QF1 Connecting to BA Domestic Flight

[Lynda2475]

I flying SYD-LHR on QF1 in J (Classic Reward) which I understands lands at Terminal 3 at 06:35am and am wanting to fly on to EDI the same day.

BA domestic flights depart from Terminal 5 and airport guide says to allow MCT of 90 mins if connecting from terminal 3 to terminal 5. That leave me with a choice of the 9am LHR-EDI flight or 12pm LHR-EDI flight.

Im trying to work out if the 9am is feasible (as I usually leave 3 hours)?

I know I will have to clear immigration at LHR, but do I have to collect my bag at terminal 3 and then check it in again at terminal 5, or can my bag be checked through from Sydney even though the connecting flight is on a different ticket?

If I play it safe and book the midday flight, is it likely i wil be able to enter the BA lounge at Terminal 5 some 4 hours before my flight departure time (assuming I book J fare or manage to retain WF gold)? From what I understand there is no arrivals lounge for QF J at LHR anymore?

 

[Princess Fiona]

QF should through check your bags to EDI as it’s a QF Award ticket to a OW revenue. Even although on separate PNRs there is (or was) an exception that alllows them to through check. They will not do so for revenue to revenue on separate PNRs.

If the bags are checked to EDI you will not need to collect in LHR.
Personally I think the connection to the 0900 would be too tight for comfort for me.
I would pick the 12pm flight and relax in T5 and the lounges beforehand. You can get in there long before your flight, the time factor is not an issue.
There is no longer arrivals lounge access in T3 for QF J pax.

 

[madrooster]

What date is the LHR-EDI?

Was the SYD-LHR booked over the phone? Online? One way? Return?

 

[Lynda2475]

Thanks @Princess Fiona my gut is telling me midday is safest option too, and with 5.5 hours between flights it wont even matter if I do need to collect my bag and re-check in, hey it will be something to do to help pass the time! If I can have a shower in the lounge to feel human, then Im sure I will manage, as will hopefully have gotten some sleep on the flight to LHR.

@madrooster the date im looking at for LHR-EDI is 3rd August (there are other flights but they are all earlier or much later). I did consider adding to my classic reward itinerary but there are no J Class classic rewards available from LHR or LCY to either EDI or GLA on that day. Thankfully J domestic fares in UK are much cheaper than in Aus.

I originally booked the SYD-LHR as a classic reward online myself via the via QF website, it is the first of 5 flights on the ticket, the others are a few weeks later because I am coming home via the US, spending just under 3 weeks in UK and then 2 weeks in USA. Although I did do a change over the phone with QF when a J seat became available from DFW. How does booking method come into play?

When I booked my classic reward i hadnt yet decided how much time wanted to spend in London or where my side trip would be i.e. somewhere else in UK (seems the safe option) or somewhere in EU. Just looking at options now, and it seems like a great time to be in Scotland.

 

[madrooster]

@madrooster the date im looking at for LHR-EDI is 3rd August (there are other flights but they are all earlier or much later). I did consider adding to my classic reward itinerary but there are no J Class classic rewards available from LHR or LCY to either EDI or GLA on that day. Thankfully J domestic fares in UK are much cheaper than in Aus.

There's U2 on the 9am and X5 on the 12pm to EDI. Given you are flying other flights, I'm guessing you've done a oneworld award? If that is the case, including the LHR-EDI should be easy and be minimal cost.

 

[Lynda2475]

There's U2 on the 9am and X5 on the 12pm to EDI. Given you are flying other flights, I'm guessing you've done a oneworld award? If that is the case, including the LHR-EDI should be easy and be minimal cost.

I just booked the flights I wanted using multi-city tool, I didnt specifically request a oneworld but there are 2 QF J flights, 1 BA J flight and 2 AA J flights on the ticket and it was 318k points, so yep it would appear to be a oneworld.

When I search for LHR-EDI i cant see any J reward seats just Y at 12pm (J is available at 7am or 2pm or later), is extra inventory available if agent adds to an existing oneworld ticket?

Im thinking it will be easier to just buy the UK domestic flights than to deal with QF call centre again as a lowly gold, my time is more valuable and i will need SCs to requalify, and BA domestic J seems to cost the same as QF domestic Y for same distance.

 

[madrooster]

When I search for LHR-EDI i cant see any J reward seats just Y, is extra inventory available if agent adds to an existing ticket?

The inventory is there, just that the QF website doesn't show it, so you would need to call to get it into your booking.

 

[Lynda2475]

The inventory is there, just that the QF website doesn't show it, so you would need to call to get it into your booking.

Thanks so much for checking and for the advice.

If I can find a break between meetings one morning this week, I will see if I can get through to Hobart, otherwise think I'll just buy them as dealing with South Africa is too stressful and dont want rest of my ticket stuffed up.

 

[Daver6]

If you can book it on one PNR, then book the earlier flight. If you miss it they should just move you to the next one. The only risk I see is J is full and they offer you Y.

 

[Mattg]

Have a look at:

The Qantas Frequent Flyer Redemptions You Can't Book Online

The Qantas website may have plenty of irritating IT bugs, and there are quite a few basic things that can't be done on it. But one good thing about the

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[kelvedon]

QF should through check your bags to EDI as it’s a QF Award ticket to a OW revenue. Even although on separate PNRs there is (or was) an exception that alllows them to through check. They will not do so for revenue to revenue on separate PNRs.

If the bags are checked to EDI you will not need to collect in LHR.
Personally I think the connection to the 0900 would be too tight for comfort for me.
I would pick the 12pm flight and relax in T5 and the lounges beforehand. You can get in there long before your flight, the time factor is not an issue.
There is no longer arrivals lounge access in T3 for QF J pax.

So how do your bags clear customs in the UK if QF check your luggage through, since the EDI flight is domestic ?

 

[madrooster]

So how do your bags clear customs in the UK if QF check your luggage through, since the EDI flight is domestic ?

In Europe and the UK you clear immigration at the first port but customs at your final destination.

 

[Lynda2475]

Have a look at

Thanks

X5 on the 12pm to EDI

Excuse my ignorance but is X the booking class and there are 5 seats? All my current flights show as U.

My current itinerary is:

1. SYD - LHR QF J on A380
2. LHR-JFK BA J on 777
3. JFK- ORD AA J on 737
4. ORD-DFW AA J on 787-9 (didnt realise AA used dreamliners on domestic)
5. DFW-SYD QF J on 787-9

Is it within the fare rules to add two flights in between 1 & 2 above:

• LHR-EDI
• GLA-LCY

 

[kelvedon]

Oh so how do they differentiate between domestic and international arrivals at EDI ?

 

[Lynda2475]

Oh so how do they differentiate between domestic and international arrivals at EDI ?

At LHR the terminal and gates you land at funnel you through different exits.

Last trip to LHR, I just went to the e-gate scanned my Aussie passport (didnt talk to a real person at all) and walked to the baggage claim, grabbed my bag and walked through the nothing to declare exit and straight to the Tube station, I didnt see anyone go through the something to declare door. IME they dont really police customs at all, its all honour system at LHR, i assume same at EDI.

I wont have anything to declare in my checked luggage, it will just contain clothes and tolietries.

 

[madrooster]

Excuse my ignorance but is X the booking class and there are 5 seats? All my current flights show as U.

My current itinerary is:

1. SYD - LHR QF J on A380
2. LHR-JFK BA J on 777
3. JFK- ORD AA J on 737
4. ORD-DFW AA J on 787-9 (didnt realise AA used dreamliners on domestic)
5. DFW-SYD QF J on 787-9

Is it within the fare rules to add two flights in between 1 & 2 above:

• LHR-EDI
• GLA-LCY

X class is Y award. U class is J award. X5 means 5 seats available in X class.

Which cities are your stopovers? Your itinerary qualifies as a oneworld award so you should be able to add LHR-EDI and GLA-LCY with no further points required which would make your stopovers EDI/GLA, LON, JFK, ORD, DFW, if you are even stopping at all of them.

Oh so how do they differentiate between domestic and international arrivals at EDI ?

EU and UK originating bags use bag tags with either green edges (counter checked in) or purple edges (self check in/bag drop). Non-EU/UK originating bags do not have these coloured edges. It's therefore easy to spot an ex-EU/UK vs ex-elsewhere pax/bag in a mixed arrivals hall.

 

[Lynda2475]

So is there only Y (X class) seats available on BA1442 (12pm LHR - EDI) or is there also a J (U Class) seat available?

If no U seats then I will have to buy J seats, as QF havent committed to extending status beyond June, my anniversary is July, so if I will fall back to silver from gold I wouldnt have lounge access at LHR without a J ticket, and I will really need a shower if going to be 5+ hours between arriving from SYD and departing fro EDI.

Which cities are your stopovers?

On new itinerary, idelaly I would:

Fly SYD-LHR-EDI stopover in Edinburgh
Get train from Edinburgh to Glasgow, stop over in Glasgow or Sky for a few days
Fly GLA-LCY (or LHR) stopover in London for a few days
Fly LHR - JFK stop over in NYC for a few days
Fly JFK to ORD spend a week in Chicago
Fly ORD-DFW-SYD (there is a 2.5 hour layover in DFW), although could probably easily fly ORD-DFW the day before and do some outlet shopping in Dallas.

I assume if I cant add LHR-EDI in J on 3rd Aug, then adding GLA-LCY also wont be possible, because it will look like I'm stopping over in London twice? So I would need to buy both LJR-EDI and GLA-LCY.

 

[madrooster]

So is there only Y (X class) seats available on BA1442 (12pm LHR - EDI) or is there also a J (U Class) seat available?

If no U seats then I will have to buy J seats, as QF havent committed to extending status beyond June, my anniversary is July, so if I will fall back to silver from gold I wouldnt have lounge access at LHR without a J ticket, and I will really need a shower if going to be 5+ hours between arriving from SYD and departing fro EDI.

The 9am has U2 X0, the 12pm only has U0 X5. On either one, you would have lounge access at LHR, either from being in J directly, or using the domestic connecting to/from international rule where you receive lounge access before the domestic flight due to the fact you came in on QF1 in J.

The most sensible answer is to take the 9am and include it on the award.

On new itinerary, idelaly I would:

Fly SYD-LHR-EDI stopover in Edinburgh
Get train from Edinburgh to Glasgow, stop over in Glasgow or Sky for a few days
Fly GLA-LCY (or LHR) stopover in London for a few days
Fly LHR - JFK stop over in NYC for a few days
Fly JFK to ORD spend a week in Chicago
Fly ORD-DFW-SYD (there is a 2.5 hour layover in DFW), although could probably easily fly ORD-DFW the day before and do some outlet shopping in Dallas.

I assume if I cant add LHR-EDI in J on 3rd Aug, then adding GLA-LCY also wont be possible, because it will look like I'm stopping over in London twice? So I would need to buy both LJR-EDI and GLA-LCY.

So your stopovers would be EDI/GLA, LON, JFK, ORD - 4 stopovers out of 5 allowed.

You cannot stopover in LON twice so yes, you either need to add both, or don't add either.

Given that adding both will cost you 0 extra points (I'm assuming you were charged 318k points) and just the BA fuel fine and taxes (about 65 AUD per flight), it makes perfect sense to add them to the award. You will also dodge paying GB tax on the LHR-EDI since you're connecting from long haul. If you pay for a separate ticket, you will have to pay for the short haul GB tax too.

 

[andye]

I wouldn't do it myself but if you wanted to reduce the taxes on your LHR-JFK flight you could go to Scotland later, make your way to Inverness and connect within 24 hours to LHR from there

 

[Lynda2475]

I dont want to get too tricky with routing and also want to be mindful of arrival times etc for checking into accomodation, having time for covid tests etc.

No one world airlines seemed to fly direct from Scotland (EDI/GLA) to NYC (JFK/LGA/EWR) I remember looking at that before I booked; so spending time in Scotland after England doesnt really work for me.

I also feel it will be easier to spend at least 1 full day in London before heding to JFK because of the 1 day USA covid test requirement and because August is Fringe Festival & Miltary Tattoo time in Scotland, its cheaper to extend my stay in London if I have to than in Scotland if I did get Covid (plus have friends in London who could get me care packages etc).

Im just dreading how long it will take to get through to someone competent at QF and then how long it will take for them to do changes, Im pretty much in back to back meetings all week at work, and starting a new project so not easy to just deal with them when they finally answer or call back. The first change to this itinerary took them almost an hour to change 1 flight on QF metal.