JQ35 travel planning

[simongr]

Hi all

I am finally going to be doing a JQ35 run in a couple of weeks. Back story is that my job relocated to Melbourne and I elected not to go so am being made redundant. I have been going to MEL weekly for most of the past year and my last trip in the current job is in a couple of weeks. I was asked to attend a relatively early and important meeting so I decided to fly down the night before. It then occurred to me that I could make an event of it by flying down from the int'l Terminal and go out in style with a champagne lunch. A few emails later and relatively cheap flight to MEL as secured on JQ35.

Having never flown JQ in OZ I was unsure about a couple of things so hoping the brains trust here could clarify:

Hand luggage - as I am only down there for two nights I have hand luggage only of course. I will be measuring my Red Oxx Air Boss to check that it is within size limits (it is also soft sided so could be squished into a sizer). With clothes for the trip it will only be a couple of kilos. I do however have my laptop bag - pretty standard (actually quite slim) laptop bag. Any ideas if this will meet the "The additional small item you bring on board could be:" defintions?

Check in - I assume there is standard JQ check in as I can't do OLCI. I wont have bags to check in and will be asking for a D sticker - anything else I need to think about.

Seating - I paid for a bundle I have a seat allocated 27B - which was the furthest forward aisle seat that the TA could allocate. Third or fourth row I think.

Boarding - is this just a free for all (like when Tony Hancock boards QF domestic)? Any way to improve this experience?

At least I am looking forward to the bubbles in the lounge!

 

[markis10]

Don't forget about LAGs, such as deodorants etc.

 

[serfty]

One thing with HLO on JQ35 is that you are are permitted one main item of carry-on baggage and one other small item, with a total combined weight of up to 10kg.

Carry-on Baggage | Jetstar

 

[lovestotravel]

The last few flights on JQ35 I have noticed no concern about carry-on requirements, of course YMMV
Boarding is a free for all, unless seated in business
They will call in the F lounge that the flight is boarding, you can generally wait another 5-10 mins and then walk straight on the plane
Check-on - Opens 3 hours before the flight, you can't do OLCI

Enjoy the bubbles!

 

[simongr]

Thanks all - LAGs are covered as I travel with my international baggie even domestically.

One thing with HLO on JQ35 is that you are are permitted one main item of carry-on baggage and one other small item, with a total combined weight of up to 10kg.

Carry-on Baggage | Jetstar

I saw that on the JQ website but they don't specify the size of the small item. I know on QF they specify the additional item as a laptop bag being acceptable but I am not sure on JQ. If necessary I can just put the laptop bag inside the Red Oxx...

 

[Must...Fly!]

FWIW I have never had a problem with a Samsonite roll-aboard case and a backpack/messenger bag. Most recently this one (no scale but hopefully it gives you an idea that it isn't small) http://i3.stycdn.net/images/2012/02...das-street-messenger-bag-schwarz-blau-140.jpg

This is no guarantee for you of course simongr, but IME it has never been a problem

For the record what I have done in the past just to be courteous to others is put the smaller bag in the bigger one or on top of it in the locker to use less space. This is a problem on transcon A320 as overhead space is at a significant premium but probably not applicable for you, considering the A330 that operates JQ35

 

[simongr]

My laptop bag would be a similar size to that. I am a bit unnerved by the whole JQ thing... Hoping at the last minute the flight gets cancelled and they have to accommodate me on QF and get bumped to J...

 

[Must...Fly!]

My laptop bag would be a similar size to that. I am a bit unnerved by the whole JQ thing... Hoping at the last minute the flight gets cancelled and they have to accommodate me on QF and get bumped to J...

Don't be too concerned...the F lounge more than makes up for flying JQ and really, I think most discover that it really isn't bad as long as things go to plan. Just don't expect the usual niceties that status brings on board (i.e. a welcome, a free drink) and I suspect you won't even notice the difference.

 

[tuapekastar]

Last time I did this MEL-SYD-MEL (late last year), the MEL security and immigration area was a zoo, and took at least 45 minutes to get through (checkin however was swift) - it came close to making to whole exercise not worthwhile (but not quite ). The return however was a quickish checkin and only a few minutes getting through security and immigration at SYD. Had another lined up for next weekend but JQ went and cancelled both JQi flights, didn't they, so am stuck on JQd flights. :evil:

 

[markis10]

Last time I did this MEL-SYD-MEL (late last year), the MEL security and immigration area was a zoo, and took at least 45 minutes to get through (checkin however was swift) - it came close to making to whole exercise not worthwhile (but not quite ). The return however was a quickish checkin and only a few minutes getting through security and immigration at SYD. Had another lined up for next weekend but JQ went and cancelled both JQi flights, didn't they, so am stuck on JQd flights. :evil:

You don't need to clear Sydney immigration if your on a double

 

[im.daniel]

Was recently booked on this flight - JQ staff at check-in are very stringent with hand-luggage - 10kg tops combined.

 

[tuapekastar]

You don't need to clear Sydney immigration if your on a double

Not quite with you markis10, but happy to learn. My flights were on separate days (left the airport and overnighted - actually IIRC it was 2 nights, in SYD) not sure if this makes a difference?

 

[medhead]

I'm pretty sure I've had my air boss and a similar sized laptop bag.

 

[medhead]

I'm pretty sure I've had my air boss and a similar sized laptop bag.

Actually here it is against an ipad for scale.

View attachment 16590

 

[markis10]

Not quite with you markis10, but happy to learn. My flights were on separate days (left the airport and overnighted - actually IIRC it was 2 nights, in SYD) not sure if this makes a difference?

On separate days you would need to clear, it if doing a same day, no, just use the transit desk.

 

[simongr]

Actually here it is against an ipad for scale.

View attachment 16590

Thanks - my laptop bag is about the same size. Worst case will be slipping the laptop bag into the Air Boss - will all be under 10Kg - although I will have a suit in the bag as I might be flying down in casual clothes. Time to break out the scales...

 

[vertisol]

Do you book onto this flight direct the J* website or will it come up as an option through the Qantas site?

Does JQ29 offer the same perks?

 

[simongr]

I actualy booked it through a TA (corporate travel) but it was available for the same price on the website - base fare for the bundle as $79 then somehow got up to just over 100.