QFF SG... finally!

[oz_mark]

Entering PER domestic QP last month I was asked for BP. The same happened in AKL and WLG domestic QPs.

I have a few visits in QPs next week so will be interesting to observe the protocol used.

I have certainly never been asked in PER, and I have never seen anyone asked. Maybe I have just been lucky!

Now if I could just skip getting tested for explosive residue

 

[coyote25]

In regards to lounge access as I've been a Platinum for a few years now so all I've had to do is flash the card and I'm in. Normally I'm travelling with QANTAS anyway but I did once use the Brisbane QP without travelling

Travelling overseas I've always been asked for the boarding pass (but only limited travel). They did scan it in Hong Kong recently when I wasn't flying on a OW flight but still got into the local QP. Not sure why they scanned it since they couldn't tell me when to leave etc.

Having said all of this recently in Hobart I had to show both my Platinum card and the boarding pass and I still nearly didn't get in. The QP wasn't packed when I got there but about 10 mins later it was like travelling on an Indian train, never seen a lounge so packed. I was told this is common but it was my first time in HOB QP in about 4 years.

Congrats on the SG.

 

[turbo]

My first post,

just wondering if anyone knows a reasonably cheap run to get about 65 SC's before Jul 07?

Cheers

 

[Altair]

My first post,

just wondering if anyone knows a reasonably cheap run to get about 65 SC's before Jul 07?

Cheers

Welcome to AFF turbo.
What is your definition of cheap?
Where are you located?
When would you like to do it eg. over a weekend so there can be some worth to you.

 

[Evan]

And i presume you want to fly economy as any business fare from just about any airport in australia will just about earn you 65 SC (eg SUD-MEL in J is 40 SC, so 80 return, but thats also $800 return in J).

My guess is it is going to end up costing you atleast $450 to get those 65 SC, if your east coast, why not take trip towards perth, its a nice place to spend a day or 2 i think. (May be a little more costly than you wanted though)

E

 

[serfty]

Off the top of my head; if your are time constrained, book a J class $921 one way MEL to/from BNE via SYD. That'll get you 80 SC's.

Or try J MEL-SYD Discount J for $445, SYD-BNE red e-deal for $102 and BNE-MEL red e-deal for $133. That's your 65 SC's for $680.

(If you use the Multi City Booking Tool, you can save $8 in CC fees for $672)

 

[turbo]

Cheers for your help and suggestions guys, much appreciated. I think its probably false economy to bother chasing SC's at the moment to get silver statuus really, doesn't seem like that many extra benefits apart from the complimentary pass but i'm a member anyway so might have to wait, unless work sends me o/s sometime soon! thanks anyway. good forum you have here.

 

[simongr]

There are other benefits and you need to assess them as they apply to you - 10KG extra baggage, business class check in (that's a must for me) and preferred seating (behind the rest of the SG and WP though )

 

[Evan]

Business class check in can be a life saver some times. I thought the 65 were for gold, hence lounge access so will worth doing, but for silver you have to think about it a lot more, besides you can probably leave it until the last weekend to do those trips just to make sure you don't do any other flying, or keep an eye out for a sale in business fares.

It has always got me wondering why would you pay $400 for a fully flex economy when you can often buy business at $440 SYD-MEL, you can still change dates etc on a business fare, guess depends when you travel and if any J seats are available as well.

E

 

[serfty]

Those $440 seats are the inclusive price for the D fare bucket . A bit harder to swap around nearer the flight time.

Normal SYD/MEL J is $605. (Still better $/SC value than the $405 Full WHY cost).

 

[SF&]

On a recent trip my mother & father who are both bronze qff came back from syd to adl just flashed their brdn pass and wandered in

I can assure you they are not members!!

My Dad was none the wiser when I rang him and said how the hell did u get in there he quoted ' I just flashed my bp like you son and wandered in '

He enjoyed his red... and still to this day is none the wiser !!

 

[mainly tailfirst]

Now if I was the network admin .....

You'd have MAC address filtering so people couldn't plug any old ethernet equipped machine in and expect to a get a live internet connection, right?

mt

 

[NM]

You'd have MAC address filtering so people couldn't plug any old ethernet equipped machine in and expect to a get a live internet connection, right?

mt

That would be a good starting point ...

 

[mainly tailfirst]

That would be a good starting point ...

Of course. You'll need more since people like me are quite happy spoofing MAC addresses. Though perhaps we should stop, we don't want to give the QP Sysadmins any ideas, it's bad enough that they don't have free WiFi in the QPs, last thing I want is for them to take away my free wired access as well. Although it may be a while before I have to use it again...

mt

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Of course. You'll need more since people like me are quite happy spoofing MAC addresses. Though perhaps we should stop, we don't want to give the QP Sysadmins any ideas, it's bad enough that they don't have free WiFi in the QPs, last thing I want is for them to take away my free wired access as well. Although it may be a while before I have to use it again...

mt

Aren't the machines in QP managed by Telstra? If it's some bespoke service, then managing MAC addresses at each switch would be a PITA (which is probably why it doesn't happen). 802.1x would be not much more of a PITA, but far more effective.

 

[JohnK]

Entering PER domestic QP last month I was asked for BP. The same happened in AKL and WLG domestic QPs.

I have a few visits in QPs next week so will be interesting to observe the protocol used.

I have certainly never been asked in PER, and I have never seen anyone asked. Maybe I have just been lucky!

Now if I could just skip getting tested for explosive residue

Here is what happened on my latest trip.

SYD flashed the Gold card and waved through
ADL flashed the Gold card and waved through
ASP no one at the entrance
PER flashed the Gold card and lady at reception asked for the card and swiped it, I think to bring up my flight details on screen, and asked me where I was going. When I said BME she handed me the card back and waved me through
DRW flashed the Gold card and asked for boarding pass
CNS flashed the Gold card and asked for boarding pass

Tested 3 times, out of 8 airports, for explosive residue.

 

[serfty]

... Tested 3 times, out of 8 airports, for explosive residue.

Gotta keep eyes in back of head.

I take my time repacking laptop or otherwise keep myself occupied until person armed with vacuum cleaner starts testing someone else. A bit hard to do though if you are the only only coming through x-ray.

 

[SeaWolf]

Gotta keep eyes in back of head.

I take my time repacking laptop or otherwise keep myself occupied until person armed with vacuum cleaner starts testing someone else. A bit hard to do though if you are the only only coming through x-ray.

I actually find that repacking my laptop is usually what seems to get me targetted. "Oh, just while you're doing that sir..."

 

[mbeder]

Are you able to access QP after a flight when you get to your destination? Or do you need to still be flying on to somewhere else that day?

I have done this on a number of ocassions inward to both Sydney & Melbourne lounges. As long as you show both your card & boarding pass, you should be fine. I often do this purposefully to get fed and use the Internet access, etc.

 

[SeaWolf]

I have done this on a number of ocassions inward to both Sydney & Melbourne lounges. As long as you show both your card & boarding pass, you should be fine. I often do this purposefully to get fed and use the Internet access, etc.

Yeah, it would be handy if you're travelling light to be able to arrive in Syd or Melb in the evening, have a quick shower and get changed and then go straight to meet friends for dinner or a few drinks and check into the hotel later.