* Flight taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. All public health measures and government restrictions, including mask-wearing, were followed for everyone's health and safety *
Business Class Review:
Reviewed my my mate One World Flyer, from this same flight
Video of this Flight:
Basically this review, but in video form and looks more into the flight's festivities as well
FlightAware Link:
Where did I fly on this flight?
Rex Boeing 737-800
Booking the Flight & Cost of the Flight
This flight was booked through the Rex website paying full fare, as soon as Rex's first Boeing 737 tickets were published. I paid $99, with seat selection costing about $10. Nowadays, an economy class flight between Melbourne to Sydney costs between $99 (promo fare), $149 (saver fare) or $339 (flex fare). Business class fares are available between $349 (biz saver fare), $499 (biz fare) to $699 (biz plus fare). Rex had just redone their website when the flight was booked and it was quite easy to navigate.
Operating Aircraft
This very early morning flight was operated by VH-RQC. This aircraft was 17 years old when I flew on it. This is the 1389th Boeing 737NG produced and the aircraft has two CFM56-7B26 engines that power it. The aircraft has seen usage with Virgin Blue / Pacific Blue and Virgin Australia service prior to Rex service. VH-VOP was delivered new to Virgin Blue in October 2003 in Pacific Blue livery; named Whitney Sundays. It initially operated domestic Virgin Blue runs, until it transferred to Pacific Blue in January 2005 in New Zealand (which was Virgin Blue's New Zealander subsidiary) and was subsequently re-registered ZK-PBB. When Virgin Blue became Virgin Australia, Pacific Blue was renamed Virgin Australia New Zealand (with the exact same livery as Virgin Australia in Australia), ZK-PBB was repainted in May 2012 to the new livery and was renamed Indian Head. ZK-PBB continued to operate international flights until February 2015, when ZK-PBB came back to Australia and once again flew domestically in Australia, re-registered back to VH-VOP. VH-VOP was re-registered again to VH-RQC and delivered to Rex in December 2020. VH-RQC was a pretty clean aircraft, but it was definitely somewhat tired. That said, it was still fairly well off for its age. The aircraft did still seem to be in the middle of having a cabin refit to fully Rex standard with the occasional Virgin Australia item, such as the purple glass divider between Business Class and Economy Class, and Economy X branding on some; but not all, old Virgin Australia Economy X seats. But, it was amazing to ride on the newest kid on the block in Australia and I could not really see a fault with the aircraft.
Cabin
I could only see one spare seat on this inaugural flight. Regardless of the early morning time of the flight, the passengers next to me were quite chatty and also this was the case around the whole cabin, making it somewhat annoying for those trying to get some rest. The cabin was very clean and well maintained. This cabin was very clean and had been very well maintained. The atmosphere of the cabin was very festive with many conversations with the crew, passengers and also news media crews that were onboard, which was amazing to see and be a part of.
Seating
For this service, I was in seat 12A. Rex's seating configuration for their Boeing 737-800s; being ex Virgin Australia aircraft, utilise the same configuration as Virgin Australia, but this was previously a Virgin Australia aircraft with 29 rows. This means that there are 170 seats in total. There are two rows (1-2) in business class in a 2-2 configuration (eight business class seats total), the seats are made from leather with a seat pitch of 37 inches and a seat width of 19.5 inches. In the 'Rextra Legroom' seats (rows 3-5, 13 and 14), seats have a width of 17 inches and at least 32 inches of legroom. 'Extra charge' seats are in rows 6-12 and are the same dimensions as the rest of the standard economy class seats. In economy class, all the seats are in rows 3-29, are made of leather and are in a 3-3 configuration, featuring a seat pitch of 30 inches and a seat width of 17 inches. Depending on the fare ticket booked some seats need payment to book as opposed to others. My fare ticket entitled free selection for seats in 15-29 (row 30 also appeared on the booking seat map and was free as well), $10 for an 'Extra charge' seat in rows 6-12, and $15 for a 'Rextra Legroom' seat in rows 3,4,5, 13 or 14. With 29 rows, this aircraft was somewhat cramped inside in terms of legroom. The seat itself was pretty comfy. This was the inaugural Boeing 737-800 service for Rex Regional Express, and I was happy to pay $10 for seat 12A, to get a view of both the Rex Regional Express winglet and the blue engine in one picture.
Inflight Customer Service
Rex flight attendants carried out the inflight service. On this inaugural service, the flight attendants were all very happy and served passengers with outgoing attitudes. The flight attendants served us extremely well and were consistently polite to all of the passengers. They may have been tired as it was still pretty early; the staff definitely did not show this. Rex markets that their heart is in the country (just look at what is on the front on their Boeing 737-800s) and having country hospitality, and I can say that this flight definitely served that with amazing crew.
Inflight Entertainment
There is a magazine and safety card in the seat pocket (which is standard for any aircraft of any airline). There was no seatback TV or overhead TV monitor, but it is suggested that Rex may plan something on this front in the future. The aircraft does have inflight Wi-Fi capabilities, but is not activated. There are no TVs onboard but this is not too much of an issue for a short-haul flight like this one was. The magazine was eye-catching, as was the safety card. Rex is the only airline I know to retain having a magazine in the seat pocket. The aircraft is fitted with Wi-Fi, but this is not yet available. The flight was very festive with news interviews and raffles going on, but the flight was not a long one anyway.
Photos
The operating aircraft sitting at Melbourne Airport's terminal 4 gate 11 getting ready to operate the first Rex Jet service
Rex Lounge, now the 'Business Class' Lounge
The flight was full of avgeeks like Stefan Drury here, his video is found here of the flight
Some of the fanfare and media ceremonies before boarding
Cake and cake cutting
Boarding VH-RQC via the jetway
Some seats still retain the Economy X branding from its Virgin Australia days
Economy class seats
Legroom
Seat 12A
A commemorative certificate and a goodie bag (the photo of it taken a couple of days after the flight) awaited every passenger on their seat, and its contents (white box contained a Rex-branded water bottle). The certificates were all personalised with the passenger's name
The other Rex Boeing 737-800 in Melbourne at the time in case VH-RQC went unserviceable, newly-delivered Boeing 737-800 VH-PAG. The aircraft features an orange slogan on the front
Taxiing to runway 27
Water cannon salute in Melbourne Airport
Takeoff from Melbourne Airport's runway 27
Cabin inflight
Brand new safety card and COVID-19 passenger information card. Yes, we are indeed onboard a Rex Boeing 737-800. I know, hardly believe my eyes!
Seat 12A
Inflight at 37,000 feet
Delicious vanilla cupcake / commemorative cupcake
Descending into Sydney Airport
Inaugural landing onto Sydney Airport's runway 34L
Water cannon salute and taxi to Terminal 2 gate 49, photos by Grahame Hutchinson / 16right.com
Docked at terminal 2 gate 49 at Sydney Airport
Business class seats, tune into my friend Jayden's flight review here for his experience on this flight in Rex business class
View from the jetway
Archway in Sydney Airport, with news crews interviewing passengers
Views of VH-RQC, getting ready to operate the inaugural Sydney to Melbourne service; flight ZL33
Waiting to get on VH-RQC's inaugural Sydney to Melbourne were many more avgeeks like Paul Stewart, find out his experience on that inaugural flight here
Final Verdict
The Rex Boeing 737-800 is a pretty nice aircraft to fly in. I say 'new' as the configuration is still pretty much an old Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, but with 29 rows the seat was comfortable enough. It had been a dream of mine to be a part of aviation history, and I was thrilled to have done this with Rex on their entry into the Jet Age with the Boeing 737-800 from Melbourne to Sydney. I bid them well and the best of luck on this new and exciting venture for the airline. The airline's executives announced in Melbourne during the speeches that three new Boeing 737 routes would launch so this is great to see an airline expanding, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic as well.
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