J Lounge Access with NGCI as a PS

[1022]

Ok, total noob question:

Due to a particularly a long day of meetings in MEL next Friday, and an anticipated long wait at the airport for a latish flight (so that I could get a QF fare within company policy to avoid having to put up with DJ theatrics - I can't tell the difference between the DJ of old and the supposedly more upmarket offering...but I digress) I decided to burn a few points to upgrade to J for the hop home to SYD. I'm only PS, so on previous recent visits to the MEL QP I've either been with my SG partner (so a mere flash of a BP and/or Gold card in the general direction of the lounge dragons) or used my comp PS QP pass.

A theoretical question though: If I check in at a NG pole and don't have a hard copy J class BP to flash at the top of the escalators and presumably again after going through the frosted doors to the J lounge, do I have to go and look like a groveler at the desk, handing over my lowly silver card for them to see that I have a J booking to be let in? I can of course just check in online and print a BP or use a kiosk to get a J boarding pass...but I'm just wondering what the protocol is with approaching the gatekeepers when one doesn't have "hard evidence" of a seat in J, only a silver card...

 

[drron]

Doesn't matter where you checkin if your upgrade comes through you will still have a J boarding pass and that gets you into J lounge.

 

[im.daniel]

Go to the lounge, tell the staff you're travelling in J, they'll scan your card to make sure and hopefully that should be enough to let you in!! Even without a boarding pass, your card will still contain the information about your next flight

 

[Heleigh]

Print out bp then you won't have to show silver card, other wise I think they will swipe card at both locations.

 

[djfuzz]

Since you're PS, you'll have to scan your card to get into the QP to begin with - they'll see you're travelling in J and direct you to the J lounge. They'll do the same in the J lounge, and you'll be fine.

No need to print out a boarding pass unless you'd prefer quicker passage through (you'll still have to show them, and they'll still have to check - you'll save perhaps 10 seconds in total).

 

[1022]

Thanks I was posing this as a purely theoretical question really. I have no concerns whatsoever about being let in, simply curious as to how a paperless BP (in the form of using the pole to check in) might make a difference - if at all...

PS Mods, if this is better off over in "you questions" please shift it.

 

[ajw373]

Doesn't matter where you checkin if your upgrade comes through you will still have a J boarding pass and that gets you into J lounge.

The OP's question was based on the upgrade being given and them using NGCI, which of course means you don't get a printed 'boarding' pass until you get to the aircraft gate when boarding. The SMS that comes through to confirm the check-in doesn't have any details of status so this couldn't be used.

Speaking of NGCI and lounge access, I used it for the first time on my last trip from Canberra to Brisbane and return. In both cases I clearly had no boarding pass and at the lounge door showed my platinum card and was let in no questions asked or any check made. I had thought there was meant to be some scanner that you were meant to wave the card over that showed if you were flying and had the right of access. Admittedly on both sectors the lounge dragons were pretty busy.

 

[drewbles]

The OP's question was based on the upgrade being given and them using NGCI, which of course means you don't get a printed 'boarding' pass until you get to the aircraft gate when boarding. The SMS that comes through to confirm the check-in doesn't have any details of status so this couldn't be used.

Speaking of NGCI and lounge access, I used it for the first time on my last trip from Canberra to Brisbane and return. In both cases I clearly had no boarding pass and at the lounge door showed my platinum card and was let in no questions asked or any check made. I had thought there was meant to be some scanner that you were meant to wave the card over that showed if you were flying and had the right of access. Admittedly on both sectors the lounge dragons were pretty busy.

The OP has already burned points on a domestic sector to upgrade to J, so should now be confirmed in J.

If they don't have access to a printer for a BP, checking-in at the 'totem pole' followed by a visit to the J lounge will be just fine (via the QP in MEL of course). As mentioned, they'll simply scan your FF card at the QP, and then you can wander down to the J lounge within the QP and repeat the process. It's how they do it for WP as well (now that anytime access is a thing of the past...).

 

[ajw373]

... It's how they do it for WP as well (now that anytime access is a thing of the past...).

How they are meant to do it. As I said last two trips of mine, which were my first using NGCI all they did was look at my card!

 

[drewbles]

How they are meant to do it. As I said last two trips of mine, which were my first using NGCI all they did was look at my card!

Shh. Don't let the cat out of the bag

 

[JohnK]

Am I missing part of the puzzle?

What is a NG "pole"?

If we are talking about the NGCI kiosks then one of the functions is to print a paper boarding pass. So why not print a paper boarding pass at the NGCI kiosk before heading off to the lounge?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Am I missing part of the puzzle?

What is a NG "pole"?

If we are talking about the NGCI kiosks then one of the functions is to print a paper boarding pass. So why not print a paper boarding pass at the NGCI kiosk before heading off to the lounge?

That Podium thing that looks like an icypole which flashes up green when you are successfully checked in after scanner you Qcard against the Qreader.

 

[ajw373]

Am I missing part of the puzzle?

What is a NG "pole"?

If we are talking about the NGCI kiosks then one of the functions is to print a paper boarding pass. So why not print a paper boarding pass at the NGCI kiosk before heading off to the lounge?

The check-in kiosks aren't actually part of NGCI, they have been there for quite some time. What is new is the check-in pole and the self serve bag check system.

As ozbeachbabe said the poles are where you wave your card to check-in. They have a little screen on them that shows whats going on and once checked in it will send an SMS confirmation to the mobile registered with the booking. If ever your flying through Canberra you will find the poles in the oddest place. There they are between the two entry doors on departures level of the airport. Would have thought they would have been in the terminal propper, but according to the Qantas person I spoke to when looking for them the other day apparently Canberra airport wouldn't allow them to install them inside. Not a biggie because you can still do OLCI, the older kiosks or use your mobile to check-in and still use NGCI.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The check-in kiosks aren't actually part of NGCI, they have been there for quite some time. What is new is the check-in pole and the self serve bag check system.

As ozbeachbabe said the poles are where you wave your card to check-in. They have a little screen on them that shows whats going on and once checked in it will send an SMS confirmation to the mobile registered with the booking. If ever your flying through Canberra you will find the poles in the oddest place. There they are between the two entry doors on departures level of the airport. Would have thought they would have been in the terminal propper, but according to the Qantas person I spoke to when looking for them the other day apparently Canberra airport wouldn't allow them to install them inside. Not a biggie because you can still do OLCI, the older kiosks or use your mobile to check-in and still use NGCI.

Yes kiosks were around prior to the cutover of NGCI however there were new Next Gen kiosks installed at all NG ports eg in BNE the older kiosks were sent north to CNS so the newer kiosks have NG functionality.

It's worth noting too that after using a Podium to checkin & receiving a confirmation SMS that you've been checked in, it is actually your Qcard you scan at the boarding gate which in turn prints out a shopper docket to tear off & take onboard to show the CSM. Heaps of people try & scan their phones which of course doesn't work & they think the system doesn't work. The only time you scan your phone to board is when you do mobile checkin & a 2D barcode is sent to your smart phone.

 

[ajw373]

It's worth noting too that after using a Podium to checkin & receiving a confirmation SMS that you've been checked in, it is actually your Qcard you scan at the boarding gate which in turn prints out a shopper docket to tear off & take onboard to show the CSM. Heaps of people try & scan their phones which of course doesn't work & they think the system doesn't work. The only time you scan your phone to board is when you do mobile checkin & a 2D barcode is sent to your smart phone.

When doing a mobile check-in you can still use your Q card at the gate instead of the 2D barcode on the phone. Same too if you do on-line check-in and don't print or have your boarding pass.

 

[JohnK]

That Podium thing that looks like an icypole which flashes up green when you are successfully checked in after scanner you Qcard against the Qreader.

Well just goes to show you how often I have used NGCI to actually check-in.

I tried a few weeks ago in SYD and managed to somehow check that I had dengerous goods and would not let me proceed again.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

When doing a mobile check-in you can still use your Q card at the gate instead of the 2D barcode on the phone. Same too if you do on-line check-in and don't print or have your boarding pass.

I believe that's the case & have been told by people on AFF they have done so for both methods - might have been pshepvic who's name and seat numer should print out for you to tear off & show the CSM when boarding. If the docket doesn't generate ask the gate agent to print out a hard copy as you can't show the CSM just the 2D barcode on your smart phone.

Well just goes to show you how often I have used NGCI to actually check-in. I tried a few weeks ago in SYD and managed to somehow check that I had dengerous goods and would not let me proceed again.

You're not not the only WP that hasn't used the Podium before. I've seen some people hold their Qbag tag up to the Podium or at the auto bag drop instead of scanning their Qcard.

Re the DG's - you have to tick the box the says "no I don't have any of these items".

 

[1022]

When doing a mobile check-in you can still use your Q card at the gate instead of the 2D barcode on the phone. Same too if you do on-line check-in and don't print or have your boarding pass.

I feel like a dick now for going up to the service desk a couple of weeks ago asking for a printed BP because the 2D thingy didn't come through to my iPhone after using mobile checkin in the cab on the way to the airport. I could have just flashed my card at boarding and got a shopping receipt BP....Mind you only a few days prior I'd attempted JQ's version of mobile/sms checkin only to discover OOL doesn't have mobile readers at the gate and therefore pax had to ask staff for a printed BP before boarding commenced....but that's JQ for you...

Call me old fashioned, but I feel more secure having a paper BP - whether printed at home/work myself or spat out of a kiosk - when I'm queuing to board (or accessing the J lounge as per original query).

 

[JohnK]

Re the DG's - you have to tick the box the says "no I don't have any of these items".

And if you make a mistake you can't untick the box and then have to go to service desk. It is a silly design really....

 

[richie9x]

And if you make a mistake you can't untick the box and then have to go to service desk. It is a silly design really....

It is also similar for the exit row question. If you say no by accident there is no way to undo it via the next gen kiosk. I did that once and the seat had already been allocated to someone else and they checked in before I could get to the service desk and fix it. So I am extra careful now.

At least it is slightly better than the old kiosks where it printed out the slip of paper that you had to take to the service desk.