Transfer from Jetstar to Qantas

[brickmark]

Hi all,

Next week we have a flight from BNE to SYD with Jetstar and then to an international flight with Qantas.

As we have 2 young kids I just wanted to check that our luggage will get transferred to the international flight?

If we need to collect checked luggage and then transfer to T1 terminal a 2.5 hour window would be pushing it - right?

 

[medhead]

It will not be transferred. You need to collect and re check it. The free Qantas transfer bus is in terminal 3 and you're eligible to use it. Except it is inside security, an you might not be able to get passed security to use the bus with your checked luggage.

IMO the next best option is the train at about $5.50 for an international transfer. There is probably also something about children where the second and subsequent children travel for free.

 

[RooFlyer]

In which case yes, a 2.5 hour transfer would be pushing it. Boarding for the international flight would begin about 45 mins before departure and may close ~ 20 minutes prior. So you really only have less than a 2hr window. With 2 youngsters, land-side transfer, and possibility of Jetstar plane or bags being delayed, its getting difficult.

 

[phily]

Boarding for the international flight would begin about 45 mins before departure and may close ~ 20 minutes prior.

Additionally, QF says that they close check-in for international flights at 90 mins before the flight. That now gives you just 60 mins to get your bags, get a train between terminals, and check-in. What happens if your Jetstar flight is late departing BNE and you miss your QF flight? Or Jetstar cancel the flight? And medhead is right - Jetstar just don't do luggage transfers.

I know it's an impact on the budget, but my choice would be to fly the domestic leg the day before, especially if travelling with a LCC.

I apologise for being pessimistic. I just don't like being filled with high levels of anxiety when travelling, especially prior to an international flight.

 

[brickmark]

Thanks all for the very wise information.

This was a flight that was booked BNE - LAX on same ticket (classic points) and this is the flight it gave me. I did think it seems rushed that is why I asked you all.

I think I might book a separate Qantas Flight for earlier in the day. If I do that do you think there will be any complications if I just leave the Jetstar flight and take the Qantas flight instead? IE if we dont show for the Jetstar flight, they wont cancel the SYD - LAX also will they?

 

[RooFlyer]

Failing to take the first sector on a ticket usually results in cancellation of the entire ticket, so don't do that.

Call Jetstar and see if you can move to an earlier flight, pointing out the complications. You'll probably have to pay a change fee, but better than missing the flight and maybe cheaper than buying a new sector.

 

[medhead]

If it is an award ticket I'd call Qantas and ask them to change to an earlier flight due to the complications etc.

 

[brickmark]

Failing to take the first sector on a ticket usually results in cancellation of the entire ticket, so don't do that.

Call Jetstar and see if you can move to an earlier flight, pointing out the complications. You'll probably have to pay a change fee, but better than missing the flight and maybe cheaper than buying a new sector.

Thanks RooFlyer,

Lucky I asked. I phoned Qantas and they agreed and said technically that they couldn't cancel that sector only. He then put me on hold for a few minutes and came back and said he had cancelled the leg for me. Great customer service from Qantas.

 

[RooFlyer]

Good stuff. However sometimes too much help can be a problem; sometimes they do X to bend the rules, forgetting that Y and Z still matter (I know that sounds ungracious, but it does happen).

Again, sorry to be negative, but leave it a day or so, and check your booking on-line. Make sure it absolutely has the first sector disappeared. Any trace of your original departure port might be a problem.

Don't suppose you got the points back for that leg ?

 

[dfcatch]

This is the absolute BULLSH!T excuse for a "Group Airline" arrangement that the world has ever known.

Seriously - this issue grinds my gears so much......

There is no reason to book a pax on a domestic JQ flight between BNE-SYD when connecting to a QF flight. The points aren't any cheaper, and you just inconvenience the poor pax who now would have to pay $$$ to catch the train and have a coughpy transfer experience due to QF being wankers with their implementation of JQ.


There's no reason they couldn't have put you on a QF segment BNE-SYD if there was 4 Award seats available (which there quite possibly could have been at the time you made the booking).

Did you make the booking online or over the phone.

If online - unfortunately - lesson learnt - you now know to make sure that you select the QF operated flight to enjoy seamless connections.
If over the phone - then they should have offered you a QF connection if seats were available.

What day is this for? Perhaps we can check availability on EF for you.

Just my 2 cents

 

[dfcatch]

I just looked on EF - there are at least 9 Award Seats in Y every morning next week on QF between BNE and SYD.

I think that's a piss-poor handling by QF.

There is no reason you should be out of pocket in $$$ to pay a revenue flight for that connection.

I wouldn't be happy at all

 

[brickmark]

I just looked on EF - there are at least 9 Award Seats in Y every morning next week on QF between BNE and SYD.

I think that's a piss-poor handling by QF.

There is no reason you should be out of pocket in $$$ to pay a revenue flight for that connection.

I wouldn't be happy at all

Thanks for checking it out for me dfcatch. Originally we had booked a return flight to Honolulu and back with points (Jetstar - Star Class). My wife has recently finished 6 months cancer treatment (chemo etc). So we were thinking this weekend, life is too short - stuff it we will take the kids (5 & 6) to Disney for a few days and then fly onto Honululu from LAX. We wanted to keep the same return flight back with Jetstar HON to BNE.

So to cancel the original BNE - HON flight I needed to call Qantas. We snagged Premium seats SYD - LAX. Lady on the phone said I needed to book from the BNE all the way through. So it was either leave BNE at 5.30am and wait around for 10 hours or the Jetstar flight and only have 2.20 hrs transfer time. After I booked it I was thinking that doesn't seem enough time to drag kids and bags to international terminal. That is when I came to you guys for advice. I am glad I did.

 

[dfcatch]

Thanks for checking it out for me dfcatch. Originally we had booked a return flight to Honolulu and back with points (Jetstar - Star Class). My wife has recently finished 6 months cancer treatment (chemo etc). So we were thinking this weekend, life is too short - stuff it we will take the kids (5 & 6) to Disney for a few days and then fly onto Honululu from LAX. We wanted to keep the same return flight back with Jetstar HON to BNE.

So to cancel the original BNE - HON flight I needed to call Qantas. We snagged Premium seats SYD - LAX. Lady on the phone said I needed to book from the BNE all the way through. So it was either leave BNE at 5.30am and wait around for 10 hours or the Jetstar flight and only have 2.20 hrs transfer time. After I booked it I was thinking that doesn't seem enough time to drag kids and bags to international terminal. That is when I came to you guys for advice. I am glad I did.

Ahh ok - that's a bit better then - at least they did offer you the Qantas flight on the connection (as they should).

I withdraw "some" of my criticism (but not all - it's still a shambolic arrangement between the airlines).

I assume you're on QF17 - shame they couldn't get you on QF11 - but award seats are hard on that flight - especially in a premium cabin.

Sounds like you'll have a great trip. I think you're family has the right attitude - don't put these experiences off!