Recently I flew transcontinental across Australia on a route you might not even realise exists — yet it’s quietly stood the test of time for decades. We’re onboard Qantas’ daily 4.5-hour flight between Australia’s national capital, Canberra, and Perth, operated by the airline’s stalwart Boeing 737-800.
But getting to this flight was far from straightforward. After a pleasant arrival into Sydney from Fiji aboard Fiji Airways’ A350, I had a hectic travel day ahead — three flights, two connections, and a race against time. Thanks to a quirky Classic Flight Reward redemption, my routing to Perth involved a quick hop down to Canberra on a Dash 8 Q400 before catching this relatively unknown direct transcontinental service.
A Race Against Time in the Nation’s Capital
Severe storms around Sydney meant our flight to Canberra was delayed, and for a moment, it looked like I’d be spending the night in the nation’s capital. Luckily, I made it just in time — about 15 minutes before boarding. While that meant only a brief visit to Qantas’ Business Lounge (the only lounge open this late on a Saturday), it was still enough time for a quick beer and a phone charge.
The Canberra Qantas Business Lounge is a standout in the network — spacious, elegant, and serving up a premium spread that reflects the city’s political pedigree. After all, you’ve got to keep the bureaucrats and politicians happy — or at least the ones who haven’t made it into the Chairman’s Lounge yet.
Tonight’s Ride: Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-XZG
Our aircraft for the evening was VH-XZG, a midlife 737 delivered new to Qantas in 2013. These aircraft form the backbone of Qantas’ domestic mainline operations, with 76 in the fleet. Inside, the layout features 12 seats in Business Class (2-2) and 162 in Economy (3-3).
Business Class boasts classic maroon leather recliners with generous width and 37” pitch. Economy, meanwhile, is a little tighter at 30” pitch, though the navy cloth seats are comfortable enough for the long haul, especially with adjustable headrests.
Tonight’s load? Roughly half full — a rare treat on a cross-country flight.
Departure from a Deserted Airport
By 8 p.m., we were the last flight of the night out of Canberra. As soon as we pushed back, the airport shut down — lights dimmed, security went home, and the terminal emptied. That’s Canberra for you: busy midweek with public servants, but ghostly quiet by Saturday night.
Takeoff was stunning — a fiery orange sunset fading behind the Brindabellas, distant thunderclouds still glowing from earlier storms. Moments after the seatbelt sign switched off, it flicked straight back on as we hit patches of turbulence heading west.
Inflight: Entertainment, Wi-Fi, and Comfort at 32,000 Feet
Tonight’s 737 featured seatback entertainment screens, one of around half the fleet that still have them. The system includes movies, TV shows, and a moving map — though responsiveness leaves a bit to be desired. Thankfully, Qantas’ free inflight Wi-Fi more than makes up for it. It’s surprisingly fast for satellite internet and worked well even for light video streaming and live sports, with only brief buffering over the Great Australian Bight.
The content library offers roughly 2,500 hours of movies, TV, and documentaries, plus the ever-popular Qantas Magazine. While not as comprehensive as Emirates ICE, it’s more than enough for a domestic hop.
Dinner Service
Meal service began just under an hour into the flight. Tonight’s choices were a chicken curry or a chicken and rice salad — though due to my nut allergy, I had to opt for the latter. While I’m not usually one for cold meals, it was still fresh and tasty, accompanied by a bottle of water and my drink of choice, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.
The crew on this flight were simply outstanding — easily some of the best service I’ve had on a Qantas domestic flight. They even offered me the alternate meal to try and, after learning about my allergy, went out of their way to find alternative snacks. Their attentiveness continued throughout the flight with multiple drink runs — so naturally, I followed up the wine with a Stone & Wood Pacific Ale.
Mid-Flight and Arrival into Perth
Three-quarters through the flight, we crossed the coast near Esperance. A quick stretch, a visit to the spotless lavatory, and it was time to sit back and enjoy the quiet cabin atmosphere as the lights of Perth appeared below.
Touchdown came right on time — 9 p.m. local — marking the end of an 18-hour travel day that began in Fiji and spanned three flights, three cities, and two countries.
Final Thoughts: Canberra to Perth on Qantas
Tonight’s QF857 was a fantastic experience — smooth, relaxed, and refreshingly quiet. From start to finish, Qantas delivered a polished, professional performance. The Wi-Fi worked well, the entertainment was solid, the meal service exceeded expectations, and the crew truly shone.
Even after dozens of flights across Australia, this one stood out — a rare long domestic sector on a narrow-body jet that manages to feel every bit as premium as a transcontinental service should.
So, could this be the best domestic Boeing 737 flight in Australia?
Honestly… it just might be.
Disclaimer: This article has been repurposed from the original transcript of my own flight review with the assistance of AI technologies. Please be advised whilst I have taken the utmost care to review and revise this article where necessary to reflect the upmost of accuracy at time of publication please be advised my reviews whether written or in video form are for entertainment and general information purposes only. They reflect the objective views in good faith of the person only whom is presenting them unless otherwise noted. Any decisions you make resulting from consuming my content must take into consideration your own circumstances, research and responsibility as I can not be hold responsible for any inaccuracies or future changes effecting the relativity of such reviews. All Rights Reserved by Aussie JetSetter from 2022 >
