Tips/Advice - stuartfaz's QF group jaunt across Asia

[stuartfaz]

Hey guys,

I've always thought of my flight record as somewhat (well...extremely) underwhelming compared to some of the itineraries of the people on AFF do all the time.

So for several reasons (the main one being the unavailability of any viable alternative using QFF points) I have booked a (by my standards) challenging itinerary for my trip to BKK in July.

After having never flown QF (ever) and only used the QF group on one sector (JQ in 2006), this is an initiation of sorts for me.

13 JUL MEL-BKK Flight QF265 operated by Jetstar Airways International (JQ29)
Booked into Starclass (U)

18 JUL BKK-SIN Flight 3K514 operated by Jetstar Asia Airways
Booked into Noclass

19 JUL SIN-PER Flight QF72 operated by Qantas Airways
Booked into Economy class (X)

19 JUL PER-MEL Flight QF776 operated by Qantas Airways
Booked into Economy class (X)

I was just looking for any tips or advice the brains trust may have.

 

[serfty]

... 13 JUL MEL-BKK Flight QF265 operated by Jetstar Airways International (JQ29)
Booked into Starclass (U)...

Seems like an award booking; first advice is to get a good seat allocation on JQ29. IME you can't do this on-line; do a dummy

Class booking for your flight on jetstar.com to check out available seating, then call Jet

on 131 538 to request your seat.

For this flight, If you want a window, any K seat would do (1K best) as the sun shines onto the A seats as it sets. If not fussed with windows, 2D is best followed by 1E.

 

[stuartfaz]

Seems like an award booking; first advice is to get a good seat allocation on JQ29. IME you can't do this on-line; do a dummy

Class booking for your flight on jetstar.com to check out available seating, then call Jet

on 131 538 to request your seat.

For this flight, If you want a window, any K seat would do (1K best) as the sun shines onto the A seats as it sets. If not fussed with windows, 2D is best followed by 1E.

OK done and done, preallocated seat 2D on JQ29.

I think the main issue for me here is going to be the transit at SIN. The 3K flight from BKK is scheduled to arrive at T1 at 11:10pm and the QF flight to PER leaves at 9:05am (also from T1), leaving me in transit for a fair while. The bookings aren't linked (the JQ/QF flights are awards on family points, the 3K flight is booked normally) but I don't think that would be of any help regardless.

Any ideas for what to do at SIN? I was thinking of just booking a room at the transit hotel (6 hour blocks right?) and biding my time but if anyone has a better idea, shoot.

Also, I won't need to apply for a visa to clear immigration at SIN, will I? I know I need to go through customs so I can leave the transit level to check-in for the QF flights.

ALSO (final question for now) when it comes to clearing customs in Australia, I assume this will be done at PER, so will I have to collect my luggage and check-in again for PER-MEL? (the SIN-PER-MEL flight on QF is one linked booking)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Evan]

You dont need any visa for SIN, easy to leave the airport and come back, may consider a city hotel if the transit is too expensive, just take the train its cheaper than taxi.

If its a weekend and you have never been to Singapore before consider a trip in the city and look around if you have the desire to stay awake and not sleep, maybe visit a club or 2

E

 

[JohnK]

Any ideas for what to do at SIN? I was thinking of just booking a room at the transit hotel (6 hour blocks right?) and biding my time but if anyone has a better idea, shoot.

Depends on the rate for the transit hotel. I would find a city hotel and even the taxis are inexpensive. As Evan suggested maybe a club or 2 or even something to eat.

ALSO (final question for now) when it comes to clearing customs in Australia, I assume this will be done at PER, so will I have to collect my luggage and check-in again for PER-MEL? (the SIN-PER-MEL flight on QF is one linked booking)

You will arrive at PER international terminal and collect bags before clearing customs and quarantine. Then you need to catch the inter-terminal bus which runs approximately every 20 minutes. This will be free as you have a QF ticket. Finally check in at the domestic terminal.

Note taxi between PER terminals is over $20 one way.

 

[Evan]

To get your free bus ticket see the QF service desk on the bottom floor not to far from where you get the bus. I hate transits in Perth for this reason, but if the flights are cheap then i will do it, or for points and SC.

Transit Hotel

Welcome to Ambassador Transit Hotel

About AUD $50 for a stay it looks. Make sure you book, if you just turn up you will most of the time not get a room. There is also what used to me a LeMeridian hotel @ Changi that has a shuttle to the hotel, not sure of cost or its new name.

E