Why fly direct?...

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JessicaTam

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I had to head to Adelaide in Feb as it had been a while since I had seen the family. When I started looking at the booking engine for QF and JQ I noticed that I could catch JQ2 1740 MEL-SYD on Wednesday followed by QF81 0900 SYD-ADL on Thursday and they both left from their respective international terminals. Oh dear, what a shame. I soon had the flights booked, and found a cheap bed in Sydney.

After a bit of discussion on the JQ early checkin thread I got to the airport at about 12.30 resigned to the dom J lounge if need be. I headed to the international terminal to find JQ checkin closed. The service desk was open, however, so with a 'would you mind printing my boarding pass?' I was soon off to the doors at the back of landside.

I got to security screening to find I was the only pax. Yes, alone! I asked the security attendant if I could take a photo of the empty hall, but was quickly rebuffed. Moving through to passport control I found the same situation.

Note to self - travel at lunch time.

I headed upstairs to the QF F lounge to be met by one of the Spa attendants. She insisted I have a treatment before my flight, and who was I to disagree. That gave me an hour to have lunch.

I chose the cream of mushroom soup, followed by the Thai style chicken (sans cashews) and had a glass of Delamotte while I waited. When the soup arrived I asked for an accompanying glass of wine and was offered the 2011 Devil's Lair Chardonnay, which suited the soup very well.

The main course soon followed with a glass of the 2010 Villa Maria Pinot Noir, which again suited the meal well. I was pleased to note that in each case some discussion was had between the staff as to the best choice of wine. So there was no simple x = y wine offered.

Lunch eaten, it was off for my facial and neck massage. Once I was comfortable the attendant entered and I was quite surprised to be asked where I was from followed by "Oh you must visit my friend who runs xx_ beauty salon in yyy suburb near you. She is very good and you will like her". WTF! Since when did Flounge staff take the opportunity to hard sell a friend's business?

Do I follow this up with QF as it seems to me that they are being taken advantage of?

Anyway, back to the treatment. I was offered an eyebrow tint which I accepted (I never seem to have time for that sort of thing) followed by a relaxing 20 minutes being pampered. There was no further mention of other businesses which I was relieved about.

I chose a comfy seat and enjoyed the pavlova in a glass followed by a glass of the 2010 Penfolds shiraz cabernet and then the 2010 Wynn's Black Label Cab/Sauv.

Footnote: I met FuzzyAus in the Flounge and we had a quick chat before spas got in the way.
 
Big shame about QF81 ;)

Re other businesses - GFC, times are tough.
 
I still struggle with the fabled F lounge dessert. It looks like it is wearing an ill fitting wig.

I'm like the wine consumption - looking like an excellent effort!! :)
 
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A friend asked me to get some Cointeau as I was passing through the international terminal.

Here it is, Reenie...

Cointeau.jpg

It was quite delicious, thank you for the suggestion.
 
Lunch eaten, it was off for my facial and neck massage. Once I was comfortable the attendant entered and I was quite surprised to be asked where I was from followed by "Oh you must visit my friend who runs xx_ beauty salon in yyy suburb near you. She is very good and you will like her". WTF! Since when did Flounge staff take the opportunity to hard sell a friend's business?

Do I follow this up with QF as it seems to me that they are being taken advantage of?

Anyway, back to the treatment. I was offered an eyebrow tint which I accepted (I never seem to have time for that sort of thing) followed by a relaxing 20 minutes being pampered. There was no further mention of other businesses which I was relieved about.

I think it sounds quite nice of the attendant to suggest it. I like getting tips from professionals about good businesses in my area. I don't think that there is any need to take it up with QF as it really just sounds like general conversation - and it certainly doesn't sound like a "hard sell" :)
 
Agreed! Although I'm not too sure about red wine with pavlova!
After the red was served, I decided to have the pav. I waited 'till I had eaten it before sampling the Penfolds
I think it sounds quite nice of the attendant to suggest it. I like getting tips from professionals about good businesses in my area. I don't think that there is any need to take it up with QF as it really just sounds like general conversation - and it certainly doesn't sound like a "hard sell" :)
It was just surprising, as I had never encountered it before. And it was a bit of a sell, as opposed to a suggestion.
 
The flight took off 20 minutes late, at 6pm, but we were still on the ground in SYD on time at 7.05. A very quick flight which was made all the more pleasant by chatting to wafliron for most of it. Great to meet you, and I hope to see you at a 'do' soon.

A speedy transit of customs etc and it was on the train and into town to the backpackers. It seems the hot water is on the blink so they are offering dinner gratis. I might just have to get to the airport early tomorrow for a shower. ;)
 
After a reasonably good night's sleep it was up and on the shuttle bus to the terminal. A relatively short queue in the security hall and I was heading up the stairs to the F lounge. My first priority was to have a shower as the backpackers had yet to resolve their hot water issues.

Refreshed and awake, I sat with a view of the tarmac and ordered breakfast - eggs florentine. Except I was presented with eggs benedict. :( I attracted the server's attention and it was soon exchanged. A glass of Delamotte to accompany it, and I was happy
 
I had been sitting in the QF lounge enjoying the people watching, and the plane spotting, when it occurred to me that MH are now OW and I am OWE and I am flying QF not JQ. And they have a lounge closer to the gate my flight leaves from (51), what more excuse do I need. A short(ish) walk and I am at the door. Except it is locked. Hmm. The MH lounge does no open until 12:10. Why 12:10 and not 12:00 I do not know, but suffice to say QF81 leaves at 12:05. For once I am hoping my flight will be delayed by an hour...

Back to the QF lounge and a glass of Veuve to revive me after 'stretching my legs'. Has anyone used the SYD MH lounge on a QF (not codeshare) ticket yet?
 
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Well QF81 departed and arrived on time. The flight itself was non-eventful with the exception of my lunch. I was served a sort of indian curry wrap. It had been sitting for a while so was quite soggy, and disintegrated when I tried to pick it up. I finished up eating it with a knife and fork.

soggy lunch.jpg

I chatted to one of the FAs about the demise of QF81/82 and how ADL was losing its link with Asia. He felt that JQ may pick it up. The trouble is JQ is not QF. We also got to talking about the 787, and he suggested a documentary that was on Discovery Channel recently which went into the reasons for some of the delays that Boeing experienced. Might be worth looking for if it hasn't already been mentioned on AFF.

I arrived in ADL and was waiting for my collection - which is now some distance from the terminal - when the most unusual conveyance arrived to drop off a pax. I am not sure how the parking attendants would go moving this one on...

park anywhere.jpg

Finally, the ubiquitous photo for any flounge run!

eggs florentine.jpg

Till April 13/14!
 
I don't think following up with QF re the lounge attendant is worthwhile. you culd have always mentioned it directly with her at the time if you had a problem (perhaps jokingly mentioned the 'hard sell'). Why get someone into trouble?
 
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