Mel F checkin and lounge opening times

[nlagalle]

Believe me, I would! Sadly, am travelling with checked bags and companions, so that is out.

pity you can't get them to check in all the bags and meet you there!! hehehehe

 

[Kangol]

As a new WP I'm going on my first ex-MEL Int flight QF133 (1730) next Friday with carry-on luggage only, what time is the earliest I can access the F lounge?
Looking at the schedule it looks like QF29 and QF9 are departing at 1415 and 1530 respectively with the earlier flights QF93 and QF131 departing at 0935 and 1150 respectively. Does that mean the F lounge will be open all day (ie 3 hours before each departure) since the earlier departures are staggered far apart enough so that it won't close throughout the day? ie if I wanted to get there at 9am I could...?
Search scheduled flights (4 weeks) : Melbourne Airport
Most of my flying is Dom and whenever I get dropped off and pass the curbside F check in I notice that some times it's open and other times it's not (during the day, that is)

I plan on OLCI and having a printout of my BP ready, to maximise spa and food/drink time!

 

[serfty]

With no checked luggage, you simply need to OLCI then attend at your leisure (you may wish to drop in to the First check-in lounge for an express pass).

 

[MatF]

Believe me, I would! Sadly, am travelling with checked bags and companions, so that is out.

With checked bags, you could always drive out to your closest regional airport and connect from there, several hours earlier.
That's one thing I like about being regional. Last year I flew WGA-SYD-LAX and had about 6 hours in the FLounge in SYD between flights

 

[serfty]

I find using MEL as a regional port for SYD works fine ...

 

[Kangol]

With no checked luggage, you simply need to OLCI then attend at your leisure (you may wish to drop in to the First check-in lounge for an express pass).

Thanks, will the kerbside check-in be open all day? (I'm guessing that's what you mean by the "First check-in lounge") I don't recall seeing a first check-in area inside the terminal - only Business/Gold, PE/Silver/QP, Economy...

 

[MatF]

I find using MEL as a regional port for SYD works fine ...

Heh, yes, that is certainly an option

 

[opusman]

The F lounge is nice but 6 hours seems a little long to me!

 

[nlagalle]

The F lounge is nice but 6 hours seems a little long to me!

How dare you speak such blasphemy on this board!!!

 

[markis10]

The F lounge is nice but 6 hours seems a little long to me!

Have you done 6 hours in the Flounge, wish time elsewhere went as quick!

 

[serfty]

Thanks, will the kerbside check-in be open all day? ...

Check-in may close for a time after QF93 departs but there are reports that the express card can be obtained from another check-in counter or the Qantas service desk.

Failing that, you could try T1 and the domestic to international connection check-in counters.

 

[QF029]

Check-in may close for a time after QF93 departs but there are reports that the express card can be obtained from another check-in counter or the Qantas service desk.

Failing that, you could try T1 and the domestic to international connection check-in counters.

Interesting. In early April I turned up to MEL F check in for QF93 just before 6:00am (9:30am departure) and they were CLOSED (lights off etc). They opened a few minutes later but the lady tried to tell me that I couldn't check in prior to 3 hours. Anyway, I somehow convinced her that I could but I wasn't very impressed UNTIL without prompting she requested 2 guests for me at the F lounge.

 

[serfty]

That's keen! I'm thinking ~6am through 9am and 12pm through the departure of QF9.

As always it may be possible to call and find out.

 

[richie9x]

I plan on OLCI and having a printout of my BP ready, to maximise spa and food/drink time!

As you are flying transtasman with carry on only from Melbourne airport you can use the International Q Card Readers. You can check in and the express lane logo is printed on the BP.

 

[Kangol]

Check-in may close for a time after QF93 departs but there are reports that the express card can be obtained from another check-in counter or the Qantas service desk.

Failing that, you could try T1 and the domestic to international connection check-in counters.

Cool, I take it that the express card is for express security (ie turning right once BPs have been sighted)?

 

[Kangol]

As you are flying transtasman with carry on only from Melbourne airport you can use the International Q Card Readers. You can check in and the express lane logo is printed on the BP.

Thanks, I haven't taken any noticed of the poles at the Int terminal as this is also my first time to NZ - are they round about where the normal check-in lanes inside the terminal are?

 

[Kangol]

OK an update for the thread:
I got to the kerbside F check-in just before 1.30 and presented my printed BP. There was no problem with it, they gave me an express departure card (this gives you express lane access for both security screening and immigration, ie turning right once it becomes "passengers only", you now scan your BP instead of the guard checking it - this is what serfty was referring to in a previous post, I didn't quite get it then ) and a host escorted me just short of immigration as I mentioned it was my first time to the F lounge. I guess I didn't need it as the signs are quite clear but it was nice of them to do so. She also told me that the F lounge closes when QF133 boards at 5.30 as there are no other QF operated flights departing after that. For those going to Nadi on the QF395 codeshare with FJ, that would suck not being able to access the F lounge

Anyway, for some reason I thought the F check-in had a dedicated secret security lane that was out of public sight in some secret tunnel They had to open the flight for me as I was the first to "check in" even though I had HLO. Went to the express security line and when I got to immigration the express line had 5 or so people so I ducked under the rope into the normal line and got through quicker. Kept the express pass which I will give to Mum when I see her next week (happy belated Mother's day) .

Got to the lounge just before 1.45 and on scanning the BP they again had to open the flight because if they didn't there would be "some issue at the gate". Went to the spa, all spots were full but they offered to put me on a waiting list in case someone didn't show up. I kindly agreed and then went to enjoy some lovely F lounge food and drink (will post the menu in another thread). Whilst dining, one of the spa attendants came up to me to inform me that they were still booked up but would let me know in case there was a free spot. In the end there wasn't (no love lost) and when I went for a shower at just before 4.30, I saw that the spa was closed. So it looks like the spa is only open when there is a flight with F passengers departing (ie QF9 and QF93)? Or is it just the 4 hours prior to the departure of QF9 and QF93? ie opening time to 0935 and then 1130-1530 with a gap of 930-1130 where it is closed...? If anyone knows that would be great. I should've asked at the time.

Anyway, when QF9 departed, it became like a ghost lounge.. I was still there eating on my lonesome with hardly any staff around

I guess for next time if I am on QF133 again with HLO I could get there before 11am and sample both the breakfast and the lunch menu!

As you are flying transtasman with carry on only from Melbourne airport you can use the International Q Card Readers. You can check in and the express lane logo is printed on the BP.

Thanks, totally forgot about trying that. But on the way home AKL-MEL I was at the airport early (about T-6) and couldn't print my BP beforehand so after trying the Int Q card reader it got declined, telling me to go to a service desk. I went to the OLCI bag drop and had a BP printed for me. So, maybe the NGCI poles for Trans-tasman flights are only able to be used to print BPs when the flight is open (ie within T-3)?
IIRC the dom NGCI poles can print BPs even 9 or 10 hours before departure...

 

[tuapekastar]

O
Thanks, totally forgot about trying that. But on the way home AKL-MEL I was at the airport early (about T-6) and couldn't print my BP beforehand so after trying the Int Q card reader it got declined, telling me to go to a service desk. I went to the OLCI bag drop and had a BP printed for me. So, maybe the NGCI poles for Trans-tasman flights are only able to be used to print BPs when the flight is open (ie within T-3)?
IIRC the dom NGCI poles can print BPs even 9 or 10 hours before departure...

Thanks for the update. Was the QF premium checkin at AKL not open? I've been able to check in there around 5 hours prior to my flight, you can usually pre-clear immigration there as well, which can sometimes help you avoid some queues.

I guess its a personal thing and varies according to individual needs, but I've never OLCI-ed for an international flight - never been able to see a benefit for me (perhaps if I had no status it might be different). Not saying such a situation would never occur, just has not happened yet.

 

[Kangol]

Thanks for the update. Was the QF premium checkin at AKL not open? I've been able to check in there around 5 hours prior to my flight, you can usually pre-clear immigration there as well, which can sometimes help you avoid some queues.

I guess its a personal thing and varies according to individual needs, but I've never OLCI-ed for an international flight - never been able to see a benefit for me (perhaps if I had no status it might be different). Not saying such a situation would never occur, just has not happened yet.

It was open but there were about 4 or 5 people in the line and I decided to try for something quicker in order to get my BP, so went to the OLCI bag drop line where there were only 2 and got served faster. Yes there was a passport check inside the premium check-in there for pre-clearing immigration, something I've never seen before which was pretty handy. It's the alternative to the express lane and only found out about it's usefulness when I went to scan my PP at the smartgate kiosk which denied me and the guy directed me to go to the other side where I was sent straight to security screening

OLCI for Int flights is a personal choice however in AKL I can certainly see the value. There was one huge economy line, a small separate one for OLCI bag drop and then the premium F/J/WP/SG area. So for QP/PS who have not OLCIed even with HLO, their "dedicated" area was unavailable and they would have to wait with the rest of the huge line.
In MEL there is the standard Y/NB line, QP/PS/Y+ line, then J/SG line with the F/WP at kerbside. I don't ever recall an OLCI at MEL Int, so flying out of there without OLCI and with checked luggage is generally probably not a big deal if you have higher status. The way I see it is that there is no harm and possibly it somewhat reduces the risk of someone taking your seat (or you getting a better seat for whatever reason) - maybe I'm being paranoid that a CL would come up and leave me with a seat in the last few rows of the plane.

 

[el_rooto]

Would it be open for CX 178 at 23:245?