The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[Seat0B]

Thanks for your reassurance! Last time I flew domestically both my outbound and inbound flights got cancelled so not very confident at the moment

I know it can be stressful with cancellations. If you’re at all concerned once you arrive in Sydney make sure to tell them that you are away from home and do not originate in Sydney as this will possibly boost your priority for getting onto the CBR leg. People originating in SYD won’t be offered accommodation so it’s cheaper for QF to bump them rather than you if flights need to be rearranged.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Who knows, there might be other pax on the QF466 too, so they might hold the Dash8, but if you can, and are really worried, try to get to MEL T1 a bit earlier, they might be able to put you onto an earlier flight to SYD.
Of course, unless your aim was to get that one in a blue moon 330 from MEL - SYD.
You could try and phone QF up, as a WP, you could most likely get the HBA call centre, and see if they can put you onto an earlier flight from MEL, ...
They might be able to help, of course tho, you could get the QF call centers overseas ones.
Best of luck.
Are you flying tomorrow?
From Flightaware and Flightradar, QF466 has always been the 737, tomorrow is the 330 for that flight.

 

[elanshin]

Thanks for your reassurance! Last time I flew domestically both my outbound and inbound flights got cancelled so not very confident at the moment

There's another possibility if they already know that a flight is delayed and you are missing the connection, it is possible they will just reroute you direct MEL > CBR.

 

[Seat0B]

Thanks for your reassurance! Last time I flew domestically both my outbound and inbound flights got cancelled so not very confident at the moment

Let us know how you go!

 

[marcojim]

Let us know how you go!

Even after I had completed online check in, the app had a message telling me to visit someone at the service desk. Got a call from Qantas while I was in line and they offered to move me to a direct MEL - CBR flight, arriving at the same time as my original flight. Given the weather and subsequent delays in MEL yesterday, I decided to take the direct flight which seemed prudent as my original MEL - SYD flight was later delayed by an hour, meaning I would have missed my connection.

The lady sitting next to me in the J lounge was also flying MEL - CBR but had been bumped from her 10:30am flight until the 6:30pm flight — the same one as me! Interestingly when I received my call at 2pm, there seemed to be four J seats empty (I was offered a few choices) but when it came to departure, the flight was completely full.

 

[RichardMEL]

Great outcome for you (unlike the poor bumped pax you met) and seems QF proactively reached out and made it happen. This is a good example of service imo.

Thanks for the update

 

[Seat0B]

Even after I had completed online check in, the app had a message telling me to visit someone at the service desk. Got a call from Qantas while I was in line and they offered to move me to a direct MEL - CBR flight, arriving at the same time as my original flight. Given the weather and subsequent delays in MEL yesterday, I decided to take the direct flight which seemed prudent as my original MEL - SYD flight was later delayed by an hour, meaning I would have missed my connection.

The lady sitting next to me in the J lounge was also flying MEL - CBR but had been bumped from her 10:30am flight until the 6:30pm flight — the same one as me! Interestingly when I received my call at 2pm, there seemed to be four J seats empty (I was offered a few choices) but when it came to departure, the flight was completely full.

Thanks for reporting back. Glad it all worked out for you.

 

[elliebelly]

Question: LST-LAX in Nov 2024 for first-time reward booker

Hi all! My partner and I are travelling to the US in late November 2024 and need to leave Aus on or just before 26/11 (unfortunately, we can't be too flexible on dates as we're heading to a concert).

We are coming from LST and when I look on or just before 26/11, there are no Classic Reward flights with one stopover, only two. We are hoping to just have one (in MEL or SYD) to reduce the possibility of any issues with luggage, delays (I know they may still happen) and give us more time before hopping on the international leg.

As below, there is a MEL connecting flight (QF2280 / QF93) but there are no reward seats showing. I know this is hard to know/answer, but in your experience, does it seem that these would be sold out or is there some likelihood of them becoming available at a later date?

Just not sure whether to go ahead and book LST-MEL-SYD-LAX or sit tight and see if 2 LST-MEL-LAX reward seats pop up.

I have tried a multi-city booking going through MEL and SYD, but the MEL-LAX reward seat doesn't show up and for SYD, there's only one LST-SYD flight a day and it arrives too late to make the minimum connecting time before SYD-LAX.

Keen to hear thoughts and see if I'm missing anything.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Captain Halliday]

Question: LST-LAX in Nov 2024 for first-time reward booker

Hi all! My partner and I are travelling to the US in late November 2024 and need to leave Aus on or just before 26/11 (unfortunately, we can't be too flexible on dates as we're heading to a concert).

We are coming from LST and when I look on or just before 26/11, there are no Classic Reward flights with one stopover, only two. We are hoping to just have one (in MEL or SYD) to reduce the possibility of any issues with luggage, delays (I know they may still happen) and give us more time before hopping on the international leg.

As below, there is a MEL connecting flight (QF2280 / QF93) but there are no reward seats showing. I know this is hard to know/answer, but in your experience, does it seem that these would be sold out or is there some likelihood of them becoming available at a later date?

Just not sure whether to go ahead and book LST-MEL-SYD-LAX or sit tight and see if 2 LST-MEL-LAX reward seats pop up.

I have tried a multi-city booking going through MEL and SYD, but the MEL-LAX reward seat doesn't show up and for SYD, there's only one LST-SYD flight a day and it arrives too late to make the minimum connecting time before SYD-LAX.

Keen to hear thoughts and see if I'm missing anything.

Thanks in advance!

View attachment 357556


View attachment 357557

They may release rewards at a later date, but last week of Nov is getting very close to school holidays - especially for private schools.

Given the concert date is fixed, limiting your options, and assuming you don’t want to pay a cash fare, I’d suggest booking the flights via SYD.

You can then keep an eye out for options ex. MEL and if they become available consider whether the change fee and service fee are worth it for your circumstance.

FWIW, I think that flight combination is reasonably low risk for lost luggage.

And if you’re really worried, take 24h worth of clothes in your carry-on just in case.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Welcome to AFF, @elliebelly!

Just not sure whether to go ahead and book LST-MEL-SYD-LAX or sit tight and see if 2 LST-MEL-LAX reward seats pop up.

A plausible alternative for you to consider is sitting tight and watching the available seats disappear instead. Had plenty of experience of that. My strategy is always to grab it, if it’s available and it works.

You have reasonable connect times on the QF2282/444/11 option, and I’d regard that as relatively low risk. If the main purpose of your trip is the unmissable concert you could consider flying the day before, with an extra night in LAX as an inexpensive insurance policy and jetlag recharge time.

Cheers skip

 

[elliebelly]

They may release rewards at a later date, but last week of Nov is getting very close to school holidays - especially for private schools.

Given the concert date is fixed, limiting your options, and assuming you don’t want to pay a cash fare, I’d suggest booking the flights via SYD.

You can then keep an eye out for options ex. MEL and if they become available consider whether the change fee and service fee are worth it for your circumstance.

FWIW, I think that flight combination is reasonably low risk for lost luggage.

And if you’re really worried, take 24h worth of clothes in your carry-on just in case.

Great points @Captain Halliday, thanks for your advice.

 

[elliebelly]

Welcome to AFF, @elliebelly!

A plausible alternative for you to consider is sitting tight and watching the available seats disappear instead. Had plenty of experience of that. My strategy is always to grab it, if it’s available and it works.

You have reasonable connect times on the QF2282/444/11 option, and I’d regard that as relatively low risk. If the main purpose of your trip is the unmissable concert you could consider flying the day before, with an extra night in LAX as an inexpensive insurance policy and jetlag recharge time.

Cheers skip

Thank you @PineappleSkip, that's very true, better to snag the seats while they're available. I think we'll lock in the QF2282/444/11.

The concert isn't until 29/11 in Sacramento (we're spending a few nights in LA) so we should be fine there in case of delays. Appreciate your help!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

T1 LST - MEL, on arr into T1, its an easy walk.
But T3 to T1 SYD can be a pain the (p)um, as your timing is quite tight.
Even on the same PNR, the 6 alpha numeric code.
Having shown your passport at LST airport, is good, so you don't have to do it again to QF staff at MEL/SYD, but the SYD connection time is quite short, not saying it can't be done, but its tight.
I live in ADL, so for any int destos, I have to go via the eastern states, or PER if I want to go to SIN again, with QF.
I try to give it at least 3.5 hours, for the T3 to T1, even on a linked PNR.
Number of times, my flight from ADL landed in SYD, just a bit before 5pm, and I had a 6.30pm flight to various cities (on different dates) to NZ, dep at 18.15/18.30, and it was a rush, even with the QF bus.
Was in J, but did not use the QF J lounge at T1, as by the time I got across, it was near boarding time, and the queue to the plane was already forming.
If the concert is a can't be missed, I would try to be in SYD T1 the night before, the Rydges is very good, pricey and expensive, but just a walk across the plaza.
===
Bypassing the SYD dom - int transfer, go via MEL would be my advice.

 

[elliebelly]

T1 LST - MEL, on arr into T1, its an easy walk.
But T3 to T1 SYD can be a pain the (p)um, as your timing is quite tight.
Even on the same PNR, the 6 alpha numeric code.
Having shown your passport at LST airport, is good, so you don't have to do it again to QF staff at MEL/SYD, but the SYD connection time is quite short, not saying it can't be done, but its tight.
I live in ADL, so for any int destos, I have to go via the eastern states, or PER if I want to go to SIN again, with QF.
I try to give it at least 3.5 hours, for the T3 to T1, even on a linked PNR.
Number of times, my flight from ADL landed in SYD, just a bit before 5pm, and I had a 6.30pm flight to various cities (on different dates) to NZ, dep at 18.15/18.30, and it was a rush, even with the QF bus.
Was in J, but did not use the QF J lounge at T1, as by the time I got across, it was near boarding time, and the queue to the plane was already forming.
If the concert is a can't be missed, I would try to be in SYD T1 the night before, the Rydges is very good, pricey and expensive, but just a walk across the plaza.
===
Bypassing the SYD dom - int transfer, go via MEL would be my advice.

Thank you @AustraliaPoochie for highlighting the SYD transfer, that does worry me. We would much rather have time to relax in the lounge than rushing or missing the SYD-LAX flight due to delays.

I did try a multi-city booking for LST-MEL-LAX, but the MEL-LAX reward isn't available. I do get this for LST-SYD-LAX where we arrive in Sydney the night before. It seems we will pay an additional 16,000 points this way (I assume this is because the flights are over two days), but might be worthwhile in this instance? What do you think?

Also, possibly a silly question, but are multi-city bookings like the below considered on one ticket/booking?

 

[exceladdict]

Thank you @AustraliaPoochie for highlighting the SYD transfer, that does worry me. We would much rather have time to relax in the lounge than rushing or missing the SYD-LAX flight due to delays.

I did try a multi-city booking for LST-MEL-LAX, but the MEL-LAX reward isn't available. I do get this for LST-SYD-LAX where we arrive in Sydney the night before. It seems we will pay an additional 16,000 points this way (I assume this is because the flights are over two days), but might be worthwhile in this instance? What do you think?

Also, possibly a silly question, but are multi-city bookings like the below considered on one ticket/booking?

View attachment 357774

Considered one booking but it's pricing more because your stop in Syd is over 24hr. If you can find a tighter option it should price as a connection

 

[elliebelly]

Considered one booking but it's pricing more because your stop in Syd is over 24hr. If you can find a tighter option it should price as a connection

Thanks @exceladdict, good to confirm it's the one booking.

Ah that makes sense! I'm only seeing one LST-SYD direct flight daily which would be too early to be under 24hr, but we could do LST-MEL and MEL-SYD and arrive later. Lots to think about, thank you

 

[PineappleSkip]

Also, possibly a silly question, but are multi-city bookings like the below considered on one ticket/booking?

If you use multi city and book all the flights at once it will issue them in a single PNR.

 

[Colonellord]

If there are none showing now (Business Class Awards) for a flight in OCT 2024 is there likely to be a release between now and then or should I just give up and buy the tickets instead?

 

[Ade]

Saw this on QF70 DEL-MEL 30DEC, the block of seats that I have highlighted are not visible or available for selection ... meaning, are they blocked for some reason?

 

[elliebelly]

If you use multi city and book all the flights at once it will issue them in a single PNR.

Thanks Skip!