Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust dom po

[AustraliaPoochie]

Does anyone else find this fraustrating?
I live in ADL (ok, use caps now), and if I wanted to go overseas, with QF have to transit SYD or MEL or BNE.
Have used the BNE QF QP.
But for the SYD and MEL QP, if using connections/connecting tickets, ADL to SYD to SIN/to NZ, the timing of the transfers, is not condusive to having some umm time in the QF QP int lounges.
ADL to SYD, dep ADL at 13.25, get to SYD at 15:50, flight to WLG dep at 17:30, ...
Same for flight to CHC, dep ADL at 14:50 or so, get to SYD at 17:15, take time to get over to QF int term, not a lot of time either for QP ciders.
I could of course have booked separate QF tix, to use more time in the QP, but its more expensive.
Another way QF is getting more money from me, esp if and when I choose to fly QF int J.
Side note, now not to mention having to get used to the name, Australian Border Force!

 

[Anna]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

You don't have to book the short connections. Usually the website gives you a few different options. A couple of times I have been able to book by phone at no extra cost by telling the CSA what flights I want and that the online system isn't offering them to me so I can't book them online.

 

[markis10]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

Do a multicity booking, ADL-SYD then SYD-xx_ both with the same date. That will force the booking engine into giving you a lot more relevant options at the same price.

 

[Hvr]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

As markis10 has noted do a multi-city booking. But do check the prices of the multi-city and the normal booking because occasionally the multi-city prices are above the normal booking.

The main disadvantage of the multi-city booking is that you cannot use a gift voucher to avoid credit card fees.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

Ok.
Will do that Easter next year.
My first QF J int lounge visit, no bacon but bland beef curry.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

A bit of effort should reward you in a 5 or 6-hour transit in SYD or MEL from ADL en route to NZ, which I've done many a time. Makes for a relaxing day of travel and increases the enjoyment of flying no end. It also has a tendency to increase your waistline but maybe running for your flight from the lounge will help with that?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

9.75 out of 10 fir the QFi J Lounge at SYD.
Pity there was the guy outside F lounge.
Woukd have loved to see F lounge.
Ok, QF BNE int and QF SYD int both ticked. ADL dom ticked. PER dom will be ticked.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

The bouncer outside SYD F is only the first line of defence. There is the main reception area once you ascend the escalators.

SYD J is a very decent facility.

 

[timster]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

The need to fly through Sydney to BKK and the horrible early "retimings", leaving no time in the QP (further decimating its value after the Emirates no-euro lounge access dabacle), were final straws that now see me with *A Gold status and flying to Asia, and to Europe via Asia, with TG, SQ etc at more civil times.

 

[obsgyn]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

change the ADL-SYD or ADL-MEL to an earlier flight. I fly BNE_SIN via Syd to increase the no. of SC and always have at least 2-3 hours in Sydney before the flight to Singapore.

 

[Per_Travels]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

I'm probably the odd one out here but I'm more than happy for QF to have short connection times - it minimises the amount of time I have to be away from home. i.e. last week I took the QF574/11 combination from Perth to LAX. Early start but the 65 min connection time means I get to spend a night in my own bed and I get to LA in time to put in most of a days work at the office.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

So there are other means of averting riff raff from SYD QFi F lounge?
I do like the QF lounge overall.
All breakfasts are the same, except ADL one is the only one with watermelons for brekkie, had pear, and meusli in the MEL one, that is where I am in right now.
Definitely worth the $855 per first year, and $485 annual renewal (haven't joined as part of AFF's program yet)...
Right now, no kids anywhere in the MEL QFd lounge.

I have a 1.30hrs transfer later on this year, am travelling dom J and then int J then, so first off the plane, run to gate 15 at SYD d and jump onto the bus...
Thats what I hope anyway.
The QF seamless transfer is a good one, better than VA (I think), haven't tried the VA one yet. Also have that one coming up, also SYD, but VA to NZ.
Ok, so thats it, my yen is sated for the time being.
Thanks for all your comments and feedback.

 

[serfty]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

The VA transfer utilizes the public T-bus at SYD.

 

[froggerADL]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

The main disadvantage of the multi-city booking is that you cannot use a gift voucher to avoid credit card fees.

Technically you are correct. However, you can book a one-way or return using a gift voucher, and then ring on the same day saying you made a mistake and would like to change to an earlier flight on the first leg.

 

[Anna]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

I'm probably the odd one out here but I'm more than happy for QF to have short connection times - it minimises the amount of time I have to be away from home.

The main reason I don't like the <90 min dom- int connections that the QF website throws up is not actually lounge time (shock!) - it's because of the number of times I have got to the destination only to be told "sorry, your bag didn't make it in time from domestic to the international terminal, it is on the next flight". Has happened a few times at SYD and also at BNE. Also nearly happened at MEL doing a QFd - JQi transfer - I nearly had to go to JQ checkin without my bag until it appeared on the belt at the last second, from god knows where it had been for 45 minutes after landing (25 mins after all the other bags appeared).

 

[Katie]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

I bookmost of my international travel through a TA so that I can get optimal lounging time, if I'm not departing BNE Intl.

 

[opusman]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

Also nearly happened at MEL doing a QFd - JQi transfer - I nearly had to go to JQ checkin without my bag until it appeared on the belt at the last second, from god knows where it had been for 45 minutes after landing (25 mins after all the other bags appeared).

Ah yes, the black hole otherwise known as MEL baggage handling...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

Obsgyn, I have to finish a job at 12.30pm, rush to ADL d for the 14.50pm ADL - SYD for one set of flights. 17.20pm arr SYD d. 18.40pm to CHC. This one can't change.
Other flight, cheapest leaves ADL at 13.25pm to SYD, arr 15.50pm, out to WLG at 17.40pm. Through ticket. Change would see me pay possibly $300! I have got Comfort seat extra seat next to me booked as well... thanks to someone on this website that said it could be done.
Paws crossed.
Anyway, now that I have felt SYD QFi lounge lunch menu, I guess early pm tea/dinner is not too much flashier there in that lounge.
Maybe next year or 2016 I will do a J with MH and try an evening meal at SYD QFi lounge.

 

[Per_Travels]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

The main reason I don't like the <90 min dom- int connections that the QF website throws up is not actually lounge time (shock!) - it's because of the number of times I have got to the destination only to be told "sorry, your bag didn't make it in time from domestic to the international terminal, it is on the next flight". Has happened a few times at SYD and also at BNE. Also nearly happened at MEL doing a QFd - JQi transfer - I nearly had to go to JQ checkin without my bag until it appeared on the belt at the last second, from god knows where it had been for 45 minutes after landing (25 mins after all the other bags appeared).

Should have also added that I travel with hand luggage only - as you rightly point out the ability to accept tight connections is much greater this way

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Not lot of time to use QP int lounge at Syd, if connecting flight is from Aust do

I don't like the short connection times... not because of lounge use... the QFi business class lounges are nothing to write home about... but it's the stress when your inbound is delayed, or wondering whether your bags are going to make it

for or lounges, qantas should really offer the F lounge as a minimum standard for international business passengers.