QF25 no longer available for domestic?

[Yada Yada]

I've flown SYD-MEL on QF25 in the past, but it is not showing up in the booking engine for domestic for a range of dates that I tried.

Does anyone know what happened to this service?

 

[serfty]

I've flown SYD-MEL on QF25 in the past, but it is not showing up in the booking engine for domestic for a range of dates that I tried.

Does anyone know what happened to this service?

I believe that up until earlier this year most servicing of the 744's was pererformed at SYD. As a result there was a greater need for such positioning segments to be part of regular scheules.

Now, with more emphasis on BNE and MEL for 744 servicing there is much less need and except for unusual circumstances these positioning sectors are no longer necessary.

I myself have used these types of flights many times; I miss them

 

[Yada Yada]

Thanks Ross.

Makes sense, but I'll miss them too. I tend to book my domestic travel less than 7 days in advance, which means it is difficult to get cheap fares on the peak hour flights. I could always rely upon QF25 to give me a $120 fare, the wide open spaces of an almost empty 747, and free breakfast at the QP at T1.

Oh well... if the DJ lounge road test goes well this week, guess who gets my business? :mrgreen:

 

[Nightwatchman]

Did you have to clear customs / immigration?

 

[Yada Yada]

Did you have to clear customs / immigration?

Yes, although at a seperate counter. As you go in, a sign directs domestic pax and international pax holding APEC cards to turn right. There are two or three immigration desks there but you don't need your passport.

They put an orange sticker on your BP, I presume to help you get processed at the destination immigration counter and possibly also to prevent you from purchasing tax free goods.

And you have to check in earlier than you would a domestic flight too. Last time I went they told me to ensure I had BP in hand 45 mins prior to departure.

 

[Nightwatchman]

And you have to check in earlier than you would a domestic flight too. Last time I went they told me to ensure I had BP in hand 45 mins prior to departure.

Counts me out - I'm a 'last minute Harry'.

 

[Yada Yada]

Counts me out - I'm a 'last minute Harry'.

I am the same for my return flights at the end of the day, arriving at the last minute.

However for a morning flight, I get there early enough to have brekkie at the QP so no big deal. However the problem is parking - departing from T1 and arriving back at T3 at the end of the day is a pain if you drive and park, so I usually take a taxi that day. Although it means I don't have to stop at one glass of wine. :mrgreen:

 

[N860CR]

to prevent you from purchasing tax free goods.

That only works sometimes

 

[Maca44]

That only works sometimes

About two years ago flying domestic out of T1 and had arranged to meet a friend at the QP for breakfast. He was flying to LAX so I used his BP to purchase a small electrical item, discarged the box etc and placed it in my carry on with no questions asked when I arrived at MEL. However, my conscience prevented me from doing it a second time, not to mention the trouble you would get into if caught.

 

[Mal]

Sometimes Qantas "hides" flights in the booking system.

I believe that some flights are not released until the other flights are fairly booked out. Some of the International flights are like that.

I also believe that the booking system can only show a limited number of flights at once, and may not show all flights in this scenario as well.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Yes, although at a seperate counter. As you go in, a sign directs domestic pax and international pax holding APEC cards to turn right. There are two or three immigration desks there but you don't need your passport.

They put an orange sticker on your BP, I presume to help you get processed at the destination immigration counter and possibly also to prevent you from purchasing tax free goods.

And you have to check in earlier than you would a domestic flight too. Last time I went they told me to ensure I had BP in hand 45 mins prior to departure.

you do need passport if not australian since they wont accept an overseas drivers licence with photo as official ID

 

[Yada Yada]

you do need passport if not australian since they wont accept an overseas drivers licence with photo as official ID

Not even a Kiwi driver's license?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Not even a Kiwi driver's license?

Nope

 

[JohnK]

you do need passport if not australian since they wont accept an overseas drivers licence with photo as official ID

Not even a Kiwi driver's license?

Nope

I know most Kiwis regard Australia as home but surely when you, as a kiwi national, visit Australia you carry your passport with you. Cannot be too hard to produce this as ID instead of some kiwi issued driver's license.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I know most Kiwis regard Australia as home but surely when you, as a kiwi national, visit Australia you carry your passport with you. Cannot be too hard to produce this as ID instead of some kiwi issued driver's license.

That's beside the point. The rules merely state government issued photo ID. My drivers licence is a government issued photo ID. But they wont accept it even though complies with their own rules.

 

[Yada Yada]

The rules merely state government issued photo ID. My drivers licence is a government issued photo ID. But they wont accept it even though complies with their own rules.

Yep, Aussie immigration and customs do as they please. :evil:

 

[JohnK]

Yep, Aussie immigration and customs do as they please. :evil:

Oz_mark summed it up in another thread.

Immigration has always seemed like a law unto itself to me. I doubt that there are too many other places that could get away with what immigration manages to.

 

[Dave Noble]

That's beside the point. The rules merely state government issued photo ID. My drivers licence is a government issued photo ID. But they wont accept it even though complies with their own rules.

Actually, the rules do not state that ; they state

National passport; or
A motor vehicle driver's licence issued under a law of the Commonwealth of Australia, or of an Australian State or Territory; or
A document that identifies you issued by:
- the Commonwealth of Australia, or
- an Australian State or Territory, or
- by an authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, or an Australian State or Territory; or
An aviation security identification card issued by the operator of the aircraft or the operator of an airport in Australia

Since NZ is not, to the best of my knowledge, part of Australia , a NZ driving licence is not a valid ID under the rules

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I see that info is now posted on QF website, but it has been changed. It used to say allow government issued photo id.

 

[Dave Noble]

I see that info is now posted on QF website, but it has been changed. It used to say allow government issued photo id.

It has been worded that way for quite a while and is identical to the wording on the document issued by Customs/AQIS

Dave