range of recent release movies including "What to Expect When You're Expecting", "The Sapphires" and "Your Sister's Sister" along with a range of television programs and music.

We were notified that Virgin is trying to roll out this offering across all new aircraft that don't offer screens as a standard but it is dependent on availability and whether the digiscreens have been 'powered up' in between flights.

On-time performance

Boarding commenced on time but business class guests who had made their way down the gangway were called back to the gate as the new flight crew were delayed from their previous flight.

Boarding recommended fifteen minutes late with all passengers seated by 20:25.

We commenced taxiing at 20:31 and took off at 20:44, 14 minutes later than scheduled.

e-Travel Blackboard Tip