Last minute Q's - Qantas/AA/AlaskaAir/LAX

[Jenelle]

Hi all

Not long to go until departure on my trip that was planned with the assistance of many of you what now feels like ageeees ago!

Anyway just some last minute questions before I go - any help would be greatly appreciated. I booked through AA for QF93 Mel - LAX.

1. I have a connection for Alaska Airlines to go to Wash DC - as they are a 'partner' of Qantas, will I be able to check through my bags the whole way when I check in at Melbourne?

2. As a Qantas Club member, does anyone know if this gives access to the Alaska Airlines 'Board Room' lounge at LAX?

3. Has anyone had connections with Alaskan from a Qantas flight before? Can Qantas even issue boarding passes for Alaska Air? I got my Alaska Airlines flight online through a bestflights so it isn't as if I booked through Qantas etc.

4. This is my first time using an AA booking for a QF flight. Is there anything different that I can expect at the Qantas check in as I am booked through AA?

All in all, I am just trying to see if there is any way I can cut down on the messing around at LAX.

I'll be posting on here when I get there etc to let you know how it all goes.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Petch]

2. As a Qantas Club member, does anyone know if this gives access to the Alaska Airlines 'Board Room' lounge at LAX?

No. However, Priority Pass will get you into the Board Room @ LAX T3.

And out of Washington's DCA, Priority Pass will get you into (Alaska flies out of a Terminal B gate) -

• Continental Presidents Club (Terminal B)
• Delta Crown Room (Terminal B)

If flying American Airlines out of DCA, then your Qantas Club is obviously good for the Admirals Club. (Priority Pass is also good for United Red Carpet Club & US Airways Club @ DCA in Terminal C AND Northwest Worldclub landside @ DCA Terminal A).

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/airport-lounges/priority-pass-just-joined-11846.html

 

[Jenelle]

Thanks for that Petch!

As a result I just checked and found that can get access for a one off $30 fee which is perfect to stay sane at LAX. Too bad the Board Room doesn't have showers though.

Looks like I could be moving to the States to live next year and am seriously considering letting go of the Qantas Club and changing over to the Priority Pass!! Definitely seems worth it!

Thanks a bunch!!

 

[serfty]

Note that QP membership gives access to AC's when flying AA, it may be worth retaining.

 

[Maca44]

1. I have a connection for Alaska Airlines to go to Wash DC - as they are a 'partner' of Qantas, will I be able to check through my bags the whole way when I check in at Melbourne?

2. As a Qantas Club member, does anyone know if this gives access to the Alaska Airlines 'Board Room' lounge at LAX?.

You might be able to check your luggage through to DCA from LAX, but you will first have to collect your bags at LAX, clear customs and Immigration, and then deposit your bags at the drop off area for your next flight.

If on an AA flight number for your LAX/DCA you should be able to use the AA Lounge

 

[littl_flier]

1. I have a connection for Alaska Airlines to go to Wash DC - as they are a 'partner' of Qantas, will I be able to check through my bags the whole way when I check in at Melbourne?

Absolutely, even if you're on separate tickets, the CSA will be able to tag your bags through to DCA. Just ensure you have the separate tickets handy so they can sight these and grab flight numbers etc. (and proof that you're actually flying them ) to manually enter into the system. Your bag tags issued by QF when you check-in in MEL will also have the details of where they've been tagged etc. As Macca mentioned, you'll need to collect the bags anyway and pass through immigration but it'll much easier than carrying them to Alaskan checkin. There is a drop off area where the TSA will screen the bags. Just follow the signs to Flight Collections.

As for BP's, I'm not 100% sure but I doubt it considering it's a separate booking so you'll need to collect these in LAX.

Enjoy the trip!!!

 

[Sprucegoose]

J,

with your bags, request an 'interline priority' and check all the way through, unless US customs doesnt allow.

I havent known QC to work to get into lounbgesw on other airlines, you need to acxcumulate one world status, ie sapphire/emerald for lounge access if not flying premium, unless i am mistaken.

Have a safe trip.

Peter

 

[AnonymousCoward]

1. I have a connection for Alaska Airlines to go to Wash DC - as they are a 'partner' of Qantas, will I be able to check through my bags the whole way when I check in at Melbourne?

I often fly SYD-LAX-SEA (LAX-SEA on an Alaska plane). QANTAS can check your luggage through onto the AS flight.

As others have mentioned, you do need to collect your luggage and clear immigration and customs. Just past customs is a drop-off point, when you drop your bags off, to be loaded onto your next flight.

2. As a Qantas Club member, does anyone know if this gives access to the Alaska Airlines 'Board Room' lounge at LAX?

No. If you are flying in First (sic) class, or are an AS MVP, or buy the one-day pass, you can get in. Otherwise, no.

As others have mentioned, your QC membership will get you into Admirals Club (if you are on an AA flight number). However the AA Admirals Club is in a different terminal to Alaska, and since you won't have an AA boarding pass, you won't be able to get airside in the AA terminal.

3. Has anyone had connections with Alaskan from a Qantas flight before? Can Qantas even issue boarding passes for Alaska Air? I got my Alaska Airlines flight online through a bestflights so it isn't as if I booked through Qantas etc.

QANTAS have been able to issue me with a BP when I'm on a QF flight number. However you are probably not flying on a QF number. You'll probably have to checkin at the AS counter at LAX

HTH

 

[Flying Fox]

2. As a Qantas Club member, does anyone know if this gives access to the Alaska Airlines 'Board Room' lounge at LAX?

OK well this might make a difference but last year as a Qantas Club Member I was allowed into the 'Board Room' at LAX. So I think that it might be worth turning up at the desk and asking.

Only difference that I have noted is that I was travelling on an AA flight number operated by Alaska Airlines.

I also noted in the lounge that there were fellow passengers were travelling on a QF flight number.

Anyway, its just for your consideration.

 

[Jenelle]

hi all!!

well on the last day of my trip - fly out of here in honolulu tomorrow morning on jetstar.

1. qantas did check my bags right through - which was great. did just like what was said here - picked them up and then dumped them after walking through that cattleyard area


2. got access to the board room lounge - which was great as that alaska air terminal is the absolute pits

3. got my boarding pass too from la - washington when i checked in at melbourne

some notes -

my flight on qantas had the worst cabin crew i have ever had on a flight. they were so disinterested and almost surly, i was actually made to think twice about asking for water. compared to the service, even on US domestic, I feel this was one of the worst flights ever. For some reason, the cabin lighting was also kept on the whole flight on 'low'. i never fly ANYONE else but qantas and it was a very disappointing experience - there was basically just no service. i have just booked on points to do the same flight in august to use my points and if that flight isn't better it will safely be the last time I will probably use them and maybe stick to air nz.

we did hit VERY bad turbulence about 2 hours out of lax which was actually an unexpected tailwind that turned around to a 80kmph head wind. lots of screams and some trays going everywhere but otherwise very smooth flight.

the alaskan airlines flight was FANTASTIC. we had mechanical issues after take off so we turned around and headed back to LAX but my gosh I almost felt like i was in first class on their planes. great seats, comfy, great staff. we got in to dc 2 hours late but that was no hassle at all... really good flight.

aa from jfk to lax and then hawaiian from lax to honolulu was fine. the food on offer on aa was only a wrap but at least they actually constantly offer drinks. i actually think the drink cart came by and they offered constant water and refills more than on the 14 hour mel-lax flight!

hawaiian's service was also very very good - and again - they constantly walked the plane offering water etc.

when i landed at honolulu only one of my bags had been booked through. i was able to check it straight through from jfk to honolulu and it went missing. i wasn't that upset because i was overweight on one of them so i only had to pay the cost once instead of twice but hawaiian delivered it the next day and they were excellent at their little booth at honolulu.

tomorrow i am flying jetstar home - haven't used them internationally so this will be interesting. as they no longer go straight to melbourne (which is what I booked under) i have to go through sydney which i am absolutely dreading - any tips? I basically get in at 4 and have to be on the qantas domestic connection at 6.30. ARGH!

If you are interested here are the plane meals I got -

Plane Food - a photoset on Flickr

So basically - Qantas seemed like a budget airline experience this time around and the actual budget airlines in the end were far superior! LOL Go figure!

Anyway now back to the superbowl...

 

[justinbrett]

You should write to QF via the feedback form on the website and complain.

I flew DRW - BOM last year with QF and it was very similar to what you experienced. We connected with BA BOM-LHR and in comparison what such a great flight, the service was great.

I wrote to them to complain, because I fly QF a lot and this was not up to their normal service level.

On the same trip (after I complained) I flew QF LAX - SYD and it was a really good flight.

When I got home there was a $200 QF gift voucher in my mailbox with a written apology.

 

[Jenelle]

Thank you so much for letting me know - I think I will do just that.

The Jetstar flight from HNL to MEL was just ok.

The check-in at HNL was hellish. The plane coming in was late so we were late departing.

I had originally booked HNL - MEL direct when a month later they rang to say they will no longer be flying direct and I will have to go through Sydney then re-board onto a Qantas domestic. I must say, if I had known this at the time I would not have booked as I am one of those who will only fly as direct as possible. The check in rep at HNL was not able to book me on to Syd-Mel which, due to the delay, would've meant missing my flight altogether had I not been in Qantas Club and was able to skip the huge queue of everyone lining up at that little Qantas checkin to go to the domestic terminal.

Anyway the prepurchased food on board Jetstar was terrible. I thought pre-purchasing it, the meals would have been the quality of Qantas inflight meals normally. Also the VOD unit was average - I watched a Crowded House unplugged show from the 80s, an episode of Will and Grace and that was all.

Flying into Sydney we were obviously late. A majority of those on board were actually going to Melbourne and we were all in the same boat. Luckily, my 6.30pm Qantas flight that was the connection was delayed. I made it to the gate at 6.34pm as they were just boarding. I would NOT have made this flight had I not been in Qantas Club and was able to skip the long check-in line. Basically Sydney airport is a disaster and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. Waiting for the bus to the domestic terminal was an absolute joke and basically if I then didn't run through the terminal anyway, I doubt I would have made it.

A totally hellish day - not to mention a kid with the worst BO I have ever smelt at the baggage claim to top it off. Also the guy behind me on the jetstar flight kicked his shoes off and the smell of those were rank. Gosh what a crazy way to end a wonderful holiday.

So average flight at the start on the QF and average coming home on the Jetstar. All those US airlines in between were a breeze!

Must note - the Qantas Crew on Sydney to Melbourne were FAR superior to the crew on the MEL- LAX.

 

[Harpoon]

Wow that's certainly given me a few tips for the future Glad you had a nice trip though.

The SYD Intl to Domestic transfer bus can be really good or really bad. It just depends on how many people are transfering at the same time.

I fly MEL-AKL a bit (QF25) which continues on to LAX from Auckland. I find the staff on QF25 have been abismal every time (this is in economy). I don't know what it is. I have flown plenty of other qantas routes but for some reason I always have bad ones MEL-AKL. But even then I'm not sure if that same crew continues to LAX or hops off for another crew.../shrug. not sure how it works. But I certainly raised an eyebrow when I read your comments on the MEL-LAX flight. I ralso emember flying United Airlines SYD-LAX a few years ago and felt the service on that was shocking too.

I suspect the staff dread the pacific routes and it rubs off in their work, or maybe it's just bad luck....coincidence.