Booking the Dreamliner ?

[ckck]

I have been waiting a while to see if any of my travel plans line up with possibly having the opportunity to fly on the Dreamliner.

Today I was looking ahead to later in the year where I may have an opportunity to book the Dreamliner (MEL-SYD) on a Saturday. I found this booking on the Qantas booking page and I am considering booking a Classic Award in Star Class.

I understand that there may be an equipment swap and I may end up on an A330, this has Star class so basically it would be J* just getting me from MEL-SYD and C'est la vie, I miss out on the Dreamliner.

What I am wondering is if this flight is cancelled, what do you think will happen? Given that not every J* plane has Star Class will I just get shuffled onto another flight and the points difference will be refunded? or something else?

I do need to be in Sydney preferably on Sat afternoon and at the very latest on Sun am (very early) so while I am looking at a "joy flight" I do need to be in town for a function. So I can't wait to travel on another day and as it is if I am to make the non-compulsory Sat night function I will be hoping that the flight is more or less on time.

I understand for this flight I shall go to MELi departures, boarding pass with a D sticker, security, etc.

Before anyone jump's up and down accusing me of just doing an FLounge run I am only a SG so no chance. Really, and truly, this is about my chance to go on the Dreamliner.

I have read other threads about JQ35, and the other JQ Dreamliner runs but if there is anything else I should know before booking this feel free to let me know.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Also one consideration:
JQ can be very late leaving esp after coming from an int flight. And that plane doing the "dom pax on an int flight thingo".
Do not do any other trip planning on the day you plan to do JQ10 or JQ35 or it's converse.
Try to do it during the weekday if you can.
I am now sated.
Did JQ35 few weeks ago, did JQ10 today.
Lots of orange stickers with kids and parents.
Don't book on the QF website.
Go book and pay Business Max bundle at the JQ website.
Believe you me.
Weekday school holidays their loadings are very good, so unlikely for them to cancel these flights you want.

I think it's best to separate the JQ flight trip and the function.
What happens if JQ cancels the plane and puts you on the 320? You still get to SYD but it will be a bad taste in mouth. QPd access in this case.
No F lounge access for anything under WP or WP1, I believe.
And Dreamliner/330 does not fly daily either.

Taking Sat 18Oct14 for eg, on my ipod no option for any J shown on the day.
Mon (2nd day of that week) shows up J option though.

 

[ckck]

Thank you for your input. I have booked JQ37 on a Sat where I have no compulsory evening functions, so long as JQ gets me to Syd for Sunday morning I shall be happy. If JQ gets me to SYD on the Dreamliner I shall be over-the-moon.

I am aware that I have to go through the international terminal and get my "D" sticker. I have set up my day so that I shall arrive ready to check in pretty much as soon as checkin opens, which should give me plenty of time to go through security etc. What time I have left I shall spend in the lounge. As a SG I think I am allowed in the international J lounge but if the flight is cancelled and I get put on a domestic flight I will go to the QP no dramas.

Like all flights there can be equipment swaps due to delays, planes going tech, cancellation due to many different reasons so I am preparing myself to go to SYD on JQ and if it happens to be on the Dreamliner I can tick that plane off my bucket list, if not then no worries, I am not going to sweat the small stuff.

Just like my rtu trip on the B767, it will probably be my last chance to fly on the old bird and again there could be an equipment swap and I end up stuck on a B737. Will I be disappointed, yes, but I am not the type of person to kick up a stink and do the DYKWIA scene. I know that when I purchase a ticket that QF or JQ just have to get me from point A to B.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I know I talk too much.
Another thing, you can indeed check in as soon as check in opens, I did. There was a JQ35 leaving at 3pm, so check in opened at 12noon, and I stood there then, and so got more time in the SYD QPi.
My JQ10 was to leave at 16.20 but didn't move till 17.45!
Sat there in SYDi like a stunned mullet, or dead chook.
Paperwork, the excuse was.
Anyway, because there was a JQ35 departing, I stood in the J line for airport checkin, and the guy checked my passport, and checked me in, more than 3 hours before my flight.
As SG, I dont think you get access to F, only J lounge if you did pay for BusinessMax bundle. OR Y.
Food was a disappointment, even in J. Crackers, and a dip. And they forgot the pretake off drink, I asked for OJ, nothing came.
But for Aud$399 plus $80 plus booking fee, I guess its peanuts in the airline world, compared to the fare I would have paid to fly QF or VA in J on the route.
But the food in the QPi was worth it, and I got to feel int dep immi.
If you got J, they take away the ExpressPath thing, pity. But the guy was on the ball, so I couldnt keep the card!
Overall, a whole 2.5 days to try it, worth it in my case.
Would I do it again, no. I would go with EK with a QF flight # over to NZ next time in F.
Best of luck. My paws are crossed for your good luck, that you get the Dreamliner and the 767 on the way back.
When it comes to airline security, its best not to kick up a stink, when in other aspects of life, we can aruge and complain and moan.
I once heard someone scream, (I AM NOT A TERRORIST) at the SYDd QF security screening point.
Because you can get through int sec and immi, do get to Tulla as early as you can, so you can get through int security and immi asap, and to the lounge asap.
I have not checked out MEL QPi, so cant talk about it, the SYD QPi is worth it.
As with the open side, lots of shops in the int dep area, ... hold your passport and D stickered BP so the salespeople won't approach or make contact. They cant sell duty free to D stickered people.
No Smartgate either, so you have to line up.
Take an iphone or ipod photo of the BP once both outgoing and incoming stamps are stamped, prior to getting into the open area at SYDi airport. They take away your D stickered BP with the stamps, so it will be a momento for sure.
If you have an Au driving licence, you can use that.
But the Au or another passport is best, just to feel how it is to really come into Au with a passport.
Right, have another flight to catch, so will leave your post for others to reply.
I will keep my dog mouth quiet now on this topic.

 

[ckck]

I ended up booking the Dreamliner in Steerage as I do need to get to SYD for Sunday morning if everything goes to cough JQ can just put me on whatever flight that is heading to SYD. If I booked J then there is all the hassle of not being put in the purchased class or being delayed for as long as it takes for them to find me a J seat. Having booked in Y, this is no longer an issue.

Also I didn't want to spend that much money on JQ, JQ J is more like QF PE and for an hour and a half, for me, it is not worth it.

I have no problem going through security. I was body scanned once when transiting LAX, it didn't worry me. As far as using smartgate, whenever I have tried using it the bl**dy machine never recognises me so I have to queue up anyway. LOL. As I won't have any pressing engagements on Sat evening I will have all the time I need to comfortably make my way through passport control etc.

Thanks for letting me know that they take away the D stickered BP, I wasn't aware of that.

With everything booked, it is now up to fate if I end up on the Dreamliner and later the B767 or not.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Aye, they take away the D stickered BP. "Collected" is a more dainty term. You will see them pick up all other people's incoming pax card on arrivals at SYDi just before getting to the open (public) area.
It takes the place of the outgoing pax card at "departures" and takes the place of the incoming pax card at "arrivals".
One more thing, its a great thing, this dom pax on an int flight, don't know how long it will last, as no other airline does it, apart from QF and JQ, they could easily pull this away, but for now, I guess it serves its purpose of putting a lot of $ into their coffers.
A lot of people do it, like I said, JQ staff had 4 or 5 pages of unused D stickers as each opened up Checkin counters when I first appeared at SYDi JQ Checkin.
But more so the sheer numbers of people with orange stickered BP at the gate, wow.

 

[ckck]

Yes, a lot of people do the dom pax transitting through international. I had a friend visit me (many years ago now) and on returning to SYD we dropped here off at the MELi terminal. When I asked her why she said that she was able to get a much cheaper fare. I can't remember which airline she was travelling on but she did definitely do the dom pax travelling on an international flight. To top it off she is in no way a frequent flyer. She just took advantage of a cheap airfare and was prepared to turn up at the airport hours early to do so.

Horses for courses I suppose.

I am doing it for a chance to travel on the Dreamliner, a friend did it just because the airfare was a lot cheaper and some people on AFF do it for access to the F lounge.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

When QF8 used to fly BNE to SYD, it was cheaper by about $2 to $5 to fly that route, than to fly direct purely on the QFd, all with QF from BNE to SYD.
Its most likely QF has some special deal with the Aust govt for doing this, ie, some taxes might not be relevant for that pax to pay, and others are relevant.
I did fly QF8, and at that time, about Jan, the Cabin Bonus column of (my) activity statement had an amount in it, but this JQ10 when I had travelld in J, the Cabin Bonus column is empty.
Keep an eye on your activity statement, one good thing is that (in my case), the QF FF points and QF SC appeared without me having to call the QF service centre up. If you have a Plus Bundle booking that is.

 

[ckck]

I think that the dom flights that depart/ arrive from the international terminal are cheaper b/c they are less popular. The average person would not bother with all the hassle of going through int. unless they are getting a discount. The day that I booked the flights before and after mine were approx $45 more expensive. I am not sure what time before departure checkin for JQd flights close is it 30 or 45 mins? For the JQi flights it is an hour. Already that is an inconvenience.The only reaon I am bothering with a) flying JQ or b) going through int. for a domestic flight is because I want to go on the Dreamliner. There is no way I could do this on a weekday when time is of the essence and waiting hours for an incoming flight that is delayed for hours is not going to happen. I hate being late.It was awesome watching the birds being built at the Boeing factory, now all I want to do is fly on one. Eta: when I post this message it just ends up condensed as one paragraph, edit to put in breaks.

 

[eminere]

I did fly QF8, and at that time, about Jan, the Cabin Bonus column of (my) activity statement had an amount in it, but this JQ10 when I had travelld in J, the Cabin Bonus column is empty.
Keep an eye on your activity statement, one good thing is that (in my case), the QF FF points and QF SC appeared without me having to call the QF service centre up. If you have a Plus Bundle booking that is.

9.5 Cabin Class Bonus and Status Bonus
Cabin Class Bonus will not apply to travel on Qantas and Jetstar Airlines from 1 July 2014. Members should check the Airline Earning Tables for details.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Simpler and Fairer, ah, that Malarkey!
Ta.

NOT less popular my AFF colleague.
Wait till you fly that Dreamliner, (if they don't cancel it on you).
If its not popular, why are there so many people with Orange BPs.
I even saw 2 African girls, and they had Orange BPs!
SYDi dep gate 31 was full, with seats occupied, (granted some people were coming in from HNL, ultimate desto MEL)...
But still, Orange BP were many to be seen.

O, if only QF81 and QF82 still flew out of ADL to SYD, end trip SIN and SYD, I would fly that route when ever I can, (the domestic run).
I don't believe that the Australian C&BP computers are referred to when you do the domestic pax on an international flight, as I didnt see them refer to the screen could be wrong here!, but I certainly would fly that 330 if it was flown into and out of ADL to SYD and vv.
Psycho, yep!
Or another analogy, putting myself to go through SYDi again tomorrow on way to WLG, with a transit time of an hour and twenty mins!!!

 

[ckck]

NOT less popular my AFF colleague.
Wait till you fly that Dreamliner, (if they don't cancel it on you).
If its not popular, why are there so many people with Orange BPs.
I even saw 2 African girls, and they had Orange BPs!
SYDi dep gate 31 was full, with seats occupied, (granted some people were coming in from HNL, ultimate desto MEL)...
But still, Orange BP were many to be seen.

I am hoping (and hoping, and hoping) that it will be a popular flight b/c then it is not going to be cancelled on me. Unless there is a grounding of the 787 fleet or some such major event. I am glad to hear that these flights are popular and I do hope that they continue to be popular. I also hope that QF gets a fleet of Dreamliners too

 

[ozbeachbabe]

On the JQ35 I did recently it seemed the whole flight had orange D stickers with the D queue much longer than the one for 'proper' international arrivals.

I guess with a dedicated JQ37 that day SYD/DPS nobody would opt to go via MEL unless it was cheaper.

The plane looked and smelled new apart from the carpets which were badly stained with what I'm assuming were alcoholic beverages no doubt a legacy from the Bali runs.