Baggage Drop - How long the queues?

[tuapekastar]

I have OLCIed a bunch of times with QF when travelling with carry-on only, and am very happy doing so.

Next week I will almost certainly need to check baggage, and have read some posts which indicate very long OLCI/Quickcheck baggage drop queues, and some which indicate very short OLCI QC/BD queues.

Any recent and/or consistent experiences with this? I guess like most things it's variable but I don't want to be in a long queue if able to avoid it.

Travelling in J so I will have the option of QP or J checkin queue if I choose not to OLCI. ( I don't think I am going to get a 'bad' seat allocated but would still be happy OLCIing - even if I cannnot change to another).

Thanks.

 

[Mal]

I don't think it matters which queue you join. Certainly, I've dropped off bags in the J queue when I've OLCI'd and needed to drop off a bag.

If you're in J - join that queue. Same for joining the QP queue if that's where you're allowed to join.

Just don't pretend you havn't checked in The staffers get mightily confused when they see you've checked in previously!

 

[anat0l]

It depends on the day and the time of day.

Last travels for me were on weekends. First-ish flights of the morning + weekend = short lines all around.

Last time I travelled outside of a weekend, the lines were not too bad, although:

• First case: check-in was in BNE, at around 6pm.
• Second case: check-in was in PER, at around 10am.

I used the QP/J/OWR+ line in all cases (I'm in the OWR+ category). In all cases, that line was shorter than the standard bag drop lines. Of course, YMMV - I've heard stories where the QP/J/OWR+ line was longer than the standard drop line, but I have never experienced that before.

I often OLCI but don't print the boarding pass before I get to the airport. I usually then tell the counter agent that I OLCI'd but didn't have a chance to print the pass (e.g. didn't have a printer, etc.). They then produce a nice classic cardboard BP. Haven't run into an agent yet who is annoyed by this. This practice increases your counter time by about 30 seconds or so and you must have ID of sorts (preferably photo, but previously for me I just needed QFF card), so keep these in mind.

OLCI lines are a furphy. As long as you have checked in (online or using the QuickCheck in the terminal), they're not going to care. There are no dragons monitoring people are in the correct lines and/or have a BP before getting in line.

 

[tuapekastar]

Thanks guys for the reassuring replies. The thought of using a regular checkin queue after OLCIing had crossed my mind, but as ever when I go outside documented processes, I had wondered if there may be any angst caused, or redirection to the OLCI baggage drop queue. From your replies, it appears not, so that is a good thing!

 

[JohnK]

I have OLCIed a bunch of times with QF when travelling with carry-on only, and am very happy doing so.

Next week I will almost certainly need to check baggage, and have read some posts which indicate very long OLCI/Quickcheck baggage drop queues, and some which indicate very short OLCI QC/BD queues.

Any recent and/or consistent experiences with this? I guess like most things it's variable but I don't want to be in a long queue if able to avoid it.

I guess this is past your travel date but I have noticed the economy OLCI/Quickcheck baggage drop queues to be extremely long in SYD on a Sunday afternoon and BNE on a Friday afternoon.

I head off to the business class/qantas club check in queues even if I have used OLCI.