When does MEL check-in open for QR flights?

[Cryptarcadian]

Anyone know when check-in opens for QR905 dep MEL 21:15? Thanks in advance!

Qatar seems to only talk about online check-in, and gives no info about when physical check in and bag drop opens. I'm not sure I can do OLCI, given I will be traveling with an infant on the booking too (even if I could make HLO work) -- is that possible with QR?

Alternatively, reckon they would let me check in early if we were there while check-in was open for QR989 dep 16:00?

Would like to know for the purpose of maximising F lounge time beforehand, the day before my QR platinum expires.

(edit: New idea if the above doesn't work... would VA or QF be wiling to check through from SYD? Will be on a separate PNRs for SYD-MEL and international)

 

[sudoer]

(edit: New idea if the above doesn't work... would VA or QF be wiling to check through from SYD? Will be on a separate PNRs for SYD-MEL and international)

QF: If one ticket is paid with cash, and one is an award, they should check through. This is stated on the QF Agency Connect website.

 

[Cessna 180]

Anyone know when check-in opens for QR905 dep MEL 21:15? Thanks in advance!

Qatar seems to only talk about online check-in, and gives no info about when physical check in and bag drop opens. I'm not sure I can do OLCI, given I will be traveling with an infant on the booking too (even if I could make HLO work) -- is that possible with QR?

Alternatively, reckon they would let me check in early if we were there while check-in was open for QR989 dep 16:00?

Would like to know for the purpose of maximising F lounge time beforehand, the day before my QR platinum expires.

(edit: New idea if the above doesn't work... would VA or QF be wiling to check through from SYD? Will be on a separate PNRs for SYD-MEL and international)

Whilst I cannot answer your question specifically, I can give the following info from last week.

I wandered through the international terminal last week on my way to domestic. I found the QR check in counters for the 1600 departure and it was completely deserted. This was around 1130 local from memory.

I am also interested in this as I will be on the same flight as you mention in April and may well be at the airport around 1600.

I will be (hopefully) HLO so it appears I can do online check in and then just breeze through at anytime?

I have only done one international trip since COV and that was connecting on from a Dash-8 so a different situation.

 

[RooFlyer]

I will be (hopefully) HLO so it appears I can do online check in and then just breeze through at anytime?

You'll be able to check-in online, but you usually have to front up anyway for a passport check and to see if you need any visas (to be checked).

 

[Cessna 180]

You'll be able to check-in online, but you usually have to front up anyway for a passport check and to see if you need any visas (to be checked).

Ok thanks for this, so if I just waltz on through to security and immigration I would get turned back? Or do you mean the online check-in does not actually complete?

 

[RooFlyer]

Ok thanks for this, so if I just waltz on through to security and immigration I would get turned back? Or do you mean the online check-in does not actually complete?

I believe you 'check-in' but you don't get a boarding pass. Never done it myself, but I think that was the experience of others here.

 

[Cessna 180]

I believe you 'check-in' but you don't get a boarding pass. Never done it myself, but I think that was the experience of others here.

Yes ok, good information thankyou.

I don't really understand the benefit of early OLCI to be honest.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

I called QR on the platinum number, someone who seemed to know what they were talking about checked and told me that it's 3h now (acknowledging it was previously earlier).

I considered deliberately booking an award ticket as @sudoer suggested (thanks!), but had a complimentary Amex VA flight soon to expire so used that instead. Will "make do" with a bit under 3 hours in the F lounge.

I found the QR check in counters for the 1600 departure and it was completely deserted. This was around 1130 local from memory.

Thanks for sharing! That's 4.5h before the flight, so I wouldn't hold my breath. I was hoping it might be 4h.

I believe you 'check-in' but you don't get a boarding pass. Never done it myself, but I think that was the experience of others here.

Might depend on your destination country?

I previously flew QR out of BNE, did OLCI and successfully got a mobile boarding pass. I was flying BNE-DOH-ATH.

I didn't attempt to go through security earlier, because at the time the international lounges were all closed (this was in May 2022). I did instead use the boarding pass to go to the QF domestic J lounge until it closed (in spite of grumblings from the QF lounge agent).

 

[Cryptarcadian]

To answer my own question... we flew out of MEL at the end of March and check-in opened at around 3h 15m before departure, a bit before 18:00 for the 21:15.

And I was able to get mobile boarding passes in the app after doing OLCI, even with an infant. Alas, we had luggage to check in anyway so collected the paper ones too.

 

[Gold Member]

I believe you 'check-in' but you don't get a boarding pass. Never done it myself, but I think that was the experience of others here.

MEL and other Australian Airports enabled mobile boarding passes a couple of years ago I think. Of course the Operating Airline also has to support the feature via their app, which QR does. I’m planning on arriving at MEL with HLO @ ~4pm for the 2115 service for a slow 5 hour graze before boarding.

Might depend on your destination country?

I’m not aware of the ticketed destination affecting the availability of OLCI/mobile boarding pass. Perhaps just some additional scrutiny/backend monitoring at Immigration?

 

[Cessna 180]

I did the QR 905 a few weeks ago now. Check in opened about three and a quarter hours before scheduled departure. There were quite a few pax lined up by this stage despite the check in staff already being present and just chatting and hanging around behind the counter.

So what I learnt is, that being HLO, I could have snuck through security and immigration with my mobile boarding pass and onward to the F lounge. What would happen then is that I would have been paged at the gate at the start of boarding to be given a cardboard boarding pass. This is what the check in staff told me when I asked.

Security and immigration was thence particularly quick.

I did have a lovely time in the F lounge which in my limited opinion, is the best lounge I have been too. I was offered the spa massage as well when I arrived. After leaving, I briefly visited whatever third party lounge QR suggested I go to. It was quite disappointing and I departed quickly.

As discussed on other threads; flight paid for with Velocity points, riding on QR and dining in the QF F lounge. Sometimes the system works and it is amazing!