The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[kookaburra75]

Are you on the same booking? I’ve had this when upgrading another booking, but not on my own booking with others

We're on the same booking, which is why it surprised me. I would have expected it if upgrading family travelling on another booking that didn't have me on it. Which I have done in the past for my parents, but even then, I wasn't asked about them being 'eligible family members'.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Question re check in at MEL First Class as Platinum please.
Is it 3 or 4 hours to check in? Vague memory last year, we checked in 4 hours.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Question re check in at MEL First Class as Platinum please.
Is it 3 or 4 hours to check in? Vague memory last year, we checked in 4 hours.

Can answer my own question, yes we were able to check in 4 hours prior.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

As I think I mentioned in a prior post last year I moved to Germany to do my PostDoc. As you can probably imagine, the opportunities to use my Qantas OneWorld status never mind retain it are more limited than when I had lived in Sydney. Indeed, this past weekend I just earned my Lufthansa Miles & More frequent traveller status which amongst other things grants me access to Lufthansa Group business lounges, business class check-in, fast track security at my home airport of Frankfurt amongst other things.

Last year I managed to (somehow) re-qualify for my Qantas Gold having taken a business class flight with British Airways between Frankfurt and Inverness, along with the AA flights I took from Canada to South America and the exactly 4 Qantas flights I took last year ( SYD <-> MEL and SYD -> BNE -> LAX).

I suppose my question for the community is whether it makes any sense to bother re-qualifying for QF Gold status this year (I've got 90 status credits earned through AA/IB flights taken)? Whilst most of the time it makes sense for me to fly Star Alliance being at a hub like Frankfurt, it would be nice to earn that lifetime status (I'm currently at 2926 lifetime status credits). At the same time, often times OneWorld airlines (i.e. AA) do offer the cheapest fare for destinations in the Americas from Frankfurt. Having status where I can choose any seat for myself and my partner and accessing the nice JAL lounge at FRA is certainly a benefit. My understanding is that if I don't re-qualify I will be bumped down to QF Silver status next year (my qualification year ends on November 30). Is that correct?

Next year, I am planning on travelling to Asia and was thinking of maybe trying to earn QFF Gold status that way. Specifically, I was thinking of flying Frankfurt to Singapore on Qantas (via LHR). However, when I search for those flights on Google Flights all I'm seeing are BA itineraries, and nothing with a QF flight (I even tried searching on the QFF website). I know QF operates LHR to SIN service and if I search for LHR to SIN specifically I get QF flights no problem. From there I was thinking of either incorporating on domestic Japan return flight on JetStar Japan so that I could ensure I get the 4 stamps on my QFF card to qualify for status earning that year. What am I doing wrong here? What are your thoughts on the strategy?

-RooFlyer88

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

You still need the 4 squiggles tho, and if you have that, and fly full service OW partner airlines a lot, then its worth it.
But if you are not returning to Aus/no 4 squiggles, and if you plan to come back to Aus to live, or to this region, then just a bit of activity every few weeks is worth it, maybe a hotel stay, if you dont plan to fly OW partners in the meantime.

 

[SYD]

You still need the 4 squiggles tho, and if you have that, and fly full service OW partner airlines a lot, then its worth it.
But if you are not returning to Aus/no 4 squiggles, and if you plan to come back to Aus to live, or to this region, then just a bit of activity every few weeks is worth it, maybe a hotel stay, if you dont plan to fly OW partners in the meantime.

The QF sectors LHR-SIN (return) count as eligible sector (aka squiggles). OP also mentions Jetstar Japan for 2x more squiggles.

Now, if he could get FRA-LHR-SIN (return) all on QF codes, then that would be 4x ~.

The other option is EK codeshares all the way to Oz but requires more $s and time.

 

[bernardblack]

The 90-120min check-in deadline is only at the international departure point, right? If I have MEL-xSYD-DFW, in J then F, and a 4:15 layover between, then I can check-in online and arrive at the MEL domestic J counter for bag drop an hour before, right?

 

[Warragul]

Yes, 45 minutes is the cutoff according to the e-ticket pdf.

 

[elanshin]

The 90-120min check-in deadline is only at the international departure point, right? If I have MEL-xSYD-DFW, in J then F, and a 4:15 layover between, then I can check-in online and arrive at the MEL domestic J counter for bag drop an hour before, right?

Yes. You'll need a bit more time and a service desk to process it so more than the 30min cutoff but 1h is usually fine. The only consideration is if you want to try and move to an earlier flight for more F lounge time but 4h is plenty too.

 

[bernardblack]

Yes. You'll need a bit more time and a service desk to process it so more than the 30min cutoff but 1h is usually fine. The only consideration is if you want to try and move to an earlier flight for more F lounge time but 4h is plenty too.

My flight departs MEL at 06:15, so I think the earliest flight of the day is only 15min earlier. But if I arrive in time for that one and there is space, I will switch, for the extra 15min in the F Lounge.

 

[AIRwin]

My flight departs MEL at 06:15, so I think the earliest flight of the day is only 15min earlier. But if I arrive in time for that one and there is space, I will switch, for the extra 15min in the F Lounge.

Unless it ends up delayed

 

[Mr_Tee]

The 90-120min check-in deadline is only at the international departure point, right? If I have MEL-xSYD-DFW, in J then F, and a 4:15 layover between, then I can check-in online and arrive at the MEL domestic J counter for bag drop an hour before, right?

@bernardblack Check to see if there is there still the International Connections Domestic Checkin counter at QF Melbourne Domestic where you go if you are doing an itinerary like this. That is what I did last time I did a similar itinerary. The checkin process does not require a 2 hour gap and you can probably get away with 1 hour, even though the check-in is manual (not bag drop) and a few more checks are conducted on your documentation etc.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

The first flight out from MEL will be DXB one, so there will be staff around.
As you are going to the US, and as we know, the US are very strict, you might be able to do stuff towards OLCI, but most likely would need to have passport swiped/scanned/dipped by QFd staff at the T1 counters.
I would try to be at Tullamarine by 4.45am, lineup at the least.
As your 6.15am will be first QF flight out, to SYD, it will probably be busy.
And your flight, even tho you would have shown passport and have BP, it will still be a QFd flight, so you will still have to get from T3 at SYD to T1 via the QF bus, at gate 15, so, do it earlier.
If it was a purely QFd flight, then an hour with bag drop or 45mins at T1 with HLO should be enough.
---

My flight departs MEL at 06:15, so I think the earliest flight of the day is only 15min earlier. But if I arrive in time for that one and there is space, I will switch, for the extra 15min in the F Lounge.

There is no access to the F lounge in MEL, as your flight to SYD, will be a QFd one, so will be departing from T1.
At SYD, yes, there is the F lounge there, I think it will be a bit early for the S&P squid, which I believe starts at lunch.
Have done them both when EK used to do MEL and SYD to AKL, with their F cabin.

 

[JessicaTam]

The first flight out from MEL will be DXB one, so there will be staff around.

Immaterial. The OP is flying domestic for their first leg, so there is no interaction with the QFi staff.

As you are going to the US, and as we know, the US are very strict, you might be able to do stuff towards OLCI, but most likely would need to have passport swiped/scanned/dipped by QFd staff at the T1 counters.

Incorrect. The regular QFd staff will not be able to help the OP. The International Connections counter will do all that is necessary. It is at the far right. *Past* the QFd counters.

As your 6.15am will be first QF flight out, to SYD, it will probably be busy.

Incorrect. The first flight is QF400 at 0600.

There is no access to the F lounge in MEL, as your flight to SYD, will be a QFd one, so will be departing from T1.

Immaterial. There has been no mention of the F lounge in MEL. The OP is talking about the SYD F lounge.

 

[Seat0B]

Now, if he could get FRA-LHR-SIN (return) all on QF codes, then that would be 4x ~.

But I don’t think @kangarooflyer88 can just take these flights as QF codes without also coming to some port in Australia

 

[SYD]

But I don’t think @kangarooflyer88 can just take these flights as QF codes without also coming to some port in Australia

Yes, that was more a hypothetical v the option I also mentioned about coming all the way to Oz on EK.