Tight QF/DJ transfer

[StevePER]

This seems like cutting it fine to me... the "best" fare of the day policy has me booked on these flights:

Fri 03 Nov 06 11:35 Canberra 12:25 Sydney QF1474
Fri 03 Nov 06 13:25 Sydney 15:20 Perth DJ429

Do you think that's a safe connection? How about with checked luggage?

 

[NYCguy]

It might be close, but I think you'll be fine, especially at that time of day.

 

[Dave Noble]

It is closer than I would want to go for with checked luggage since you will arrive in Terminal 3 and have to collect your luggage and then you will have to lug it across to T2 and then check the bags in with DJ . ( I don't think that QF will interline bags with DJ ). It wouldnt need much of a delay to the CBR-SYD flight to make you miss the close of check in for the Perth flight

If doing it without checked luggage and making use of DJs OLCI and PYOBP , then it would seem quite doable

Dave

 

[NYCguy]

( I don't think that QF will interline bags with DJ ).

Yeah... can't see that happening.

 

[StevePER]

Just noticed there is another CBR-SYD flight 15 minutes early. Do you think that would make a difference? I'm tempted to change to the earlier flight anyway.

 

[Dave Noble]

Just noticed there is another CBR-SYD flight 15 minutes early. Do you think that would make a difference? I'm tempted to change to the earlier flight anyway.

I would suggest so; it would only need a 15 minute delay to the flight plus 15 mins to collect bags to cause you to risk missing the DJ flight. An extra 15 minutes leeway will definately be worth having I would say , especially if checking any luggage in

Dave

 

[Yada Yada]

I agree with Dave Noble - it might be a bit tight with checked luggage. While there won't be much luggage coming off a Crash-8 from CBR, sometimes you can experience a dalay getting off a Crash-8 - waiting for the props to stop and be harnessed, load into the b*s, etc etc.

I'd go for the earlier flight if you can just to be safe.

You probably already know this but just in case, after collecting your luggage head back upstairs to the departure level and wall through the carpark past the valet parking office and straight out the other side and across the road into T2. It's the most direct line between the two terminals.

 

[StevePER]

You probably already know this but just in case, after collecting your luggage head back upstairs to the departure level and wall through the carpark past the valet parking office and straight out the other side and across the road into T2. It's the most direct line between the two terminals.

Thanks Yada Yada, I haven't done a QF/DJ transfer before so I wasn't sure. To be safe I will probably go hand luggage only (and invest in one of those little wheely cases after years of resisting).

Steve

 

[NM]

I think such a mixed carrier domestic itinerary is taking the BFOD a little too far. I would be arguing with the travel policy writer that the same carrier should be used for the through trip where there is a single carrier that services both origin and destination via an efficient routing.

 

[StevePER]

If doing it without checked luggage and making use of DJs OLCI and PYOBP , then it would seem quite doable

Seems DJ OLCI is not available because we have Blue Zone seats allocated. Aarrrghghh.

I think such a mixed carrier domestic itinerary is taking the BFOD a little too far.

I agree. But the policy was imposed from above (way above from what I understand) so any complaints to managers get a sympathetic response but there's nothing anyone can do.

In this case I specifically need to be home early to go camping on the weekend. They proposed a couple of "options", I chose DJ CBR-MEL-ADL-PER, but instead they booked me with mixed carriers. Once it was booked it was too hard to change.

Steve

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I agree. But the policy was imposed from above (way above from what I understand) so any complaints to managers get a sympathetic response but there's nothing anyone can do.

Look on the bright side. If you misconnect despite best endeavours (and not unusual circumstances) then it is an opportunity to get the policy changed.

 

[Yada Yada]

Seems DJ OLCI is not available because we have Blue Zone seats allocated. Aarrrghghh.

Steve - I've struck this too. I guess they want to look at you first before allowing you to sit in an exit row.

With Blue Zone seats, I always ask for row 15. The front row (1A-1B-1C) has a few limitations in my opinion:

• armrests are solid/fixed in place (because they contain the tray table)
• the tray table in the armrest is smaller than all others and hinged in the middle
• you have no seat pocket in front, so no easy storage
• you can't put anything on the floor in front of you
• overhead lockers above you are used for crew equipment
• people will stand around in front of you waiting for the toilet
• the front galley can get noisy

On the up side, row 1 pax generally get to chat to the FA's and occasionally one of the pilots will pop out so you can have a chat with them too.

At row 15, the the legroom is great, the row in front cannot recline, and you are midway between the front and back galleys, toilets, FA stations. I ask the check-in agent for a window or aisle and take whichever side has an empty middle seat at that point in time, with the hope that it stays empty.

 

[NM]

In this case I specifically need to be home early to go camping on the weekend. They proposed a couple of "options", I chose DJ CBR-MEL-ADL-PER, but instead they booked me with mixed carriers. Once it was booked it was too hard to change.

Steve

Its a shame its your return flight that is affected. If you don't make the connection, then its not the company's problem but your problem as you return home late for your camping weekend.

If it was the outbound flight that was concerned, I would be temped to do it and hope for a misconnect making me late for the work appointement, and then point out the dangers of mixed carrier itineraries. But that is not an option in your case.

 

[StevePER]

Look on the bright side. If you misconnect despite best endeavours (and not unusual circumstances) then it is an opportunity to get the policy changed.

I considered going with checked luggage on the off chance of this happening but I need to get that flight so that I can go camping after work. If I miss that flight the next one on DJ is six hours later (four hours on QF). Maybe next time.

 

[dajop]

Are the QF & DJ flights in the one booking or separate? This may affect ability to do OLCI.

Twice I struck a problem doing QF outbound and DJ on return that meant I couldn't use Quick Check on QF nor OLCI on DJ due to having multiple carriers in the booking (that's what I was told). Don't know if this still happens, but since then I have always made sure when doing a combined itinerary the flights are in separate bookings to avoid this issue.

 

[StevePER]

Are the QF & DJ flights in the one booking or separate? This may affect ability to do OLCI.

Yep, both on the same booking. The DJ error message indicates it's because of Blue Zone, I'll try QF OLCI from The VLounge tomorrow.

 

[StevePER]

I would suggest so; it would only need a 15 minute delay to the flight plus 15 mins to collect bags to cause you to risk missing the DJ flight. An extra 15 minutes leeway will definately be worth having I would say , especially if checking any luggage in

Can't change to the earlier flight because they've booked me in V class on the way back (which is odd since company policy is to book flexi saver). I really don't understand our travel policy anymore.

Maybe I can check in for the DJ flight in Canberra?

 

[Mal]

Also keep in mind you're on a Dash-8 so have reduced carry on limits.

 

[StevePER]

Also keep in mind you're on a Dash-8 so have reduced carry on limits.

Luckily I saw that this afternoon and have got everything to fit in one bag. Hopefully they don't weigh it.

 

[StevePER]

I'm now in the Vlounge in Melbourne. DJ told me that my bag was too heavy (8.5kg) but I could take it on anyway as long as I removed some items once I was on board. I don't like my chances for the Dash 8.

I can't checkin online for my QF flight because there are DJ flights in the booking. The premium desk guy said that it should still work, but it doesn't. So out of five flights, I can't use online checkin for any of them.

Row 15 was very nice (thanks for the tip Yada Yada!).

Steve