As a dedicated QF man, will I survive 2x DJ flights in 24hrs?

[thewinchester]

Due to a personal request for help from a friend in BNE, I'm sitting in the PER T3 DJ Lounge getting ready for a flight, only to fly back home tomorrow night. I won't get into the details, but needless to say after the issues of the friend are dispatched I'll have most of the day in BNE to be a man of leisure.

In any case, as a dedicated QF man can I survive 2x DJ flights in 24hrs. Right now, it's not looking promising.

It started off with both the Check-in and Lounge staff giving me blank looks when I presented them my VS Gold card. Neither of them had ever laid eyes on one before, and looked at it as if it was some precious child, drinking in its gold colour.

The perennial favourite of all is priority baggage (a benefit for VS Gold when flying DJ regardless of class). Their check-in system didn't alert the agent to attach International Business priority tags, and when asked for them before he attached the bag tag, his station wasn't stocked with any.

Lounge entry was delayed, because as soon as I passed through the metal detector I spied those security staff at the 'swab station' eyeing me up as their next victim. Before my carry-on came out the x-ray, I looked right over and said "I'm you're next customer aren't I?".

"How did you know".. oh, having done nearly 20 segments this year I know the look when you're picking out your next customer. Bags swabbed, body frisked, and I was enroute to the lounge faster than you can say "what's the sugar concentration of the icing power it detected" (I always crack this bakery joke).

Given a choice between PER Lounge cusine and the NPPP in the QP, I'll take the QP any day. A leek and potato soup that was so inedible that the spoon stood up in it, and the quality of the cold platter left much to be desired in terms of selection (not helped by running out of crackers and taking an age to stop them).

Seating wise, the lounge here does provide variable options including laptop benches. Sadly, these have the ottomans like the older Domestic QP's and don't sit well with me on ergonomics grounds. Also very little overhang to hide your belongings while you make a trip to refill.

Wireless access is also shocking, having crashed once already. It's to the point I've resorted to my Telstra 3G dongle for connectivity. Also, no views of the apron area, obscured by some leaf-inspired freize stuck to the windows.

Saving graces are that being in here brings back memories of the AN Golden Wing Lounge that once resided in this exact same spot, and it's quite nice and quiet here. About 30 people in the lounge approaching 10pm, and you can even pick up a barista coffee at this hour (or hot chocolate in my case).

We'll see how the rest of this whirlwind trip goes, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

In all seriousness, are the points above way too harsh? Am I wearing Qantas-coloured glasses when looking at DJ?

 

[oz_mark]

The perennial favourite of all is priority baggage (a benefit for VS Gold when flying DJ regardless of class). Their check-in system didn't alert the agent to attach International Business priority tags, and when asked for them before he attached the bag tag, his station wasn't stocked with any.

Gievn their own elites don't get thsis benefit, I wonder if the tags will actually achieve anything.

 

[Mal]

Doing the red-eye is tough regardless of whether you choose DJ or QF!

 

[N860CR]

I think you're being a touch harsh. I guess one could say if you go in looking for faults, you're going to find them.

Every single time I fly QF, they do something wrong, however it's best not to dwell on it and just take things as they come. Only worth complaining if something seriously wrong has happened.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Goodness me, I hope you do survive this.

 

[anat0l]

I think you're being a touch harsh. I guess one could say if you go in looking for faults, you're going to find them.

Every single time I fly QF, they do something wrong, however it's best not to dwell on it and just take things as they come. Only worth complaining if something seriously wrong has happened.

I wouldn't say it was harsh. Perhaps the priority baggage is clearly not expected, but the rest of it is probably what we'd all complain about, irrespective of the airline.

I would find it quite annoying if the wireless in the lounge was ineffective, but then again we did have a similar ropy access incident with QF of recent.

In any case, which parts read to you as harsh?

 

[N860CR]

We all have to go through security, and we all often get the swab, but the airline doesn't really control that.

Wireless, yes that'd be annoying.

 

[medhead]

Due to a personal request for help from a friend in BNE, I'm sitting in the PER T3 DJ Lounge getting ready for a flight, only to fly back home tomorrow night. I won't get into the details, but needless to say after the issues of the friend are dispatched I'll have most of the day in BNE to be a man of leisure.

In any case, as a dedicated QF man can I survive 2x DJ flights in 24hrs. Right now, it's not looking promising.

It started off with both the Check-in and Lounge staff giving me blank looks when I presented them my VS Gold card. Neither of them had ever laid eyes on one before, and looked at it as if it was some precious child, drinking in its gold colour.

The perennial favourite of all is priority baggage (a benefit for VS Gold when flying DJ regardless of class). Their check-in system didn't alert the agent to attach International Business priority tags, and when asked for them before he attached the bag tag, his station wasn't stocked with any.

Lounge entry was delayed, because as soon as I passed through the metal detector I spied those security staff at the 'swab station' eyeing me up as their next victim. Before my carry-on came out the x-ray, I looked right over and said "I'm you're next customer aren't I?".

"How did you know".. oh, having done nearly 20 segments this year I know the look when you're picking out your next customer.

Wow you actually know what the swab people look like. I just ignore them and they tend to ignore me. If I do notice one hovering with intent I just take a bit longer to get organised collecting my bags from the X-ray scanner and let someone bypass me and take the bullet.

Wifi I often have to pull out my 3G dongle in the QF lounge and given recent comments about security of free access wifi it seems best to not use the wifi anyway.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

If I do notice one hovering with intent I just take a bit longer to get organised collecting my bags from the X-ray scanner and let someone bypass me and take the bullet.

Hey medhead, don't go telling everyone my tactic for not getting swabbed.

 

[thewinchester]

Wow you actually know what the swab people look like. I just ignore them and they tend to ignore me. If I do notice one hovering with intent I just take a bit longer to get organised collecting my bags from the X-ray scanner and let someone bypass me and take the bullet.

Can spot the swabbers a mile off - and I don't mind them one bit as I know why they're doing it.

I'm looking out the corner of my eye as soon as I enter the screening point, and can spot when they've selected me from the crowd as their next victim. I walk straight over to them before they've even motioned me, bags open, arms spread and stated "waive reading" to get it done that much faster.

Wifi I often have to pull out my 3G dongle in the QF lounge and given recent comments about security of free access wifi it seems best to not use the wifi anyway.

Surprisingly, the BNE Lounge wireless was beautiful this evening. Sadly the same couldn't be said of the food selection which had that god awful potato and leak slurry.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Can spot the swabbers a mile off - and I don't mind them one bit as I know why they're doing it.

I'm looking out the corner of my eye as soon as I enter the screening point, and can spot when they've selected me from the crowd as their next victim. I walk straight over to them before they've even motioned me, bags open, arms spread and stated "waive reading" to get it done that much faster.

How on earth do you know they have selected you? So what you are saying is, that without any indication you have been selected (other than gut feeling) you APPROACH THEM with your arms spread out and basically ask to be screened ?

Ever tried just walking by?

 

[markis10]

How on earth do you know they have selected you? So what you are saying is, that without any indication you have been selected (other than gut feeling) you APPROACH THEM with your arms spread out and basically ask to be screened ?

Ever tried just walking by?

The never ending gaze at you and the wave of the paper beckoning you to join them for a sniff is usually a indication that you are the man (or women) that they seek, and yes you sure could try walking by, if you like to cause commotion and miss your flight. I frequently watch the behaviour of the screamers and with some companies they target their next victim early while others just wait for a soft target. The difference in operations with the three companies in BNE is significant.

 

[straitman]

How on earth do you know they have selected you? So what you are saying is, that without any indication you have been selected (other than gut feeling) you APPROACH THEM with your arms spread out and basically ask to be screened ?

It is called situational awareness, which funnily enough is, a well used term in aviation circles. When something is inevitable then it is easier just to go with the flow.

Ever tried just walking by?

IF they have picked you out then that does not work :!:



Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[Justinf]

At least the bar opens at 11am in the DJ Lounge, three hours earlier than the QP.

 

[anat0l]

At least the bar opens at 11am in the DJ Lounge, three hours earlier than the QP.

I thought the QP time varies from port to port. Still annoying, although I don't see myself grabbing a drink at 11am in the morning myself. Our esteemed OP doesn't even drink. (I've had to get used to saying that because it's useless talking about how great the bar is at a place when the audience doesn't drink!)


Seeing as our esteemed OP is posting and also tweeting away, I believe the answer to the topic question is, "Yes".

He's alive!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[bjm76]

Can I ask a dumb question - why are you flying DJ? Was the fare difference too big to justify QF?

 

[markis10]

Can I ask a dumb question - why are you flying DJ? Was the fare difference too big to justify QF?

I thought the dumb question was why use baggage check for a short trip, I suspect the answer is the baggage was part of the mercy visit.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

It is called situational awareness, which funnily enough is, a well used term in aviation circles. When something is inevitable then it is easier just to go with the flow.

IF they have picked you out then that does not work :!:



Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

Unless they motion for me to approach them I do not go approaching them myself. I continue walking. It's never caused a commotion yet! If they want me they will tell me!

 

[medhead]

Can spot the swabbers a mile off - and I don't mind them one bit as I know why they're doing it.

I'm looking out the corner of my eye as soon as I enter the screening point, and can spot when they've selected me from the crowd as their next victim. I walk straight over to them before they've even motioned me, bags open, arms spread and stated "waive reading" to get it done that much faster.

Maybe I needed a smiley. I can spot them! In theory. It just that I studiously ignore them, so I wouldn't know their various looks. (oh and I don't object to them). Just that I find they pick their next victim as being the next person to walk away from the X-ray carry on collect point. Hence I make sure I let someone else be first and hence get picked. Clearly this is different in every airport. With BNE being particularly difficult. Still the army (reserve) taught me one thing - never volunteer for anything.

 

[goldfishinabowl]

Sounds like the Potato and Leek soup doesn't have many fans.

Honestly, though, who came up with that idea? Potatoes are great roasted or baked or microwaved and served with some tasty cheese or as chips, but all gluggy with leek is no fun.