- Joined
- May 29, 2009
- Posts
- 645
My son and I were travelling together at the end of June to Sydney to attend a family funeral.
He was keen to travel on the Dreamliner and use points for a potential upgrade to PE.
The QF6 Per-Syd Domestic sector was also the cheapest option for the day of travel and I knew we could both experience the Transit Lounge in Perth.
Upgrade was confirmed the day before at a cost of 10,900 points.
You can check-in online but the paper boarding pass is not issued until you arrive a the airport.
Therefore we had to wait in queue for a customer service agent to check your photo ID. Luckily I had included my drivers licence in my bag, because a photo of my licence or passport would have been rejected - cannot wait for WA to come up to speed with digital licences.
The orange D is attached to your printed boarding pass and its off to find our way to the Transit lounge.
First you must clear Domestic security and then you follow the signs to the international departure area where you arrive at international security screening - this means you have liquid restrictions of 100mls even thou its a domestic flight.
At immigration you must again produce your photo ID. QF does not mention this when you book the ticket
Headed to the departure and because of the lack of signage walked straight passed the entrance to the Transit Lounge.
The lounge is very nice, in particular the open enclosed terrace area. The roof was closed but you could still hear the sound of planes and the smell of Kero.
The duty manager was very proud of all the lounge features especially the 15 showers which have either daylight or evening light depending on your mood after you have arrived from London or Rome.
Food is good with plenty of options including a chef who was busy making Bacon and Egg burgers.
Plenty of staff who were keen to serve you. If a queue started at the coffee machine, staff would rush to the aid of the barista.
Departure was delayed because of the late arrival of the plane and for reasons unknow, a further delay was experience while waiting at the gate to board.
Near gate 20 there is open outdoor terrace area with great views of the airport and Perth Hills.
I knew the hard product in PE on the QF787 was bad, but I did not realise how cramped I felt in the window seat. I found it difficult to exit my seat and required my son, sitting in the aisle, to get out of seat as I could not step over him - something we both noted after travelling many times on CX PE together. He was also disappointed with the QF product because he had flown NZ PE prior to Covid to the US.
Lunch served in PE is good - the faithful Lasagne served in J on flights leaving from the Domestic Terminal BUT includes Cheese and Crackers.
You MUST retain your boarding pass when arriving in Sydney International.
Immigration was not prepared for our arrival - it was same line as the "Other Passport Queue" and took some time before they called Domestic travellers out of the line into another channel.
Finally your boarding pass is retained at the exit point in the customs hall.
Would I do it again from Perth - probably but I don't know when as I have little reason to travel domestically for business. I feel, given the investment QF has made in the Transit Lounge and departure gates, there will be more international flights in the future transiting in Perth before heading heading East.
I would recommend this flight especially if you could get a J award ticket on this flight as the service and food would be superior to the normal domestic flights, and in particular for passengers who can access the F lounge at Mascot.
He was keen to travel on the Dreamliner and use points for a potential upgrade to PE.
The QF6 Per-Syd Domestic sector was also the cheapest option for the day of travel and I knew we could both experience the Transit Lounge in Perth.
Upgrade was confirmed the day before at a cost of 10,900 points.
You can check-in online but the paper boarding pass is not issued until you arrive a the airport.
Therefore we had to wait in queue for a customer service agent to check your photo ID. Luckily I had included my drivers licence in my bag, because a photo of my licence or passport would have been rejected - cannot wait for WA to come up to speed with digital licences.
The orange D is attached to your printed boarding pass and its off to find our way to the Transit lounge.
First you must clear Domestic security and then you follow the signs to the international departure area where you arrive at international security screening - this means you have liquid restrictions of 100mls even thou its a domestic flight.
At immigration you must again produce your photo ID. QF does not mention this when you book the ticket
Headed to the departure and because of the lack of signage walked straight passed the entrance to the Transit Lounge.
The lounge is very nice, in particular the open enclosed terrace area. The roof was closed but you could still hear the sound of planes and the smell of Kero.
The duty manager was very proud of all the lounge features especially the 15 showers which have either daylight or evening light depending on your mood after you have arrived from London or Rome.
Food is good with plenty of options including a chef who was busy making Bacon and Egg burgers.
Plenty of staff who were keen to serve you. If a queue started at the coffee machine, staff would rush to the aid of the barista.
Departure was delayed because of the late arrival of the plane and for reasons unknow, a further delay was experience while waiting at the gate to board.
Near gate 20 there is open outdoor terrace area with great views of the airport and Perth Hills.
I knew the hard product in PE on the QF787 was bad, but I did not realise how cramped I felt in the window seat. I found it difficult to exit my seat and required my son, sitting in the aisle, to get out of seat as I could not step over him - something we both noted after travelling many times on CX PE together. He was also disappointed with the QF product because he had flown NZ PE prior to Covid to the US.
Lunch served in PE is good - the faithful Lasagne served in J on flights leaving from the Domestic Terminal BUT includes Cheese and Crackers.
You MUST retain your boarding pass when arriving in Sydney International.
Immigration was not prepared for our arrival - it was same line as the "Other Passport Queue" and took some time before they called Domestic travellers out of the line into another channel.
Finally your boarding pass is retained at the exit point in the customs hall.
Would I do it again from Perth - probably but I don't know when as I have little reason to travel domestically for business. I feel, given the investment QF has made in the Transit Lounge and departure gates, there will be more international flights in the future transiting in Perth before heading heading East.
I would recommend this flight especially if you could get a J award ticket on this flight as the service and food would be superior to the normal domestic flights, and in particular for passengers who can access the F lounge at Mascot.
