Qantas Business to First Upgrade and Lounge Access

[financialminimalism]

Hi guys - n00b alert to the forum.

Travelling with my wife to Honolulu tomorrow for our Honeymoon. We used our points to book return business class airfares from Melbourne to Honolulu via Sydney (MEL->SYD QF448) and (SYD->HNL QF003).

Two questions (first time travelling business, so you'll have to excuse me):

1. Do you get any lounge access in Melbourne and Sydney if we're travelling Business? If so, which lounges? We're both now down to Bronze QFF status.
2. Is it possible to upgrade these fares from Business to First Class (perhaps for the leg over) and if so, what's the best way to go about doing it? Using points? We have about 90k available.

Thanks all!
Fairbaba

 

[mrfreeze]

You should have access to the Domestic Business Lounge in Melbourne and in Sydney the Business Lounge after passing through Customs / Immigration.

If I am wrong, some of the more knowledgable on here will correct me.

 

[Must...Fly!]

1) Yes you will get access to the business lounges in both MEL and SYD. However you might not have much time in SYD judging by your arrival/departure time and taking in to account terminal transfer in Sydney.

2) No, First is not offered on this route

Welcome to AFF, congratulations and enjoy your honeymoon!

 

[moa999]

Welcome fairbaba,
mrfreeze is correct.

Being on Business tickets you will have access to the Domestic Business lounge in Melbourne (the mini-club inside the Qantas Club) and Sydney International Business lounge.
On the way back there is also a Qantas Club lounge in Honolulu

QF doesn't offer First on those routes, so no upgrades available. Even if there was you would have needed to apply using points some time ago.

At Melbourne you should be able to get your luggage checked through to HNL.
At Sydney go to Gate 1 for the International Transfer
Sydney Terminal Transfers | Qantas


Welcome to AFF.

 

[financialminimalism]

Thanks guys - appreciate your help!

 

[ozmille]

As your flight will be on a 767 no First class will be available.

 

[danny09]

Congratulations & hope you have a great honeymoon

 

[RooFlyer]

Just re-iterating what a couple of others have mentioned.

You can get the business lounge access, not just Qantas Club Lounge. At MEL domestic, keep going straight on when you enter the main lounge and go through the sliding glass door at the end. If its crowded, just swan back out to the general lounge

At SYD international, I'm not so sure (get WP access to the F lounge), but simply ask if there is a business lounge at check-in.

 

[Must...Fly!]

At SYD international, I'm not so sure (get WP access to the F lounge), but simply ask if there is a business lounge at check-in.

Qantas Club and International Business Lounge are one and the same.

 

[simongr]

Also to clarify if these were classic awards they wouldn't have been upgradable with points even if F was offered.

And yes the intl QP is the biz lounge.

 

[Fantic125]

After you go through security at SYD Int, walk through the Duty Free area and keep to the left. You will see some escalators which will take you up to the QF First and Business lounges.

Turn left at the top of the escalators and the entrance to the Business lounge is halfway down the walkway.

Welcome to AFF and enjoy the honeymoon!

 

[trooper]

Given that the question about upgrading to First might imply that the OP doesn't know the aircraft/seat/product used on that route... I am a little concerned that expectations might be ....a little too high...

 

[Mgjdubs]

Given that the question about upgrading to First might imply that the OP doesn't know the aircraft/seat/product used on that route... I am a little concerned that expectations might be ....a little too high...

Agreed. This product is hardly memorable. But if memorable, for all the wrong reasons.

OP, I hope you have a fantastic time nonetheless on your vacation!

 

[ozmille]

Given that the question about upgrading to First might imply that the OP doesn't know the aircraft/seat/product used on that route... I am a little concerned that expectations might be ....a little too high...

I am afraid you might be correct, hence why I made reference to a 767 in my post earlier, I do hope the OP will have a splendid time in HNL though and enjoy their holiday nonetheless

 

[vitagen]

I am afraid you might be correct, hence why I made reference to a 767 in my post earlier, I do hope the OP will have a splendid time in HNL though and enjoy their holiday nonetheless

Have a fantastic honeymoon! There are worse planes than 'Old Faithful'


Very likely to be posted via iPhone or iPad

 

[trooper]

Good attitudes there folks! Yep .. a big Congrats/Good Luck to the OP....:mrgreen:

 

[ozbeachbabe]

[*]Is it possible to upgrade these fares from Business to First Class (perhaps for the leg over) and if so, what's the best way to go about doing it? Using points? We have about 90k available.
[/LIST]
Thanks all!
Fairbaba

When I first read your post about the leg over & the best way of doing it I thought you were asking advice about something else & I thought crikey at least wait 'til you get to the hotel!

 

[trooper]

Am I allowed to say... "I like the way you think"? :shock:

 

[financialminimalism]

Given that the question about upgrading to First might imply that the OP doesn't know the aircraft/seat/product used on that route... I am a little concerned that expectations might be ....a little too high...

Wow I wish I had seen your post before I booked - I had no idea how old the business class is on this route! Why don't they say something on their web site when you're booking your flights?

I subsequently went back to the web site and looked at all the brochure material on the site about business class and found a small condition at the bottom of one of the pages about the lack of skybeds on the route... They couldn't have hidden it better if they tried! They also don't mention about what you get instead of the skybeds! You think they could mention it at some point during the booking process? Also - if you read the section on "entertainment" in international business you'll laugh - no exclusions or conditions there.

What a waste of 288,000 points and $1500 in 'taxes'.

Thanks Qantas - that's why Australia chooses to fly with you for international travel.

 

[financialminimalism]

Forgot to mention the SYD-HNL flight was 3 hours delayed, so we had to pay almost $150 in change fees for our HNL-OGG flights with Hawaiian Airlines. Qantas offered no help in the process because we didn't book the Maui leg directly with them. How do you even do that? If you go to Qantas.com it says they don't fly to Maui. At a loss on that one.