Melbourne- Bali/Denpasar

[DeanCorp]

Hi Guys,

Hope everyone is well. I am planning a trip in March next year (our first trip as a family). Our baby will be just over 1 year old. I have plenty of Qantas Frequent flyer points & Lounge Access passes from my company.

I don’t mind flying Business to Bali if it is easier to travel with a baby considering that we’ve been advised they don’t usually have cots for her age/size.

What is the best direct flight? Is it worth going business as the points would not be wasted since I’d likely have generated the same amount of points before we travel again.

I’d like to be able to have lounge access where possible. If there is a better alternative that involves using another airline I’m happy to pay for direct flights too.

Convenience over everything with a baby

Thanks in advance

 

[aikman]

If you would like to use your Qantas points, fly direct and fly business class then your only option is Jetstar with only a small number of dates in March having reward seat availability for 2. There are currently no reward seats in March on Qantas flights.

Paid business class seats for that route on all airlines start at around $2,500 return in March. Garuda is on the only one offering lie flat seats on a nonstop flight.

 

[DeanCorp]

Thank you for your reply. In terms of the Jetstar business class seats? What exactly are the benefits when travelling with a one year old?



EDIT: I have found business class seats in March with Jetstar, for those available dates my wife would have to re-apply for leave since she got approved for dates where there was no business flight seats. What are the seats like in that A321neo?

 

[DeanCorp]

Morning, I can’t seem to find any information online about the A321 Neo Business class. I’ve browsed multiple YouTube videos and websites but cannot see what Business Class is like.

 

[RealtimeY]

Morning, I can’t seem to find any information online about the A321 Neo Business class. I’ve browsed multiple YouTube videos and websites but cannot see what Business Class is like.

The business seats would be on the 787. The A321neo doesn't have business.

 

[SOPOOR]

having redeemed miles on a melb to DPS jetstar flight previously (my first mistake) unless you really really have no other options, i wouldnt , its a complete waste of points, much better to wait for a sale fare, unless you are travelling in peak times

 

[DeanCorp]

Thanks makes sense. I think I’ll just book Jetstar economy. Business class on the 787 looks like a standard premium economy seat.

 

[DeanCorp]

having redeemed miles on a melb to DPS jetstar flight previously (my first mistake) unless you really really have no other options, i wouldnt , its a complete waste of points, much better to wait for a sale fare, unless you are travelling in peak times

Is Jetstar ok to travel with Melb to DPS? My concern is first time travelling with our 1 year old. Qantas flights are at bad times for the baby Jetstar flight times are much better. Can we still use Qantas lounge in both Melbourne and Bali?

 

[Mr H]

Is Jetstar ok to travel with Melb to DPS? My concern is first time travelling with our 1 year old. Qantas flights are at bad times for the baby Jetstar flight times are much better. Can we still use Qantas lounge in both Melbourne and Bali?

I have found Jetstar fine on MEL-DPS and they have the advantage of offering daylight flights. How and ever, some people carry the scars from Jetstar cancellations and would tell a different story.

 

[SOPOOR]

Is Jetstar ok to travel with Melb to DPS? My concern is first time travelling with our 1 year old. Qantas flights are at bad times for the baby Jetstar flight times are much better. Can we still use Qantas lounge in both Melbourne and Bali?

yeah its pretty fine for me, ive flown Tiger to Bali as well, the good thing is that its a short international flight, eg 6 hours
the difference i can only see with business on jetstar (ive not flown in business jetstar) is the seats are wider, and you get the food/drinks included, which you can just buy in economy
and yes you can use the lounge but youd need a lounge pass for economy

 

[DeanCorp]

yeah its pretty fine for me, ive flown Tiger to Bali as well, the good thing is that its a short international flight, eg 6 hours
the difference i can only see with business on jetstar (ive not flown in business jetstar) is the seats are wider, and you get the food/drinks included, which you can just buy in economy
and yes you can use the lounge but youd need a lounge pass for economy

Excellent. I have international lounge passes. Is there a Qantas lounge in Bali to use too?

 

[fletty]

Excellent. I have international lounge passes. Is there a Qantas lounge in Bali to use too?

Not many lounge options in Bali, certainly no Qantas. We used priority pass to access the Concordia Lounge.

 

[Mr H]

Not many lounge options in Bali, certainly no Qantas. We used priority pass to access the Concordia Lounge.

I understand the lounges in DPS are very ordinary - but plenty of bars, cafes and retail opportunities in the main concourse.

 

[Pushka]

The lounges in Denpasar are awful. It's actually much nicer downstairs and finding a nice cafe to sit and people watch. We found a large one on the large hallway that leads to all the departure lounges. Past the shops etc and to the left. We stayed there for an hour or so with just the one drink. Plenty of space. We flew on the Neo back to Adelaide. A new plane and quite nice and airy but no J class. We bought food online.

 

[Quickstatus]

I think I’ll just book Jetstar economy. Business class on the 787 looks like a standard premium economy seat.

I would actually book Economy seats for 3 pax. Yes, that includes seat for baby.
This is because
1) You get more space
2) 1 year old won't be on lap the entire flight
3) Luggage allowance for 3 pax

2 business class seat in this scenario is not as good as 3 economy seats In my opinion

Bassinets are not necessary the best idea. This is because when the seat belt sign comes on you have the take baby out of bassinet, even if you just managed to settle baby down (ask me how I know)

 

[ShelleyB]

I have found Jetstar fine on MEL-DPS and they have the advantage of offering daylight flights. How and ever, some people carry the scars from Jetstar cancellations and would tell a different story.

Yes this. Earlier this year we were scheduled to fly back from Denpasar and flight was cancelled. Had booked J on JQ as a daylight flight option but ended up whY on QF on a night flight. Was a definite bummer but at least flight was cancelled before arrival at airport and we were only delayed about 15 hours. Could have been worse - as we were waiting to board QF flight home to MEL another JQ flight to MEL was cancelled with passengers already AT gate. With alternative flights already full from our cancelled flight I have no idea when those poor souls would have gotten home.

 

[SFO777]

I'm flying DPS to AKL via SYD in J next month. DPS-SYD was an easy choice with Garuda's lie flat A330 redeye and superior service. For my connecting SYD-AKL, I had originally bought a QF J ticket when QF advertised A330 service. Then QF downgraded the A330 to a 738 and moved the 11:30am flight to nearly 2 hours later. Seriously? Fortunately, I was able to cancel/refund with minimal penalty and booked the 11:45a NZ 777.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Do you know if you would need to clear incoming passport control in SYD, and the do the incoming, and then. do the outgoing immi & int sec screening again.
8.45 to 11.45 can be done, if you don't leave the airport precint, but it will be a tight one.
On arr into SYD T1, try the veer onto the int transit lane, inside int sec zone, if HLO, and see if they will allow you to bypass Aust immi, and just go through int - int sec screening, saves a lot of time.
If they say no, then you will need to spend time doing Smartgate incoming, or staffed (ABF) passport scanning, (we don't do stamping anymore), and then go out into the public area, and come back into the SYD T1 int dep zone.
Inc and out going pax are segregated at SYD, its upstairs and downstairs, not like SIN Changi.
Going out and coming back in, could take an hour, half for incoming, half for outgoing.
Best of luck.

 

[SFO777]

Thanks AustraliaPoochie for the overview and good advice. Will definitely try the intl transit lane recommendation. My current scheduled arrival time is actually 8:20a. Hopefully GA is on time and the connection is smooth. Out of curiosity, is there a VIP meet & greet service at SYD, one that can jump the queues? Thank you.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Not that I know of, re: VIP meet and greet.
EDIT: Maharba seems to do it, Airport Meet & Greet Services
So, can't say for sure, there might be for the Pope/other head of state etc.
But its (the airport) not that large or complicated an airport, that you can get lost.
Just have to from arr downstairs, one level up to int dep.
T1 is compact, at the front will be the Rydges, the plaza, and bus pickup, go upstairs one level up, and you are at int dep.
Its more so the time of the inc security quarantine procedures, and the out sec screening and passport control.
8.20am can be a very busy time, as a lot of flights come in then, esp the ones from Asia, and the Chinese people tend to bring a lot of things, into the country, so Quarantine can be very busy.
You don't say if you are HLO or you will have to collect your plane hold bags.
If you are able to go through the int - int sec screening, and have not gone through Aust immi, you just go through the security screening process, and then go to the gate that your NZ flight will dep from, ensuring you have a copy of your NZ BP, and show the NZ agent your passport to be swiped into their system.
===
O, if you can, download the AirNZ app on your smartphone, this keeps the BP in a safe spot, on the phone.
As AirNZ does not have a presence at DPS, you would not be able to get a paper BP unless you have a paper printer 24 hrs prior to the AirNZ flight.
But even with the BP, you might still need to show passport to be swiped for the flight to AKL, so SYD T1 would be the one point to do it.
===
NZ104, dep 01/10/2023, SYD - AKL has been cancelled, I know its not your flight, but hopefully you won't face it on your day of arr.