Advice for my one and only WP trip

[sometimeflyer]

Hi all,

I recently made WP as a result of a 1-year job that had me flying a decent amount of domestic J. That job is now over and there is no way I'll go close to getting enough SCs to retain WP anytime soon. I'm also not travelling much this year.

BUT, I do have one international trip in September and I'm determined to make the most of it. I'm visiting Taiwan for a wedding and then have about 1.5 weeks to holiday. I have some tentative plans in place, but I'm hoping you can all chip in with some advice in how to get the most out of the trip from a FF benefits perspective. I'm travelling with Mrs sometimeflyer.

I've read the threads that I can find on: upgrades, the Melbourne F lounge and lounges in HKG.

My current plan is as follows:

Departure:
BNE-MEL positioning flight
MEL - Flounge
MEL-HKG (QF29) - PE with points upgrade to J (but currently in 34K and J)
HKG-TPE (CX474) - F on points, currently in 1D and 1K.




Comments/questions:

1. Should/can I check our baggage all the way through from BNE to TPE and get boarding passes for each leg at that time? If so, I assume this means we can go to Flounge as soon as we arrive in MEL, regardless of whether QF29 check-in has opened - hopefully that improves the chances of me being able to book a treatment for Mrs sometimeflyer??
2. I am planning to pay for PE, which is at the limit of my budget, and put in a points upgrade to J 90 days before the flight (which is in a couple of weeks). I understand that upgrades are anything but guaranteed. The dream would be to get a points upgrade to J and then an op-up to F. I understand the chances of that happening are approaching zero.
3. When we arrive in HKG (early morning) which lounge should we go to? We will have about 2 hours between flights. The Wing seems to be the general favourite, but recent reports suggested it is getting a bit old. I note the Wing J section has recently been upgraded - any views on this? Is the newish Qantas/BA F lounge even worth considering? Note, as we'll be flying CX F to TPE, we should get a decent breakfast on that flight, so that consideration should be factored into lounge selection in HKG.

Second leg
Currently planning something like:
TPE-HKG (on CX or KA)
TPE CX Flounge - anyone got any intel on this?
HKG-HKT (on CX or KA)




Comments/questions:

1. I was thinking of using the oneworld Visit Asia tickets for these flights as they seem pretty cheap.
2. Any advice as between CX/KA for the flights?
3. Any intel on the CX lounge in TPE?
4. Any other deals for ex-TPE flights I should be aware of?

Third leg
HKT-HKG (on CX or KA)
HKG-MEL (QF30) - PE again with points upgrade request to J (but currently in 34K and J))
MEL-BNE

Any other tips/thoughts?
​

 

[markis10]

The TPE CX F lounge is just a small room on the end of the J lounge nothing to get excited about!

 

[sometimeflyer]

Thanks Markis10, I suspected that would be the case.

 

[Aus ATC]

BNE - MEL at T-80: Select seats on line and you should have row 4 (B738), or rows 4-6 (B734) available. Select window and aisle and take your chances that you will earn a "platinum shadow", or at worst you swap on board with the person allocated the middle seat.

Economy seats with business class legroom.

(Just don't take my favourite 4F on the morning flight if I am also booked )

 

[simonpenny408]

I think you will have to go to transfer desk in HKG to get CX boarding passes. Then proceed directly to CX F lounge (Pier or Wing - makes little difference although I prefer the Pier). Bags should check through all the way

CX F lounge as stated is a small room off back of J. Better booze but get your food from the J lounge noodle bar - spicy Taiwan Beef Noodles is the dish of choice

For HKG-HKT if you have a choice of CX or KA it depends on class. If J then it's 50/50 - both do a great job. If it's Y then I am currently preferring KA service as a general rule - plus "perky" FAs

 

[elbarto]

I think you will have to go to transfer desk in HKG to get CX boarding passes. Then proceed directly to CX F lounge (Pier or Wing - makes little difference although I prefer the Pier). Bags should check through all the way

CX F lounge as stated is a small room off back of J. Better booze but get your food from the J lounge noodle bar - spicy Taiwan Beef Noodles is the dish of choice

For HKG-HKT if you have a choice of CX or KA it depends on class. If J then it's 50/50 - both do a great job. If it's Y then I am currently preferring KA service as a general rule - plus "perky" FAs

I can confirm that KA on HKG-HKT are very good.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I still prefer the F Wing in HKG over the Pier - unless you arrive and depart from the gates around 60. The Wing has cabanas and a more open feel. As this is a one-off WP trip I'd go there.

With a two hour connection you won't have much time in the lounge. 20 minutes to disembark, proceed through transit formalities and make it to the lounge... then you have to leave around 30 mins prior to the next departure. So gives you an hour.

The BA/QF F lounge in HK is nothing special. Id' give it a miss unless your flight is leaving from gate 16 or so.

 

[sometimeflyer]

Thanks for the tips so far.

Any verdict on checking in at BNE domestic for the MEL-HGK sector? It shouldn't be a problem, right? So long as I make sure the flights are on the same PNR?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

if it's all for travel on qantas (or oneworld) it doesn't even need to be on the same PNR. Just head to the international transfer connections desk check-in (or whatever it's called - although the other day that now seems to have been swallowed up into the general biz class service desk under the new auto check-in). They will process the through flight and get your passport details etc into the system. they will then issue you with both boarding passes.

 

[sometimeflyer]

I'm choosing seats for my three CX/KA legs now.

TPE-HKG is CX469 (777 with regional product atm). I have currently selected 30A and C in the hope that B remains vacant. Anyone got a view on this?

For the HKG-HKT-HKG legs I'm in KA on A320s and I've done a similar thing except 23 A and C (22 is front row).

Thoughts?

 

[simongr]

If it's Y then I am currently preferring KA service as a general rule - plus "perky" FAs

Perky is the right word - very nice FAs

I still prefer the F Wing in HKG over the Pier - unless you arrive and depart from the gates around 60. The Wing has cabanas and a more open feel. As this is a one-off WP trip I'd go there.

I often find the Wing a little too hot so in Summer I prefer the Pier.

 

[djfuzz]

I'm choosing seats for my three CX/KA legs now.

TPE-HKG is CX469 (777 with regional product atm). I have currently selected 30A and C in the hope that B remains vacant. Anyone got a view on this?

Don't. Unless you're prepared to take the risk someone will seat between you, which is more than likely. Just select the combination of aisle/window that suits you.

Re lounges, what's the status on the works to the Wing? I prefer it to the Pier as well, but have not had the opportunity to try out the Cabin yet.

A shame you won't have the opportunity to use the F check-in lounge at MEL, but you could always swing by there if you need anything.

 

[sometimeflyer]

A shame you won't have the opportunity to use the F check-in lounge at MEL, but you could always swing by there if you need anything.

I was contemplating keeping my BNE-MEL flight completely separate, collecting bags from domestic terminal and checking in at MEL F check-in just to try it. But figured that would mean less time in the F lounge than if I checked the bags through, and less chance of getting a spa appointment for Mrs Sometimeflyer.

 

[Zippy7]

I often find the Wing a little too hot so in Summer I prefer the Pier.

I can only comment about the HK lounges.

I flew into HK on Sunday. I can confirm that the Wing was definitely "warm".

If visiting the Wing, please enter from Level 7, it seem that you can come up the elevator on Level6.

I agree it is not worth wasting your time to visit the QF F lounge in HK. Seriously. Seems like a typical J lounge, and nothing memorable about it. The Pier would be a better bet, or even the Cabin (if you're not fussed about mixing with the rest).

 

[simongr]

It does have self service Moet.

 

[sometimeflyer]

we're now spending one night in HKG between hkt-hkg and hkg-mel, so I thought I'd try out the arrival lounge too. This page on CX's website seems to suggest that Mrs sometimeflyer would not be allowed in as of right. I know that it is a very small lounge.

does anyone have any experience with the arrival lounge and getting in a guest as a OWE?

 

[sometimeflyer]

It does have self service Moet.

The QF/BA F lounge? Not that I could take that much Moet at 7am in the morning...

 

[simongr]

At 7AM in HKG it is 11AM in NZ which is really like the afternoon...

 

[Zippy7]

does anyone have any experience with the arrival lounge and getting in a guest as a OWE?

I went for a walk on Sunday to have a look/see at "the arrival", and yes, it is very small compared to the other lounges. I did not ask if they would allow guests, but I did ask them when it would be busy and not so busy. I walked through around 6pm on Sunday, and they thought it was weird that I walked around, took a couple of pics and declined food. There is a buffet, and a menu you can order from. I only grabbed a bottle of water. The whole space was probably as big as the F wing restaurant area.

If you are there before 10/11am, they said it would be quite busy. If you are there after this time and it is not busy, you might have a chance - just smile when you say please

 

[sometimeflyer]

Thanks Zippy7. We'll be arriving in the late afternoon, so hopefully not too crowded.