MEL F Check In

[QF029]

I've got my first QF international flight since making WP in a few weeks. I'm travelling in Y. Can anyone advise if you can check in any earlier than 3 hours at the dedicated F check in facility - even a few minutes? I'm just wondering how much time I can manage in the F lounge!

Also, do they give you a call regarding meeting you on the footpath or is that just for those travelling in F?

 

[anat0l]

As far as I can tell, you must be travelling QF F in order to be attended at the kerb.

Then again, if they see a car pulling up they might just tend to you, but as soon as you walk through the door as long as there aren't other people, I'd imagine you'd be greeted.

As for timing, I think you should have no problem waltzing up and asking to be checked-in, irrespective of the amount of time you have before departure. I've typically rocked up to MEL T2 F check-in anywhere between 4 and 6 hours before departure, which gives me ample time in the lounge

 

[gilby08]

As for timing, I think you should have no problem waltzing up and asking to be checked-in, irrespective of the amount of time you have before departure. I've typically rocked up to MEL T2 F check-in anywhere between 4 and 6 hours before departure, which gives me ample time in the lounge

Depends on if there are other international flights before hand, but it will open around 3.5-3hrs before the flights departure time.

 

[serfty]

The MEL First class check-in is open most of the day.

It opens around 3:30am for QF25 [, closes after QF93, reopens noon] and normally closes around 5:30pm (after QF133 closes) before re-opening 3-4 hours before QF29 is to depart.

 

[QF029]

Thanks for the responses. I'm on QF029 so I'll try about 3 1/2 hours before.

It's my first time travelling in QF Y for a while so I am closely monitoring the Y loads hoping for (but not expecting) an op-up. I know there's a lot of J capacity on this route so hopefully they're still overselling Y. 3 weeks out it is:

F3 A3 J9 C9 D9 I6 W9 R8 T0 Y7 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 VC SC NC QC OC XC E0

 

[jpk]

F3 A3 J9 C9 D9 I6 W9 R8 T0 Y7 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 VC SC NC QC OC XC E0

Looks oversold or close to already, hard to gauge 3 weeks out tho. What's the seatmap like?

 

[anat0l]

F3 A3 J9 C9 D9 I6 W9 R8 T0 Y7 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 VC SC NC QC OC XC E0

I had a map like that on a SYD-JNB flight with all Economy classes pretty much zeroed out at 2 weeks before departure. Then the day of departure all the premium classes dropped in numbers.

I didn't get an op-up. Obviously, a lot of people cashed in miles for points upgrades and were successful.

 

[QF029]

The seatmaps have lots of unallocated seats in all classes.

 

[taswegian77]

The MEL First class check-in is open most of the day.

It opens around 3:30am for QF25[edit: ,closes after qf93, reopens noon] and normally closes around 5:30pm (after QF133 closes) before re-opening 3-4 hours before QF29 is to depart.

It is not always open all day as I flew on QF9 in late May and arrived 4 hrs early and it was closed. Luckily it opened about 15 mins later so be warned and in my case there were no other desk agents open so I had to potter around the terminal fro 15 minutes circling.

 

[KitKat]

Was on QF29 about two weeks ago (Sat night). F check in was closed when I got there about 1900. Asked QF info desk at the far end of the QF check in row and was told would be open in a moment...... Nope, was not open in a moment, about 1920, seemed to be some activity at the QF J check in counter, who kindly checked me in and was off to sample the F lounge.
I believe QF 29 that day did not have F service, only hard product, so for those in J, they had an opportunity to get an F seat with J service. So perhaps that is why the F check in was not open... not sure if it was open later as was in the F lounge...

Enjoy the F lounge

 

[QF029]

Thanks Kit Kat. Did you travel in your booked class?

 

[KitKat]

Used points to upgrade from PE to J (two upgrades successful for both myself and Mrs KitKat - both WP)

 

[MatF]

It is not always open all day as I flew on QF9 in late May and arrived 4 hrs early and it was closed. Luckily it opened about 15 mins later so be warned and in my case there were no other desk agents open so I had to potter around the terminal fro 15 minutes circling.

Hmmm, we're on QF9 in December, departing 1705. We were hoping to get to the airport around lunchtime for some F lounge goodness

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks for the responses. I'm on QF029 so I'll try about 3 1/2 hours before.

It's my first time travelling in QF Y for a while so I am closely monitoring the Y loads hoping (but not expecting) an op-up. I know there's a lot of J capacity on this route so hopefully they're still overselling Y. 3 weeks out it is:

F3 A3 J9 C9 D9 I6 W9 R8 T0 Y7 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 VC SC NC QC OC XC E0

looks good to me - hope to hear what happens

SPRUCE

 

[serfty]

It is not always open all day as I flew on QF9 in late May and arrived 4 hrs early and it was closed. Luckily it opened about 15 mins later so be warned and in my case there were no other desk agents open so I had to potter around the terminal fro 15 minutes circling.

That makes sense given my QF29 experiences - see below.

Was on QF29 about two weeks ago (Sat night). F check in was closed when I got there about 1900. ...

That concurs with my QF29 check experiences.

I guess there may be a 'dead patch' around noon, just like around 7pm.

 

[serfty]

OK, I asked the question today when using it.

Currently (winter), the MEL first class check-in opens as noted before closing after the last eligible QF93 passenger has checked-in.

It re-opens at noon or shortly after.

Later in the day it closes after the last eligible QF133 PAX has checked in, re-opening at 19:20.

 

[QF029]

Thanks Serfty. Great information from you as usual.

So I'll stick with my plan of checking in 3 1/2 hours early which is 7:20 exactly. Not sure if they have a priority que for immigration / screening but last time I went through (on JQ) I reckon I was in the lounge less than 5 minutes after arriving at the kerb.

 

[Sprucegoose]

OK, I asked the question today when using it.

Currently (winter), the MEL first class check-in opens as noted before closing after the last eligible QF93 passenger has checked-in.

It re-opens at noon or shortly after.

Later in the day it closes after the last eligible QF133 PAX has checked in, re-opening at 19:20.

eligible being WP as opposed to F??

 

[serfty]

eligible being WP as opposed to F??

Both ... I was the only WP on my flight last night and they knew who I was as soon as i said my flight number.

 

[Sprucegoose]

now thats service!!!!!

Travel well

SPRUCE