1st time in business, guidance please !

[Nerdnotgeek]

Hi guys, Im flying Mel to Syd next friday night and its my first business class flight , Im after a little advice so I can avoid any silly mistakes, if there are any , basically things that regular business class guys see and 'tut' , obviously this is light hearted too , but any great advise will definitely be observed !
Should I get to lounge very early? how many drinks is too many? can i settle in next to the champagne and pour away , should I expect drinks even though its only an hour ish flight ?
so many questions , mostly booze based ! helppp!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

737/330?
If its the 330 you in the end getting, its a wowish factor, having a sash seat belt, ie, not straight across waist, but from left or right shoulder to waist.
I did my first J 330 about 2 years ago with QF on the 330, had to phone up 3 times to change my flight, as they kept chaning the plane from a 330 to a 737 for the times I had booked, each time after I rang, the plane changed again to a 737.
In the end, after the third ring, I got my dream of the J 330.
Get to MEL T1 about 3 hours before flight, its domstic, so you can do OLCI, print your BP, get through domestic security premium screening, get to the J lounge, due to the fact that you have a J BP, you won't need to have any lounge visit pass scanned, as your BP will suffice.
Go through the double glass doors that says, QF lounges, T1 MEL domestic, go up escalators, turn left, have your BP ready for scanning, no photo id needed, just BP.
Have a meal/snack, grog if after 12noon, save some time for the food on the plane.
Grog in the QF side only gets served after 12noon on the dot, no earlier.
Then 45mins before flight, go to gate, so you do a DYKWIA, stand in the premium queue, dare the others in Y to join you by looking at the long queue in Y, have your BP scanned as you will be first on, if 737, they might join the queue, if its 330, J will have a separate gate.
Store your HLO up in the overhead bin, sit in your seat, if 737, let the masses be envious of you, if 330, you will not be seeing anyone in Y.
If after 12noon flight, you can ask for "free" alcohol, sometimes they might offer you a sparkling water or orange juice, for pre take off drink, but it won't be the very expensive stuff to drink, ...
About 15/20min, after, they will ask you what you want for your main meal, if lunch, you will have a choice, half an hour into flight, they will start to serve, and then an hour into flight, they will do pack up of meal trays...
Last 30mins, a bit before on descent, you will have to have the tray table cleared, and then secured for descend and landing.
In the end, its very short flight.
If you really want to feel QF international, going on the 330 to NZ wouldn't be too expensive, can go on a J one way MEL/SYD/BNE to AKL/CHC/WLG, can come back in Y.
Enjoy the flight.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If you like window view, on the 330, ask for 2/4/6A or K, as the divider for these is on the aisle, if you don't mind, then you have options of any of the J cabin.
Assuming you do get the 330, this in my opinion is better for flying J than the 737.
737 is ok in J, wider seats, etc, but 330 is better.
If your flight is listed as a 737, pick row 1A, as these have much larger foot area in front of you, tray table is in the arm rest for all 737s, the tray table for the 330 is a more specialised job way to take out, 737 is easy.
Row 1A and row 1F on the 737 also have 2 sets of windows for you to look out.
More info if you can provide.
Lie flat beds might not be an option on the 330 for the short flight, crew might not put it out, but you can try all the levers and buttons if you want, on the 330, I didn't, as I didn't want to seem like a newby!
My 330 was a 11.30am MEL - SYD, if I remember correctly, and was before the upgrade of the MEL T1 QF J lounge.
Ok, now off to you to try the J service out.
EDIT: OH, just noticed, sorry, heh, getting old.
Now, Friday night, that's bad, ... as all the other J flyers will be hogging everything.
That day and time is high demand for the J lounge, best of luck, pity you can't have done the visit another time.
It will be very busy in the J lounge at that time of the day, ie, evening, and Fri.
Yes, you can order all the grog you want, and pour your own plonk.
They don't serve the very very very $$$ champange, but you can indeed pour your own.
Hopefully, yours is QF464.

 

[Nerdnotgeek]

QF490 , so none of the super fun stuff huh
Thanks though , thats a great answer

 

[BD1959]

They don't serve the very very very $$$ champange, but you can indeed pour your own.

In fact they don't serve *any* champagne - usually this in the Domestic J Lounges:
Incidentally not my photo but it does look like a J Lounge somewhere.

As the Pooch has already highlighted, the J Lounge (in fact either Lounge) is likely to be chockers on a Friday night - moreso if there any delays. Consequently I wouldn't plan on getting there too early however how much you can tolerate a rammed Lounge would be entirely up to you. Personally, when it's busy, I tend to use the workstations as you enter rather than aimlessly meandering around for a non-existent empty chair and clean table.

The one piece of advice would be: go easy on the grog. You'll know your own limits and no-one appreciates a drunk sat next to them. Download the Skip App if you haven't already - use this to order your coffee ... far easier than waiting in line. Personally I usually order as I enter the Terminal and have the coffee waiting for me - and it's easier to re-order from your chair.

Make use of the Asian Spice Bar - something unique to the Melbourne Lounge.

Again, as you're flying Friday night expect a full "priority line" on boarding and possibly a full cabin.

On board, it's really no different to flying Y other than you'll have plated dinner rather than out of cardboard box, a more attentive cabin crew member (though they *are* rushed on the SYD-MELs) and a choice of still or sparkling water on boarding - no grog here any more. There won't be time for a bar-run - you'll be served alcohol with dinner; with a full J cabin there may just be enough time to get a top-up before arrival.

Regards,

BD

 

[serfty]

@Nerdnotgeek on being seated and before pushback (unless rushed/late) you will be offered predeparture drink. It will be a choice of Water(Still) or Water (Sparkling).

 

[Captain Halliday]

Hi guys, Im flying Mel to Syd next friday night and its my first business class flight , Im after a little advice so I can avoid any silly mistakes, if there are any , basically things that regular business class guys see and 'tut' , obviously this is light hearted too , but any great advise will definitely be observed !
Should I get to lounge very early? how many drinks is too many? can i settle in next to the champagne and pour away , should I expect drinks even though its only an hour ish flight ?
so many questions , mostly booze based ! helppp!

Do not, under any circumstances, put your feet on the bulkhead.

Besides that, have a great time.

 

[cqtiger]

remember to look important that is the key to extra service

 

[Denali]

Judge everyone from Y that uses the J toilet.

Have a good time.

cheers,

 

[Andz]

Say thank you and smile until the cows come home and you will be looked after...

 

[burmans]

remember to look important that is the key to extra service

And if that doesnt work, remember the immortal phrase "don't you know who I am"

 

[tdimdad]

can i settle in next to the champagne and pour away

Please do leave some room for others, too, to access those bottles. That would be most courteous.

 

[Nerdnotgeek]

So... Smile , say thank you , dont you know who I am , look important , frown at Y, especially if they attempt to use a toilet above their station , dont put feet on my head and have a good time , gotit !

 

[DC3]

@Nerdnotgeek on being seated and before pushback (unless rushed/late) you will be offered predeparture drink. It will be a choice of Water(Still) or Water (Sparkling).

Unfortunately, the sparking water is sometimes "off" for pre-departure. FA: "I have still water or ….. juice". Odd.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Personally, I dont smile.
Straight faced when I am J queing or seated in J.

 

[Alyopsis]

Walk in like you own the shop, or at the very least your Dad does

 

[RichardMEL]

Enjoying the funny replies.

I would not get there 3 hours prior.. specially during peak that's just crazy.. having said that though given possible transit delays, roads etc into Tulla don't leave it too late.

And seriously I absolutely agree with the suggestion to enjoy the spice bar!! Unless Asian food isn't your thing.. but if it is, it's really brilliant.. I've only ever had one so-so dish out of there - the rest have been fantastic.

And yeah go easy on the grog. Just enjoy yourself for sure but just because it's there and available doesn't always mean you should have 5 of them in 10 minutes

And finally, all you will find is sparkling wine. ZERO Champagne. Grant Burge to me is still with a bad aftertaste, but some enjoy it? It's certainly not like international Business Class.

Enjoy your trip to Sydney and try not to expect too much out of QF...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Granted I don't know if OP's seat is paid or upgrade, but for sometimes once in a blue moon sort of occurrence, why not enjoy it with the masses, the MEL QFd lounge I mean.
I certainly would for my next MEL QFd trip.
Inspect every nook and cranny of the (at that time of week and time of day) crowded lounge!

 

[JohnM]

To be the ultimate DYKWIA, make sure to put both your Q-tags on your carry-on .

 

[andy2015]

If you are in an aisle seat it is your duty to stop (forcibly if required) any Y passenger attempting to use the forward toilets. "Go to the back, scum!" is the appropriate response.