Royal Brunei Airlines will begin flying to Brisbane from 11 June, opening up another one-stop connection to London as well as alternative routes across Asia via Royal Brunei's home hub at Bandar Seri Begawan.
Passengers can plan their trip around four flights pr week, departing on 5.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, with Royal Brunei's single-aisle Airbus A320neo making the seven-hour journey.
Its 12 reclining business class seats are arranged in a conventional 2-2 layout across three rows.
Each has a 42-inch pitch with a 22.7in seat width and 10-inch recline, is equipped with dual AC/USB sockets and includes a 10 inch video screen.
Royal Brunei's Airbus A320 neo jets also have 18 'preferred' economy seats with 32 inches of pitch compared to the standard 30 inches in economy.
Brisbane is the airline's second Australian destination, with the airline already flying a Boeing 787 from Melbourne to London via Brunei.
LatteLaptopLoon
18 Jan, 2019 11:20 am
No member give thanks
Mightyreds
18 Jan, 2019 11:59 am
No member give thanks
Davedownunder
19 Jan, 2019 07:54 pm
No member give thanks
stewardnurse
18 Jan, 2019 11:26 am
No member give thanks
DanV
18 Jan, 2019 11:58 am
Although, correct me if wrong, the recliners on the A320neo for J pax ain't ideal for J pax booking through to LHR via the Brunei hub. Considerable difference in product.
No member give thanks
Joe
18 Jan, 2019 12:14 pm
No member give thanks
SYDINI
18 Jan, 2019 12:40 pm
No member give thanks
kimshep
18 Jan, 2019 03:11 pm
Feel free to correct me if I am mistaken, but QF's B787-9 Y seat is 32" pitch, not the 30" pitch being offered by Brunei. So the pitch is different and the service level is also.
I agree that Royal Brunei offers a compelling product for the price-sensitive traveller and are able to also do this on the NEO with a basic J product, but a QF emulator it isn't.
No member give thanks
Dredgy
20 Jan, 2019 02:11 pm
No member give thanks
SYDINI
18 Jan, 2019 03:28 pm
No member give thanks
Joe
19 Jan, 2019 12:36 am
No member give thanks
Lmc
18 Jan, 2019 05:34 pm
No member give thanks
Traveller14
19 Jan, 2019 10:01 am
No member give thanks
David
18 Jan, 2019 12:25 pm
Member who gave thanks
Gilflyer
deanr
18 Jan, 2019 12:35 pm
No member give thanks
kimshep
18 Jan, 2019 03:01 pm
Not so curious I think, David.
There are some people that have an inherent fear of flying or just plain nervousness that find a single glass of port, wine etc is enough to calm their nerves. Same issue with those who may wish to sleep on a 7 hour flight. I'd rather see someone have a responsible single drink to help them get off to sleep than a face-full of sleeping medication.
The other issue is that while many may defend this as a cultural / religious decision by the carrier, it is still available in an odd form to westerners. From the point of the average Frequent Traveller though, the idea of a complimentary 'welcome' drink is part of the 'hospitality' element of the soft product - and gee, each of the major alliances have conditioned us to that in order to provide a unified level of service.
We also forget that an A320NEO is NOT an A380, B777, A350, A330 or B787 - so the ability to get up and have a wander around etc is not going to be present. What do you do when you are welded to your J class recliner or 30" (urrrgh!) pitch Y seat for 7 hours? You watch a movie or several .. and eat. Both things are conducive of the expectation of an accompanying relaxing drink. Doesn't mean you have to get blotto or abuse the privilege.
Member who gave thanks
David
David
18 Jan, 2019 03:11 pm
No member give thanks
Dredgy
18 Jan, 2019 11:27 pm
No member give thanks
tommygun
18 Jan, 2019 12:35 pm
No member give thanks
Rod H
18 Jan, 2019 01:11 pm
Now that the Sultan of Brunei has started the introduction of strict Sharia Law I would not be at all surprised if there is a total ban on alcohol on board the aircraft as it is in Brunei. RBA used to allow you to BYO but that may now not be allowed and as non Muslims we were allowed to bring in a few bottles of wine or spirits and that's no longer the case either. Mind you if you are a member of the Royal Family you are EXEMPT from Sharia Law according the Head of Islamic Affairs Brunei.
As David has so correctly pointed out I also can't see why you could not go without for 8 hrs, most people do just that from waking up until late afternoon anyway so what's so hard about it? But if you cannot then simply fly with another Airline-
That's what I do.
No member give thanks
Mightyreds
18 Jan, 2019 06:39 pm
No member give thanks
russell
18 Jan, 2019 01:21 pm
Its not the fact I cant have a glass of wine that would bother me, its more the fact being told that I cant have one or any alcoholic drink at all that bothers me.
If I decide not to have one its my choice, I don't need an airline telling me I cant have one in J.
So I guess I wont be flying these guys anytime soon....
No member give thanks
Mjkcan
18 Jan, 2019 02:18 pm
No member give thanks
John Phelan
20 Jan, 2019 11:53 pm
No member give thanks
Mal
18 Jan, 2019 02:26 pm
No member give thanks
tris06
18 Jan, 2019 03:31 pm
No member give thanks
Dredgy
18 Jan, 2019 11:25 pm
The other difference is their is less inconvenience than their used to be - the flight used to be Australia->BWN->DXB->LHR.
Now it's a one-stop flight so they might be able to charge more.
Their product (on widebodies at least) is excellent and I'd expect the soft product to be the same on the smaller aircraft.
BWN airport is still a nightmare though. Would recommend staying a night, rather than transiting two hours there :p
No member give thanks
Albinoni1967
18 Jan, 2019 03:44 pm
No member give thanks
Nick Sydney 2
18 Jan, 2019 03:49 pm
No member give thanks
Austman
18 Jan, 2019 06:55 pm
No member give thanks
ratrace
18 Jan, 2019 09:42 pm
No member give thanks
StudiodeKadent
18 Jan, 2019 11:41 pm
No member give thanks
New York State
19 Jan, 2019 04:29 am
No member give thanks
Rod H
19 Jan, 2019 07:53 am
Seems like my information re taking alcohol into Brunei was incorrect.
"Buying alcohol and drinking in public.Brunei's strict sharia law bans the sale of alcohol. But it's not all bad news for drinkers: Non-Muslims over the age of 17 have a generous duty free allowance. You can bring two litres of liquor or 12 cans of beer into the country every 48 hours."
Not sure about drinking on the flight but can't see any reason why it could not happen. Might depend on the feelings of the Purser . But as I have said most people don't drink for the 8 hrs whilst at work so what's the big deal about doing the same on a flight. Makes it much more enjoyable when you can have a drink after you leave the flight. Something to look forward to.
No member give thanks
Ace05
19 Jan, 2019 09:04 am
No member give thanks
Traveller14
19 Jan, 2019 09:50 am
No member give thanks
Traveller14
19 Jan, 2019 09:55 am
In the first paragraph, 'alternative routes across Asia' are mentioned. Correct but omitted is that northbound, with a 1730 hours departure, almost all same day connections to Asian ports will be unavailable, so overnighting in that direction is needed.
No member give thanks
Austman
19 Jan, 2019 04:34 pm
No member give thanks
David
19 Jan, 2019 04:53 pm
No member give thanks
ZT
19 Jan, 2019 05:22 pm
No member give thanks
mannej
19 Jan, 2019 06:34 pm
No member give thanks
loopflyer
22 Jan, 2019 05:05 pm
No member give thanks