QF 9 between MEL and PER my thoughts

[Cognac]

I would just expect to get off a domestic flight if on gate without being told you are to remain on board while customs arrive. Don't you actually see the irony of this? It's a farce that on a domestic flight (where the majority were in indeed on for this flight) you have to go through a customs point.

Look, I get it, it's certainly inconvenient. But it's not a domestic flight. It's an international flight that happens to have a domestic leg that Qantas happens to sell as a separate component if you don't want to travel the entire way from MEL to LHR. It is irrelevant that you are only traveling domestically. If you don't want to have the possibility of customs not being ready, or having to provide ID for a domestic trip, or having to reduce the amount of liquid you can take through security, or [insert_inconvenience_of_choice_here], then don't book an international flight. Do I expect these things to happen? No, and most of the time they don't, but it is a risk that you take when you book an international flight. And at PER it's an even bigger gamble with Qantas because they have their own terminal which operates exactly 6 international flights at the moment (QF9 inbound, QF9 outbound, QF10 inbound, QF10 outbound, QF71, QF72).

I realise that this thread is purely about your thoughts on your experience, and that these drawbacks that occurred were not enough to overcome the potential benefits of having international flight services provided (lounges, meals, aircraft type, crew, etc). You mentioned in your original post that you did this as an experiment, which is fine. I'm certainly not trying to convince you to change your opinion of your experience. I just wanted to provide some alternative data for those that aren't satisfied with n=1 as a sample size.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Surprising that its mentioned a lot of the pax on the flight were dom (domestic).
I would have thought that not too many people were aware this this can be done, ie, as those of some of us on here look forward to, ie, doing the MEL - PER/PER - MEL as a dom pax on an int flight.
Wouldn't it be be easier, also as mentioned above, for people just to book MEL T1 to PER T4 without having to the show id to get the orange sticker malarkey.
Maybe the people who do like to fly widebodied planes is more than we think, and that people out there do pick these sort of planes to fly with.
I do agree, its a pain in the bum as opposed to the MEL QFd T1 dep and the PER QFd T4 arr system.

 

[justinbrett]

I would have thought that not too many people were aware this this can be done,

It comes up in a normal MEL-PER search so they don't need to know - it's actually the opposite problem of people booking and not reading the bit about departing from an international terminal (which is not really a problem for either airport as they are both adjacent)

Wouldn't it be be easier, also as mentioned above, for people just to book MEL T1 to PER T4 without having to the show id to get the orange sticker malarkey.

Surely showing ID to check in isn't that taxing. Many benefits, not just the improved airport experience (lounges etc) but also on board - full international service. You can fly Y+ for just a few extra points and have a better experience than a J pax on a domestic flight.

 

[PERLHR]

The timings ex MEL suite a lot of people I think. Not everyone realises it is a flight that has additional "checks" and "complications" until perhaps after booking. Also one can fly wide bodies (330) regularly if they wish on this route. I did not think the provided dinner (in Y class ) was any better than normal. Yes the first lounge as OW Emerald is good. However lounges are not everything. Look it's probably worth doing the once especially if in biz but one thing for sure....never sit down the back in 44C or 44G as you are just about joining everyone who goes to the toilet and also row 46 is bulkhead extra leg room seats that cost money yet your space is impeded constantly with pax waiting to go to the loo. As for QF, even if it is marketed as an international flight it's obvious that most pax were only for the domestic leg.

Surprising that its mentioned a lot of the pax on the flight were dom (domestic).
I would have thought that not too many people were aware this this can be done, ie, as those of some of us on here look forward to, ie, doing the MEL - PER/PER - MEL as a dom pax on an int flight.
Wouldn't it be be easier, also as mentioned above, for people just to book MEL T1 to PER T4 without having to the show id to get the orange sticker malarkey.
Maybe the people who do like to fly widebodied planes is more than we think, and that people out there do pick these sort of planes to fly with.
I do agree, its a pain in the bum as opposed to the MEL QFd T1 dep and the PER QFd T4 arr system.

 

[Quickstatus]

But it's not a domestic flight.

No it is not an International flight
It is a domestic flight departing/arriving from/to an international terminal - for several reasons:

It is looks no different to all the other domestic MEL-PER flights when you search for MEL-PER or vica versa.

The breakdown of the fare charges included GST. An international flight does not incur GST.

At no time does QF state or imply that QF9/10 between MEL and PER that it is an international flight - it just states the flight departs from an international terminal. By the way, what if any are the visa implications for foreigners who have a single entry visa if it was an international flight?.

There is a warning that ID is required and it can be any Govt issued ID. A passport is valid but not necessary.

I also think that there are no Customs or Quarantine implications either

 

[justinbrett]

No it is not an International flight
It is a domestic flight departing/arriving from/to an international terminal - for several reasons:

It is looks no different to all the other domestic MEL-PER flights when you search for MEL-PER or vica versa.

The breakdown of the fare charges included GST. An international flight does not incur GST.

At no time does QF state or imply that QF9/10 between MEL and PER that it is an international flight - it just states the flight departs from an international terminal. By the way, what if any are the visa implications for foreigners who have a single entry visa if it was an international flight?.

There is a warning that ID is required and it can be any Govt issued ID. A passport is valid but not necessary.

I also think that there are no Customs or Quarantine implications either

It is legally and practically an international flight.

You are a domestic passenger on this international flight.

That's the key.

 

[PERLHR]

It is legally and practically an international flight.

You are a domestic passenger on this international flight.

That's the key.

An international flight (what by call sign only?) The crew all change at PER and a couple of pax going onward to LHR have to get off, take all their belongings with them, wait in a Q (pen like area) before allowed to reenter the "international gate area" while mainly the load of domestic pax are all required to clear customs after flying internal Australia.........seriously! . Maybe the aircraft should be parked at T4 on arrival from MEL and then towed to T1 for onward "delights" to LHR....even if that sounds barking it's not nearly as hysterical as current practice.

 

[justinbrett]

An international flight (what by call sign only?) The crew all change at PER and a couple of pax going onward to LHR have to get off, take all their belongings with them, wait in a Q (pen like area) before allowed to reenter the "international gate area" while mainly the load of domestic pax are all required to clear customs after flying internal Australia.........seriously! . Maybe the aircraft should be parked at T4 on arrival from MEL and then towed to T1 for onward "delights" to LHR....even if that sounds barking it's not nearly as hysterical as current practice.

Ever done an international transit?

You're describing an international transit.

 

[milehighclub]

There have been dozens of international flights with what is a domestic sector over the years with hundreds of thousands of passengers having done it. This flight is no different. Whilst you don't like it and thats fine, plenty of passengers seek this service because, in all the cabins, the service is of an international standard. That is a bar, entree, main and dessert in business, with a bar and main meal in premium/economy. Some of these things are not offered on domestic flights. As for clearing customs and immigration - it is usually a non issue. It's pretty fast and rarely are passengers in the line by the time the crew come off. As for customs, once they see the orange sticker, it's a quick wave by - they aren't looking for people to be on the next episode of border security.

As far as transits go, it is the easiest international transit as there is no security again and rarely can you be off plane, in a gate area or lounge in less than a few minutes. The same when re-boarding where you can comfortably leave the lounge and get to the gate in under 2 minutes.

 

[PERLHR]

Ever done an international transit?

You're describing an international transit.

Whilst you don't like it and thats fine, plenty of passengers seek this service because, in all the cabins, the service is of an international standard.

As far as transits go, it is the easiest international transit as there is no security again and rarely can you be off plane, in a gate area or lounge in less than a few minutes. The same when re-boarding where you can comfortably leave the lounge and get to the gate in under 2 minutes.

Maybe so but judging by the onward "international load" from MEL last night not many do it....would be interesting to see the figures? Anyone privy? All but a handful appeared to be on the MEL-PER sector only. Anyway, as I said at the outset it was an experience/experiment for me and I did it to see what I thought of it. It will not be repeated. Also I struggle when people say the service is better and food. I really did not think it was that great although yeah they might have offered spirits down the back which I don't recall happening on 737 or 330 services if I had been flying down the back. PE+ and Biz maybe better (I would hope so). Still looked quite tight for a further 15 hours flight mind you imho. Anyway thanks for all the responses. Interesting viewpoints.

 

[Quickstatus]

the service is of an international standard.

Understand, but That doesn't make it an international flight.

QF used to do domestic transcon flights to a higher level than other Dom flights when VA1 tried to up the ante

 

[Lynda2475]

Maybe so but judging by the onward "international load" from MEL last night not many do it

Funny because going the other way LHR-PER-MEL when I got off in PER I was one of only 11 passengers leaving in PER (albeit to connect with a SYD flight) whilst everyone else continued on to MEL.

 

[justinbrett]

Understand, but That doesn't make it an international flight.

QF used to do domestic transcon flights to a higher level than other Dom flights when VA1 tried to up the ante

Tell you what, let's get QF9 to divert to ASP, and we'll answer this once and for all.

 

[Daver6]

Other than winning an argument on the internet, who cares if you call it a domestic or international flight. It makes zero difference to what actually happens on the flight and the procedures around it.

It is what it is. Some folks don't mind the extra hoops for their perceived benefits and others do.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF9 to divert to ASP

That would be interesting

perceived benefits

That’s the point of this thread - the perceived benefits for one person at least did not appear to be worth it. Imagine a divert to ASP

 

[Franky]

That would be interesting


That’s the point of this thread - the perceived benefits for one person at least did not appear to be worth it. Imagine a divert to ASP

They also have Learmonth, Derby and Katherine if in need as well...

 

[justinbrett]

That would be interesting

Very, especially the pax who thought they were on a domestic flight only to realise the reality of their situation

 

[Quickstatus]

realise the reality of their situation

Goes both ways.
Somehow I don't think QF will want to test that.

GST refund anyone?

 

[harvyk]

First of all, a sample size of one flight does not exactly allow a comment to be made about "most pax on this service are only dom pax".

Is this an international flight? That is a very big sort of. The fact that you can board QF9, and do all outbound customs stuff in MEL suggests it is an International flight. You have to be processed back into Australia at PER. Speaking from experience in the past doing a "D" trip customs at one port failing to stamp something they should causes issues on arrival at the next port when readmitting you back into the country.

Given that MEL forces all inbound pax to clear customs in MEL before transferring onto QF9 is a strange one, however in years gone by I did SIN-xBNE-SYD on QF56 transferring to QF8. It confused the hell out of customs staff in both BNE and SYD as well as Duty Free staff at SYD when I did the QF8 leg. No one was really quite sure what to class me as. So I strongly suspect they now simply have a rule that "Domestic from International terminal" flights are not allowed to accept transit pax coming from International services to make things a little easier. Although it does make life interesting writing "Australia" on your incoming passenger arrival card when putting down which country did you board this flight.

Is it worth it? Personally I don't mind doing the "D" flights. Typically international lounges are better than their domestic counterpart (at MEL Int JLounge is better than the Dom QP, FLounge is better than Dom JLounge), typically you do get aircraft with good AVOD which is not always a given with pure dom services. Only real downside is that International rules do apply (which is why it is classed as an International flight, despite the fact the flight starts and ends in the same country), but each to their own. if you don't think it's worth it, don't fly it, it's that simple.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Well that was an experience. So no boarding card at MEL had to check in and go through T2 customs. Fair enough. Arrived PER early with announcement Perth customs busy (the majority by the way seem to have the sticker saying PER final destination. Sat on aircraft waiting to be released but actually one thinks that how can customs be busy at Qantas Perth. All they have is a Singapore flight isn't it and that later? So I guess they could not be bothered meeting a slightly early QF 9. Then it was a Q for a domestic arrival. Then it's ID. I'm sorry but I think as many others did this is just crazy. I did this flight as an experiment and spoke a length to CC on board. Learned a lot as they thought it not the easiest of flights and very expensive all the way to London. Even in extra leg room seats at 70 dollars a pop forget it. Everyone Qs for the loos as I experienced .in your feet space. Waste of time and money. Even the 737 service beats this hand down. Done it....and.never again. And the thought of going through this evrytine at PER from MEL to rejoin to London even on biz. Nah give me Qatar each and every time.

I’ve done this flight quite a few times by choice (both the short domestic sector and onwards to LHR) and also QF5 and have a completely different opinion to you.

I travel almost exclusively HLO, MEL is easy to negotiate even with a Domestic connection to that flight.
First Lounge, maybe even a Spa appointment before boarding.
Full International style J service to PER including PDB, much better seat than the equivalent in a 737.

Have never found the arrival experience at PER to be any trouble whatsoever.

I’d actually preference this flight on QF to get to PER but am glad that some others don’t like it as it increases my chances of an upgrade