QF/JQ domestic flights leaving from international terminal

[k_sheep]

I remember there used to be lists of flights that left from the international terminal. Do these still exist? (both the lists and the flights!). Now I've (accidentally) gotten to WP again I feel the hankering for some flounging!

My googling is as useless as ever since for the last 3 years all it shows is ads ...

 

[AIRwin]

QF9 MEL-PER
JQ: Domestic flights from Melb/Syd international terminals

 

[k_sheep]

Ah excellent! I knew it was there somewhere!

Thank you ... QF9 had slipped my mind. Cheaper to fly to DPS or NZ mind you But I have work stints available in PER as needed.

 

[dylarr]

You've also got QF5 SYD-PER which is the Rome tag flight that operates seasonally (from June to October).

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Flew JQ63 this past Friday (Sydney to Melbourne). This flight departs from the international terminal since it continues onto Saigon after reaching MEL. The flight was booked as a cheapish $109 starter fare for my birthday (Jan 5). So to confirm, yes these flights do exist. My advice would be to always book a departure on Fridays, since the SYD > MEL leg rarely seems to get cancelled on Fridays (but the Monday ones almost always do). I rocked up to the JQ desk to check-in. Interestingly enough they grab your passport and then paste an orange sticker on your boarding pass with a D symbol and your passport number recorded which you then sign:

You then follow signs at passport control for Special Assistance/Diplomatic/D symbol and someone from the ABF manually processes you through immigration (as technically you aren't leaving the country). After that it is the usual go through international security then on to the Qantas Flounge. I will say I kind of felt like putting a paper bag over my head entering the QF Flounge with a domestic JQ ticket like that, but my partner thought better of it.


Lounge itself was good. Slightly better than the one at LAX in terms of catering, and leagues better in terms of seating if you want to get work done. When I arrived with my partner, I showed my QFF Platinum card and we were both let in. I requested a spa (which by noon when we arrived was fully booked, so was told I was on a waiting list). Ended up having a good lunch and overall enjoyed the experience flying JétStar's dream of a Dreamliner down to Melbourné, Australia.



-RooFlyer88

 

[yachty]

Interestingly enough they grab your passport and then paste an orange sticker on your boarding pass with a D symbol and your passport number recorded which you then sign

Drivers license is also sufficient and what I usually use when I do the tags

 

[AIRwin]

My advice would be to always book a departure on Fridays, since the SYD > MEL leg rarely seems to get cancelled on Fridays (but the Monday ones almost always do).

Oh no I'm booked on a Monday

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Drivers license is also sufficient and what I usually use when I do the tags

Yes if you hold domestic identification cards that will work. In my case I don't (I hold an Ontario driver's license and health card) along with my Nexus card issued by the US government. Passport is universally recognized everywhere and I am a big believer in carrying with you everywhere. Yes you need to pay special attention to ensure it doesn't get damaged, but it really can help you out, especially if you are in a situation where you find out you need to travel abroad at the drop of a hat.

Oh no I'm booked on a Monday

I wouldn't freak out about it right now for a couple of reasons. First, the sector Sydney to Melbourne is a new one they added in the last month so no doubt they are trying to get the operations ironed out there. Second, there have been some Monday departures that have departed (here's two that I found 2 weeks ago and 4 weeks ago). Indeed, it seems like they are improving the operations for the Sydney to Melbourne sector as my flight was only delayed by half an hour versus the 1+ hour minimum it has historically delayed. With that being said, I hope you get a lovely delay. 4 hours would be nice! No complaining if you've got a spa treatment and meal at the happiest place on Earth outside Florida!

-RooFlyer88

 

[AIRwin]

With that being said, I hope you get a lovely delay.

Thanks I was booked on a Friday and the flight was delayed around an hour so I did end up with a spa treatment at 12 noon after first having also been put on a waitlist when I arrived at the lounge around 10 am... Did you get there only at 12 noon?

 

[muppet]

Flew JQ63 this past Friday (Sydney to Melbourne).

…..

and someone from the ABF manually processes you through immigration (as technically you aren't leaving the country).

Technically and actually not leaving the country

 

[AIRwin]

You then follow signs at passport control for Special Assistance/Diplomatic/D symbol and someone from the ABF manually processes you through immigration (as technically you aren't leaving the country).

They usually stamp the D sticker

 

[Hampton Mike]

Heading from MEL to SYD for an Australia Day long weekend. Up on JQ47 on Friday and return on JQ63 on Monday. Breakfast in MEL Flounge and lunch in SYD Flounge

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Heading from MEL to SYD for an Australia Day long weekend. Up on JQ47 on Friday and return on JQ63 on Monday. Breakfast in MEL Flounge and lunch in SYD Flounge

Didn't realize that option existed for the return (JQ47). Will need to consider it.

One thing I forgot to mention is that these tag flights on JQ only seem to be available through February. I was looking into late March and couldn't find anything. But certainly if you can find a JQ classic award, then this is a real no brainer. 6,400 QFF points + ~$20 in taxes n fees to visit the Flounge and fly one of Australia's luxury airlines to boot on one of their wide-bodies ain't bad!

 

[AIRwin]

Didn't realize that option existed for the return (JQ47). Will need to consider it.

It's a 7 am departure though

 

[Hampton Mike]

Flounge opens around 5 or 5:15, plenty of time for brekkie, plus it’ll probably be late leaving

 

[kangarooflyer88]

It's a 7 am departure though

JetStar international check-in opens 3 hours prior to departure. So that means you could check in as early as 4 AM at the airport. I don't think you can check-in online for these flights given the need for showing photo ID and getting that nice beautiful orange stamp on the boarding pass for the flight you paid a couple of bucks for.

Flounge opens around 5 or 5:15, plenty of time for brekkie,

This was my experience flying JQ this Friday. Check-in opened at 10:10 AM but ended up getting to the airport closer to 11. By the time we passed through security and imemigration it was just past 11. Didn't have enough time for a spa appointment but certainly plenty of time for sit down dining.

plus it’ll probably be late leaving

One could only hope. This is arguably one of the few times where you really hope your JetStar flight takes a massive delay. And some of them are real doozeys too like being 4 or 5 hours delayed. I do wonder what happens if the flight is cancelled after check-in though. I mean if you passed security and immigration and the QF lounge what are you supposed to do? Maybe QF could accommodate you on one of their domestic flights that departs from the international terminal (one could only hope!)

-RooFlyer88

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Heading from MEL to SYD for an Australia Day long weekend. Up on JQ47 on Friday and return on JQ63 on Monday. Breakfast in MEL Flounge and lunch in SYD Flounge

Hope neither of them gets cancelled.
Need to keep an eye out for this info, as you would need to go through/be escorted out via Aust incoming immi int processing.
And, no you can't use Smartgate, would need to see an ABF officer in both cases.
---
Personally, I would go to NZ if I wanted the "kick" of flying int again, and using the lounges.
Less chances of getting an sms/email that "we regret to inform you that your upcoming flight has been cancelled, please see airport staff who will assist"...

 

[AIRwin]

Need to keep an eye out for this info, as you would need to go through/be escorted out via Aust incoming immi int processing.

It wouldn't be cancelled that last minute?

 

[dajop]

I guess for non-WPs/WP1's not really that fantastic. Although if the price is right and flying Jetstar, it's probably quicker to access the QF J lounge this way than accessing the domestic lounges before a purely domestic JQ flight, and I'd say despite the offering being not fantastic, the lounges would be quieter than the domestic QP and you have access to self-serve alcohol all day long.

 

[AIRwin]

you have access to self-serve alcohol all day long

Only 3-4 hours once checked in unless flight is delayed