BNE-SYD-LAX in F

[danmancs]

G'day,

I've just used a whole heap of points to book me and the missus on QF11 in F to LAX in August. Handily, QF throw in a J class BNE-SYD for free with the ticket.

My question is, what's the go for getting from SYD3 to SYD1 when one is travelling F? Do QF put on a limo like Lufthansa do in Frankfurt? is there a minibus? or do we have to go into the terminal and wait for the shuttle bus?

Also, and I am sure this has been answered before, is travelling as a couple on the 380 best done in 1A & 2A, or 2F & 2K, or some other arrangement?

Actually, same question goes for the return trip LAX-BNE which is being done in V Australia business class - what are the best seats on there?

Many thanks in advance...
Dan.

 

[Danger]

G'day,

I've just used a whole heap of points to book me and the missus on QF11 in F to LAX in August. Handily, QF throw in a J class BNE-SYD for free with the ticket.

My question is, what's the go for getting from SYD3 to SYD1 when one is travelling F? Do QF put on a limo like Lufthansa do in Frankfurt? is there a minibus? or do we have to go into the terminal and wait for the shuttle bus?

Sadly, no limousine. You simply join the rest of the mob at the international transfer lounge opposite gate 2 in T3 for the bus ride around the tarmac to the international terminal. You then need to go through security and immigration.

Others will most likely disagree with me but if you have the option I would actually check your bags through BNE-SYD only (ie. claim in Sydney). It's by no means a Lufthansa Frankfurt experience (so I'm told) but the little First check-in suite in Sydney is a nice touch. Again, I'm sure I'm in the minority but living in Perth I rarely get to use the fancy QF offerings at Sydney and Melbourne international. So if time permits, claim your bags at T3, take the train over to T1 and get the full F experience. You'll probably even get a nice gold-coloured boarding pass wallet and you might even be able to get the F porters to assist with your bags.

Also, and I am sure this has been answered before, is travelling as a couple on the 380 best done in 1A & 2A, or 2F & 2K, or some other arrangement?

Actually, same question goes for the return trip LAX-BNE which is being done in V Australia business class - what are the best seats on there?

Many thanks in advance...
Dan.

Others with experience will comment here.

 

[danmancs]

Can anyone tell me what Z availability (and other business classes) are on VA8 LAX-BNE on 15th Aug?

Virgin are telling me there is no availability.... grrrr.... stuck in LA!!!

 

[Maca44]

Can anyone tell me what Z availability (and other business classes) are on VA8 LAX-BNE on 15th Aug?

Virgin are telling me there is no availability.... grrrr.... stuck in LA!!!

Insofar as F seating on the A380 you are probably aware that you will not be seated next to your better half. If you are both seated in the A row, the partitions block viewing into the middle row and you simply have to move from cubicle to cubicle to see each other. Although you can seat together for meals. Likewise, on the other side 4F and 4K might be better, albeit the centre row has no window view whereas if you get two on the side, both have it.

After collecting your luggage from T3 I would taxi or train it across. The F check in is at eastern end of T1, then you have your dedicated doorway off the check in to customs and immigration before the Flounge, which is something not to be missed. If necessary (and your in J) change your flight from BNE to SYD to the earliest possible to take advantage of the Flounge, spa etc. QF will contact you the day prior to flying to see if you wish to make a time.

In saying all this, you are WP and probably known in any event.

Expert flyer shows there being no Z on the 777.
Connections

VA () 8 0 LAX
08/15/11 11:55 PM BNE
08/17/11 6:45 AM 77W
M,W,F,Sa 79% / 15m J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 S9 R9 O9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 G9 E9 N9 V9 Q9 T9

 

[JohnPhelan]

G'day,

My question is, what's the go for getting from SYD3 to SYD1 when one is travelling F? Do QF put on a limo like Lufthansa do in Frankfurt? is there a minibus? or do we have to go into the terminal and wait for the shuttle bus?

Actually, same question goes for the return trip LAX-BNE which is being done in V Australia business class - what are the best seats on there?

As others have noted, the only connection if you through-check bags to LAX is the transfer bus across the tarmac.

It is quite possible to check bags only to SYD, collect them, transport yourself from Domestic to International (I've done this by train) and then check bags in at SYD International. Possible, but it does raise the eyebrows of some of the QF staff (I told them I had a present in my bag that I was giving to someone who was meeting me at SYD Airport).

And interestingly, after I checked in the bags at SYD International, by the time I got to the Lounge, the attendant there said she'd had a call from the ramp to say my bag was being "held" until she could confirm I was actually going to board the flight. All very strange, but I presume it was because this was deemed to be an unusual way of doing things and that may have flagged a security concern. It actually made me a little anxious that, having put my bag aside, they may have ended up forgetting to load it at all! (Fortunately, this was not the case). So if you do this, be prepared to explain why you're not through-checking the bags and for a further interrogation when you get to SYD.

Re the VA return, 1A and C are the best on the 777, in my opinion. But some prefer 5A and C, or 5H and K, as these are the curtained-off 'privacy suites'.

 

[Danger]

If necessary (and your in J) change your flight from BNE to SYD to the earliest possible to take advantage of the Flounge, spa etc. QF will contact you the day prior to flying to see if you wish to make a time.

I would also recommend doing this. However, importantly, if you decide to only check your bags to SYD, remember that international check-in is not supposed to open until three hours before your flight (in reality, with QF it's probably a little greater than three hours). That means that if you have more than say four hours between landing in SYD and departing for LAX, you may well not be able to check-in in T1. On the flipside, if you do through check (ie. don't claim your bags in SYD) then maximising the transit time in SYD is an excellent idea.

 

[drron]

I dont care how good the F checkin is in SYD.If we are doing a same day connect in SYD from BNE it is an early check in in BNE,Check the bags all the way through,get the 2 BPs and maximise Flounging time!

 

[jamesatfish]

Being based in CBR I've actually never used the F check-in in SYD - indeed the only time I actually checked in in SYD (for an 0630 flight to NZ for which there is no same-day connection from CBR) the F check-in wasn't even open yet.

Still, even without having had the experience myself, I would suggest that the F check-in is overrated and you'd be better checking your bags all the way through to LAX, saving the train/taxi fare and maximising your time in the F lounge. Of course if you really do want to see the F check-in the T3-T1 shuttle drops you ground-side in T1 so you could still stop past the F check-in and ask them to reprint your boarding pass, or give you a priority immigration card, or something...

To maximise your F experience, be sure to book a spa treatment when QF give you a call before your flight and take the time to have a nice meal in the F lounge (my favourite is the Salt & Pepper Squid).

On board I'd suggest taking adjacent window seats - my preference would be for 4K and 5K. You can always sit together when dining using the jump seat, but aside from that you won't be able to see each other or talk easily when you're both seated so you're better off picking window seats to enjoy the view.

And of course if you're disappointed that QF don't have a better transfer process for First passengers then you'll love striding off the aircraft in LAX at the front of the pack just to run into the back of a 45 minute immigration queue with no premium passenger / express queues - which in my mind is the only disappointing part of the whole process.

 

[TonyHancock]

I dont care how good the F checkin is in SYD.If we are doing a same day connect in SYD from BNE it is an early check in in BNE,Check the bags all the way through,get the 2 BPs and maximise Flounging time!

+1

...and compared to the MEL F check in SYD looks a little tired.

 

[danmancs]

Thanks guys.

Not worried about the F check-in in Syd, I've done it before, and it's just a check-in really.

Still having trouble getting a return flight on virgin to Brisbane, it's absurd how different the customer service is between QF and VS/VA - Qantas is a million times better! I can get a flight back to Syd, but unlike QF, they don't include a connecting flight in their reward bookings, and to be honest, transiting through Sydney on the way home after a 14 hr flight is not my preference!