Qantas Lounge on Arrival with Checked Bags.

[footy99]

I have an unusual situation coming up.

I arrive at Sydney Domestic T2 with Rex Airlines at 8am.

I depart Sydney International with Jetstar to Melbourne at 3pm.

I depart Melbourne on Qantas at 7pm.

I am Qantas Platinum and have 1 checked bag.

My question is how do I access the F lounge ideally (or the domestic ones as a backup) in Sydney between when I arrive (8am) and when Jetstar opens check-in at midday?

1. Can I check-in online, print the Jetstar boarding pass, take my bag to be checked through security, access the F lounge for a few hours, take the bag back out through security, check it, and go back through security again without it and back to the F lounge before my Jetstar flight?

2. If that doesn't work and I use the domestic lounge at T2 on arrival after my original REX flight (access granted presumably on the basis of having a Qantas flight the same day), how do I collect my bag after 3+ hours?

3. Any other way to access either or anyone got a definite no to lounge access between 8 and 12 in this scenario?

Thanks.

 

[madrooster]

My question is how do I access the F lounge ideally (or the domestic ones as a backup) in Sydney between when I arrive (8am) and when Jetstar opens check-in at midday?

1. Can I check-in online, print the Jetstar boarding pass, take my bag to be checked through security, access the F lounge for a few hours, take the bag back out through security, check it, and go back through security again without it and back to the F lounge before my Jetstar flight?

2. If that doesn't work and I use the domestic lounge at T2 on arrival after my original REX flight (access granted presumably on the basis of having a Qantas flight the same day), how do I collect my bag after 3+ hours?

3. Any other way to access either or anyone got a definite no to lounge access between 8 and 12 in this scenario?

Thanks.

1. If you are on a JQi domestic sector then no you can't OLCI anymore (used to be able to). You cannot take a large bag through security (either domestic or international), it likely won't fit through the x-ray. As you are required to go through outbound immigration, going back out requires a JQ staff escort back through immigration and a bunch of other issues will unfold. You can forget trying that one...

2. Depends if Rex will hold the bag or have the facilities to do as such. I'd say most likely no to this though. Otherwise there's paid luggage storage facilities in SYD international, T2 and T3 - the fee is about $10 for 4 hours from memory.

Use the T3 QF domestic lounges to pass time (or hang around outside if you don't want to pay $10) and then go and collect your bag and take the train to the international terminal. You cannot use the QF transfer bus as you have a checked bag to move with you.

 

[footy99]

OK so first lounge is out until midday by the looks. If I collect my bag from the rex flight and drop it off at one of the paid storage facilities, presumably I will still need a boarding pass to get through security to the other domestic lounges. If Jetstar doesn't allow online check-in, I assume that leaves me with online check-in for the Qantas flight out of Melbourne later to get a boarding pass. Will that one do the trick to get through security at Sydney Airport? If not, is there actually any way for me to access those lounges either?

 

[Mal]

Domestic airport does not require a BP to be on the sterile side. The Qantas lounge will likely require proof of your onward JQ flight for entry.

 

[tuapekastar]

OK so first lounge is out until midday by the looks. If I collect my bag from the rex flight and drop it off at one of the paid storage facilities, presumably I will still need a boarding pass to get through security to the other domestic lounges. If Jetstar doesn't allow online check-in, I assume that leaves me with online check-in for the Qantas flight out of Melbourne later to get a boarding pass. Will that one do the trick to get through security at Sydney Airport? If not, is there actually any way for me to access those lounges either?

No need for a BP to get through domestic security, so you should be fine on that front.

 

[footy99]

Oh ok great thanks. Problem solved I think. Chuck the bag in storage for a few hours, head to the domestic lounges until midday, then head back out, train to T1, check in and enjoy the 1st lounge from midday.

 

[madrooster]

presumably I will still need a boarding pass to get through security to the other domestic lounges

No need for a BP to access domestic airside.

 

[Mal]

Oh ok great thanks. Problem solved I think. Chuck the bag in storage for a few hours, head to the domestic lounges until midday, then head back out, train to T1, check in and enjoy the 1st lounge from midday.

Yeah I think that would be the best option overall. It is possible to try and convince Qantas or jetstar staff to give you a BP for the flight... However your checked luggage becomes the real burdon then.

 

[BD1959]

Hi footy99,

I'm really intrigued by your status. You're WP and have enough nous to use JQi down to MEL so you can avail yourself of the FLounge, but weren't aware of the domestic security arrangements. Have you earned your status mostly OS - in which case, what made you choose the QFF programme over (say) AA?

Regards,

BD

 

[footy99]

Hi footy99,

I'm really intrigued by your status. You're WP and have enough nous to use JQi down to MEL so you can avail yourself of the FLounge, but weren't aware of the domestic security arrangements. Have you earned your status mostly OS - in which case, what made you choose the QFF programme over (say) AA?

Regards,

BD

My Platinum status comes primarily from DONE6 trips. The Qantas choice comes from the ease of obtaining Platinum from those trips (with 4x the status attributed to Business, and 6x domestically in the US), which isn't so simple in the other oneworld programs (usually 1.5-2x status for business from memory but haven't checked in a few years). It is also more useful than the others now that I am back in Australia for almost 2 years before heading off again.

I have flown domestically plenty of times but I always prepare the same for security checks everywhere just in case so the no boarding pass requirement slipped my mind.

My only experience with an Arrivals Lounge was landside at LHR so checked baggage wasn't a problem. The Qantas situation is a bit different being used primarily as a pre-flight lounge, checked baggage seems to remove the privilege of using it on arrival but I think madrooster's suggestion gets around that where storage facilities are available.

I should probably note that I am not technically using it as an arrivals lounge but I think the effect is the same.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

where are you flying to from Melbourne?

 

[footy99]

Just meeting someone and heading back to Brisbane. No Flounge there this time unfortunately.

 

[BD1959]

My Platinum status comes primarily from DONE6 trips. The Qantas choice comes from the ease of obtaining Platinum from those trips (with 4x the status attributed to Business, and 6x domestically in the US), which isn't so simple in the other oneworld programs (usually 1.5-2x status for business from memory but haven't checked in a few years). It is also more useful than the others now that I am back in Australia for almost 2 years before heading off again.

I have flown domestically plenty of times but I always prepare the same for security checks everywhere just in case so the no boarding pass requirement slipped my mind.

My only experience with an Arrivals Lounge was landside at LHR so checked baggage wasn't a problem. The Qantas situation is a bit different being used primarily as a pre-flight lounge, checked baggage seems to remove the privilege of using it on arrival but I think madrooster's suggestion gets around that where storage facilities are available.

I should probably note that I am not technically using it as an arrivals lounge but I think the effect is the same.

Thanks, though wouldn't the AA Plat Challenge have got you there sooner? Anyway, ne'er mind, the fact you'll be Oz-based for a couple of years probably mitigated the QF choice - and I should have said "welcome", given your relative "noobie status", very rude of me!

Regards,

BD

 

[footy99]

I remember checking out the AA Plat Challenge before my first trip but it only applied to AA flights then from memory. So it wasn't much good to me. Seems now it applies to a couple of oneworld airlines as well but not many.

And it only took 11/16 flights of the initial DONE6 to reach WP anyway (bud-amm-ord-phx-mia-sfo-gru-lim-bog-scl-syd-nrt with a couple of short economy flights in the middle). Conveniently timed to achieve WP just before my Qantas membership year expired. Then the following 5 (nrt-del-hkg-jnb-mad-bud plus 2 short economy flights) meant I had retained Gold already for the year after. The whole thing cost around $8K with Malev (now defunct). Seemed unbeatable to me. (Note: some of these routings are no longer available but there are plenty of ways to achieve the same thing).

Can't imagine doing it differently if I had my time over, or even starting fresh now, but I'd have to have another good look at the Challenge to be sure.

 

[Fifa]

train to T1, check in and enjoy the 1st lounge from midday.

Or catch the #400 bus to T1 - $2.20

 

[BD1959]

Or catch the #400 bus to T1 - $2.20

Do people who aspire to WP catch buses??

Regards,

BD

 

[serfty]

Do people who aspire to WP catch buses??
...

Certainly!

For this WP, they are generally preferable to Taxi's.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Certainly!

For this WP, there are generally prefereable to Taxi's.

I know you love the buses and hate taxi's but there is a lot of stuffing around with the public transport (not skybus ) options to the airport, a taxi straight home or straight to the airport when I have had a long day of travel or have a long day ahead are much more preferable.

 

[Fifa]

Certainly!

For this WP, there are generally prefereable to Taxi's.

I agree .
We'll usually allow enough time to catch buses/trains if the price is right .
Of course there are certain instances where I would choose a taxi.

 

[serfty]

I know you love the buses and hate taxi's but there is a lot of stuffing around with the public transport (not skybus ) options to the airport, a taxi straight home or straight to the airport when I have had a long day of travel or have a long day ahead are much more preferable.

The last time I took a taxi from MEL to home, the fare was over $130 ... must better when I can do it at the sole cost of about ¾ hours additional time.