The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[dairyfloss]

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?

View attachment 357800

Crew rest area - from the seat maps on Qantas website:

https://www.qantas.com/content/dam/qantas/pdfs/qantas-experience/onboard/seatmaps/A330-200-26J208Y-3-23.pdf

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Nam Taf]

I'm tossing up between the A330-200 and the A380 from HK to Syd/Melb (connecting to BNE) in economy, and I'm seeing some conflicting info. I know the A380 is the old style, but for the A330s, Qantas' seat map says "laptop power throughout" whereas Seatguru states that there's no AC power in Economy, only in business.

Does anyone know which is correct? Or is it really moot and the A380 (even old style) is the better product regardless?

 

[dairyfloss]

I'm tossing up between the A330-200 and the A380 from HK to Syd/Melb (connecting to BNE) in economy, and I'm seeing some conflicting info. I know the A380 is the old style, but for the A330s, Qantas' seat map says "laptop power throughout" whereas Seatguru states that there's no AC power in Economy, only in business.

Does anyone know which is correct? Or is it really moot and the A380 (even old style) is the better product regardless?

In economy, I'd suggest the QF A380 is the better bird here, regardless of refurb status. Comfort, space, & cabin noise all superior IMHO. Would not be the case with the premium cabins (mostly), but if you're no chance of moving forward of the curtain, then I'd look to the A380. On laptop power, I'd believe the QF seat map over the seatguru notes. I can't recall about laptop power in Y, myself, but IIRC it's there; possibly shared between some seats in a row? Others could confirm.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[elanshin]

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

Realistically there should be more than 1LST > SYD flight per day. (theres 3 atm). It could be that they're not all loaded into the system yet (or not determined).

You could also book and for 5000 points amend later.

 

[Nam Taf]

In economy, I'd suggest the QF A380 is the better bird here, regardless of refurb status. Comfort, space, & cabin noise all superior IMHO. Would not be the case with the premium cabins (mostly), but if you're no chance of moving forward of the curtain, then I'd look to the A380. On laptop power, I'd believe the QF seat map over the seatguru notes. I can't recall about laptop power in Y, myself, but IIRC it's there; possibly shared between some seats in a row? Others could confirm.

Cheers,
Matt.

Thanks mate. I’m now only silver these days (thanks, 2-year sabbatical!) so highly doubt I’ll be getting bumped past the curtain. Going through to seat selection on PE for the same flight doesn’t even let me select a specific seat and business is pretty close to 100% full, so doubt highly they’ll get down to my point in the preference list.

 

[elliebelly]

Realistically there should be more than 1LST > SYD flight per day. (theres 3 atm). It could be that they're not all loaded into the system yet (or not determined).

You could also book and for 5000 points amend later.

Thank you @elanshin, I thought the same as 1 flight seemed light on.

I'll keep an eye out and good point, can always change later.

 

[Mwenenzi]

​

Colonellord Welcome to AFF

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?

What route? 1 person? Flexible with date of travel?
Between now and Oct 2024 (~11 months) more award seats can be released. Or not released. Keep looking,

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

MEL airport, is the easiest one to go from int - dom, with a linked or non linked QF PNR, as its just an easy walk after clearing ABF and quarantine.
For SYD, you have to contend with the bus.
I would go via MEL, ie, HKG - MEL - BNE, personally.
If you have status, I do realize you are flying Y, the SYD QFd lounge, hasn't been upgraded, while the MEL QFd lounge is great, did it last year I think.
Tried both the QFd J lounge and the MEL QFd QP.
Tho, if you are an av geek, and like to watch planes close up, and have a bit of time up your hands, the SYD int - dom is good, purely for watching planes, from the bus.

 

[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

Thanks everyone for your advice, I have booked QF2282/444/11 - super excited!

Question regarding seats on the QF11 leg (A380-800). What is people's seat of choice in economy (if such a thing exists )? I have booked 66A and 66B (extra legroom) as partner is on the taller side, but note it's quite close to the toilet, so not sure whether to swap to the 79 row (but not sure how the seat back in 80 works)?

Thank you

 

[MediumToast]

The Qantas website says that lounge invites my not be added to a booking during busy periods such as school holidays. Is this common for domestic lounges during each school holidays or does the website just say that to cover their butts?

 

[PineappleSkip]

What is people's seat of choice in economy (if such a thing exists)

The toilets are on the other side of a bulkhead to row 66. That said, I’d take row 79 in a heartbeat, as I’m allergic to adjacent strangers. Drawbacks are no window and extreme proximity to the galley.

My seat of choice in economy is an upgrade to anywhere else.

Cheers skip

 

[elliebelly]

The toilets are on the other side of a bulkhead to row 66. That said, I’d take row 79 in a heartbeat, as I’m allergic to adjacent strangers. Drawbacks are no window and extreme proximity to the galley.

My seat of choice in economy is an upgrade to anywhere else.

Cheers skip

Thank you Skip. Seems it’s a lesser of two evils situation with 66 and 79 - toilet vs galley/bassinet.

Haha, we will definitely be trying for an upgrade, fingers crossed!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Elliebelly, if you have nothing to do that day, ie, have the morning free, try to get to LST airport for QF1546, the first one to MEL, and then try to get to SYD on the next available.
I do realize that you have 2282, 444, but as mentioned above, you do have a tight connection in SYD from T3 to T1, and on the 12/12, the 444 got cancelled!
After all, you do have to do passport showing in LST, so have to get there a bit early to do bag drop as well, I am sure you are not doing HLO.
Phoning the QF (outsourced) call center will see you probably get charged a fee, but getting to LST airport earlier, might do the trick.

 

[Colonellord]

​

Colonellord Welcome to AFF

What route? 1 person? Flexible with date of travel?
Between now and Oct 2024 (~11 months) more award seats can be released. Or not released. Keep looking,

HNL to SYD - 2 pax - Not flexible.

 

[dairyfloss]

HNL to SYD - 2 pax - Not flexible.

SYD<>HNL are probably the rarest J (U) award seats on the network. I've only ever seen them once in an advanced release (the one that came shortly after Vanessa Hudson took the helm and started apologising for everything), and the rest are singles that show up in the final weeks or days before the scheduled departure.

I'd make [flexible] alternate plans, and then just get in a routine of checking every day, or setting an availability alert, if you have access to ExpertFlyer, to see if you can score a couple later on. "Business" seats on the JQ flights do tend to be more procurable.

Cheers,
Matt

 

[Colonellord]

SYD<>HNL are probably the rarest J (U) award seats on the network. I've only ever seen them once in an advanced release (the one that came shortly after Vanessa Hudson took the helm and started apologising for everything), and the rest are singles that show up in the final weeks or days before the scheduled departure.

I'd make [flexible] alternate plans, and then just get in a routine of checking every day, or setting an availability alert, if you have access to ExpertFlyer, to see if you can score a couple later on. "Business" seats on the JQ flights do tend to be more procurable.

Cheers,
Matt

Thanks for the feedback Matt. I scored a Business Reward (MEL > DFW) when Vanessa took over but hadn't organised my return flight as I had yet to decide to add HNL as part of the trip. Left it too late now I suppose. No problem, will book some Premium Economy for the trip home.

 

[RichardMEL]

The Qantas website says that lounge invites my not be added to a booking during busy periods such as school holidays. Is this common for domestic lounges during each school holidays or does the website just say that to cover their butts?

Yes, they do have capacity restrictions at peak times (ie now prior Christmas). it's not hard and fast, but can happen.

ET just had an article on this today.

 

[MediumToast]

Yes, they do have capacity restrictions at peak times (ie now prior Christmas). it's not hard and fast, but can happen.

ET just had an article on this today.

hmmm so I wonder if it's a first in, best dressed policy. Link early for better chances?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Yes, they do have capacity restrictions at peak times (ie now prior Christmas). it's not hard and fast, but can happen.

ET just had an article on this today.

After initial reports on AFF a few days ago.

Coincidence?

 

[elliebelly]

Elliebelly, if you have nothing to do that day, ie, have the morning free, try to get to LST airport for QF1546, the first one to MEL, and then try to get to SYD on the next available.
I do realize that you have 2282, 444, but as mentioned above, you do have a tight connection in SYD from T3 to T1, and on the 12/12, the 444 got cancelled!
After all, you do have to do passport showing in LST, so have to get there a bit early to do bag drop as well, I am sure you are not doing HLO.
Phoning the QF (outsourced) call center will see you probably get charged a fee, but getting to LST airport earlier, might do the trick.

@AustraliaPoochie now that's a thought, thank you!

Would the LST staff be able to assist with getting on an earlier MEL-SYD flight too or only LST-MEL?

With the call centre, do you mean I could ring them and see if they could swap to the earlier flights (while remaining on reward seats)? If so, am I best to do this now or closer to?

Thanks again.