The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[LionKing]

Click threw on the app to see baggage allowance.

I haven't checked booked yet and I am thinking of which cabin I should book to fit in as then I am transferring to International which means I might be bringing 3 bags.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I haven't checked booked yet and I am thinking of which cabin I should book to fit in as then I am transferring to International which means I might be bringing 3 bags.

If you are connecting from Qantas domestic to Qantas international, separate tickets but same day, they’ll give you the international allowance on the domestic ticket.

If you are connecting to another airline the baggage allowances of each separate ticket will apply.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Very most likely, it will be separate, as QF5 is (if you do as you plan to), its an orange sticker dom pax on int flight.
I dont think QF will sell you a tix as you plan to do, probably wont work.
You are also having to DIY the bags from dom at T4 to T1 for the CX flight...
Good luck if they can help, but I can only it as a no.
Can only see the bad or horrible that can come out of this odyssey, even if you have 4.5 hrs.
IF you were doing a QFd to QFi, and can a BP and all, and show passport to QFd staff only once, and dont have to go to the counter again (CX or QFi), it might work.
But you must remember, your QF5 is not really an int flight, in your case.
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If you are seriously thinking about 3 bags, do SYD direct to HKG this trip, or even go via BNE or MEL, as its QFd to QFi, and you only have to show passport once to QF staff, who will then issue a QF082 BP for the whole trip.
Going QF5 then CX via PER will only be problematic.
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Personally, I wouldnt dare do it.
Or if I did, I would just do it SYD -> PER as a solo, as a try, and not do a transit to T1.
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Also, as you do QF5 and have not paid the PMC on that sector, it wont be as an int pax.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

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

Apparently it is possible out of Inverness, Great Britain’s capital of low fares:



I’m guessing both flights will get me the coveted squiggle?

 

[SYD]

Apparently it is possible out of Inverness, Great Britain’s capital of low fares:

View attachment 510297

I’m guessing both flights will get me the coveted squiggle?

Noice

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes, but you have to spend the Aud/Gbp and time, to take QF2 to SIN, then back, if you only need the squiggles and dont plan to make it back to SYD.
If all you need is squiggles, and you dont mind the outlay, and are very close to QFF WP, then go for it.
But if you are half way SG, and still a long way to 1400, its a big spend.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Yes, but you have to spend the Aud/Gbp and time, to take QF2 to SIN, then back, if you only need the squiggles and dont plan to make it back to SYD.
If all you need is squiggles, and you dont mind the outlay, and are very close to QFF WP, then go for it.
But if you are half way SG, and still a long way to 1400, its a big spend.

Looking where I am (Frankfurt) the price is similar to this convoluted itinerary (at least on Star Alliance - I refuse to fly ME airlines given the conflict happening there). So now the question is whether it is worth the hassle to add those legs in.

I’m half way to Lifetime Silver (OneWorld Ruby). What I see as a benefit of holding the status is the complimentary seat selection, business class check in and the occasional extra baggage allowance on some carriers

 

[burneracc]

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?

Looking where I am (Frankfurt) the price is similar to this convoluted itinerary (at least on Star Alliance - I refuse to fly ME airlines given the conflict happening there). So now the question is whether it is worth the hassle to add those legs in.

I’m half way to Lifetime Silver (OneWorld Ruby). What I see as a benefit of holding the status is the complimentary seat selection, business class check in and the occasional extra baggage allowance on some carriers

Here's my read, I'm quite analytical so I think I've covered most things but I've had to make some assumptions so I have covered multiple scenarios for you. Theres also a good smattering of opinion in there too - you did ask for our thoughts as well!

Regardless, even if you think what I have written is total nonsense it should at least provoke some useful chains of thought to help you make your mind up.

Also arguably this is not a newbie question - its quite interesting, could deserve its own thread for a broader discussion.

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1: If you don't plan on visiting Aus to see family / friends in this membership year, then you are essentially going to extra hassle / spending extra money to maintain a status that you wouldn't *really* use when the *A alternatives are on par for the most part.

The key point to consider here is that the "savings" from fiddling about in Inverness / similar, just to maintain QF SG for the odd occasion where you fly oneworld (you stated AA and BA, possibly CX or JAL in Asia?), may be outweighed by simply paying a little bit extra for a *A carrier, from the FRA *A stronghold.

2: If the move for your postdoc is permanent then ditch maintaining QF status altogether, just credit the odd oneworld flight there to keep ticking towards lifetime silver. Even if you plan to visit AU yearly or bi-yearly, SQ will do the job instead of weird routing to hit 4 QF sectors - doubly so if bi-yearly.

Here's the interesting part IMO:

3: If you are considering oneworld carriers for your Asia trip, then yes maintaining QF / OW status is logical, with the caveat that in Asia, being emerald / platinum really really shines, to the point that if you are going to go for oneworld status for this trip, you should also consider pushing for emerald. Emerald is the big differentiator that oneworld has over *A, and in Asia it's particularly strong, to the point that Asia is IMO the best place in the world to be emerald.

Although to caveat this rather strong point I am making - the sapphire experience on CX is as good as emerald on other carriers with regards to ground treatment, so if you wish to route through HKG on CX as QF gold I wouldn't blame you for not pushing for emerald and simply making this reason the basis to renew QF gold. Bear in mind though that I am a CX fanboy after flying them 7 times in the last 9 months or so as OW Sapphire / QF gold and loving it. It really is that good.

Otherwise, as QF gold theres not much differentiation against your *A status in the region, simply different carriers. CX and SQ are (according to others) roughly equivalent, although personally I'd give the edge to CX every time provided you have status. Meanwhile JAL and ANA are on par. Air China (if you are planning on visiting) is a network advantage that *A wins on too. Overall I'd say simply enjoy the SQ / ANA experience with your LH status while you have it.

4: If you plan on returning to SYD/AU in a few years, then it's a 50/50 on whether you should maintain QF status in the meantime. I believe you are correct in that you will drop down to Silver from Gold for the next year via a soft landing, so you aren't totally statusless in that period, which means you could simply take this period as an opportunity to explore / go all in with *A for a little while before returning to oneworld. It's nice to try new things.

Key questions to ask yourself regardless of situation from the above:

• Is the hassle of going from 90SC this year to 600 as well as finding 4 QF sectors through weird routing / positioning worth the payoff of QF SG?
• Can you survive without oneworld sapphire over the next 2 years? (Almost definitely yes, as the *A network is biggest and you now have status there).
• How extensive will your Asia travels be, and with which carriers?
• If you want OW carriers in Asia, can you get to OWE with QF?
  • Alternatively, can you simply snag cheap J oneworld fares ex-europe where they tend to be cheaper from some origins?
    
    A quick domestic repositioning in europe may get you into J for relatively cheap, and gets you the same perks as QF SG anyway, without the maintaining status hassle, AND as a bonus gets you closer to lifetime silver faster, which I noticed is important to you.
• How much cheaper actually is oneworld to the americas vs *A?
  • Do the $$$ savings justify the time and effort required to manufacture status with QF?
• What carrier/s do YOUlike? - this one is borderline the most important question.
  • Ultimately, it's all personal preference, so adjust your plan accordingly.
• Being ~40% of the way to QF lifetime silver - are the next two years going to make much of a dent in that progress when you are primarily flying *A?
• Extra little caveat - do you plan on flying EK at all in the future?
  • QF status is unique in that it is useful in this scenario. But given the current situation I haven't given much weighting to this, and you mention avoiding the ME, so weight it very lowly.

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Final thoughts:

I find generally that fighting the system you are situated in is unwise. What I mean by this is that for me flying ex-PER (and for most ex-AU flyers) theres no point in avoiding QF.

Similarly for you (and as you have already recognised) for the most part, ex-FRA theres not much payoff by flying outside of *A / LH. You are also seeing this with the relative struggle to find itineraries for the Asia trip that meet your requirements. Not saying its bad, but its likely going to be "worse".

Anyway this is much longer than I expected it to be but I hope it helps at least a little. Quite a fun mental exercise.