Qantas trials 'all day check-in' for international flights

[FxTrader]

Read overcrowded lounges most times.

Yuck. Not happy about full FLounge.

 

[pauly7]

Yuck. Not happy about full FLounge.

I'm not really worried about that, really - most normal people do not and will not see hanging around in a lounge for hours before sitting down on a plan for even more hours very attractive (except for of course us crazy AFF people).

Even then for me - 3 hours would be at very the top end of Lounge time for me! Have much better things to do

 

[flyingfan]

I'm not really worried about that, really - most normal people do not and will not see hanging around in a lounge for hours before sitting down on a plan for even more hours very attractive (except for of course us crazy AFF people).

Even then for me - 3 hours would be at very the top end of Lounge time for me! Have much better things to do

I think so too; those with lounge access are a minority of international travellers and the vast majority of the travelling public care more about how late they can check in than how early.

I'd say even frequent travellers with lounge access would largely get over maximising lounge time after a while.

 

[Austman]

About time! You can do this in SIN and other airports already.

It's about passenger convenience and the recognition of the realities of separate bookings and the limitations of luggage transfers.

Sometimes you get stuck with >3 hours at an airport. If you have a single ticket, even a >6 hour transit will see your checked luggage taken care of.

I don't think I will be aiming to spend 6 hours in the lounge, but will be very pleased if it's on offer - in case I have to!

 

[VHOEJ]

Surely one of the big advantages to the airline is baggage - providing they have the space. If they can hold bags for each flight, surely there is less chance of losing them. They really just need to concentrate on the connecting ones, so surely that is a good thing

 

[docjames]

Great that QF are attempting this. An improvement that will help some travellers.

However.......


A CBD based all day check in (like HKG) would be preferable. In say Mel and SYD at least where there are sufficient international flights. Even in just one central location.

I've always liked in HKG you can check out of the hotel at lunchtime, take a day pack and have deposited check luggage before heading straight to the airport from anywhere later for evening / late flights (rather than back via hotel to recollect luggage).

 

[markis10]

A CBD based all day check in (like HKG) would be preferable. In say Mel and SYD at least where there are sufficient international flights. Even in just one central location.

Hmm what next, mullets and moustaches?? (As in been there done that in the 80s)

http://ausairuniforms.com/documents/qf89prefligh.pdf

 

[anat0l]

Great that QF are attempting this. An improvement that will help some travellers.

Come to think of it, does any other airline at SYD offer this, and why would they not?

Alright, I suppose they have to pay the contract services by the hour (is QF the only airline at SYD which has its own airline staff working the counters?)

However.......

A CBD based all day check in (like HKG) would be preferable. In say Mel and SYD at least where there are sufficient international flights. Even in just one central location.

I've always liked in HKG you can check out of the hotel at lunchtime, take a day pack and have deposited check luggage before heading straight to the airport from anywhere later for evening / late flights (rather than back via hotel to recollect luggage).

Mind you, use of the HKG City Check-in is conditional on the purchase of a ticket on the Airport Express train. Not that the service is expensive for what it does, but just saying.

The HKG service works because the checked luggage is ported to the airport on the said express train. I don't think it would satisfactorily work if you sent it via road transport (can't guarantee that traffic would be clear enough to get a given load of luggage to the airport on time). At least SYD has a train (though CityRail may take issue on QF blocking out a car or so for luggage transport); MEL doesn't, so the performance of getting luggage to the airport cannot be guaranteed.

 

[Comoman]

Ba at Heathrow is from 5.30am I think for day of departure.

nothing too original here I don't think.

 

[Skyring]

Sometimes you get stuck with >3 hours at an airport. If you have a single ticket, even a >6 hour transit will see your checked luggage taken care of.

I don't think I will be aiming to spend 6 hours in the lounge, but will be very pleased if it's on offer - in case I have to!

Flounging is all very nice, but I like it for the good meal, the drinks, the facilities and the view. If I had to spend more than a few hours there, I'd enjoy it, but question what else I could be doing with my time.

Having said that, I've got a nine hour daytime transit at JNB coming up next week. I'll have BA First access being OWE, but I suspect they won't want me there for nine hours getting slowly sozzled, especially with my onwards flight on QF.

 

[JohnK]

Flounging is all very nice, but I like it for the good meal, the drinks, the facilities and the view. If I had to spend more than a few hours there, I'd enjoy it, but question what else I could be doing with my time.

I find the optimal time to spend in the First lounge is ~45 minutes. I can handle ~90 minutes quite easily. Anything more than that and I get extremely bored and seriously question the time to spend in future visits.

There is only so much AFF one can browse....

 

[marki]

I find the optimal time to spend in the First lounge is ~45 minutes. I can handle ~90 minutes quite easily. Anything more than that and I get extremely bored and seriously question the time to spend in future visits.

There is only so much AFF one can browse....

Totally agree after that your ankles ballon! Unless of course your having spa treatment.

sitting in 1A on QF 408 to Sydney view from window. Refurbished 767 with iPads

 

[timster]

Ba at Heathrow is from 5.30am I think for day of departure.

nothing too original here I don't think.

Only for elites and classes above Y+. Otherwise 3 hours before departure. PITA.

In days gone by BA had all-day check-in at Paddington for a while, whether or not you were going to take the Heathrow Express. Very handy.

I've used early airport checkin when hotels require early checkout, my flight is late in the day, I don't want to knock myself out doing stuff on the last day, and I've got lounge access.

But most pax are presumably not going to be that interested in earlier checkin at AU airports. Even with lounge access, waiting is tedious. At least at SIN (where I often checkin early) there's stuff to do, or a cheap bed if you want a few hour's kip.

 

[gypsyinabigtown]

Totally agree after that your ankles ballon! Unless of course your having spa treatment.

View attachment 19423

Exactly - having a chance for a spa treatment would be one reason to go to the flounge early - though of course this is for euro flights only: many Asia flights depart in the morning and the spa doesn't open before 9am, so they will miss out.

 

[Wannabee]

I'm liking the new check in option. The only available shuttle bus from the south coast had us at the airport at 0830 for a 1435 QF7.

Had breakfast and some champagnes so makes for a better wait in the F lounge than in the checkin area

 

[Flying mermaid]

Exactly - having a chance for a spa treatment would be one reason to go to the flounge early - though of course this is for euro flights only: many Asia flights depart in the morning and the spa doesn't open before 9am, so they will miss out.

Spa opens at 8am in Sydney.

 

[footy99]

Flounging is all very nice, but I like it for the good meal, the drinks, the facilities and the view. If I had to spend more than a few hours there, I'd enjoy it, but question what else I could be doing with my time.

Having said that, I've got a nine hour daytime transit at JNB coming up next week. I'll have BA First access being OWE, but I suspect they won't want me there for nine hours getting slowly sozzled, especially with my onwards flight on QF.

I have a similar transit every year. Definitely recommend checking out Mandela's house in Soweto if you haven't already. Makes for an interesting day. You'll also have access to Slow in the City all day, which is a pretty convenient drop in, drop out point just across the road from the Gautrain stop in Sandton.

But on the topic of the thread generally - this all day check in is fantastic for Flounging. I'm all for it!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Having said that, I've got a nine hour daytime transit at JNB coming up next week. I'll have BA First access being OWE, but I suspect they won't want me there for nine hours getting slowly sozzled, especially with my onwards flight on QF.

BA lounge doesn't open until late afternoon maybe 4pm something like that anyway. We were there last year and this year and I thought the food was much nicer this year, although of course it might be a seasonal thing.

 

[gypsyinabigtown]

Spa opens at 8am in Sydney.

This is interesting, will definitely try it next time then!
Once I was there at 8.30am'ish and I was told the spa wasn't open until 9am. Maybe they only open at 8am if they have bookings from F pax.?

 

[yohy?!]

what a good idea - no need to pay for that last night in the hotel, just stay out at the pub till 4am then head off to the F lounge! :mrgreen: