Transfer bus or Chauffeur

[Longrass]

We have got this itin booked in J Dom and F Int.



Dec 13 00:45 Darwin 06:35 Sydney Qantas flight QF829
Dec 13 07:15 Sydney 08:50 Melbourne Qantas flight QF407
Dec 13 16:35 Melbourne 05:10 (Wed) London (Heathrow ) Qantas flight QF009 1 stop
Dec 13 12:40 London (Heathrow) 16:10 Rome (Fiumicino) British Airways flight BA560

Obviously a terminal change in both Mel and London, that being said, will Qantas offer me the new chauffeured transfer between terminals or will they tell me to catch the bus?

Does the F host meet me at the checkin suite at Mel or on arrival from my Dom flight?

Will the F Host at LHR take me between terminals and ensure that our bags and lounge needs are met, is it toughen up, we'll meet you at the lounge?

Oh and will my bags get tagged through to Rome in darwin and our numerous BP's given here? If that's the case, then I presume we will only have hand luggage with us by the time we get to the F checkin suite...

 

[CaviAck]

Oh and will my bags get tagged through to Rome in darwin and our numerous BP's given here? If that's the case, then I presume we will only have hand luggage with us by the time we get to the F checkin suite...

I do not want to see that baggage tag...
DRW-xSYD-xMEL-xLHR-FCO can the tag even fit that many destinations on? Even worse if it adds in DXB on the way to LHR...

 

[ajw373]

The new Chauffeur service is for travel to/from the airport not between terminals .Also I would be double checking if you get it in Rome considering that your last leg is not Qantas (or Emirates where you would have got it)

So what will happen is when you check-in in Darwin your bags will be tagged all the way to Rome and you will be given all your boarding passes.

When you get to Melbourne the international terminal is under the same roof as Qantas domestic. You follow the signs to baggage reclaim, but once in the arrivals hall turn right and follow the signs to international departures, which is up one level and about 50m from the arricals all. So clearly no chauffeur between the terminals. You would then make your own way through immigration and on your way to the Qantas first lounge, so no need to visit the check-in suite (besides I reckon it would be closed at that hour anyway).

In London you will need to use the airside transfer bus to get from T3 to T5, look for the flight connections signs (if I recall they are a purple colour) so again clearly no chauffeur unless you consider the bus driver to be one, then once in T5 make your way to the Galleries First Class lounge. Doubt you will be able to use the Concorde lounge (which is for BA 1st class passengers), especially as your travel is after the Qantas/BA JSA ends.

 

[RB]

We have got this itin booked in J Dom and F Int.



Dec 13 00:45 Darwin 06:35 Sydney Qantas flight QF829
Dec 13 07:15 Sydney 08:50 Melbourne Qantas flight QF407
Dec 13 16:35 Melbourne 05:10 (Wed) London (Heathrow ) Qantas flight QF009 1 stop
Dec 13 12:40 London (Heathrow) 16:10 Rome (Fiumicino) British Airways flight BA560

Obviously a terminal change in both Mel and London, that being said, will Qantas offer me the new chauffeured transfer between terminals or will they tell me to catch the bus?

Does the F host meet me at the checkin suite at Mel or on arrival from my Dom flight?

Will the F Host at LHR take me between terminals and ensure that our bags and lounge needs are met, is it toughen up, we'll meet you at the lounge?

Oh and will my bags get tagged through to Rome in darwin and our numerous BP's given here? If that's the case, then I presume we will only have hand luggage with us by the time we get to the F checkin suite...

I would be more worried about total travel time than baggage tags & the associated transfers

 

[Simo]

I will be surprised that you get BP's for your 4 flights due to the amount of time you are travelling.

Also is BA going to be part of OW by dec this year.

 

[Happy Trails]

Does the F host meet me at the checkin suite at Mel or on arrival from my Dom flight?

Will the F Host at LHR take me between terminals and ensure that our bags and lounge needs are met, is it toughen up, we'll meet you at the lounge?

Without wishing to put a dampener on things, I wouldn't count on seeing an F host at any point in your journey.

 

[mannej]

I will be surprised that you get BP's for your 4 flights due to the amount of time you are travelling.

Also is BA going to be part of OW by dec this year.

Why wouldn't BA be part of OW? If anything it is QF rocking the OW boat at the moment, not BA.

 

[Mal]

Iirc bag tags can handle up to six flights. So not really an issue.

Bags should be tagged through to Rome and magically (perhaps) appear there.

In Darwin and Sydney you will have access to the lounge (j in syd, qp in drw). In Melbourne access to the f lounge.

In Dubai, likely access to the emirates f lounge (yet to be confirmed) and on London t5 I expect access to the f lounge rsther than Concorde lounge as BA do require travel in BA f to London to access on an EU leg. (Iirc oneworld do allow access to the ba f lounge in London when arriving in F and connecting to EU.)

You may get limo transfers. From home in drw and to hotel in Rome, but I think this is unlikely.

And yes the lounge staff will likely escort you to the plane in mel using their special lift, but unlikely to see anyone else on the journey.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I would be more worried about total travel time than baggage tags & the associated transfers

35hrs I would estimate??

 

[Sprucegoose]

.

Also is BA going to be part of OW by dec this year.

Please explain further.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I will be surprised that you get BP's for your 4 flights due to the amount of time you are travelling.

Also is BA going to be part of OW by dec this year.

Yes the flight for Rome may not be open

 

[serfty]

Said BP's for Rome can be quite easily collected in LHR at the T3 "Flight Connections Center" area that one passes through before heading to T5.

In MEL they is no need to go down to baggage reclaim, go up the short flight of stairs or escalator to the domestic departures level and follow the signs to "International".

There is such an "International" sign at the exit to the more Northerly (left as you approach from Airside) of the security screening area. Head through that go outside and turn right.

Walk down to the Qantas First (premium) check-in room where you can collect an express pass if you did have not already received one.

...

You may get limo transfers in Darwin. From home in drw and to hotel in Rome, but I think this is unlikely.
...

Maybe no transfers. According to the press release in September: (Media Release - Qantas announces new chauffeur service)

Travellers connecting via a domestic flight from Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Perth, Sydney or Melbourne to an eligible Qantas international flight will have access to Chauffeur Drive. The offer also extends to Qantas customers travelling from Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington to Australia to connect to an eligible Qantas international flight.

(FWIW, there is no mention of connecting flights in January's "Miranda Kerr" release though [Miranda Kerr test drives new chauffeur service])

 

[ajw373]

Maybe no transfers. According to the press release in September: (Media Release - Qantas announces new chauffeur service)(FWIW, there is no mention of connecting flights in January's "Miranda Kerr" release though [Miranda Kerr test drives new chauffeur service])

Well picked up. Wonder why Darwin is not on the list? As I understand it the cars are just private hire cars and are not Qantas owned or operated so don't see why Darwin missed out. It also confirms what I suspected with Rome too. So really no chauffeur at either end, and certainly none between terminals!

 

[Longrass]

35hrs I would estimate??

In response to you statement Spruce, it is 47 hours and 55 minutes...

Considering we are J and F the whole way, it isnt to bad.

Not other really desirable route to get me there in F, ex Darwin, it would be J* Y to Singa, then F onwards from there, although the Singa connections are not all that crash hot, would end up much the same anyway.

 

[CaviAck]

In response to you statement Spruce, it is 47 hours and 55 minutes...

Considering we are J and F the whole way, it isnt to bad.

Not other really desirable route to get me there in F, ex Darwin, it would be J* Y to Singa, then F onwards from there, although the Singa connections are not all that crash hot, would end up much the same anyway.

Couldn't get DRW-xSYD/MEL-xDXB-FCO? That way it's J from DRW-SYD/MEL and then F all the way on A380s to FCO from there on on either EK or QF+EK.

Just did a dummy booking and you can route
DRW-xPER-xDXB-FCO for 30 hours and 45 minutes.
DRW-PER in J on a QF 73H
PER-DXB in F on a EK 777
DXB-FCO in F on a EK 380

Same for the return trip.

Or was this routing chosen to avoid EK and fly QF as much as possible?

 

[Flying mermaid]

We have got this itin booked in J Dom and F Int.



Dec 13 00:45 Darwin 06:35 Sydney Qantas flight QF829
Dec 13 07:15 Sydney 08:50 Melbourne Qantas flight QF407
Dec 13 16:35 Melbourne 05:10 (Wed) London (Heathrow ) Qantas flight QF009 1 stop
Dec 13 12:40 London (Heathrow) 16:10 Rome (Fiumicino) British Airways flight BA560

Obviously a terminal change in both Mel and London, that being said, will Qantas offer me the new chauffeured transfer between terminals or will they tell me to catch the bus?

Does the F host meet me at the checkin suite at Mel or on arrival from my Dom flight?

Will the F Host at LHR take me between terminals and ensure that our bags and lounge needs are met, is it toughen up, we'll meet you at the lounge?

Oh and will my bags get tagged through to Rome in darwin and our numerous BP's given here? If that's the case, then I presume we will only have hand luggage with us by the time we get to the F checkin suite...

We have travelled F many times and have never seen a F host overseas I think you have to be CL to have that level of attention. Last year we overnighted at SYD airport and when we were phoned to book our massage they said curb side checkin would not be open, but if we needed assistance with our luggage they could arrange to have someone to meet us and help us take bags to the check in. We travel light and are pretty independent so didn't bother.
If you do feel you need assistance at various points, you could discuss this with them when they phone you, but I wouldn't be expecting too much. Both Mel and Heathrow are pretty easy to get around and the T5 lounges are super. Rome might have improved, but we found it very slow to get luggage and also to go through security when you are coming back.

You will have plenty of time in the lounges, so I hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy them

 

[garybatz]

We have got this itin booked in J Dom and F Int.



Dec 13 00:45 Darwin 06:35 Sydney Qantas flight QF829
Dec 13 07:15 Sydney 08:50 Melbourne Qantas flight QF407
Dec 13 16:35 Melbourne 05:10 (Wed) London (Heathrow ) Qantas flight QF009 1 stop
Dec 13 12:40 London (Heathrow) 16:10 Rome (Fiumicino) British Airways flight BA560

Obviously a terminal change in both Mel and London, that being said, will Qantas offer me the new chauffeured transfer between terminals or will they tell me to catch the bus?

Does the F host meet me at the checkin suite at Mel or on arrival from my Dom flight?

Will the F Host at LHR take me between terminals and ensure that our bags and lounge needs are met, is it toughen up, we'll meet you at the lounge?

Oh and will my bags get tagged through to Rome in darwin and our numerous BP's given here? If that's the case, then I presume we will only have hand luggage with us by the time we get to the F checkin suite...

That's an awfully tight transit time in Sydney. Did you consider getting a later flight down to MEL? You would seem to have plenty of time before you need to get there. Cheers.

 

[mannej]

That's an awfully tight transit time in Sydney. Did you consider getting a later flight down to MEL? You would seem to have plenty of time before you need to get there. Cheers.

Isn't MCT there 40 minutes? If there is a misconnect you'd be protected by virtue of being on the same ticket

 

[ajw373]

That's an awfully tight transit time in Sydney. Did you consider getting a later flight down to MEL? You would seem to have plenty of time before you need to get there. Cheers.

It is domestic and if the connection isn't made Qantas will put them on the next flight. So no dramas.

 

[MrJetset]

We have travelled F many times and have never seen a F host overseas I think you have to be CL to have that level of attention. Last year we overnighted at SYD airport and when we were phoned to book our massage they said curb side checkin would not be open, but if we needed assistance with our luggage they could arrange to have someone to meet us and help us take bags to the check in. We travel light and are pretty independent so didn't bother.
If you do feel you need assistance at various points, you could discuss this with them when they phone you, but I wouldn't be expecting too much. Both Mel and Heathrow are pretty easy to get around and the T5 lounges are super. Rome might have improved, but we found it very slow to get luggage and also to go through security when you are coming back.

You will have plenty of time in the lounges, so I hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy them

Had you requested kerbside assistance you would have been met by a First host and a porter. They generally ask if you need assistance getting to the lounge. If yes, then a First host will guide you through. Then they should also offer to collect you for preboarding.

I request a First host for my parent when they travel to make is easier for them when they fly F (One is WP).

I have only utilised the First host ex LAX specifically to beat security queues (which depends on which TSA agents are on roster) and the host was delightful.