Best way to check in for business QF flight?

[misstam]

Hi all,

I haven't flown Qantas since the roll out of the new Q tags & FF cards (I'm PS) & I've finally taken the plunge and booked some domestic JASA flights (reposition to BNE, then BNE/SYD/MEL/HOB & return to BNE a few days later, traveling with checked luggage).

Being used to online check-in & economy flights, I'm now wondering if there are any advantages to using mobile check-in or Q card readers at the airport or other methods, in particular for J flights?

Without some form of printed e-ticket, do you present your FF card to get into the business lounge?

And lastly, I have a fair bit of time to kill in BNE between outgoing flights - how early before your departure can you make use of the business lounge (or more to the point - how long can you stay there?!).

thanks in advance,

a slightly confused but excited to be moving to the pointy end, miss tam

 

[tuapekastar]

Hi all,

I haven't flown Qantas since the roll out of the new Q tags & FF cards (I'm PS) & I've finally taken the plunge and booked some domestic JASA flights (reposition to BNE, then BNE/SYD/MEL/HOB & return to BNE a few days later, traveling with checked luggage).

Being used to online check-in & economy flights, I'm now wondering if there are any advantages to using mobile check-in or Q card readers at the airport or other methods, in particular for J flights?

Without some form of printed e-ticket, do you present your FF card to get into the business lounge?

And lastly, I have a fair bit of time to kill in BNE between outgoing flights - how early before your departure can you make use of the business lounge (or more to the point - how long can you stay there?!).

thanks in advance,

a slightly confused but excited to be moving to the pointy end, miss tam

misstam, I also have not flown domestic QF with checked luggage since NGCI was rolled out, but that is about to change - tomorrow (well, later today actually). I jumped online and found this demo. I am already checked in, will just follow the instructions as far as the checked baggage goes. I think you (flying J) - and I know me (as a WP) - have the option to check baggage the old-fashioned way but I may as well give this a go - I'm sure squillions of people use it.

AFAIK domestically you can check in and enter the lounge any time on the day of departure - there is no official time limit so you can stay as long as you like. (if I'm wrong someone will let me know ) Enjoy your JASA flights.

 

[BensAdventures]

I also had the honor of checking baggage domestically for the first time in over a year last week, but I cheated and used the staff thanks to being WP. It was easy!

In regards to getting into the Lounge with you FF Card, I'm not sure, because I just flash my WP card and it gets me in, but being PS, they'll probably have to scan it to confirm you are flying in J.

Have fun!

 

[serfty]

If a lounge is open and you are departing from the airport that day in J then you can access. There is no 'time limit' other than that.

 

[wilco]

a slightly confused but excited to be moving to the pointy end, miss tam

I suspect you are going to be disappointed. Domestic J, given its price, is IMO, absolute rubbish. I'd save my $ or points for something more worthwhile.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I suspect you are going to be disappointed. Domestic J, given its price, is IMO, absolute rubbish. I'd save my $ or points for something more worthwhile.

I think for some it's very worthwhile
Quadruple the status credits of discount Y ( booked as a JASA)
YMMV

 

[simongr]

I think for some it's very worthwhile
Quadruple the status credits of discount Y ( booked as a JASA)
YMMV

I agree especially that number of flights. One thing don't get too excited about the lounge - they are good but not that good.

 

[wilco]

I think for some it's very worthwhile
Quadruple the status credits of discount Y ( booked as a JASA)
YMMV

Slightly tangential but the cash price of a J class SYD-MEL on QF yields 80 status credits whereas a similar price YUPP fare on AA can score you over 320! I know what I'd prefer.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Slightly tangential but the cash price of a J class SYD-MEL on QF yields 80 status credits whereas a similar price YUPP fare on AA can score you over 320! I know what I'd prefer.

Agreed but the OP is using points

 

[wilco]

Agreed but the OP is using points

I understand that, but for me, it's a huge waste of points. To each their own I suppose, but for me 80k or however many points is worth far more than approximately $1000. But like I said, everyone's circumstances are different.

 

[Kangol]

I understand that, but for me, it's a huge waste of points. To each there own I suppose, but for me 80k or however many points is worth far more than approximately $1000. But like I said, everyone's circumstances are different.

Are you talking about using your points for international upgrades? I don't know of many other circumstances where there is significantly better "value" when using QFF points. I mean buying Woolworths gift cards for your weekly groceries is nice and all..
Maybe we should start a thread..

 

[Isochronous]

Slightly tangential but the cash price of a J class SYD-MEL on QF yields 80 status credits whereas a similar price YUPP fare on AA can score you over 320! I know what I'd prefer.

I assume that's flying AA in America?

 

[BD1959]

I'm afraid I have to agree with the sentiments so far with regards to the BNE J lounge.

I had *never* flown domestic J until a recent return from OS, with the domestic leg down to Melbourne in J. I found the BNE J lounge to be small, crowded, dirty. There were continual calls from the front desk over the PA requesting the cleaner to attend. The food was a slight improvement over the standard Club, this was early morning and - if IIRC - there were scrambled eggs and bacon. I managed to snag the "last" towel from the front desk (at 7am!!).

Overall a very underwhelming experience, matched only by the J service down to MEL. Coming off an J International flight, the "domestic offering" certainly suffers in comparison and - having now experienced domestic J - I would *never* consider a domestic upgrade let alone consider purchasing the same (either with cash or points) unless it happened to be part of an International itinerary.

Regards,

BD

 

[wilco]

It is off topic, but domestic J is IMO, not worth the price that is being charged. I find im better off with 2 Y seats at way less than half the cost. Plus I have plenty of $$ left over to go to a swanky restaurant that beats the mush that QF serves up handsdown!

 

[rechoboam]

It is off topic, but domestic J is IMO, not worth the price that is being charged. I find im better off with 2 Y seats at way less than half the cost. Plus I have plenty of $$ left over to go to a swanky restaurant that beats the mush that QF serves up handsdown!

The food was awful. I'm happy to spend 5000 pts for the space though (sometimes)

 

[Flying mermaid]

Hi all,

I haven't flown Qantas since the roll out of the new Q tags & FF cards (I'm PS) & I've finally taken the plunge and booked some domestic JASA flights (reposition to BNE, then BNE/SYD/MEL/HOB & return to BNE a few days later, traveling with checked luggage).

Being used to online check-in & economy flights, I'm now wondering if there are any advantages to using mobile check-in or Q card readers at the airport or other methods, in particular for J flights?

Without some form of printed e-ticket, do you present your FF card to get into the business lounge?

And lastly, I have a fair bit of time to kill in BNE between outgoing flights - how early before your departure can you make use of the business lounge (or more to the point - how long can you stay there?!).

thanks in advance,

a slightly confused but excited to be moving to the pointy end, miss tam

Moving to the pointy end is a bad idea - you get addicted and never want to go back

Seriously hope you have a wonderful time. The J lounges are not as good as international but I find the food offerings much better than Qantas Club.

Canberra has only recently brought in (July?) the check your own baggage stuff, but I have to admit I have stuck to using the business class checkins, as machines always seem to fail for me, so am still using standard boarding passes.

I did think about using my card to checkin a few weeks ago, coming back from Sydney and tentatively waved my card in the direction, but the machine growled at me, so I turned tail and headed for a person.....

 

[wilco]

I did think about using my card to checkin a few weeks ago, coming back from Sydney and tentatively waved my card in the direction, but the machine growled at me, so I turned tail and headed for a person.....

You mean you actually found a person? MEL QF domestic, monday morning, 8am, 2 check in counters open. 2!! To say I was displeased is an understatement!

 

[Flying mermaid]

You mean you actually found a person? MEL QF domestic, monday morning, 8am, 2 check in counters open. 2!! To say I was displeased is an understatement!

There certainly weren't many, but given they have shunted almost everyone off to machines, I could just walk right up to a real person!

 

[straitman]

It is off topic, but domestic J is IMO, not worth the price that is being charged. I find im better off with 2 Y seats at way less than half the cost. Plus I have plenty of $$ left over to go to a swanky restaurant that beats the mush that QF serves up handsdown!

wilco,

There is a whole thread on the value of domestic J.

 

[JohnK]

Are you talking about using your points for international upgrades? I don't know of many other circumstances where there is significantly better "value" when using QFF points. I mean buying Woolworths gift cards for your weekly groceries is nice and all..
Maybe we should start a thread..

International upgrades are one way of spending QFF points.

The best way for me to spend QFF points is via a Oneworld award which requires 140,000 QFF points and is valued ~AUD4,500 or 2.5c/QFF point.