In reality, how early can one check-in at the MEL/SYD F-class desks?

[Austman]

In reality (meaning actual experience) how early can one check-in at the MEL/SYD F-class desks?

There's a lot of speculation around.

Officially it's 3 hours. But it might be 4 hours for A380 flights. And maybe it's 8 hours if you just need a BP. And maybe it's whenever the F-desk is open.

But what is the actual experience? Especially with luggage to check-in and not actual F-class travel (ie a WP or above checking-in for J-class or below).

I've done it 3.5 hours before the flight without even an eye-blink from check-in staff.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've checked in at F in SYD as a WP for J travel at 4.5 hours before scheduled departure. It was after an early morning VA trip up from MEL for an approx. 2pm A380 departure for LAX.

That's quality Flounge time there.

 

[tuapekastar]

3.5 is the earliest I've tried, and was successful. They said it was fine if I 'didn't mind leaving my checked bags there' till 3 hours prior to the flight. No idea why they could check me in early but had to hang on to my bag.

 

[Austman]

3.5 is the earliest I've tried, and was successful. They said it was fine if I 'didn't mind leaving my checked bags there' till 3 hours prior to the flight. No idea why they could check me in early but had to hang on to my bag.

You could leave your bags with them? And then go somewhere else? (eg, in MEL, the dom J-lounge)

 

[Princess Fiona]

It's 4 hours for flights to LAX and LHR.
Personal experience of checking in at T-4 for both. If a little earlier the F check-in staff may offer to keep your luggage behind the counter and send the receipts up to the F Lounge ( personal experience of this also).
Never tried to check in any earlier than this and now I find even 3 hours is a bit on the long side in the lounge and find myself wandering off to the shops

 

[Austman]

Good information.

But what about 4 hours before a non-A380 flight? Is that when they say no - but will hold your bags? (It's a little bit bizarre when check-in time is dependant on aircraft type).

 

[shellthom]

we checked in about 6 hours early. It was an A380 flight but we didn't go to the f desks - it was our first time as platinum and when asking the service desk if we could check in she told us to go to normal economy rows, so we did.
The lady there was so shocked to have 2 WP at her desk, it was no issue at all checking in and she told us in future to use the f desks.
My parents were arriving on a QF link flight from DBO and I had their ticket linked to our ticket to LA (2 pax linked to the 4 pax ticket) they had been issued their BP in DBO. I am not sure if that was relevant or not. We had breakfast, lunch, showers and a spa treatment each in the lounge.

 

[Austman]

we checked in about 6 hours early.

Good to know! But did you have check-in luggage?

 

[opusman]

The F lounge is fantastic but unless you have a serious appetite or don't mind being drunk for the flight there's a limit to how much you can eat and drink. Even with a spa treatment and a nice meal and a few glasses of wine you'll still end up just sitting there reading a book for an hour or two and honestly you could do that anywhere.

 

[shellthom]

Good to know! But did you have check-in luggage?

Loads of it ... (1 bag each, thats a lot to us)

 

[Austman]

The F lounge is fantastic but unless you have a serious appetite or don't mind being drunk for the flight there's a limit to how much you can eat and drink. Even with a spa treatment and a nice meal and a few glasses of wine you'll still end up just sitting there reading a book for an hour or two and honestly you could do that anywhere.

Perhaps (I disagree). But it's not the question or the point of this thread.

 

[love_the_life]

Could I check in the day before and get some really serious time Flounging? (Joking of course). As we normally fly in to Sydney we already have BPs so can just swan right on through...
Reminds me a bit of the Kath and Kim episode where the airport became the destination (and QP as well).

 

[Kangol]

Could I check in the day before and get some really serious time Flounging? (Joking of course). As we normally fly in to Sydney we already have BPs so can just swan right on through...
Reminds me a bit of the Kath and Kim episode where the airport became the destination (and QP as well).

If you are going HLO, you can OLCI at T-24 and arrive any time you want on the day when it is open. You will probably get some "oh you're early" comments.

I've arrived at about T-4/4.5 with HLO. That was my first time. Had about 5 or 6 meals and about the same number of drinks.
Unlucky enough not to get a spa treatment that day - every other time I have (MEL and SYD), when arriving at T-3 or less.

 

[Austman]

If you are going HLO, you can OLCI at T-24 and arrive any time you want on the day when it is open.

Yep - know all that. It's mostly what if you don't have HLO. What happens then?

 

[tuapekastar]

You could leave your bags with them? And then go somewhere else? (eg, in MEL, the dom J-lounge)

Two of us, MEL-AKL on a 738 IIRC. Checked in at F check in, left our checked luggage there (they would 'process' it at flight time minus 3 hours), got BPs, express passes etc. and wandered up to F lounge.

 

[Sprucegoose]

My optimum time in the Flounge is 90 minutes.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

It's 4 hours for flights to LAX and LHR.
Personal experience of checking in at T-4 for both. If a little earlier the F check-in staff may offer to keep your luggage behind the counter and send the receipts up to the F Lounge ( personal experience of this also).
Never tried to check in any earlier than this and now I find even 3 hours is a bit on the long side in the lounge and find myself wandering off to the shops

HERETIC!!!!! Banish the Princess from the forum!!!!

But actually I agree, and I've only been in MEL and SYD Flounge once each (preferred MEL actually): by choice probably wouldn't want more than 2 hours now I've tried them.

 

[Austman]

Two of us, MEL-AKL on a 738 IIRC. Checked in at F check in, left our checked luggage there (they would 'process' it at flight time minus 3 hours), got BPs, express passes etc. and wandered up to F lounge.

Thanks! That's exactly what I hope will happen to me (also 2 x pax MEL-AKL). Maybe checking-in 3.5 hours before.

Do they send the bag tag to the F-lounge?

 

[Ewing]

I was told off when I tried to check-in 3.5 hours prior with HLO (SYD F) flying over to AKL.

(he still checked me in though)

 

[QF029]

In April 2012 I turned up a fraction over 3.5 hours early for MEL-LAX and the check in area was in darkness (although staff were in there). Even when the lights went on I was told check in only only opened 3 hours before the flight). I expressed my surprise as this differed from previous experience and we were magically checked in.