Am I nuts...Accessing Syd First Lounge before Dom Flight

[Shamrock55]

Am I crazy to even bother with this....

If I get into Syd from Wlg at 17:40, can I head upstairs via the international transfer security section, spend an hour in the F lounge to celebrate turning WP, then head back out and catch the Qantas transfer bus to dom terminal in time to make QF538's 7.45 departure? Will they let me into F lounge with only a domestic boarding pass?

Checking bags through so will have minimal to carry.....

 

[TonyHancock]

Will they let me into F lounge with only a domestic boarding pass?

They won't let you through the transfer security section.

 

[flyingfan]

You are not crazy to want to do this - or if you are, AFF is the place where likeminded crazy people come to outdo each other in F lounge and status runs - but to access the international terminal and thus the F lounge, your next onward flight must depart from the international terminal and you must have a boarding pass that shows this.

 

[Shamrock55]

They won't let you through the transfer security section.

But I have never once been asked to show my next boarding pass when going through here?

 

[Steady]

As the entry point into Oz I believe you will need to collect and re-check your bags

 

[Shamrock55]

Usually when i transfer international I just go through security, present no ID or BP and i'm up the escaltor into International Departures within a few minutes.

So I was thinking just go up as normal, head into F lounge, then leave terminal via passport and customs, grab qantas transfer bus and away i go.

 

[harvyk]

Usually when i transfer international I just go through security, present no ID or BP and i'm up the escaltor into International Departures within a few minutes.

So I was thinking just go up as normal, head into F lounge, then leave terminal via passport and customs, grab qantas transfer bus and away i go.

Even if you get air side departures level, the lack of valid onward boarding pass will prevent you from accessing the FLounge. They check your boarding pass at the entrance, and again at reception upstairs. Unless you manage to get your name on the list at the front door, you won't even be able to get to reception to plead your case.

 

[Shamrock55]

Even if you get air side departures level, the lack of valid onward boarding pass will prevent you from accessing the FLounge. They check your boarding pass at the entrance, and again at reception upstairs. Unless you manage to get your name on the list at the front door, you won't even be able to get to reception to plead your case.

Ah...that's the answer I was searching for...do you need an International boarding pass to enter the lounge...and sounds like you do!

 

[TheInsider]

Also have you worked out how you are going to 'exit' the international terminal, once you were in the departures area? What excuse would you give to Customs?

 

[harvyk]

Ah...that's the answer I was searching for...do you need an International boarding pass to enter the lounge...and sounds like you do!

Technically you don't need an "international" boarding pass to enter the FLounge, you simply need to be departing on a valid flight from the International Terminal. It's entirely possible to use the FLounge if you are flying QF or JQ only on the domestic leg of an international flight. (Eg SYD-BNE-MNL flying QF where you are only flying on the SYD-BNE leg of that flight).

Assuming that you managed to get to departures, they would look at your boarding pass for a flight from Dom and they would tell you to head over to the Dom terminal.

 

[harvyk]

Also have you worked out how you are going to 'exit' the international terminal, once you were in the departures area? What excuse would you give to Customs?

"I was transferring flights so I following the transfer signs. I didn't realize it was for transferring for international flights only."
As a WP you would probably get the "are you for real" look, but they would let you out.

 

[Altair]

Am I crazy to even bother with this....

If I get into Syd from Wlg at 17:40, can I head upstairs via the international transfer security section, spend an hour in the F lounge to celebrate turning WP, then head back out and catch the Qantas transfer bus to dom terminal in time to make QF538's 7.45 departure? Will they let me into F lounge with only a domestic boarding pass?

Checking bags through so will have minimal to carry.....

Hi Shamrock55,
Is your Qf162 flight that morning your WP qualifying flight?
If so I do not think that your status will have upgraded in time.
I also note your domestic flight and would say that may be tight at that time in the morning.
Anyway you need to collect your bags at the International terminal go through Biosecurity and recheck at the QF transfer terminal where you catch the bus tot he domestic terminal.
At the domestic terminal you may get the chance to celebrate turning WP at the Business Lounge rather than the Qantas Club.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Usually when i transfer international I just go through security, present no ID or BP and i'm up the escaltor into International Departures within a few minutes.

So I was thinking just go up as normal, head into F lounge, then leave terminal via passport and customs, grab qantas transfer bus and away i go.

With an intl to intl baggage connection your bag is transferred.

An intl to dom connection will see your bag placed on the arrivals carousel for collection immediately after QF162 WLG/SYD.

 

[under the radar]

OP...try it and see how you go

 

[rxguru]

Agree with above. Give it a go, the worst is you spend 30 minutes adventuring to the Flounge. Instead of starring at a boarding gate.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Personally, I would just buy a cheap JQ SYD - NZ flight and use the SYD F lounge then.
I have felt the F touch though, MEL - AKL.
Int - Int is different from Int - Dom.
Best of luck anyways.

 

[Dr Ralph]

What's the date of your travelShamrock55? Can you update us on your efforts?

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Would love to know if this'd work – please try!

 

[Steady]

I'm also interested- I can see it's realistic to get yourself airside from arrivals via the transfering pax route to try and access the F Lounge. I don't understand how you would get yourself back to the arrivals immigration and baggage claim - I guess I am assuming the transfer route is one way?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm also interested- I can see it's realistic to get yourself airside from arrivals via the transfering pax route to try and access the F Lounge. I don't understand how you would get yourself back to the arrivals immigration and baggage claim - I guess I am assuming the transfer route is one way?

Not sure what would happen if you went back to transit security and said you accidentally went to the F Lounge?

I don't know whether CBP officers will be looking for you as well as they would know the number of pax disembarking and transiting ex the WLG flight so you'd probably show up as missing in action as you won't have officially arrived in Australia.

It's probably less problematic to just purchase a JQi flight on a domestic sector and legitimately get access that way.