Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

[serfty]

Later this month, I'll be travelling MEL-AKL on the JQ red-eye departing 11:40pm. (An inclusive $99 fare)

That evening, the last QF International flights out is to HKG at 10:50pm; so, unless there are delays, I'd expect the QF Lounges to close around 10:10pm.

Normal Check-in for the JQ flight should open 8:40pm, so, If I am near the front of the queue, I should be able to access the Lounge by ~9:00pm. This would give me just over an hour there. I'll be doing carry-on only.

While, it would be nice if it were possible to get more; I had resigned myself to this limited time.

However, recently I have seen some posts indicating it may be well possible to get my BP earlier/elsewhere. With such BP, I can get to the lounge at a far more reasonable hour.

I am interested in pursuing this, both as a benefit to me , and noting the steps here as an aid to others.

Comments/thoughts anyone?

 

[connieguy]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

Later this month, I'll be travelling MEL-AKL on the JQ red-eye departing 11:40pm. (An inclusive $99 fare)

That evening, the last QF International flights out is to HKG at 10:50pm; so, unless there are delays, I'd expect the QF Lounges to close around 10:10pm.

Normal Check-in for the JQ flight should open 8:40pm, so, If I am near the front of the queue, I should be able to access the Lounge by ~9:00pm. This would give me just over an hour there. I'll be doing carry-on only.

While, it would be nice if it were possible to get more; I had resigned myself to this limited time.

However, recently I have seen some posts indicating it may be well possible to get my BP earlier/elsewhere. With such BP, I can get to the lounge at a far more reasonable hour.

I am interested in pursuing this, both as a benefit to me , and noting the steps here as an aid to others.

Comments/thoughts anyone?

Suggest you look for the JQ service desk and as you have no check baggage, ask them to issue you the BP. I do this when I transit Mel going to Bkk on JQ29. This has always worked for me as I do not need to wait for the JQ flight to open up for baggage check-in. Good luck and enjoy the FLounge.

Is there not a QF code share on the JQ flight? If so the lounge should stay open for the JQ/QF flight.

 

[TonyHancock]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

Just out of interest does the lounge close even if there are Oneworld flights leaving later than QF flights? (I'm thinking of the Cathay Flight to HKG.) I hadn't thought about this, but it is a consideration when looking at international flights out of MEL. (I don't fancy losing F lounge time!)

 

[markis10]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

Serfty, do OLCI and take the printout it generates to a JQ service desk where they can issue your boarding pass, that works for DOM legs of an INT service.

 

[LiamR]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

Serfty, do OLCI and take the printout it generates to a JQ service desk where they can issue your boarding pass, that works for DOM legs of an INT service.

On that note. If there is no sign of JQ staff at the International terminal. Head over to domestic, and ask the staff to reprint your boarding pass for you. If they say they can't, insist that they try to reprint your boarding pass.

Most say "Sorry that can't be done." when they really mean to say, "Sorry, I don't know how to do that"

 

[OverrideServlet]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

Serfty, do OLCI and take the printout it generates to a JQ service desk where they can issue your boarding pass, that works for DOM legs of an INT service.

Well I just learned something new. I didn't realise online check-in was an option for international flights.

 

[serfty]

I don't expect the FL to remain open past QF29 - the business lounge might; there is a CX168 at 11:45 however, there's a CX lounge downstairs and they don't sell F on that flight.

One difference is that I'll need my Passport scoped by someone.

 

[nlagalle]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

I'd even try the F lounge.. I've noticed that the ability for QF to print JQ BP's has increased a fair bit (including the QP's having the shoppa docket printers installed.. Also the fact that it seems their systems are far more integrated (points posting within a day for me of late) may help you out.

 

[serfty]

I'd even try the F lounge.. ...

I suspect you mean "J Lounge" or "F Check-in" , as I can't get to the "F lounge" without said BP.

 

[dfcatch]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

Serfty - awesome!

Please do let us know how you go......

I'm cautiously optimistic given the (limited) success some had last week

 

[connieguy]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

Well I just learned something new. I didn't realise online check-in was an option for international flights.

JQ will let you do the OLCI but you still need to get the real BP issued and that takes a passport check and system entry.

 

[TonyHancock]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

I don't expect the FL to remain open past QF29 - the business lounge might; there is a CX168 at 11:45 however, there's a CX lounge downstairs and they don't sell F on that flight.

One difference is that I'll need my Passport scoped by someone.

I discussed the need to go to a check in counter when I checked in on my MEL-LHR trip. Staff in the F check-in suite basically said that staff in the lounge would need to check the passport, but in essence printing my boarding card and heading through security and immigration was fine.

....oh yes and I'd completely forgotten about the CX lounge, which from memory had an F area roped off!!

 

[nlagalle]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

I suspect you mean "J Lounge" or "F Check-in" , as I can't get to the "F lounge" without said BP.

Sorry I meant the F check in!! oops!!:-|

 

[Gold Member]

35

Great thread, didn't know about this trick.

But I'm still a little confused but I suspec the answer to my questions is you need a JQ BP... For International services operating within Australia (eg. JQ35) and only holding carry-on, do I need the actual JQ BP or is a printed OLCI fine to navigate immigration and then collect BP at FCL? Presumably one could arrive at the FCL as early as they wished if that was the case.

 

[markis10]

Re: 35

Great thread, didn't know about this trick.

But I'm still a little confused but I suspec the answer to my questions is you need a JQ BP... For International services operating within Australia (eg. JQ35) and only holding carry-on, do I need the actual JQ BP or is a printed OLCI fine to navigate immigration and then collect BP at FCL? Presumably one could arrive at the FCL as early as they wished if that was the case.

You will never get a BP when doing OLCI for a JQ INT, only a slip of paper saying to go to the service desk etc, and you wont get past immigration without the D sticker on said BP.

 

[BVT]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

I discussed the need to go to a check in counter when I checked in on my MEL-LHR trip. Staff in the F check-in suite basically said that staff in the lounge would need to check the passport, but in essence printing my boarding card and heading through security and immigration was fine.

....oh yes and I'd completely forgotten about the CX lounge, which from memory had an F area roped off!!

I arrived in MEL on a connecting JQ flight very early for a JQi flight. I tried checking in early for the JQi flight at the F check in at MEL. Charmingly, I was told it was not possible. I then went to the QF Service Desk - JQ was closed and was told, "most things are possible for our WP's! Here is your boarding card, enjoy all that time (5 hours) in the FLounge".

Objective achieved, but in a roundabout way.

 

[djfuzz]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

I arrived in MEL on a connecting JQ flight very early for a JQi flight. I tried checking in early for the JQi flight at the F check in at MEL. Charmingly, I was told it was not possible. I then went to the QF Service Desk - JQ was closed and was told, "most things are possible for our WP's! Here is your boarding card, enjoy all that time (5 hours) in the FLounge".

Objective achieved, but in a roundabout way.

So have things now changed? Are you now able to check in for a JQi flight from the QF service desk? I thought this had previously not been possible as they used different check-in systems (certainly got the same response from the kind people at the F check-in).

 

[LiamR]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

So have things now changed? Are you now able to check in for a JQi flight from the QF service desk? I thought this had previously not been possible as they used different check-in systems (certainly got the same response from the kind people at the F check-in).

I think if you check in online, the system will officially check you in. But it won't issue you a boarding pass. Giving you a "This is not a boarding pass" any JQ service desk seems to be able to reprint a boarding pass.

QF have D stickers if you are on a DOM leg, as not all JQ desks stock them.

 

[markis10]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

So have things now changed? Are you now able to check in for a JQi flight from the QF service desk? I thought this had previously not been possible as they used different check-in systems (certainly got the same response from the kind people at the F check-in).

I believe it does vary by port in terms of who has access to what between the two companies.

 

[djfuzz]

re: Strategy to get "Early" JQ check-in for International

Just checking back in on serfty's OP - did you have any luck with this last night?