The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[AustraliaPoochie]

Maybe, but I dont think that the DATD negates the need for Smartgate tho, still does not negate immi processing tho.
Even with ADAD, probably will still need to go through the shoulder height first Smartgate reader, that gives out the photo on that thin slip of paper.
Guess Ade could be our guinea tester.
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From the ABF website:
Take the ticket keep the ticket and your Incoming Passenger Card together as you will need these later for Customs and Biosecurity. If you are not successful, go to Manual Passport Control to be manually processed by an Australian Border Force officer.
So if a person has the ADAD on their phone, they might still need the Smartgate ticket.
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To be eligible for the ADAD, or DAD (digitalarrivaldeclaration is the proper name) its noted,
If Smartgate will not work for Ade, then its manual processing.
Also from the ABF website:
must use the kiosks and SmartGates at the airport
72 hrs prior.

 

[Beano]

Maybe, but I dont think that the ADAD (AusDigitalArrivalDec)/digital arrival card still does not negate immi processing tho.
Even with ADAD, probably will still need to go through the shoulder height first Smartgate reader, that gives out the photo on that thin slip of paper.
Guess Ade could be our guinea tester.
===
From the ABF website:
Take the ticket keep the ticket and your Incoming Passenger Card together as you will need these later for Customs and Biosecurity. If you are not successful, go to Manual Passport Control to be manually processed by an Australian Border Force officer.
So if a person has the ADAD on their phone, they might still need the Smartgate ticket.

In New Zealand you can use either a paper card or electronic. In WLG if electronic you need to present your passport for scanning to an Immigration officer. You still need to show the arrival card if you use one.
Now in WLG you have three hurdles, electronic scan, immigration and customs. Previously it was electronic scan and customs, with customs handling the electronic card. Is this progress?

 

[Flyfrequently]

Cannot get my head around Points value per $ - I know upgrading with points trumps bid for upgrades.

Am I better off using 54,000 points for J upgrade 2 pax CNS- MEL or bidding minimal $395?
Data point: I do have a million points am SG
Appreciate your input TIA

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Cannot get my head around Points value per $ - I know upgrading with points trumps bid for upgrades.

Am I better off using 54,000 points for J upgrade 2 pax CNS- MEL or bidding minimal $395?
Data point: I do have a million points am SG
Appreciate your input TIA

54k points should be getting you around $1000 minimum as a return.

However, if you really have no other use for them… might as well apply for an upgrade!

 

[Beano]

54k points should be getting you around $1000 minimum as a return.

However, if you really have no other use for them… might as well apply for an upgrade!

My 250K was worth $1200 on a points plus pay on QF/EK flights. I could have spent 50K as a reward booking on the same trip through JFK at some random time.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Thanks @Beano and @MEL_Traveller Have gone with 54,000 points to upgrade
Looks like 3 seats still available for sale at $1800+ each for QF703 on 10th December.
In August, I paid sub $1k each for QF702 this coming Tuesday.
If upgrade comes through will still leave me with 1,000,000+ points.......for those elusive CR return F fares

 

[Dmac59]

Here's what they get - he will get 3 pieces, and the others 2 pieces.
View attachment 416759
Cheers,
Matt.

Same as I posted @ #2751

 

[Princess Fiona]

I wish to join AFF but had a bad experience a few years ago, I booked a flight with Qantas FF assistance by phone and paid 1,150,000 frequent flyer points for two people ( wife and I ) one way ticket from Adelaide to London healthrow Airport as “premiem economy” is this still the same ?

AFF doesn’t book Award flights ?
Is this Qantas telephone reservations you are referring to ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I wish to join AFF but had a bad experience a few years ago, I booked a flight with Qantas FF assistance by phone and paid 1,150,000 frequent flyer points for two people ( wife and I ) one way ticket from Adelaide to London healthrow Airport as “premiem economy” is this still the same ?

What you bought back then was an ‘any seat’ award. That meant you could buy any available seat on the plane, but the cash price was converted to points. The price of those points conversions was high, and as you found out, this meant you paid 5x the ‘classic’ (or lowest) award price for the same ticket.

But of course those classic awards have limited availability.

The ‘any seat’ awards have now been replaced by a more fairly priced ‘classic plus’ award. Which has much better availability, but no where near the half million points per passenger you paid.

The key to getting the lowest priced ‘classic’ awards is to book early, and be willing to fly on partner airlines if you can’t snag anything on Qantas.

Otherwise, the next option up is the classic plus. Classic plus is a straight conversion of the current airfare, with a value of 1c per point in economy, and 1.5c per point in premium, business and first class. You can check the price of classic plus awards via your qantas account, they show with a blue ribbon. If you find a red ribbon price, that’s the even cheaper classic awards. But they can be very hard to find!

 

[Pele]

Comrades this is probably not the right thread but i didnt want to create a new one:

I have cancelled a SYD-KUL MH J classic award ticket for 24 Jan 2025. I cancelled two but one looks to have been snapped up already, one still available. Flight is MH140 departing at 2215 on the Friday night. It is the week before the Australia day public holiday and also Chinese New Year. Taxes are cheap too $136 and 75,000 points. This is a gold nugget for someone.

He who hesitates loses!

 

[gerrib]

I am thinking of changing my house and contents insurance to Qantas. The quote is a little more than my current insurer but there is an offer of 40,000 QFF points. Can this be correct? I can travel return from Albury to Sydney for 16000 QFF points. If I could get 2 free rtn trips from Albury to Sydney I might consider this offer.
I will be paying more than $2000 for my H& C insurance. I feel this offer of 40000 points is too good to be true.

UP TO 40,000​

Join by 2‍9 J‍a‍n‍u‍a‍r‍y 2‍0‍2‍5 and earn up to 40,000 Qantas Points.​

 

[Flyfrequently]

As with any insurance @gerrib , am sure you know to read thoroughly and compare your current PDS with Qantas PDS - tedious we know.

If policies are "like for like" ie with inclusions, exclusions, excess, premiums, etc, and you feel comfortable should you need to make a claim, then you can make an informed decision.
Also perhaps check when points are allocated and if you need to hold the policy for a certain period of time, and sometimes for that 40,000 there is a minimum premium spend.

A few years back we did change our PHI to Qantas (underwritten by NIB) to take advantage of points offer. The claims process was easy but many practitioners shied away from No Gap/Known Gap.

We changed back after a year.
Let us know how you go.

 

[BriarFlyer]

UP TO 40,000​

Join by 2‍9 J‍a‍n‍u‍a‍r‍y 2‍0‍2‍5 and earn up to 40,000 Qantas Points.​

Note the UP TO. I was quoted on a travel incurance policy today, lured by the "UP TO 15,000 pts" offer. My actual offer was 7,000 pts so not even half the maximum. YMMV.

 

[RooFlyer]

Note the UP TO. I was quoted on a travel incurance policy today, lured by the "UP TO 15,000 pts" offer. My actual offer was 7,000 pts so not even half the maximum. YMMV.

Same for me. A reasonable policy at a reasonable price will not go close to the ‘up to’ figure.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Knowing our J upgrade is unlikely to come through tomorrow (J2 U0 domestic) am looking to snag row 4 but hoping to avoid paying the $45 x 2 just in case we get lucky!

Question if I may please: when online check in commences, is it easy to change seats then? I will be using the app.
From memory, the screen opens up with check in now and haven't previously noticed where it is possible to change seats. Any tips much appreciated. Thanks

 

[05flyer]

Knowing our J upgrade is unlikely to come through tomorrow (J2 U0 domestic) am looking to snag row 4 but hoping to avoid paying the $45 x 2 just in case we get lucky!

Question if I may please: when online check in commences, is it easy to change seats then? I will be using the app.
From memory, the screen opens up with check in now and haven't previously noticed where it is possible to change seats. Any tips much appreciated. Thanks

Yes. Seat change is possible through the app after check-in in same way it is before check-in (but with a slightly different user interface).

To memory (I could be wrong), you aren't prompted to select/change seat during the app check-in process, but quite easy to do after you are checked-in.

 

[MooTime]

Doesn't at some stage the seat allocation plus whatever else get transferred over to airport management & you can't change seats?

That's been my experience, not sure what T__? point that is.

Many here will confirm or smash my recollection.

 

[Beano]

Doesn't at some stage the seat allocation plus whatever else get transferred over to airport management & you can't change seats?

That's been my experience, not sure what T__? point that is.

Many here will confirm or smash my recollection.

Correct, but you can still change at the airport. It happened to me but worked out in the end and I got my preferred seat.

 

[Flyfrequently]

To memory (I could be wrong), you aren't prompted to select/change seat during the app check-in process

This is my recollection @05flyer
Thanks

 

[dairyfloss]

Knowing our J upgrade is unlikely to come through tomorrow (J2 U0 domestic) am looking to snag row 4 but hoping to avoid paying the $45 x 2 just in case we get lucky!

Question if I may please: when online check in commences, is it easy to change seats then? I will be using the app.
From memory, the screen opens up with check in now and haven't previously noticed where it is possible to change seats. Any tips much appreciated. Thanks

Check-in with whatever seats were selected beforehand, then open the in-app boarding pass after completed and there is a view/change seats option, there. It's also accessible in the manage booking area. Depending on flight and operations, that option is possible right up until check-in closes, but for some flights it will be moved to airport control (not that often for mainline services).

Cheers,
Matt