JQ sector end of international itinerary

[RooFlyer]

Just contemplating the final legs of a client booked Circle Pacific itinerary KUL-SIN-MEL-HBA and realised to my horror that the final leg MEL-HBA is on JQ metal :shock: - but until now disguised under a QF code share.

I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've flown JQ, and never as a connection, so I've got to ask a coupla basic questions:

* Will the agent in KUL be able to tag my bags though to HBA (3 sectors being OK generally, but I'm thinking of JQ's quaint baggage policies)?

* If yes, I guess I just put them on the Qantas domestic transfers after customs in MEL?

* If no, I guess I'll have to go to JQ check-in?

Actually, my experiences on JQ haven't been bad at all - just that they have a bad reputation for load-factor related cancellations in and out of HBA, so I avoid 'em in favour of VA usually.

 

[RooFlyer]

Apologies for bumping my own thread - but would anyone like to have a ping at this? Have been reading some other JQ/QF baggage threads and am thoroughly confused.

I guess at worst I will be snared at QF baggage transfer at MEL and sternly told to join the JQ domestic queue.

 

[ajw373]

Considering the JQ leg is domestic and that you will have to collect your bag to clear customs anyway I would say you would need to re-check at JQ.

 

[Red Roo]

Just contemplating the final legs of a client booked Circle Pacific itinerary KUL-SIN-MEL-HBA and realised to my horror that the final leg MEL-HBA is on JQ metal :shock: - but until now disguised under a QF code share.

I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've flown JQ, and never as a connection, so I've got to ask a coupla basic questions:

* Will the agent in KUL be able to tag my bags though to HBA (3 sectors being OK generally, but I'm thinking of JQ's quaint baggage policies)?

* If yes, I guess I just put them on the Qantas domestic transfers after customs in MEL?

* If no, I guess I'll have to go to JQ check-in?

Actually, my experiences on JQ haven't been bad at all - just that they have a bad reputation for load-factor related cancellations in and out of HBA, so I avoid 'em in favour of VA usually.

You will need to clear customs in MEL and re-check in your bags for HBA with JQ.

 

[RooFlyer]

You will need to clear customs in MEL and re-check in your bags for HBA with JQ.

Rats. But thanks for the un-ambiguous answer

 

[straitman]

Just contemplating the final legs of a client booked Circle Pacific itinerary KUL-SIN-MEL-HBA and realised to my horror that the final leg MEL-HBA is on JQ metal :shock: - but until now disguised under a QF code share.

The disguised under a QF code share is the bit that is really annoying and IMHO needs to be addressed by Qantas. It is a major trap for inexperience punters and still easy to get wrong by the experienced ones.

 

[legroom]

You will need to clear customs in MEL and re-check in your bags for HBA with JQ.

Hello Red Roo

I am sure you are aware of QF / AA smooth bag drop - transfer at LAX after Customs ?

They are only OW partners while QF & JQ are more like parent - child

It would be nicer for all if bags are tagged all the way at initial check-in followed by a dedicated bag drop on transfer to JQ.

At least this is in MEL where terminals are closer together.

If it were SYD, lugging your bags from T1 arrival to T2 (where JQ is) would be a real hassle.

Would you care to explain why it cannot be done ?

Many thanks

 

[oz_mark]

The disguised under a QF code share is the bit that is really annoying and IMHO needs to be addressed by Qantas. It is a major trap for inexperience punters and still easy to get wrong by the experienced ones.

No more disguised than any other codeshare. In any case, you have to collect bags anyway, and at least on melbourne the connection is pretty straightforwars.

 

[RooFlyer]

Hello Red Roo

I am sure you are aware of QF / AA smooth bag drop - transfer at LAX after Customs ?

They are only OW partners while QF & JQ are more like parent - child

It would be nicer for all if bags are tagged all the way at initial check-in followed by a dedicated bag drop on transfer to JQ.

At least this is in MEL where terminals are closer together.

If it were SYD, lugging your bags from T1 arrival to T2 (where JQ is) would be a real hassle.

Would you care to explain why it cannot be done ?

Many thanks

Its a smooth bag drop to any airline connection (I think), not just to AA. Or if your bags aren't checked in, you can check them in at the same spot (again, not sure if this covers ALL airlines at LAX).

I made a mistake in not picking up the fact that my client had put me on a JQ flight MEL-HBA; I won't make the same one again (or, rather, they won't make that mistake again ).


But in the meantime, the fact that you have to lug bags from Int to JQ Dom, at either MEL, SYD or anywhere else is just plain primitive, JQ "LCC" or not.

BTW, when do the JQ check-in counters open for a particular flight? Will I be sitting on my bags at the JQ check-in area for a coupla hours waiting for them to open? Just like any other third world situation?

 

[RooFlyer]

And the answer is, of course ... pick up bags on international carousel, do customs (no Express lane at MEL, I was told by one of the roving checkers), then schlep up to Jetstar to check in. Although I can check in, they won't accept bags until 2 hours before the flight, so now have to hang around with my bags for an hour. Tired and grumpy from a short overnight flight from SIN, wishing I was in the shower in the QP.

Beawdy Jetstar/QF.

 

[ajw373]

You booked it when there are real Qantas flights MEL/HBA so why blame Qantas?

Now don't give the excuse that they hid it as a codeshare either, any frequent flyer worth their salt knows that all Qantas operated domestic flights have a flight number between 400 and 1599, Qantas link is 1600 to 2599 and that Jetstar operated domestic flights the Qantas code is QF5000-5999. The booking engine, if booked through Qantas also has a little orange star next to the QF code too, another dead giveaway.

So tell me again why is Qantas to blame in this case?

 

[dfcatch]

You booked it when there are real Qantas flights MEL/HBA so why blame Qantas?

Now don't give the excuse that they hid it as a codeshare either, any frequent flyer worth their salt knows that all Qantas operated domestic flights have a flight number between 400 and 1599, Qantas link is 1600 to 2599 and that Jetstar operated domestic flights the Qantas code is QF5000-5999. The booking engine, if booked through Qantas also has a little orange star next to the QF code too, another dead giveaway.

So tell me again why is Qantas to blame in this case?

Actually - you (like QF) have an overinflated sense of what people understand and see.

When you fly as much as you (we) do, it's easy to not see the forest through the trees.

The OPs client booked it - when there's a QF code attached - it's quite easy for it to be booked by a non-AFF trained eye.

Even QF has admitted the confusion and lack of transparency by use of its code on JQ-operated flights by its 24 Jan announcement removing QF codes from JQ operated flights on its primary domestic routes.

So yes - it's easy to see how it can happen and Straitman said it best.

For the OP - luckily it's MEL and it's not the end of the world.

Just a bit of bad luck really - but I agree - the code should not be there at all.

 

[serfty]

Aren't xCIRnn fares flexible?

There should be no cost to change QF MEL-HBA to QF MEL-HBA ... (maybe a service fee, but the client should where that if charged) ...

 

[Rebekkap]

And the answer is, of course ... pick up bags on international carousel, do customs (no Express lane at MEL, I was told by one of the roving checkers), then schlep up to Jetstar to check in. Although I can check in, they won't accept bags until 2 hours before the flight, so now have to hang around with my bags for an hour. Tired and grumpy from a short overnight flight from SIN, wishing I was in the shower in the QP.

Beawdy Jetstar/QF.

The answer is clearly to travel with carry on only. No waiting for the bags at international, walk up to Jetstar, check in and head straight to the lounge for a shower. No waiting, no schlepping!

and why no Express lane at Melb? If you're platinum surely you're entitled to express lane?

 

[RooFlyer]

You booked it when there are real Qantas flights MEL/HBA so why blame Qantas?

Now don't give the excuse that they hid it as a codeshare either, any frequent flyer worth their salt knows that all Qantas operated domestic flights have a flight number between 400 and 1599, Qantas link is 1600 to 2599 and that Jetstar operated domestic flights the Qantas code is QF5000-5999. The booking engine, if booked through Qantas also has a little orange star next to the QF code too, another dead giveaway.

So tell me again why is Qantas to blame in this case?

You appear not to have read the thread (its not very long) or at least missed some salient points.

My client booked it, not me. (Additional info - it involves the last sector of a 3 week, 12 flight trip around the Pacific). The JQ flight was booked under a QF flight number, so I neglected to see that it was JQ when the itinerary was presented to me. In 5 years and several dozen TPAC and RTW trips, they've not sprung JQ on me before. So forgive me the inattention I paid to the QF/JQ flight!

I also acknowledged in an earlier post that it was my fault for not picking it up. So I don't think I need reply to your request as to why Qantas is to blame.

However the actual issue / reason for my grizzle is the inability to have bags checked through on JQ flights at the end of an international itinerary. I hardly ever fly JQ (I called it the 'airline of last resort' - but that was before Tiger came along ...), so I've had the JQ baggage rules brought to my attention again on this issue.

But again, if I fly in on QF international, its pretty crook that I have to sit around with my bags for however long to T-2hrs because of JQ's cough rules; as others have said, lucky it was in MEL and not SYD. And I'm pleased to observe that I'm not the only one.

 

[RooFlyer]

The answer is clearly to travel with carry on only. No waiting for the bags at international, walk up to Jetstar, check in and head straight to the lounge for a shower. No waiting, no schlepping!

and why no Express lane at Melb? If you're platinum surely you're entitled to express lane?

I'm afraid with a 3 week business trip, with lots of papers and field equipment, covering from northern Canada to Kuala Lumpur, HLO wasn't an option

I couldn't see an express customs lane this morning, so asked one of the roving customs people. She said there wasn't one. (I usually enter via SYD, so wasn't in a position to argue re the situation at MEL).

 

[RooFlyer]

Aren't xCIRnn fares flexible?

There should be no cost to change QF MEL-HBA to QF MEL-HBA ... (maybe a service fee, but the client should where that if charged) ...

Not familiar with those fare codes Serfty; didn't book it myself. But I did ask when I tried to check in too early if there was an earlier flight; there was a JQ one I could have caught, but it was abt $150 incl change fee and fare difference. It would have complicated my pick-up in HBA, so I didn't do it.

 

[serfty]

Not familiar with those fare codes Serfty; didn't book it myself. But I did ask when I tried to check in too early if there was an earlier flight; there was a JQ one I could have caught, but it was abt $150 incl change fee and fare difference. It would have complicated my pick-up in HBA, so I didn't do it.

You indicated in the OP "Circle Pacific itinerary".

A oneworld circle pacific fare has the fare code on xCIRnn where x can be A, (First), D (Business) and (L) Economy and nn can be 22, 26 or 29 being maximum mileage.

The fare rules are here: http://www.oneworld.com/content/library/circle pacific.pdf

If you have one of these, the rules far such a change are:

16. VOLUNTARY CHANGES/REROUTING/PENALTIES
...
Local service fees may apply on rebooking, rerouting, reissue or refund.

(a) Rebooking/Rerouting
    (1) Prior to departure
        (a) Changes to the first international flight and preceding flights are not 
            permitted less than seven days prior to the date of the first ticketed flight. 
            Date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory changes to other flights permitted provided 
            ticketed points remain the same.
        
        (b) Changes to date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory changes made seven or more 
            days prior to the date of the first ticketed flight are permitted provided ticketed
            points remain the same. If the first flight is being changed, and the fare level has
            increased since ticket issuance, the difference between the old and new fare will
            be charged. If the fare level has decreased since ticket issuance, no refund will 
            apply.
        
        (c) Changes other than to Date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory permitted at a
            charge of USD125.00 per transaction. If the fare level has increased since ticket 
            issuance, the difference between the old and new fare will also be charged. If the 
            fare level has decreased since ticket issuance, no refund will apply.
         
    (2) After Departure
        (a) Date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory changes are permitted provided ticketed points
            remain the same.
            
        (b) Changes other than to Date/time/oneworld carrier/inventory permitted at a charge of
            USD125.00 per transaction.
            
        (c) No Show requires rebooking at a charge of USD 125.00

Since you are only change time, no USD$125 would be assessible, nor would there by any fare difference payable.

 

[ajw373]

So I don't think I need reply to your request as to why Qantas is to blame.

So why are you blaming Qantas? Clearly your client booked it (sorry didn't read that part) so why are you not blaming them, or just sucking it up as a lesson learnt?

 

[ChrisCunard]

It's time to rid the nation of the JQ curse and for QF to regain its rightful place as the Australian airline!

Sorry... Feeling nostalgia for the days when if you had a QF flight number your bags would meet you at your destination.