The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[Captain Halliday]

Should I risk an unprotected connection QF international to AC domestic at YVR? There are options for 2 hour transit, or 6 hour transit.

You can read the full context here but in short the alternative is to layover in YVR (or downtown) followed by about 8 hours of ground transport the following day.

In other words, do I take the risk, to save a day of travel?

 

[NM]

Should I risk an unprotected connection QF international to AC domestic at YVR? There are options for 2 hour transit, or 6 hour transit.

You can read the full context here but in short the alternative is to layover in YVR (or downtown) followed by about 8 hours of ground transport the following day.

In other words, do I take the risk, to save a day of travel?

Whatever you do, make sure its "protected" by your travel insurance under "Missed Connections" - just in case.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Whatever you do, make sure its "protected" by your travel insurance under "Missed Connections" - just in case.

‘IF’ it has missed connections protection, and ‘if’ the OP’s travel falls under the policy requirements. I know there are a couple of policies offering missed connection protection, but at least one of those requires you to be scheduled to arrive at your connecting point no later than when check-in opens for the connecting flight… which could be as early as three hours.

 

[NM]

‘IF’ it has missed connections protection, and ‘if’ the OP’s travel falls under the policy requirements. I know there are a couple of policies offering missed connection protection, but at least one of those requires you to be scheduled to arrive at your connecting point no later than when check-in opens for the connecting flight… which could be as early as three hours.

Which I why I specifically said to "make sure it's protected", because terms and conditions vary between policies and between cover providers.

 

[Ade]

A very friendly check in agent showed me the seating application the QF uses and what/how a FF shadow looks like. Now the agent didn’t say for certain (rather chose not to say for certain) if/not the concept of “shadow” exists. But they pointed out to my seat and the “shadow” next to it. Lowly Gold here.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A very friendly check in agent showed me the seating application the QF uses and what/how a FF shadow looks like. Now the agent didn’t say for certain (rather chose not to say for certain) if/not the concept of “shadow” exists. But they pointed out to my seat and the “shadow” next to it. Lowly Gold here.

Did you end up with a shadow?? lol

 

[Ade]

Did you end up with a shadow?? lol

lol it did and the shadow moved with me as well … the agent was kind enough to show me the shadow move at bag drop and the shadow that moved with me, stayed with me …

 

[Captain Halliday]

Which I why I specifically said to "make sure it's protected", because terms and conditions vary between policies and between cover providers.

It a moot point in my case because QF85 is part of a oneworld classic flight award so adding AC isn’t an option.

 

[NM]

It a moot point in my case because QF85 is part of a oneworld classic flight award so adding AC isn’t an option.

Travel insurance is not concerned about airline memberships. Policies differ in their definition of a connection. But in general, so long as it is a "valid" connection in terms of minimum connection times, and as @MEL_Traveller pointed out it may need to be long enough to allow bag collection and re-checkin, then you may be covered if there is a delay on the inbound causing you to miss the "connecting" flight.

And since these will be on separate tickets, you will almost certainly need to complete arrivals processing, and then check-in for next flight. HLO might be a good idea if possible.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Travel insurance is not concerned about airline memberships. Policies differ in their definition of a connection. But in general, so long as it is a "valid" connection in terms of minimum connection times, and as @MEL_Traveller pointed out it may need to be long enough to allow bag collection and re-checkin, then you may be covered if there is a delay on the inbound causing you to miss the "connecting" flight.

And since these will be on separate tickets, you will almost certainly need to complete arrivals processing, and then check-in for next flight. HLO might be a good idea if possible.

Thanks.

I thought you were referring to airline “protected”. If I take the 6hr option that’s well within MCT. But worth checking the insurance wording.

As for HLO… hard to do for a ski trip unfortunately!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks.

I thought you were referring to airline “protected”. If I take the 6hr option that’s well within MCT. But worth checking the insurance wording.

As for HLO… hard to do for a ski trip unfortunately!

Some policies it’s not even as generous as MCT…they will only cover you if you are scheduled to arrive at the connecting airport when check-in opens… which could be as much as three or four hours… far higher than MCT.

But certainly 6 hours would be fine, provided your insurance covers it (and that’s for ‘all’ missed connections, not just the ones where it is your wedding, or you’re a keynote speaker at a conference etc)

 

[NM]

Thanks.

I thought you were referring to airline “protected”. If I take the 6hr option that’s well within MCT. But worth checking the insurance wording.

Multi-layered protection is normally a good thing. When the airlines won't protect you, it's time to protect yourself in other ways - one being to plan an overnight layover, the other being travel insurance. Of course neither get you to your final destination with minimal delay. It's more about being able to minimise financial outlay to get you to the final destination if the inbound flight is delayed.

As for HLO… hard to do for a ski trip unfortunately!

Yes, unfortunate, and it happens sometimes.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

A very friendly check in agent showed me the seating application the QF uses and what/how a FF shadow looks like. Now the agent didn’t say for certain (rather chose not to say for certain) if/not the concept of “shadow” exists. But they pointed out to my seat and the “shadow” next to it. Lowly Gold here.

Have had a few empty seats next to me when I was QFF SG, over a 3.5 or so period pre covid.
===
Would take the 6 hrs or long int -> dom at YVR too.
Seeing now that everyone needs a Canadian ETA, and you have a chance of getting a very strict CBSA officer, yes, watch too much of the youtube you know what shows.