QF International via Darwin

[gethsemene]

Oh absolutely! I wasn’t making suggestions, just have a LOT of mental health marbles in this trip having been unable to get home for 3yrs! Would be typical for something else to get in the way!

 

[Port Melb Cowboy]

Meant to be flying DRW - LHR on Sunday night, slightly nervous about Russian air space closing, can they go across Indian Ocean then up?

We’ll be right mate

 

[OATEK]

IATA Travel pass done, Passenger Locator form submitted to UK Gov. Ready to roll tomorrow on QF1 via DRW.

 

[Port Melb Cowboy]

IATA Travel pass done, Passenger Locator form submitted to UK Gov. Ready to roll tomorrow on QF1 via DRW.

No matter what I do, restart, delete, reinstall, the IATA app doesn’t acknowledge my flight.

 

[OATEK]

No matter what I do, restart, delete, reinstall, the IATA app doesn’t acknowledge my flight.

TKWYA!! But seriously, sorry to hear its not working for you. I had not originally been going to bother with it, but then thought why not give it a go. Worked for both of us happily, but suspect it won't make much of a difference if you can't use it.

 

[Port Melb Cowboy]

TKWYA!! But seriously, sorry to hear its not working for you. I had not originally been going to bother with it, but then thought why not give it a go. Worked for both of us happily, but suspect it won't make much of a difference if you can't use it.

Yeah set my wife’s up as well and same issue. Giving ourselves plenty of time to get to airport tomorrow (3 hours prior to departure) so hopefully won’t hold anyone up at check-in

 

[Lynda2475]

No matter what I do, restart, delete, reinstall, the IATA app doesn’t acknowledge my flight.

Just a thought, but have you tried entering the flight as DRW to LHR (ignore that you start in MEL) or check whether the flight is there as QF009 rather than QF9?

 

[mviy]

When I flew via DRW last year before entering the queue to check-in a staff member verified that I had the required documents so that if I didn't I wouldn't hold up travellers that came prepared. If you don't have the IATA app you'd just have to show a few more paper documents or documents on your phone.

I can't remember exactly what they asked to see when I flew, but in addition to the usual documents I think they'd want to see:
1. Your international vaccination certificate (this is different to the domestic one which some travellers don't realise) showing that you are fully vaccinated.
2. Your UK Passenger Locator Form
3. If any pre-departure test is required at the time you fly proof that you've taken the correct test and tested negative.
4. If any supervised COVID tests are required on arrival at the time you fly proof that you've booked the test.

Also have your passport and e-ticket itinerary with you, of course.

For the trip back to Australia you’d replace point 2. Above with the Australia Travel Declaration and possibly a state entry permit for VIC/NSW (check if one is still required for international arrivals).

 

[Port Melb Cowboy]

Just a thought, but have you tried entering the flight as DRW to LHR (ignore that you start in MEL) or check whether the flight is there as QF009 rather than QF9?

It’s my booking reference that isn’t acknowledged on the IATA app. Even though Qantas is telling me I’m good to go using that reference for some reason it’s not accepted on the app.

Ah well. Manual process it is

Post automatically merged: Mar 1, 2022

When I flew via DRW last year before entering the queue to check-in a staff member verified that I had the required documents so that if I didn't I wouldn't hold up travellers that came prepared. If you don't have the IATA app you'd just have to show a few more paper documents or documents on your phone.

I can't remember exactly what they asked to see when I flew, but in addition to the usual documents I think they'd want to see:
1. Your international vaccination certificate (this is different to the domestic one which some travellers don't realise) showing that you are fully vaccinated.
2. Your UK Passenger Locator Form
3. If any pre-departure test is required at the time you fly proof that you've taken the correct test and tested negative.
4. If any supervised COVID tests are required on arrival at the time you fly proof that you've booked the test.

Also have your passport and e-ticket itinerary with you, of course.

For the trip back to Australia you’d replace point 2. Above with the Australia Travel Declaration and possibly a state entry permit for VIC/NSW (check if one is still required for international arrivals).

I have the documents saved to my phone on PDF’s will that be allowed or do we need paper?

 

[OATEK]

It’s my booking reference that isn’t acknowledged on the IATA app. Even though Qantas is telling me I’m good to go using that reference for some reason it’s not accepted on the app.

Ah well. Manual process it is

Post automatically merged: Mar 1, 2022

I have the documents saved to my phone on PDF’s will that be allowed or do we need paper?

Paper backup always worthwhile - may not be needed, but good to have your bases covered.

 

[mviy]

Showing on the phone is fine (I would fully charge the phone before travelling and not forget it e.g. leave the house keys right near it so you can't lockup the house without seeing your phone). I agree a paper backup is worthwhile.

Check-in does take longer than usual due to all the extra documents though as testing requirements ease that should get a little easier.

Re point 4 in my post above. I think when arrival testing was required in the UK you had to show the appropriate supervised test had been booked for post arrival (there was a special category of test that had to be booked - a Day 2 arrivals test) to be allowed on the plane, but for coming back to Australia I think for the arrival test you might have just had to assert that you would take a test after you arrived on the ATD and state entry permit then go and have a PCR test or self administer a RAT depending on the requirements at the time.

 

[gethsemene]

Hi all,

Families internet slow, so limited TR for now:

QF9 Mel/DRW on 28th of Feb.

MEL international was spooky as quiet, turned up as recommended 4hrs before, doubt I needed to, no queue in either priority or economy lines. Check in staff were magnificent helping with me paperwork, accepted screenshots on phone for both Aussie vaccination cert and uk passenger form.

Duty free was shut other than first area, none of the specialist stores were open.

First Lounge was practically empty, food and service both great!

Flight up to DRW was pleasant enough, CC great as usual, food in J was OK.

DRW is a dump, J ‘lounge’ makes Hobart look luxurious, duty free was basically empty shelves.

Flight to London was as it was prenn no pandemic other than masks. Service was great, cabin crew friendly.

Heathrow was super smooth, no one checked any paperwork, just electronic gates for passport.

 

[Port Melb Cowboy]

Hi all,

Families internet slow, so limited TR for now:

QF9 Mel/DRW on 28th of Feb.

MEL international was spooky as quiet, turned up as recommended 4hrs before, doubt I needed to, no queue in either priority or economy lines. Check in staff were magnificent helping with me paperwork, accepted screenshots on phone for both Aussie vaccination cert and uk passenger form.

Duty free was shut other than first area, none of the specialist stores were open.

First Lounge was practically empty, food and service both great!

Flight up to DRW was pleasant enough, CC great as usual, food in J was OK.

DRW is a dump, J ‘lounge’ makes Hobart look luxurious, duty free was basically empty shelves.

Flight to London was as it was prenn no pandemic other than masks. Service was great, cabin crew friendly.

Heathrow was super smooth, no one checked any paperwork, just electronic gates for passport

Glad your flights went well mate.

Had a mate fly out to Dubai just over a week ago from Sydney. He FaceTimed me just how desolate the airport was, and no lounges! He was sitting at Maccas for 3 hours couldn’t even get a beer poor bugger.

Edit: He’s lifetime Gold also. Certainly wasn’t too pleased. But he’s in The Maldives now so hey. Life’s not that bad!

 

[OATEK]

QF make a big deal of checking in online, but its mostly to prefill passport details etc because they have to check the passenger locator form etc. So no boarding card until our paper work is checked in person. But it was nice to get the message that we are checked in and will be welcome in the First lounge.

 

[OATEK]

Paper work check at SYD was slow, but check-in speedy. QF staff never asked for IATA travel pass, seem to prefer the paper. First Lounge quiet when first arrived, but got a bit busier. Overall all a good, efficient process. All the airline and airport staff were friendly and helpful. The Pavlova was excellent as was the squid.

 

[rigram]

Travelled QF9 domestically yesterday (MEL-DRW), using my AMEX credit for flight in Economy and requested points upgrade, however was unsuccessful - the amount needed was 27,200.

In MEL lounge I asked to be seated in Premium Economy (yes there were seats), however domestically staff had no way to process upgrade in their system - only upgrade is to J class.

In the end they said yes you can have Prem Economy, but the amount of points needed would be the same as business upgrade (27,200).

Classic reward Prem Economy from MEL-DRW (QF9) is only 31,000 points. As this is a "system-limitation" was thinking they could have re-graded based on my status...

 

[Port Melb Cowboy]

Qantas First Lounge Melbourne waiting for QF9.

Squid fantastic. Menu for those who may not have seen what is on offer at the moment.

 

[Port Melb Cowboy]

Qantas First Lounge Melbourne waiting for QF9.

Squid fantastic. Menu for those who may not have seen what is on offer at the moment.

Had to try the lasagne. Glad I did!

 

[SJF211]

Travelled QF9 domestically yesterday (MEL-DRW), using my AMEX credit for flight in Economy and requested points upgrade, however was unsuccessful - the amount needed was 27,200.

In MEL lounge I asked to be seated in Premium Economy (yes there were seats), however domestically staff had no way to process upgrade in their system - only upgrade is to J class.

In the end they said yes you can have Prem Economy, but the amount of points needed would be the same as business upgrade (27,200).

Classic reward Prem Economy from MEL-DRW (QF9) is only 31,000 points. As this is a "system-limitation" was thinking they could have re-graded based on my status...

Pretty poor to try and charge the same amount. I vaguely remember flying QF9 to Perth and seeing that it was only around 10,000 points to move to premium.

 

[Daver6]

Pretty poor to try and charge the same amount. I vaguely remember flying QF9 to Perth and seeing that it was only around 10,000 points to move to premium.

That's correct. 10k points to go from discount Y to Y+. It's truly the sweet spot. Y+ on QF9 from MEL-PER is better than domestic J IMHO. The only thing better about J would be A330 J seats.