Cairns Qantas Club access connecting to international Jetstar

[Triamks]

In October, I'm flying BNE-CNS-NRT return. The BNE-CNS flights are domestic to domestic. I've got around a three hour wait in both directions. I'm aware the Qantas Club in Cairns is in the domestic terminal. However, research tells me it's only a short walk between the terminals.

The Cairns Qantas Club rules suggest I'll have access as a Qantas Club member because I will be flying under a Jetstar Airlines flight number.

Qantas Club Member

Next onward flight that day must be a Qantas^ or Jetstar Airlines+flight number. One guest allowed and does not need to be travelling.

I've found two threads which suggest access is possible in these circumstances. However, I can't link to them because of my post count. See: qantas-club-cairns-62709.html and jetstar-gold-coast-airport-lounge-19077.html

Can I please confirm if I will:

• be able to access the Qantas Club in Cairns?
• need to collect and recheck my bags in Cairns or if my bags will be checked all the way through in both directions?

 

[Mattg]

I've never been to Cairns so don't know the answer to this, but am also interested to know as I'll be doing something similar in a few months.

 

[theoracle30]

I have asked this question somewhere before, as I'm doing PER-SYD-CNS-KIX on Qantas/Jetstar mixed. My friends are doing PER-CNS-KIX all on Jetstar.

1) I phoned the QC in CNS and they confirmed my friends can have access (they're using one time passes). If they don't have their onwards boarding passes yet, printed itinerary/e-tickets will suffice. It's best if you call up and reconfirm for your flights too.
2) For JQd to JQi, baggage is not usually checked in all the way. For QFd to JQi, baggage is usually checked in all the way. Not sure about the reverse as we are flying CX back.

 

[tmdellit]

I did this at the end of 2013. It was dreadful. In my experience you'll need every bit of the 3 hours. Our entire trip was booked Jetstar and on the same PNR, but still had to pick up our bags after the domestic flight, lug them the "short walk" (probably 10 minutes as there will be a number of pax doing it as well, which in summer is ridiculously hot) to the international airport and then stood waiting in line for around 1 1/2 hours to check the luggage in again at the international terminal. We literally cleared customs with about 2 mins before boarding began. We had a 2hr 40m stopover and arrived in Cairns on time. In fact customs was the least painful part of the experience.

Unsure if Jetstar Business check-in recognizes Qantas status (i.e gold and up get to use it regardless of class of travel), but if you can't use that line, expect some delays.

In short, I wouldn't bother about Q Club on the way over in case you get the experience that I had.

Unless they have changed things, then yes you will need to collect bags and re-check at international.

Hope that helps.
TD

 

[Mattg]

Just for the record, Jetstar's business class check-in counters do not recognise Qantas status. But in my experience, checking in online can save some time if Jetstar has a special queue for online check-in. I don't know about CNS, but in SYD I usually am served straight away from the online check-in queue.

 

[tmdellit]

Thanks for the clarification on the business class check in counters.

I apologise for my choice of words, in my experience above I should've said bag drop, not check in. But hopefully they have improved this with advancements in technology over the last 3 years.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Can I please confirm if I will:

• be able to access the Qantas Club in Cairns?
• need to collect and recheck my bags in Cairns or if my bags will be checked all the way through in both directions?

Others have reported they've been able to use the QP at CNS Domestic prior to heading to the international terminal.

If your flights BNE QF CNS JQ CNS are all on the same ticket (ie booked through QF website) then QF in BNE will through check bags to NRT & you should get both boarding passes. Occasionally you may not get the JQ boarding pass but your bags can still be through checked to NRT regardless.

If you're on JQ dom BNE/CNS then JQ int CNS/NRT you will need to collect luggsge in CNS domestic then checkin again at JQ at CNS Intl.

I have asked this question somewhere before, as I'm doing PER-SYD-CNS-KIX on Qantas/Jetstar mixed. My friends are doing PER-CNS-KIX all on Jetstar.

1) I phoned the QC in CNS and they confirmed my friends can have access (they're using one time passes). If they don't have their onwards boarding passes yet, printed itinerary/e-tickets will suffice. It's best if you call up and reconfirm for your flights too.

2) For JQd to JQi, baggage is not usually checked in all the way. For QFd to JQi, baggage is usually checked in all the way. Not sure about the reverse as we are flying CX back.

The only time JQ through check to themselves is if you're on a domestic leg of a JQi flight eg JQ16 CNS/SYD connecting with JQ3 SYD/HNL but that is technically an int to int connection.

 

[downgraded]

You will have to collect your bags on your return as you'll have to clear customs in Cairns. Jetstar doesn't factor into it.

 

[Triamks]

Thank you, everybody, for your replies. It has been most helpful.

 

[Mattg]

Thank you, everybody, for your replies. It has been most helpful.

Please let us know how you go.

 

[farstar]

As the company I work for is in Kyoto I have flown to KIX a number of times. The best was when JAL flew there from SYD sadly Jetstar screwed that up. I think if your bags are check through it will be OK otherwise a pain. If your have priority pass there is always the lounge in the international area. Lately I have flow QANTAS to NRT or HND and then after a conecting train the caught the Shinkansen direct to Kyoto, last time to HND on QANTAS got Business upgrades both ways. If I was in Perth it would depend on my status but SYD F lounge and the HND F lounge on the way back are great.

 

[Triamks]

As predicted by this thread. My bags weren't checked all the way through. I had to collect my bags and recheck them in in both directions. I also had no trouble accessing the Qantas Club in Cairns either direction.

To Tokyo, I had to walk between the terminals twice - to check in for the international flight and then back for the Qantas Club. Then back to the international terminal. It was a rather warm walk even in the shade of the undercover walkway. I was advised by the staff member that the flight departed from the other terminal.

To Brisbane, I had to, of course, collect my bags in order to clear customs, and walk over to the Domestic terminal. I had been given my boarding pass for this flight in Narita and been advised of the need to collect them and recheck. Even though it was four hours until the flight left I was able to check in my bag. If you're easily bored, I would recommend a trip into town rather than waiting it out in the lounge. The shower, food, coffee and aircon were marvellous though.