New Terminal 4 MEL no more JQ Lounging?

[gizzard]

Flightaware for the most part is handy to be able to figure this out. JQ are fairly good at filing flight plans early enough for this to be useful.

Thanks, yes, I tend to use it but JQ have a habit of switching departure planes and gates when things aren't running to schedule and I don't know how quickly Flightaware can pick this up.

 

[eastwest101]

Not quickly enough yesterday - we had 2 gate changes (presumably aircraft swaps) at SYD for a JQ domestic flight and Flightaware, SYD FIDS, SYD Airport Website and official JQ flight status were all giving out of date or incorrect information.

 

[pauly7]

Not quickly enough yesterday - we had 2 gate changes (presumably aircraft swaps) at SYD for a JQ domestic flight and Flightaware, SYD FIDS, SYD Airport Website and official JQ flight status were all giving out of date or incorrect information.

VA boards in Syd and Mel are notoriously inaccurate as well - topic of much discussion, I never leave the VA lounge without a final emergency page now

 

[samh004]

Seems a bit silly. I can understand no audable announcements but disaplying the info on the monitors would seem an easy thing to do.

Would you like them to display VA info too?

I don't understand why JQ should be displayed when it's a separate airline, in a separate terminal.

 

[Danger]

Would you like them to display VA info too?

I don't understand why JQ should be displayed when it's a separate airline, in a separate terminal.

Do VA passengers have access to the Qantas lounge?

 

[dajop]

Do VA passengers have access to the Qantas lounge?

If they are QF WP arriving on QF flight and departing on VA they do, don't they?

 

[OATEK]

So QP membership if flying JQ becomes less and less valuable.

I agree with this - I think that this move, along with the situation in Sydney since the T2 lounge was closed, means that QP membership is severely devalued. I believe I have flashed my card once in the last membership period, because of two factors:

1. More J class travel on points

2. Too much trouble when flying JQ (which has been necessary occasionally owing to lack of QF flights to certain places like MCY (yes I know, they are coming back)).

Next month is renewal time, and even though my employer pays half I can see myself being very reluctant to renew.

 

[openseat]

I just realised I've got a JQ flight on the evening of 10 November. I'm disappointed that we can't easily use the QP before a JQ flight now like SYD. I suppose I've had a good run out of my LT membership, but still.

 

[gizzard]

I was in the MEL QP the other day and asked them about the changes.

I was told that:
1. You'd still be able to check in for JQ flghts in the lounge (unlike SYD)
2. No info on JQ flights will be shown on the information boards and no announcements made (like SYD)
3. They believed that the walk from JQ to T4 would be 20 minutes and recommend leaving QP an hour (!) before the flight to allow for the walk and security clearance

 

[TomVexille]

3. They believed that the walk from JQ to T4 would be 20 minutes and recommend leaving QP an hour (!) before the flight to allow for the walk and security clearance

I put it as 500-600m. So 6-8 minutes to walk at a reasonable pace + however long security takes.

 

[boomy]

Even when JQ flights departed from gates 25+ in MEL the lounge used to announce boarding 30-40 min prior compared to 15-20 min for QF flights so I'm not surprised they recommend leaving 1 hour to walk to T4.

The lack of info about JQ flights status in the lounge is a major issue. It will be a PITA to walk all the way to T4 and back in case of delays.

 

[openseat]

I just timed the walk. 13 mins going through international and T3 finger. It was quiet so it will take longer in busier periods.

 

[openseat]

I should add that the 13 mins is from the door of QP to the edge of the waiting zone in T4. It is another 7 mins, at least. to the gates. So you need to allow 20 mins at least from the club to the gate.

 

[chrisishere]

Has the bag drop times changed for JQ flights in T4 or still set at the max 2 hours before scheduled departure of the flight?

 

[dajop]

I just timed the walk. 13 mins going through international and T3 finger. It was quiet so it will take longer in busier periods.

Good to get some advice, but you need to qualify your typical walking speed, fast, average or slow?

( Just that I know people who cover probably 600-700m in 13 mins, whereas I can cover 1200m+ in 13 mins)

 

[gizzard]

From 30 November, it's going to mean even more walking if you get the bus and only have hand luggage but less if you drop your bags then head to QP.
Airport buses - Public Transport Victoria

 

[drron]

Yesterday had the full T4 experience.Flew in on Rex from BWT and flew out to MCY on JQ.
A real pain having to sit around until 2 hours before departure to drop bags.
Sometimes like yesterday there would be no point trying for the QP with temp of 40+ and a strong hot wind.
Was heaven getting off in MCY with a temp of 27 and a cooling nor easterly breeze.

No seating basically waiting for bag drop and limited at the JQ gates.Decided to leave the gate area as one young fellow had a cough that was very likely to be Whooping cough.Fortunately for me off to the Gold coast.

Thongs definitely the footwear of choice on JQ but the prize for most inappropriate dressing went to the woman in long boots over leggings,shorts,looked like a woollen top and a long heavy jacket.And all black.