QF Check-in chaos at MEL T1

[djfuzz]

There appears to be some sort of check-in problem with QF in MEL. No room to move or figure out which queue is which. Would post pics but can't.

No more international connections desk. Even the premium queue is a convoluted unidentifiable mess.

The fruits of NGCI.

 

[TheInsider]

There appears to be some sort of check-in problem with QF in MEL. No room to move or figure out which queue is which. Would post pics but can't.

No more international connections desk. Even the premium queue is a convoluted unidentifiable mess.

The fruits of NGCI.

Still have to remember only half of MEL has been completed.
The issue with these periods is due to an overload of baggage, therefore this makes the baggage belt stop (therefore the NGCI system). Just want to point out too, when the counters were in place, this happened quite a bit when easter/christmas was around.

Can be due to a number of factors, such as;
-The lateral where the bags get shot off to may be full, and therefore the bag just keeps going around in a cricle waiting for a free space, and if you have lots of bags on different flights this will overload the system and kinda jam it up.
-Lots of ramp sickies, so less staff to load bags into containers or trailer.

 

[djfuzz]

Thanks for the info QFCSA, you've already been far more helpful than your thinly spread colleagues here today. Cant hear anything clearly over the PA. We'd already lost half an hour in the queue due to line cutters and the general sense of chaos, and have only just reached the rope an hour later.

I would hope that if such issues were known to occur at certain times, there should be some forward planning to try to deal with it.

Just hoping that my folks can make their connection in SYD. Not really sure how they'll otherwise be accommodated seeing as they might not make any US bound services at this rate.

 

[markis10]

And people wonder why I dont fly at Easter, which is the busiest period of the year for airlines and has been for a long time, just like the drive to work, peak hour is not fun.

 

[TheInsider]

All i can say is, it doesn't help when you have half the terminal boarded up, it's a public holiday, you have Jetstar and their passengers to compete with (be good when they move to T5), and not to many staff due to alot of sickies.

 

[anat0l]

... not to many staff due to alot of sickies.

I think we found the problem!

There's also the baggage system going bonkers; that really ain't good. Who hasn't realised that there may be stress scenarios and this is a prime one?

 

[whughes3]

There was an item on the news last night to the effect that the QF baggage handling computer system was down and causing the above mentioned problems. Happily, this morning all is back to normal; I breezed through checkin.

 

[serfty]

I do hope they re-instate a Domestic connection to International Flight check-in desk.

Although I rarely check-luggage I do have to show my PP. I have tried in the QP/JL but in 2 of 2 chances they don't seem to get it right, even though BP's issued.

 

[djfuzz]

I do hope they re-instate a Domestic connection to International Flight check-in desk.

Although I rarely check-luggage I do have to show my PP. I have tried in the QP/JL but in 2 of 2 chances they don't seem to get it right, even though BP's issued.

Agreed serfty, this was by far the most puzzling bit of the experience. As with prior experience, I'd been advised to take them to the international connections desk at MEL T1. Was mightily confused when one didn't seem to exist.

Putting aside the screw up yesterday that exacerbated the underlying problems, I think QF at least needs to make it clear that it is serving international connections through the service desk now - all they need to do is add a line to their fancy LCD screens and that would be that. It's the lack of information anywhere (including their website and call centre) that is disappointing.

 

[nlagalle]

All i can say is, it doesn't help when you have half the terminal boarded up, it's a public holiday, you have Jetstar and their passengers to compete with (be good when they move to T5), and not to many staff due to alot of sickies.

T5??? Have I missed something???

 

[TheInsider]

T5??? Have I missed something???

Apparently JQ staff are saying that JQ are in talks with MEL apt about setting up a new terminal (T5), where AAE used to be. That building to the right of T1 QF.

 

[oz_mark]

T5??? Have I missed something???

Alleged new low cost terminal (New low-cost terminal planned at Melbourne airport | The Australian)

 

[TonyHancock]

T5??? Have I missed something???

New T5 terminal plans for Melbourne Airport to boost Qantas, Virgin Blue capacity? - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[moa999]

Probably also a few extra pax looking to get tickets thanks to TT

 

[Awesom Andy]

I was there at 5:30am... there were a lot of pax already. The system was still working, although felt very slow when I dropped my bag off. Now I feel quite lucky to have my baggage in Sydney.

I was also in SIN the night before, and departed on OQH just before OQB went tech. I seemed to have left a trail of disasters wherever I went to this weekend...