THE ROUTE
Flight QF2017, Sydney to Damaged Hill, NSW
THE AIRCRAFT
A twin-turboprop Sprint 8-300, a 50-seat, all-economy plane (a single rest room is up entrance).
THE LOYALTY SCHEME
Earn Qantas frequent flyer factors with this QantasLink flight.
CLASS
Window seat 12A within the again row.
DURATION
Qantas launched its 2.5-hour direct Sydney-Damaged Hill flights in April. It is the primary time the nationwide provider has supplied a daily passenger service to the Silver Metropolis. It is an alternative choice to Rex Airways, which flies the route all through the week in a smaller plane with a mixture of direct and non-direct flights (these ones bunny-hop through Dubbo and take 3 hours, quarter-hour). We’re half an hour late taking off from Sydney and contact all the way down to a welcoming committee that features a bagpiper and native drag queens Amanda Screetly and Christina Kneesup wiggling away on the finish of a crimson carpet with Mayor Tom Kennedy, resplendent in mayoral chains. The pink Bells Milk Bar van distributed milkshakes in three flavours (many extra can be found on the South Damaged Hill retro landmark) and the airport cafe, 28Eighty, serves kangaroo kofta, lamb spring rolls, yabby-topped pikelets and different delicacies.
CARBON EMISSIONS
Underneath Qantas’s Fly Carbon Impartial program, it will value $1.33 (an quantity matched by Qantas) to offset your carbon footprint from this flight.
FREQUENCY
Qantas initially supplied this route on Fridays and Mondays however, from June 21, it’s going to additionally function on Tuesdays. From November 1, it’s going to ramp as much as 5 days per week. The timings ought to assist encourage ideas of a protracted weekend away both within the Silver Metropolis or, for these residing in Far West NSW, the Emerald Metropolis. Those that go to Damaged Hill for longer will discover loads to do, together with exploring the photogenic almost-ghost city of Silverton north-west of Damaged Hill, Mutawintji Nationwide Park to the north-east and Menindee to the south-east. Simply bear in mind: Damaged Hill operates on the identical time zone as South Australia, which is simply 50 kilometres away.
HEALTH
CHECKING IN
I arrive at Qantas’ Sydney home terminal 90 minutes earlier than the flight to be greeted with these notorious queues of 2022. I am travelling with solely carry-on so, after squeaking by means of safety, I whizz to the enterprise lounge for a fast toastie and barista-brewed espresso. From the gate, passengers are bussed out to the aircraft ready on the tarmac.
THE SEAT
The plane’s black vinyl seats are organized in a 2-2 configuration and have 79cm of legroom. Intention for a window seat on the left if you wish to admire the spectacular Menindee Lakes system as you close to Damaged Hill.
BAGGAGE
Passengers can examine a bag weighing as much as 23kg totally free. Giant hand baggage could must be checked on the foot of the aircraft’s stairs because the overhead bins are small.
ENTERTAINMENT
I flick by means of the Qantas inflight journal within the seat-back pocket however one of the best leisure comes courtesy of one in all our two flight attendants. “Will we see any cowboys in Damaged Hill?” she asks. When informed it is unlikely, she says she’s watched too many episodes of Yellowstone.
SERVICE
It is heat and pleasant, with an added sprint of pleasure in regards to the airline’s new route.
FOOD
Espresso, tea, mushy drinks and a snack (choc-chip lamington-flavoured biscuits) are served in the course of the flight (the return flight’s snack is a chocolate brownie).
ONE MORE THING
Here is a bit reality for aviation historical past lovers. Qantas touched down in Damaged Hill in the course of the 1954 Royal Tour, carrying Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh aboard a Qantas Lockheed Constellation plane named Horace Brinsmead.
THE VERDICT
Those that stay in and round Damaged Hill hope the Roo vs Rex competitors on this route will make fares extra enticing. Metropolis-slickers who’ve been excited about visiting this quirky Far West NSW vacation spot now have much less of an excuse to not go.
OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE
★★★★★
The author flew courtesy of Vacation spot NSW and Qantas (qantas.com)
