My first Qantas flight in 10 years

[Mogul]

I decided to see if there were any J reward flights available early next month from Sydney to Perth. There was one that suited and less 36,000 points and $40 I am now going. VA J will be the return trip.

As someone who always flies VA in J transcontinental around 6 - 8 times a year I expect Qantas won't be particularly different.

What things should I know before hand regarding check in, lounge access or anything else to make the most of it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What things should I know before hand regarding check in, lounge access or anything else to make the most of it.

The only thing is QF's business class lounge at SYD airport. This is reserved for business class and Platinum FFers only, and is a separate lounge from the Qantas club.

 

[mviy]

There are priority checkin and security queues, but you can check-in online.

The J Lounge has a better food & beverage range than the QANTAS Club. On weekdays at peak times there is a plate of the day. There are some nice new touches to the PER and BNE Dom J lounges but the SYD lounge (the QF lounge you'll have access to) hasn't been refurbished to quite a while. As you're flying back VA you won't get to try the QF PER J lounge which serves pizza in addition to regular Dom J Lounge food.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If you get the QFd J on the 330, they are certainly nice.
QFd J on the 737 not bad either.
Hopefully you get the 330 on both sectors.
When I flew the VAd J the 330 still had 2 abrest, but now both Au dom carriers have in J 1 by the window, and 2 in the middle row.
As you come into the QFd departure zone, with gate 2 - 9 facing you, the QFd J lounge will the first one you come to, the first self opening glass doors and escalators. This would be about opposite gate 5 or so.
The QP is further down about gata 7 or 8.
You will have access to the J lounge, so keep an eye out for the self opening glass doors opposite gate 5 roughly.
I have used both QFd SYD J lounge and the SYDd QP, and they are much the same of a muchness.
The VAd PER the Lounge will be newer, so when you use that one, you will see a difference between the wear and tear of the QFd SYD J lounge and the VAd PER the lounge.

 

[Mogul]

Thanks for the response's. I am actually looking forward to trying a different product and see how it stacks up against VA. A330 on both QF and VA. Who knows I may even end up using QF more than in the past.