How early to check in LHR for QF and lounge options.

[sanne]

Does anyone know how early I can check in at LHR for a QF flight? It used to be 3 hours before but hoping this has changed.

Im flying J. What are my options for lounges?

Thanks for any help.

 

[mannej]

I am fairly sure last time I went through LHR it was 4 hours?

A quick Google search (Qantas check in London) confirms it is indeed 4 hours
London Check in

 

[TomVexille]

I think it's 4 hours.

BA Galleries, and AA Admirals Club. Not sure if the CX lounge has re-opened yet.

 

[sanne]

Thanks mannej and TomVexille for your quick replies. Good to hear it's now 4 hours. I'm guessing if the CX lounge isn't open yet that the BA lounge is the best.

 

[eminere]

London Heathrow Airport Guide | Qantas

 

[mannej]

Thanks mannej and TomVexille for your quick replies. Good to hear it's now 4 hours. I'm guessing if the CX lounge isn't open yet that the BA lounge is the best.

It's been 4 hours for a while now.

 

[jarradbrown]

Slightly different question but i'm hoping someone out there can answer for me.

Flying QF First MEL > DXB > LHR then BA Club Europe > FRA (2 hour layover). Do we only have access to the BA Business lounges at LHR? I have read that if one leg is F then you can get access to the F lounge the whole way? Is this right?

• Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.

https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access

 

[Sdtravel]

Those rules sound correct. Be prepared to argue the rules, bring a copy and have your QF F boarding pass to show. I dont have experience but this is what I have read here.

 

[katiebell]

Slightly different question but i'm hoping someone out there can answer for me.

Flying QF First MEL > DXB > LHR then BA Club Europe > FRA (2 hour layover). Do we only have access to the BA Business lounges at LHR? I have read that if one leg is F then you can get access to the F lounge the whole way? Is this right?


https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access

It should be possible if you show both boarding passes: you need to semonstrate you are connecting to a Oneworld flight on teh same day.

NB: be aware that the QF F checkin in MEL only opens 3 hours before the flight despite the chauffeur drive having earlier pick up times (I don't understand the logic here). Many F pax have been left waiting in a queue on the footpath in the wind and the rain waiting for the check in to open. Great way to star the trip!

 

[jarradbrown]

Geez did not know about that. Ill plan it to arrive within 3 hours.

Thanks for the tips. Ill bring the boarding passes and those rules.

 

[katiebell]

Geez did not know about that. Ill plan it to arrive within 3 hours.

Thanks for the tips. Ill bring the boarding passes and those rules.

As LHR & SYD F check-in are in the general check-in areas, it is not such a problem to arrive earlier for check-in and, I think, LHR is open 4 hours before departure as stated above.

 

[Punky]

NB: be aware that the QF F checkin in MEL only opens 3 hours before the flight despite the chauffeur drive having earlier pick up times (I don't understand the logic here). Many F pax have been left waiting in a queue on the footpath in the wind and the rain waiting for the check in to open. Great way to star the trip!

I don;t understand. Can't your average Qantas F passenger not figure out how to get through the door to the terminal and stay out of the elements? Or do they really need an F host to show them how to get through the door?

 

[katiebell]

I don;t understand. Can't your average Qantas F passenger not figure out how to get through the door to the terminal and stay out of the elements? Or do they really need an F host to show them how to get through the door?

No, just a QF staff member to unlock the doors when check-in opens. MEL F check-in is a separate area with the entry directly from the road. The doors are locked when the area is not staffed.

 

[TomVexille]

No, just a QF staff member to unlock the doors when check-in opens. MEL F check-in is a separate area with the entry directly from the road. The doors are locked when the area is not staffed.

Yes, but why would one wait in the rain, when you could stand inside the terminal instead.

 

[katiebell]

Yes, but why would one wait in the rain, when you could stand inside the terminal instead.

Possibly because they expected QF to have a bit of 'joined up thinking'? I.e. that they would not offer a CD that arrived before check-in opened? Wishful thinking that it was about to open?

The problem really is that QF are not thinking through the passenger journey: ie. ensuring that the CD, check-in, security/immigration,lounge and boarding are seamless. Not rocket science really.

 

[Punky]

The problem really is that QF are not thinking through the passenger journey: ie. ensuring that the CD, check-in, security/immigration,lounge and boarding are seamless. Not rocket science really.

Yes, but having the thought 'I should wait in the terminal, not in the wind and rain', is hardly rocket science either.

 

[downgraded]

There is even a side door to the F check in from in the terminal so you don't even have to go outside again!

 

[pagingjoan]

It should be possible if you show both boarding passes: you need to semonstrate you are connecting to a Oneworld flight on teh same day.

NB: be aware that the QF F checkin in MEL only opens 3 hours before the flight despite the chauffeur drive having earlier pick up times (I don't understand the logic here). Many F pax have been left waiting in a queue on the footpath in the wind and the rain waiting for the check in to open. Great way to star the trip!

katiebell:
You can't be serious, with that comment?
Who are these "many F pax", who would do something so silly?

In my experience, the MEL F Cieck-in is often available more than three hours ahead of flight time, presumably because other flights are departing around the same time or a bit earlier.

But, even if that were not so, there are adjacent doors through which to enter the terminal, and, as downgraded points out, there is access from within the terminal directly into the F Check-in suite.

 

[TomVexille]

katiebell:
You can't be serious, with that comment?
Who are these "many F pax", who would do something so silly?

In my experience, the MEL F Cieck-in is often available more than three hours ahead of flight time, presumably because other flights are departing around the same time or a bit earlier.

But, even if that were not so, there are adjacent doors through which to enter the terminal, and, as downgraded points out, there is access from within the terminal directly into the F Check-in suite.

Possibly they are DYKWIA types who couldn't possibly be seen associating with the SG plebs

 

[serfty]

Meh ... OLCI for me ... don't do bags generally in any case. ...