QF81 F Lounge / JASA run?

[Kangol]

Has anyone done this before?
After recently finding out that QF81 SYD-ADL departs from the SYD Int terminal, and given that I have a reason to go to ADL I thought it'd be appropriate to try out the long way of going from MEL-ADL and utilise the SYD F lounge!

Looking at JASAs I can get QF408 MEL-SYD on an A330-200 and SYD-ADL on an A330-300 for 40,000 pts + $178 earning 100 SCs and 3,063 pts.
The same flights on a red-e-deal can be bought for $216 earning 25 SCs and 2450 pts. This would give me ~3 hrs in the F Lounge.

Or, I could split the bookings and go one leg Y, the other J. If that were the case, which would be better - do both have Skybeds?
I'm guessing the different PNRs wouldn't be much of an issue if I am going HLO.

What would you do?

I'm thinking that the main meal would be had in the F Lounge so any onboard meals before and after may get in the way, so to speak - thereby limiting the value of going J. I'm also saving my points for a return LHR trip in F so I don't want to use up any points if not needed. Then again if J in the A330 is nice I wouldn't mind trying that.
The other option if possible is to request an ODU for QF81? Technically it is a dom flight even if it has an int flight number so I'm probably pushing it...

 

[mannej]

The 330-200 is a lottery as to whether you get skybeds or not. More than likely no, however the 330-300 are will have Skybeds.

 

[Traveller1955]

I did the JASA Syd - Adelaide last weekend using the Syd - Adelaide route via Sydney International Terminal and the Airbus was excellent, the reply on a 737 was less than impressive.

 

[Aus ATC]

I too have done a JASA CBR-SYD-ADL return, specifically targetting QF81. A late champagne breakfast in the FLounge, then I was 1 of only 2 people in J from SYD to ADL - was well plied with champagne throughout the flight. A very nice way to travel domestically, and the formalities of travelling domestic on an international service were straight forward - though it took a few minutes for the service desk in CBR to source the "D" sticker for the boarding pass.

Highly recommended - especially as I did it for double status credits!

 

[Kangol]

Thanks, I've heard of the D sticker - what is it exactly? Just something to show that your passport has been checked for your onward int flight (if connecting from a dom flight)?

What is the catering like on J in QF81 - on par with say A380 J, or similar to standard dom J 767/737...

 

[medhead]

A "D" sticker is used to tell customs that you are a domestic passenger not an international passenger.

I'm using QF81 and QF82 to connect to trans tasman flights. It is a great way to connect to international flights.

 

[Kangol]

Thanks, I ended up booking it in Y.. am not chasing the SCs so saving the points is a good thing. Plus, a short daytime J trip isn't really worth it when you have the F lounge!

There should be more domestic legs departing from international terminals ex-MEL (besides JQ36)!

 

[serfty]

The 330-200 is a lottery as to whether you get skybeds or not. More than likely no, however the 330-300 are will have Skybeds.

Unless they are planning an equipment swap in ADL, the 332 used for QF81 is the international version with Skybeds ...

 

[mannej]

Unless they are planning an equipment swap in ADL, the 332 used for QF81 is the international version with Skybeds ...

The op referred to being on a MEL-SYD on a 332, hence the lottery comment.

 

[serfty]

The op referred to being on a MEL-SYD on a 332, hence the lottery comment.

Fair enough; I was concentrating on QF81.

In fact betwixt MEL and SYD it's more of a lottery actually getting the equipment type you originally booked; with equipment swaps it could end up any of 332, 333, 763, 73H or 734 ...

... the 330 used for QF81 will almost certainly be international with skybeds.