Early check in for EK F ?

[Nizar]

Hi,

I have been very keen to check out the MEL QF F lounge for some time and now I have potentially a need to go to KUL and CDG and also I see there is some award F availability on the EK 77W flight to KUL which departs at 02:40.

Given that the MEL QF F lounge closes at 23:15 (probably after all QF9 pax have boarded), is there any way EK will allow for an early check in at say 9pm to allow me an opportunity to sample the QF lounge before it closes ?

Also how flexible are EKs chauffeurs with timing. Last time when leaving DXB on the EK website's MMB the earliest pick up I could select was 5 hours prior to flight departure (which would be 9:40pm - which is too late). Can I call EK and ask for an earlier pick up time say 8pm without any hassles ?

Is it worth getting into the F lounge at say 10pm ? Would they still serve dinner at this time ? Am I likely to be able to find a seat ?

Would appreciate any thoughts or comments.

Thanks.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Just did this flight recently and cd from home was 8pm they called me the day before and said we could go any time we liked We could not get early check in though and used the EK lounge at Melbourne

 

[Nizar]

Just did this flight recently and cd from home was 8pm they called me the day before and said we could go any time we liked We could not get early check in though and used the EK lounge at Melbourne

That is unfortunate.
I might have to do a sneaky and maybe go to sydney for a few days beforehand.
Then fly SYD-MEL-KUL and as long as its on the one PNR and the SYD-MEL segment are QF metal I'm pretty sure my bags will be checked through to KUL.
This way if I land in MEL at say 7pm that will make for a few hours of quality F lounge time

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Your SYD - MEL flight would be domestic, so you would still need to wait 3 hours before flight, for your passport to be dipped into EK's computer at MELi checkin.
Everytime I do an international flight, even with OLCI with EK, I still have to appear at the premium counter, (have flown EK J once), EK Y another time, and have my passport data page <<< line dipped into computer and be issued an Expresspath card.
Don't think there are any QF flights or any other airline that does SYD - MEL international these days, even JQ's service doing it seems to have dried up.
EK counters are usually bone dry, and 3 hours before an EK flight, the checkin staff appear from a room.
Edit: bugga, I see your point, same PNR, meaning you would have had passport dipping done in SYD, ... I see, now.
Best of luck. You might just succeed.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Make sure you phone QF premium line to make the booking.
Just tried online, there are no QF flights from SYD to MEL to be linked in same booking to EK's MEL to KUL service.
They are all SYD - SIN - KUL. Or SYD - BNE - SIN - KUL.

 

[Nizar]

Make sure you phone QF premium line to make the booking.
Just tried online, there are no QF flights from SYD to MEL to be linked in same booking to EK's MEL to KUL service.
They are all SYD - SIN - KUL. Or SYD - BNE - SIN - KUL.

Or, I can book it online as a multi and as long as it the layover in MEL is <24 hours then should be the same no of points as MEL-KUL and should be a goer ?
Does anyone see some flaws in this plan ?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Ah, classic reward, I see.
I was looking at revenue booking/seating, that was why mine didnt show up.
I will leave it to the other more expert(ive) colleagues to do that part.
My big mouth!

 

[JessicaTam]

Your SYD - MEL flight would be domestic, so you would still need to wait 3 hours before flight, for your passport to be dipped into EK's computer at MELi checkin.
Everytime I do an international flight, even with OLCI with EK, I still have to appear at the premium counter, (have flown EK J once), EK Y another time, and have my passport data page <<< line dipped into computer and be issued an Expresspath card.
Don't think there are any QF flights or any other airline that does SYD - MEL international these days, even JQ's service doing it seems to have dried up.
EK counters are usually bone dry, and 3 hours before an EK flight, the checkin staff appear from a room.
Edit: bugga, I see your point, same PNR, meaning you would have had passport dipping done in SYD, ... I see, now.
Best of luck. You might just succeed.

That is incorrect.

As long as you travel HLO, there is no need to present a passport or any other documentation to EK or QF. On line check in opens 24 hours before the flight. Print the BP and walk through immigration. I am on EK409 at 0240 tomorrow morning, and I was in the QF F lounge by 1830 tonight.

 

[Nizar]

That is incorrect.

As long as you travel HLO, there is no need to present a passport or any other documentation to EK or QF. On line check in opens 24 hours before the flight. Print the BP and walk through immigration. I am on EK409 at 0240 tomorrow morning, and I was in the QF F lounge by 1830 tonight.

Excellent, thanks for the confirmation.

 

[Kangol]

That is incorrect.

As long as you travel HLO, there is no need to present a passport or any other documentation to EK or QF. On line check in opens 24 hours before the flight. Print the BP and walk through immigration. I am on EK409 at 0240 tomorrow morning, and I was in the QF F lounge by 1830 tonight.

Don't they need to "open" the flight though?
Once I did OLCI with HLO in MEL, on the late afternoon QF flight to AKL and went to F check-in with my printed BP. They said they would need to sight my passport and open the flight because I was early. Don't remember the exact nomenclature though..

 

[JessicaTam]

Don't they need to "open" the flight though?
Once I did OLCI with HLO in MEL, on the late afternoon QF flight to AKL and went to F check-in with my printed BP. They said they would need to sight my passport and open the flight because I was early. Don't remember the exact nomenclature though..

Immigration might need to open the flight, true, but that is just a process. It does not prevent you being processed by them.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

This is going to rile others, but heres my take.
When QF still flew PER - SIN on the 330, I made a booking ADL - PER - SIN on the same PNR.
Had done OLCI, got to the gate 18 or so, my first one, passed the slip of A4 paper home printed BP to gate person, red light, put it under reader again, red light... person said go to counter, I wondered why.
Counter person asked for my Au passport, gave it over, she slid the passport into computer, data page with <<< into computer, then asked to go to gate, went to gate, and got green light as BP scanned.
I dont get it how other pax dont need to do this.
I did OLCI EK metal QF flight number J CHC - SYD, they also asked for passport, and dipped the same into computer, just above the number bar.
Air NZ, some pax had passed immi, but at gate 60/61 at SYDi, they were asking for pax who havent had their passport dipped, to go to the desk next to boarding gate to have the dipping done.
Even when I had to pick up an Expresspath card (on another NZ trip), also the dipping was done.

 

[trixydoza]

data page with <<<

I have to say, this is another APism I quite like.

Air NZ, some pax had passed immi, but at gate 60/61 at SYDi, they were asking for pax who havent had their passport dipped

Dud they say dupped?

 

[BensAdventures]

I'm on EK409 at 2:40am tomorrow morning, and I have checked bags (rare for me these days), can I not check these in until 11:40pm? No other counters open earlier? I've got one of my kids school concerts finishing around 9pm, and I was going to head in soon after, getting me there by 10:15pm or earlier... Might need to kill time with a coffee or 10!

 

[Nizar]

Guys I am still on my quest to try the famed QF F lounge lol.

My latest strategy is to get on EK405 to SIN in F in late October which by that stage will be a 19:00 departure.

I believe with EK chauffeur drive you can select a pick up time of either 5 hours, or 4.5 hours, or 4 hours, or 3.5 hours, or 3 hours before departure time.

If I request the earliest possible pick up time, at say 14:00 then I will arrive at the airport at around 15:00 which I suspect is too early, or is it ?

Does EK F check in allow for early check in ?
Does it open 4 hours before departure or 3 hours before departure ?

Thanks

 

[eminere]

Does EK F check in allow for early check in ?
Does it open 4 hours before departure or 3 hours before departure ?

My EK ticket says airport check-in opens three hours before departure.

 

[Nizar]

My EK ticket says airport check-in opens three hours before departure.

How about if I check-in online ?
Will this allow me to enter the lounge earlier ?

 

[eminere]

How about if I check-in online ?
Will this allow me to enter the lounge earlier ?

Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure so if you are travelling without checked baggage you should be able to arrive at the airport early and head straight on in.

 

[Nizar]

Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure so if you are travelling without checked baggage you should be able to arrive at the airport early and head straight on in.

I have no problems travelling with no checked baggage but my wife on the other hand lol...

What about if I check-in online but do have checked baggage ?

 

[eminere]

What about if I check-in online but do have checked baggage ?

You'd have to wait for the airport counters to open?