When the boss asked if I’d like to fly on Bonza’s first ever flight from Townsville to Rockhampton, I knew I was going places (Rockhampton, to be specific).

I arrived bright and early to Townsville airport and proceeded to battle with the carpark ticket machine.

After that humbling encounter at the boom gate, I decided to get on the front foot of my new self-appointed career as the Bulli’s travel writer-at-large.

I began to research.

Bonza: began operating in January, big purple thing in the sky.

Rockhampton: has a giant bull.

Flights? Scheduled to run three times a week, $49 a seat, 50 minutes in the air.

Our plane was ‘Bazza’ and it arrived on time carrying a booked out flight from the Sunshine Coast.

The Jetstar passengers standing around waiting to board their Sydney plane were paying close attention to the new purple thing on the tarmac.

Those walking off the Bonza flight seemed to be in high spirits, although a few did stop and stare at Townsville Airport’s half-elevator set up with some confusion.

Soon, it was our turn to board Bazza.

I was in row five and was just getting settled when the CEO of Bonza, Tim Jordan, came and sat on the window seat next to me, which was really cramping my style.

The stewardess — reading my mind — asked Mr Jordan to move to the back of the plane for “weight distribution” reasons.

It was obviously first-class service for the Townsville Bulletin’s travel writer-at-large and I was back to having three seats to myself.

There weren’t too many people on the inaugural plane — most of us were media — and because of the unusually small number we had to be carefully balanced around.

Unfortunately, all the weight distribution and seat moving turned into paperwork, and we sat on the Townsville tarmac for nearly 60 minutes waiting to leave.

Later, Mr Jordan would tell me the crew weren’t used to running half empty planes. It was a first for them.

I used the time on the tarmac to scope out my surroundings and confirm most important aspect of any airplane - the USB port - was present on every seat.

The second most important part of a Bonza flight is the My Bonza app.

Through it, you have access to the entire LiSTNR app (which includes the Hamish and Andy podcast) several free books (the Great Gatsby, the Metamorphosis), mobile games and the in-flight menu.

On Bonza you order food through the app and they bring it right to your seat.

This means there are no trolleys - and a constant clear run-way to the toilets when needed.

In Rockhampton, the airport rolled out their newest aluminium stairs and I guiltily descended and grabbed a free donut before climbing back on (once again, I am taking this new travel writer role very seriously).

The airport was packed with people waiting to fly Bonza to Townsville. I got talking to one Rockie local, Neville Sariman, who drives to Townsville twice a year to see his mother.

“I was meant to drive today, but then I saw this flight come up,” Mr Sariman said.

“With the fuel prices right now - phew! It’s better to fly.”

I got back on the plane down like a seasoned travel professional and looked around me.

In fact - everyone who was doing ‘the loop’ was back in their exact same seats.

Out the window, Mr Jordan was talking to passengers and slowly inching his way up the best aluminium stairs in Rockhampton.

We maintained silence until take off. I’m pretty sure he saw a smudge I had accidentally made on the window with my pen, but was kind enough to not bring it up.

“So, how did you get into aviation?” I asked to distract him from the spot right beside his head.

What followed was a story that involved Virgin Blue and a surprising amount of work in Kazakhstan.

When we landed, I got the hell out of there so fast I forgot my phone in the seat pocket.

I weakly walked back up the aluminium steps and admitted the embarrassment to the stewardess.

She bravely went against the tide of people and retrieved it for me.

On second thought, I might not be cut out for this travel writer thing.