Brisbane → Bundaberg: 59 Minutes, a Snack and Some Seriously Efficient Flight Attendants

 

By Frédérique Bonaventure

There’s something I enjoy about short regional flights. You barely have time to settle into your seat before you’re preparing to land again.

My QantasLink flight from Brisbane to Bundaberg was exactly that — 59 minutes. Smooth, comfortable, and with some terrific views of Queensland from the window.

But what surprised me most wasn’t the scenery.

It was the snack service.

Not long after takeoff, the flight attendants appeared with their carts and started handing out snack packs and drinks to roughly 65 passengers.

I remember thinking: Seriously? On a 59-minute flight?

Because when you subtract the climb out of Brisbane and the descent into Bundaberg, they really had only about 40 minutes to serve the entire aircraft.

And they moved.

Snack. Drink. Next passenger. Snack. Drink. Next passenger.

 

Then, seemingly moments later, the aircraft began descending and they were back through the cabin collecting cups, wrappers and half-finished snack packs.

All while preparing the cabin for landing.

And somehow, it was all done with a smile.

I found myself watching the whole operation with admiration. What looked like a simple snack service was actually a remarkably well-rehearsed bit of teamwork.

Outside the window, meanwhile, Queensland unfolded below — blue water giving way to enormous green agricultural fields, rivers and eventually the city of Bundaberg.

Less than an hour after leaving Brisbane, the landing gear came down and we were approaching Bundaberg.

Sometimes the memorable part of a trip isn’t the grand attraction at the destination.

Sometimes it’s watching a flight crew somehow manage to serve an entire plane a snack before gravity tells them it’s time to put everything away.

GO SOMEWHERE.