QF Earliest Check in time...

[gumpy]

Hi All,

sorry about the noob question but I just turned up 4 hrs early for a flight to NZ and now I'm sitting in a cafe sipping a pinot noir because they said the earliest check in is 3 hrs...

Now has this always been the case? I swear there have been occasions where I got to the airport earlier and was allowed to drop the bags off... 90% of the time i'm there for an international flight 2 hrs before so i've never tested the system but would like to confirm with you all what the rules are...

Hell at Incheon you can drop the bags off like 7 hrs early... (i think)... with the swiss i send in the bags via rail early in the morning...

I just searched teh QF site and I can't find much about it...

thanks in advance

 

[docjames]

Presume you are on a QF flight number and not QF number operated by Jetstar.

Jetstar are rigid with the 3hr rule.

I think technically 3hrs is correct for QF too, however QF typically ignore this so maybe there's been a "system update" blocking the agent from accessing your details, or you got a checkin agent who was less than willing to "work around". May also be related to their new baggage rules (see oneworld only check-through) - checking in bags miles early no doubt lends itself to lost/missed baggage so maybe that's a factor too.

Enjoy your wine....

 

[samh004]

It’s always been 3 hours, but sometimes depending on status and travel class you can get away with it earlier. Don’t forget there’s also HKG in town checkin that lets you checkin much earlier, but generally those are the exceptions.

 

[serfty]

Which airport?

Did you have checked luggage?

Did yor try OLCI?

 

[samh004]

Which airport?

Per:

5th of Nov QF 49 syd flounge can 1 guest

Based on the rest of the schedule, I’d imagine there’d be checked luggage involved, or gumpy is a very well organised flyer

 

[gumpy]

Which airport?

Did you have checked luggage?

Did yor try OLCI?

Sydney

with one bag to check in...

I did try OLCI =(

 

[serfty]

Fair enough - if you'd had Hand Luggage Only they may have checked you in.

It's interesting OLCI was not working; I personally try to avoid it for international flights - but will use it for HLO early access.

 

[Ewing]

Jetstar are rigid with the 3hr rule.

To the point where the check-in counters are unmanned before then

Anyway, I guess that's one of the perks of having to start international trips with a domestic flight - book it on one ticket and get as much time as you want:

Although that could be almost too much time in the F lounge - unfortunately it's the only jet itinerary that gives more than the MCT to transfer - and I don't like rushing (nor do I like paying for a J ticket and getting a Dash 8 between CBR-SYD)

 

[samh004]

To the point where the check-in counters are unmanned before then

It’s far worse than that. Last time I used JQ they were manned but wouldn’t let me checkin as it was more than their limit before the flight. A line built-up, even though staff were there, and right on cue, as it was time to start checking-in, half go on a break!

That sort of service makes QF look bad… it’s incredibly useless and unwarranted. Shows how highly they think of anyone that flies them. And while I doubt Red Roo is reading (this thread), nor can do anything… seriously… think about it. It’s shocking.

 

[jsd]

Don't mean to hijack this thread but do you think QF would frown upon / not allow this:

Arrive MEL @ 0600
Check-in Bag for QF1013 Departing @ 19:55
Do MEL-SYD-MEL That Day (DJ815, JQ35)
Board QF1013

So effectively checking in my Bag at 6am for a 7:55pm flight

 

[Sprucegoose]

Don't mean to hijack this thread but do you think QF would frown upon / not allow this:

Arrive MEL @ 0600
Check-in Bag for QF1013 Departing @ 19:55
Do MEL-SYD-MEL That Day (DJ815, JQ35)
Board QF1013

So effectively checking in my Bag at 6am for a 7:55pm flight

Can't see why not josh. All manned all day.

 

[samh004]

Don't mean to hijack this thread but do you think QF would frown upon / not allow this:

Arrive MEL @ 0600
Check-in Bag for QF1013 Departing @ 19:55
Do MEL-SYD-MEL That Day (DJ815, JQ35)
Board QF1013

So effectively checking in my Bag at 6am for a 7:55pm flight

I think you should investigate a locker.

 

[jsd]

Hahaha, not likely.

Cheaper to buy checked baggage on JQ35 rather than pay for an overpriced bag storage service

 

[gumpy]

To the point where the check-in counters are unmanned before then

Anyway, I guess that's one of the perks of having to start international trips with a domestic flight - book it on one ticket and get as much time as you want:

Although that could be almost too much time in the F lounge - unfortunately it's the only jet itinerary that gives more than the MCT to transfer - and I don't like rushing (nor do I like paying for a J ticket and getting a Dash 8 between CBR-SYD)

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH TIME IN THE FLOUNGE!!! unless you have a family or a gf that gets annoyed when you want to spend too much time in the flounge...

The lounge was too full for me to get a spa treatment but the food was good as always...

In other news I must say the AKL Flounge is quite pleasant... nothing compared to the syd one but I really don't mind sitting here... it's quiet, clean and the party pies with pinot noir's are dropping well =)

 

[dfcatch]

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH TIME IN THE FLOUNGE!!! unless you have a family or a gf that gets annoyed when you want to spend too much time in the flounge...

The lounge was too full for me to get a spa treatment but the food was good as always...

In other news I must say the AKL Flounge is quite pleasant... nothing compared to the syd one but I really don't mind sitting here... it's quiet, clean and the party pies with pinot noir's are dropping well =)

Discussing a check in time with SWMBO for SYD-LAX flight.... Her: "Why on earth do we want to spend more time at the airport than we have to? We don't need to check in 4 hours early!"
Me: "Trust me, we do. And if they let us check in even earlier, then we would!".

We'll see if she values the F lounge as much as I do!!
Could all depend on availability of spa treatment for her while I get acquainted with the Tatt

 

[TonyHancock]

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH TIME IN THE FLOUNGE!!!

Absolutely agree!

 

[tuapekastar]

I've checked in with QF at AKL (premium check-in area) ~5 hours before a flight with no issues whatsoever (TBH I was expecting to be knocked back). Can't recall if I had any bags to check, but would not have made any difference. I don't normally try and check in >3 hours ahead of flight time if I can avoid it, but I have certainly heard a number of reports similar to the OP's of not being able to.

 

[dfcatch]

I've checked in with QF at AKL (premium check-in area) ~5 hours before a flight with no issues whatsoever (TBH I was expecting to be knocked back). Can't recall if I had any bags to check, but would not have made any difference. I don't normally try and check in >3 hours ahead of flight time if I can avoid it, but I have certainly heard a number of reports similar to the OP's of not being able to.

Checked in with bags about 4.5 hours early in AKL premium QF checkin. No problems.

 

[coyote25]

Checked in about 4 hours before flight in MEL at the First Checkin area when I was a WP and no problem at all (more time in the FLounge those were the not so distant days).

Off topic but mentioned earlier
Re Jetstar in NZ. I was forced onto them when QF withdrew for a domestic flight. I couldn't get the Checkin Kiosk to work (AKL) and 5 times I had staff come up to me and tell me to use it instead of waiting in line to checkin. I politely (at first) said I'd love to if it worked, I was told I must be doing it wrong. They couldn't get it to work either (I was later told something about INT to DOM issue).

Bottom line they had three staff walking around directing clients to koisk, one staff member on counters, one supervisor looking bored, one staff member trying to stop yawning doing nothing, and 3 empty checkin counters. And all the time I was made to feel bad (as was everyone else in the line) for lining up to checkin instead of using the technology (they open up 2 hrs 30 mins before flight).

Note: Bag drop was staffed separately and worked well from what I saw.

I know they (Jetstar) want minimal staff involvement but I felt it was terrible service and treatment (being told I must be doing checking in wrong 5 times .. I mean how can you stuff that up??). Swore no JQ flights in NZ ever no matter what.

 

[Aikicoops]

In the past 12 months having flown CX, BA and QF, every time i have arrived before the 3hour mark I have had to wait.

The worst was from Venice to Gatwick, I had to transit to Heathrow, only to be told I could not check in an more than 3 hours before the flight, I has a 6 hour wait. That was with BA.

Was not happy at all.

Coops