About to fly MEL-SYD-PVG: seat tips and SYD Flounge!

[Isochronous]

On Wednesday I'll be flying MEL-SYD-PVG. This will be my first flight since qualifying as WP for the first time (I technically got it returning from a NAN-LAX J and AA KUPP run, but it hadn't come through the system in time for me to use the SYD QF dom J lounge). I have a few questions:

1. I'm on a 0715 MEL-SYD flight, arriving at 0840. PVG flight leaves SYD at 1055. So that leaves just over 2 hours to enjoy the F lounge, transit, and clear immigration. What's my chances as WP of being able to get on an earlier flight out of MEL? I'm guessing if I call they'll want to charge me a change fee, but if I get to MEL early enough to check-in and ask if I can get anything earlier (even 0700, 0645 or 0630), will they let me?

2. Worst case scenario for the above is I spend some time in the Dom MEL J lounge. What's breakfast like there these days? Island dining? Pancake machine?

3. How busy is SYD Flounge at that time of day? Do I have any chance of getting a spa/massage appointment? (Yes, it's my first Flounge visit)

4. What's the SYD Flounge menu like - I assume they'll still be serving breakfast then. A shame since I liked what I had heard of Neil Perry's pavolva in a cup and the salt/pepper squid.

5. What seats should I go for on the A333 to PVG? I've currently got 26J on the way out (can grab 23 on the side, but with bassinets there I don't want to risk being annoying too much by crying babies). Or is it worth getting an exit row back at row 45?

Many thanks for your wisdom and advice!

 

[flyingfan]

On Wednesday I'll be flying MEL-SYD-PVG. This will be my first flight since qualifying as WP for the first time (I technically got it returning from a NAN-LAX J and AA KUPP run, but it hadn't come through the system in time for me to use the SYD QF dom J lounge). I have a few questions:

Congratulations on your newly minted WPness

1. I'm on a 0715 MEL-SYD flight, arriving at 0840. PVG flight leaves SYD at 1055. So that leaves just over 2 hours to enjoy the F lounge, transit, and clear immigration. What's my chances as WP of being able to get on an earlier flight out of MEL? I'm guessing if I call they'll want to charge me a change fee, but if I get to MEL early enough to check-in and ask if I can get anything earlier (even 0700, 0645 or 0630), will they let me?

By the time you allow for the shuttle bus to pick you up, take you to international, clear immigration and security, as well as heading from the F lounge to the gate for your PVG flight, it's quite a bit less than two hours. Qantas are particularly stingy about letting people change if on a non-changeable fare - WP doesn't appear to grease the wheels much. All I can suggest is you make use of the Express Path card at SYD T1.

2. Worst case scenario for the above is I spend some time in the Dom MEL J lounge. What's breakfast like there these days? Island dining? Pancake machine?

Scrambled eggs, baked beans, (bircher?) muesli in a glass, pancake machine... I've never paid much attention to island dining.

3. How busy is SYD Flounge at that time of day? Do I have any chance of getting a spa/massage appointment? (Yes, it's my first Flounge visit)

Usually still filling up then - having said that, there seems to be enough F pax to completely book out the spa slots. If you had more time in the lounge your chances may be better.

4. What's the SYD Flounge menu like - I assume they'll still be serving breakfast then. A shame since I liked what I had heard of Neil Perry's pavolva in a cup and the salt/pepper squid.

I think the sweetcorn fritters and Eggs Benedict will still be the reliable crowd-pleasers.... I remember someone posting a photo of the latest breakfast menu but I can't find it at the moment. There is a changeover period to the 'all day' menu which counter-intuitively doesn't kick in until midday. In between all the staff are huddled up in the kitchen getting briefings on the day's food. You might need to schedule a JQ run to try the salt & pepper squid and pavlova

 

[serfty]

Note that your PVG flight will commence boarding at 10:15 if on time - that cuts your lounge time down to about one hour.

It's always worth trying to get an earlier flight, ½ an hour earlier will give you 50% more lounge time. I'd get to the airport by 6am and try to change to an ealier on check in - they can only say yes or no.

If no, then you have more time check out the delights of island dining and the hot breakfast in the MEL T1 Qantas Business lounge.

 

[KitKat]

1. Not sure which class of service you are on but when in discount J I have managed to move my flight forward.. Smile, be polite and ask nicely... you can only try at check in. Worse case is NO.

 

[Isochronous]

Economy in L, whatever that means.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Definitely worth asking. My daughter has managed to change her discount economy flight twice in the last 3 months. Once coming back to Canberra from Sydney after flying internationally and once connecting to an international flight in Sydney. Just depends who you get and loads.

 

[TonyHancock]

1. I'm on a 0715 MEL-SYD flight, arriving at 0840. PVG flight leaves SYD at 1055. So that leaves just over 2 hours to enjoy the F lounge, transit, and clear immigration. What's my chances as WP of being able to get on an earlier flight out of MEL? I'm guessing if I call they'll want to charge me a change fee, but if I get to MEL early enough to check-in and ask if I can get anything earlier (even 0700, 0645 or 0630), will they let me?

I have been successful as a WP calling up and getting on to an earlier flight, I have also been successful in the lounge. I usually call up and say that I am a little worried about the transfer time, and that I have had experience before where my flight from MEL was delayed. (I have been very polite but insistent...after all it doesn't help QF to have passengers delayed on domestic connections.) The J Service desk has also been most accommodating. It doesn't hurt to ask, that said don't bank on it.

2. Worst case scenario for the above is I spend some time in the Dom MEL J lounge. What's breakfast like there these days? Island dining? Pancake machine?

Breakfast is a self serve cooked affair with scrambled eggs, bacon etc. It's OK but you will be much better off in the SYD F lounge.

3. How busy is SYD Flounge at that time of day? Do I have any chance of getting a spa/massage appointment? (Yes, it's my first Flounge visit)

I have taken QF400 on my last three connections for the PVG run and have been in the F lounge by about 8:00 AM (In winter time the PVG flight departs about 9:30 ish.) The lounge was not particularly crowded, however early in 2012 it was like a zoo.

4. What's the SYD Flounge menu like - I assume they'll still be serving breakfast then. A shame since I liked what I had heard of Neil Perry's pavolva in a cup and the salt/pepper squid.

Breakfast in the F lounge is a decent feed. you can pretty much create your own breakfast. My preference is for the eggs benedict with smoked salmon and a couple of grilled tomatoes.

5. What seats should I go for on the A333 to PVG? I've currently got 26J on the way out (can grab 23 on the side, but with bassinets there I don't want to risk being annoying too much by crying babies). Or is it worth getting an exit row back at row 45?

My personal preference is to go for 23B or 23J.

As an aside this is my least favourite flight. I do this route five or six times a year, although thankfully I'm cutting back, in Y and it is a long old trip, and one of the few where it feels quite claustrophobic. The overnight return is improved by drinking the entire alcoholic contents of the totally inadequate "F lounge" at PVG. If you get a good crew they might look after you, as a WP, with drinks and nibbles from J.

 

[davec]

I did this trip last Sept - agreed with all as above incl just calling the QF WP line and in your nicest possible voice request an earlier domestic connecting flight as you are worried about missing the connection.... And take your own food and booze (other than beer) to the PVG airport for pre-flight drinks & nibbles - it astounds me QF can put their guests in those shared lounges and not try to make some sort of investment in improving the quality of the offering.....

 

[Isochronous]

Does QF have its own F lounge at PVG or do they share with CX?

 

[TonyHancock]

Does QF have its own F lounge at PVG or do they share with CX?

It is a third party lounge and it is as davec describes. The showers are handy but the food and drink offering is very poor. My last visit was a couple of weeks ago and the spirits counter consisted of one bottle of Jack Daniels and one bottle of vodka. :shock:

There are a couple of hot Chinese dishes available from the small buffet counter and a fridge with dried up sandwiches in.

It is lounge number 69.

 

[davec]

From memory the J and the F lounges are next to each other and there isn't really any restriction as to which one you go in regardless of class/status etc. One did have an electric massage chair which I always enjoy, and the showers (shared J & F I think) as TonyHancock mentions were quite clean.
But the food is terrible! Unless you're a fan of 2 minute noodles, or the dried up sandwiches, or perhaps cereal with warm UHT milk.....
The beer is fine however!

 

[Isochronous]

From memory the J and the F lounges are next to each other and there isn't really any restriction as to which one you go in regardless of class/status etc. One did have an electric massage chair which I always enjoy, and the showers (shared J & F I think) as TonyHancock mentions were quite clean.
But the food is terrible! Unless you're a fan of 2 minute noodles, or the dried up sandwiches, or perhaps cereal with warm UHT milk.....
The beer is fine however!

Sounds like the LAX International Lounge that FJ shares with Philippine Airlines, Air Tahiti, and the Taiwanese carriers. Do CX/KA/some other oneworld carrier (maybe MH or AY or JL) not have a lounge that WPs can use instead?

 

[TonyHancock]

There is a CX lounge next door to the lounge QF uses. TBH I had never even thought to use it.

When you check in you'll be give an invitation to the lounge QF uses. When you get to the lounge you'll be directed to the right to the "F" lounge. (The "J" Lounge is to the [-]right[/-] left.

I might just try the CX lounge on my next trip.*

*edit: I have just seen the photos and read the review on loungeindex.com - it looks and sounds exactly the same as the lounge QF uses.+

+edit No 2: I should clarify my first edit. It is a different lounge...it just looks and sounds as bad as the one QF uses.!!!!

=edit No 3: Correction of J lounge location......thanks simongr!!

 

[Isochronous]

There is a CX lounge next door to the lounge QF uses. TBH I had never even thought to use it.

When you check in you'll be give an invitation to the lounge QF uses. When you get to the lounge you'll be directed to the right to the "F" lounge. (The "J" Lounge is to the right.

I might just try the CX lounge on my next trip.*

*edit: I have just seen the photos and read the review on loungeindex.com - it looks and sounds exactly the same as the lounge QF uses.+

+edit No 2: I should clarify my first edit. It is a different lounge...it just looks and sounds as bad as the one QF uses.!!!!

I would have thought CX would have a better facility, especially since PVG is so new!

 

[simongr]

When you check in you'll be give an invitation to the lounge QF uses. When you get to the lounge you'll be directed to the right to the "F" lounge. (The "J" Lounge is to the right.

Do they refer to the J lounge as the Oswald Mosley lounge given that is seems to be on the far right?

 

[TheEmu]

Do they refer to the J lounge as the Oswald Mosley lounge given that is seems to be on the far right?

The Ghengis Khan Lounge maybe?

 

[Fantic125]

I was in the PVG CX Lounge approx 6 months ago, and it's not that flash. Pot noodles, sandwiches, reasonable selection of drinks.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I was in the PVG CX Lounge approx 6 months ago, and it's not that flash. Pot noodles, sandwiches, reasonable selection of drinks.

I was there last Wed and it is still same questionable quality as ALL Chinese Lounges.

 

[Isochronous]

I hit WP over 2 weeks ago and still no black card in the mail. Hope it arrives tomorrow or I'm doomed...(if I want to lounge hop flying other OW carriers)

 

[TheEmu]

I hit WP over 2 weeks ago and still no black card in the mail. Hope it arrives tomorrow or I'm doomed...(if I want to lounge hop flying other OW carriers)

Most hearty congratulations on WP! Hope it all comes together for you.