How to not look like it's my first time on an international J flight in 10 yrs...

[michaele]

I've found previously they will actually ask you in the MEL lounge if you would like dinner service or straight to sleep.

 

[vertisol]

I've found previously they will actually ask you in the MEL lounge if you would like dinner service or straight to sleep.

That makes a lot of sense.

 

[juddles]

In Dubai head straight to the lounge and spend the hour drinking bourbon and smoking in the smoker's bar - fun whilst watching arabs holding strange meetings

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Hopping onto QF9/10 in a month or so and don't want to look like a newbie so what are your tips for handling J like a pro?

I can lend you one of my custom SQ F PJ tops if it helps? Available in BLACK:



Or GREY:

 

[kevrosmith]

I find the Emirate First lounge a little bit too large and too boring. This is just half of it. The same is replicated the other direction. There's showers on both ends. I tend to just head to the end areas where it's generally very quiet and no one else hangs around. I've had 2 or 3 staff wanting me to give them something to do each time.

You board directly from the Lounge, but they do another bag check at the boarding gate, and then you get the lift down.

 

[kevrosmith]

Some other photos



The areas at the end of the floor.


Part of the actual official dining area where they take a la carte orders as well as the buffet.

 

[kevrosmith]

 

[kevrosmith]

The thing I believe makes me feel like a newbie the most is not knowing how to use the seat controls or where to find things like the IFE screen or tray table. My suggestion is to ask the FA to run through this if you're not familiar with the A380 J seat. Perhaps while boarding, ask them politely if they'd mind giving you a run through the seat controls after takeoff (if they have time then, they may do it straight away, but more likely they'll be busy with pre-departure checks/service, and would be happy to do it later... if they remember to come back).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Get our EF experts to see if there are any openings in F, if you have the points available to upgrade that is.
Can I be so bold as to ask, if the J seat was paid for with $ or using points?
My line of thought, is that if you are lucky, you might get an upgrade bid offer, or if you have the points required, you could put in for an classic upgrade reward.
You might have done the QFi MEL J lounge in the past, but even with the new development that MEL airport has had over the past few years, the J lounge is still the 2nd cousin, with comparison to the QFi MEL F lounge.
I have done both lounges across to NZ, the F one is the better of the 2.
If all else fails, ask at check in. They can only say no, or who knows, might be your lucky day.

 

[vertisol]

Get our EF experts to see if there are any openings in F, if you have the points available to upgrade that is.
Can I be so bold as to ask, if the J seat was paid for with $ or using points?
My line of thought, is that if you are lucky, you might get an upgrade bid offer, or if you have the points required, you could put in for an classic upgrade reward.
You might have done the QFi MEL J lounge in the past, but even with the new development that MEL airport has had over the past few years, the J lounge is still the 2nd cousin, with comparison to the QFi MEL F lounge.
I have done both lounges across to NZ, the F one is the better of the 2.
If all else fails, ask at check in. They can only say no, or who knows, might be your lucky day.

No upgrade for me..

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Ok, so no upgrade. Is this confirmed by QF?
Do OLCI to confirm seat, you would still need to present passport to be swiped, though some on here they don't have it done, but I did ask MEL check in on my way to AKL Dec 15, was EK though, and they still do it, go to the J queue anyway, so you can have a proper BP to copy for remembering the trip.
They would give you an OPC and an Express Path card, MELi only has one opaque door for international departures, so might not be of benefit. But have the Express Path card slipped in passport, just in case.
Departure security takes place first, then immigration at MELi, usually, its the other way around.
Right, next question, MEL express path can have it advantages, also disadvantages, if there is a person taking a look at cards, he/she might usher you to the shorter queue, sometimes, there is no reason, but they will usher you to the long queue. Don't ask me why.
Keep passport in box for xray or in hand, hopefully, they don't get to do the hands up as in fake surrender for full body scan. Take off belt before passing immigration, as this helps you get through security faster. No coins, be prepared to take off shoe. I hate the full body scans, but you can look not to be a noob, if you are prepared for all this hoohah.
They don't chase you for OPC anymore, you are expected to put it into a plastic lid locked box, just past the immigration counters. Have seen some older couples still have their OPC on my flight to NZ as no one chased them up for it!
Have you used the new Smartgate exit machine. Our ABF officers now will take a back seat, so to speak immigration wise, you are expected to serve yourself via the machine. Place your passport facedown on the glass panel, its like a photocopier plate, look to the right to the light to face match, hear a light beep, and then you are done.
QF MELi J lounge is a bit hard to find, as its in the basement, on the same level as the tarmac. Take a look at MELi Airport map to see where the lounge is, if you have not been there before.
I wasted precious time trying to find it, went round in circles, and then asked, and was pointed, right down there (!), they said.
Ek, I thought to myself, what a dump.
Next trip, I did the QF MELi F lounge, and it was a great step up.
I expect flak from this, but you will "probably" thank me after it.
Anyway, a lot of people can't see why I "waste" money flying J all the time to NZ, but its my only foible, apart from flying F.
Sorry for the long lecture.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Sorry, please indulge me this once, ((this one is my last one this topic)):
See the map, if you haven't done the MEL QFi J lounge visit before, take a look at the oblong box, near gate 10/11/9, you will somethign called 1/2/3/4, it represents the shops in the middle, behind these, you will see a set of excalators going down, thats where the MEL QFi J lounge is.

Maps Of Melbourne Airport | Melbourne Airport

 

[opusman]

Anyway, a lot of people can't see why I "waste" money flying J all the time to NZ

Did you tell them you only do it for the vevue?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

OT: No, no the vevue.
I find the EK girls and guys seem to want to ply me with more grog than I can handle (!), and this is not so prevalent on JC (Jetconnect) flights.
I say its my only enjoyment which makes them even more questioning.
And this is not the questionings of the Immi authorities of either country.
==
One time, I told an authorised person (NZ) I wanted to feel (Air) NZ on a wide body, on an evening approach to NZ, but NZ changed my plane to a small aircraft. This one no drug test.
Another time, I told another authorised person (NZ) I am a Cleaning Contractor, and need to be back to Adelaide for work, thats why I can only do short trips. This while the lady did her drug scan cloth wipe.
Both were accepted/acceptable, and I was let in to NZ.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Now, back to the OP.
Are you a DYKWHIA sort of person.
Some people while in the J check in, like to show off.
You can tell who is the person/family/persons who are first timers, they want the world to see who they are.
Also on boarding, some will show off, some will not.
If QF flights boardings are like EK, you will go by zones.
Its fun to watch the "noobs/newbies" and people like you, who play it cool calm and collected.

 

[RichardMEL]

OT: No, no the vevue.
I find the EK girls and guys seem to want to ply me with more grog than I can handle (!), and this is not so prevalent on JC (Jetconnect) flights.
I say its my only enjoyment which makes them even more questioning.
And this is not the questionings of the Immi authorities of either country.
==
One time, I told an authorised person (NZ) I wanted to feel (Air) NZ on a wide body, on an evening approach to NZ, but NZ changed my plane to a small aircraft. This one no drug test.
Another time, I told another authorised person (NZ) I am a Cleaning Contractor, and need to be back to Adelaide for work, thats why I can only do short trips. This while the lady did her drug scan cloth wipe.
Both were accepted/acceptable, and I was let in to NZ.

Customs questions, aircraft subs etc....


Mate have you seen "Frozen"?

Let. It. Go.

and I thought it was your last post on the subject earlier....

And on your comment earlier about Melbourne International Departures

MELi only has one opaque door for international departures, so might not be of benefit.
...
MEL express path can have it advantages, also disadvantages, if there is a person taking a look at cards, he/she might usher you to the shorter queue, sometimes, there is no reason, but they will usher you to the long queue. Don't ask me why.

Express Pass is basically useful in 2 ways ex-MEL:

At the entry to International Departures EP holders are directed to the Left which is, in theory, a Priority queue to security though sometimes I wonder with some of the pax that go through, but that's a whole other issue.. it's usually reasonably quick.

I'm not even sure what you're trying to say about the "short queue" or the "long queue" given queues are variable depending on time of day.

Furthermore, while the use of SmartGate makes immigration EP mostly irrelevant there still is an EP queue to a few dedicated SmartGate machines that may be helpful in the case of a large volume of passengers taking time at the regular lines. Mostly though I have seen clear lanes to use so it's not that much of a difference.

Are you a DYKWHIA sort of person.
Some people while in the J check in, like to show off.
You can tell who is the person/family/persons who are first timers, they want the world to see who they are.

Broad generalisation much?

What do you even mean by people "showing off" anyway???

Some are excited to try something new for the first time - such as your first time in F, and at the First Lounge and all the rest.

I've never seen anyone in a QF Premium Check in area waving around BP's or status cards showing off.

oh and if you don't want to be plied with grog on any flight all one needs to do is politely say "No thank you"

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How to not look like it's my first time on an international J flight in 10 yrs....

Ask where the slippers are with the PJs because 'you've had them on every other flight'

 

[vertisol]

Ask where the slippers are with the PJs because 'you've had them on every other flight'

So if I pack my moccasins I'll look like a regular?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So if I pack my moccasins I'll look like a regular?

A pair of hotel slippers, yes! It shows you know they don't offer slippers to J cl.

 

[moa999]

In Dubai head straight to the lounge and spend the hour drinking bourbon and smoking in the smoker's bar - fun whilst watching arabs holding strange meetings

In DXB head straight for the showers and get a buzzer (can be a wait). After shower then a la carte, then you can wander about