Qantas MEL First Class Check-in

[esseeeayeenn]

Pardon my ignorance, but who is classified as "D" passenger ?

Passengers on a domestic sector only of an international flight.
Such as me flying MEL-PER and not PER-LHR.
They put a big orange sticker with a "D" on it on your boarding pass.
So you go through different queues in immigration and you can't buy duty free.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Quick question - can QF Platinum used the dedicated Qantas First entrance in MEL (or SYD) ? Or should the pax be on a First class ticket?

Yes we can.

 

[jakeseven7]

They put a big orange sticker with a "D" on it on your boarding pass and you can't buy duty free.

Technically

But AU duty free is so rubbish anyway who would bother.

 

[Max Samuels]

I thought that was the rule but wasn't sure if they varied it when there will be no F PAX.
As far as I can see there are no flights leaving tomorrow afternoon with an F cabin.
Neither QF nor OW nor any other partner which would use the F lounge.
So hopefully they will have capacity at the time.

What treatment do you want from the spa anyway? I have never really understood the pre-flight spa thing....
Maybe its coz I'm a drunk and just want the booze

 

[Max Samuels]

Passengers on a domestic sector only of an international flight.
Such as me flying MEL-PER and not PER-LHR.
They put a big orange sticker with a "D" on it on your boarding pass.
So you go through different queues in immigration and you can't buy duty free.

Yes... BUT.... and I might try this... if you check-in and print your boarding pass at home, it doesn't have the D sticker. At the airport they will issue you a new boarding pass with the "D", but maybe keep the spare one printed at home in your pocket and use at duty free? Or, better yet, pop out to Dan's at Essendon Fields where you can buy pretty much anything cheaper anyway!

I've noticed with International lately (I think it was flying to Japan), since it is all smart gates and the customs people no longer look at your boarding pass and stamp it, on some flights Qantas have allowed me to use my BP on my phone.... is that normal for all flight now? Does anyone know?

 

[theoracle30]

Yes... BUT.... and I might try this... if you check-in and print your boarding pass at home, it doesn't have the D sticker. At the airport they will issue you a new boarding pass with the "D", but maybe keep the spare one printed at home in your pocket and use at duty free?

Won't work, as domestic passengers on QF9/QF10 won't be able to generate a boarding pass through online check-in. They have to visit a counter.

 

[Max Samuels]

Won't work, as domestic passengers on QF9/QF10 won't be able to generate a boarding pass through online check-in. They have to visit a counter.

Damn!

 

[Libertyscott]

QF F checkin MEL is excellent, I'll add LHR T5 BA First Wing as one that surpasses it. No queue check in, ever (so many desk), dedicated security wing and direct access in the First lounge (but actual First Class passengers should walk through it to the Concorde Room). OTOH QF BNE domestic premium check in is the domestic gold standard though

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I've noticed with International lately (I think it was flying to Japan), since it is all smart gates and the customs people no longer look at your boarding pass and stamp it, on some flights Qantas have allowed me to use my BP on my phone.... is that normal for all flight now? Does anyone know?

"D" PAX cannot use smart gates. ABF people do scrutinise your boarding pass. When I left MEL and again when I landed in PER the officers tried to direct me back to the international processing queues because the checkin staff in SYD where I checked in for my first flight had put the "D" sticker on the back of the boarding pass and they didn't notice it.
So maybe that would work if the duty free shops don't look at the back of the boarding pass.
But of course this would be unlawful and I couldn't possibly suggest you do anything unlawful.

 

[Max Samuels]

"D" PAX cannot use smart gates. ABF people do scrutinise your boarding pass. When I left MEL and again when I landed in PER the officers tried to direct me back to the international processing queues because the checkin staff in SYD where I checked in for my first flight had put the "D" sticker on the back of the boarding pass and they didn't notice it.
So maybe that would work if the duty free shops don't look at the back of the boarding pass.
But of course this would be unlawful and I couldn't possibly suggest you do anything unlawful.

Hey so what did you think of QF9 J service/experience?

I am taking that flight tomorrow and am really hoping that it will be excellent so that I can say something nice about them

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Hey so what did you think of QF9 J service/experience?

I am taking that flight tomorrow and am really hoping that it will be excellent so that I can say something nice about them

I did enjoy the flight - although the F lounge was the highllight of my day.
The business suites on the B789 are lovely, I always choose the window seats closest to the aisle as they allow you to escape even with the tray down for meal service.
The food was nice and of course I enjoyed the champagne.
I was a little disappointed with the service but it was consistent with my expectations of Qantas.
The crew managed to find a way to make the ridiculous routine of preparing the drinks trolleys take even longer than usual.
They loaded all the linen and cutlery onto the drinks trolleys and prepared each table for meal service at the same time as serving first drinks.
This meant instead of the usual 45 minute wait for first drinks it was well over an hour! And I was only in 4A so I was near the front!
QF really needs to undertake an overhaul of their antiquated service routines and those trolleys need to go in the bin!

 

[TheInsider]

I've noticed with International lately (I think it was flying to Japan), since it is all smart gates and the customs people no longer look at your boarding pass and stamp it, on some flights Qantas have allowed me to use my BP on my phone.... is that normal for all flight now? Does anyone know?

QF allow international check-in on your phone for all flights AFAIK. Never need to see a staff member again if you don't have baggage.

 

[Max Samuels]

This meant instead of the usual 45 minute wait for first drinks it was well over an hour! And I was only in 4A so I was near the front!
QF really needs to undertake an overhaul of their antiquated service routines and those trolleys need to go in the bin!

Sweet Jesus I am in row 11!! Will I even get fed before I arrive in PER? Will there even be any food left? Am I going to have to sneak food on board?

 

[Max Samuels]

QF allow international check-in on your phone for all flights AFAIK. Never need to see a staff member again if you don't have baggage.

Even with the weirdo TSA theatre they do here in Australia? i always feel like they need to see a physical BP.....
As much as I love the USA god I HATE flying there

 

[Max Samuels]

QF really needs to undertake an overhaul of their antiquated service routines and those trolleys need to go in the bin!

I said something similar in a post once... didn't go down too well as I recall :-(

 

[TomVexille]

Sweet Jesus I am in row 11!! Will I even get fed before I arrive in PER? Will there even be any food left? Am I going to have to sneak food on board?

Load up in the lounge. The food onboard will be terrible anyway.

 

[kermatu]

I've not tried to email the SST to pre-book the spa, however might be of more use in SYD which tends to get busy in the morning.

You would be disappointed if you were the top QF flyer that year! That's so much time spent in the air.

I’ve had success asking the SST to book a session for me but only after all F pax have been contacted and bookings made for the next day. MEL only. SYD lounge doesn’t offer this anymore (apparently).

 

[kermatu]

When are the quieter periods for the Melbourne F lounge?

Is the time leading up to the 1pm Singapore flight quiet? (I know there is the morning Tokyo flight and the NZ flights...)

Now that the LA flight leaves a bit earlier and the Singapore one a bit later, Yes the time before SIN flight is pretty good. Was there earlier this week. Was a zoo at 9:30. When I emerged from my spa session just before 10 it was near empty and stayed pretty comfortable through midday at least. I was in the corner quiet room so blissfully unaffected.

 

[Ade]

QF allow international check-in on your phone for all flights AFAIK. Never need to see a staff member again if you don't have baggage.

I'd think allowing international check in on your phone would depend on the passenger's nationality/passport. This might be due to visa rules/restrictions etc

I was never able to do intl. check on phone - always had to go to the counter to check in and get BP. I can't even use the kiosk's in the airport to check in or get BP.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That’s what I mean. Are F passengers crippled or handicapped in some way?

The buggy helps keep track of my aged parents when they fly. They can't get lost

Who wants to walk 800 metres in Bangkok on arrival? A buggy takes care of that nicely. At the old KUL airport used by Air Asia, a buggy took you from the gate to your plane.

At DEL buggies are free and available for use by all passengers. DEL has similar concourses to BKK. So i don't think this is a service appreciated only by F pax.