Greetings Qantas qurus!

I finally have 2 First class award tickets for next September using CO miles.

As this will be my first experience in a true internation First and on Qantas, I have some questions for you folks...

The transpac flights I have found enough info on. (but if you would like to share suggestions, comments, etc.. please do)

However, since I have 4 legs in domestic business I was wondering what this service is like? What are the seats like? (I'll be flying 2 763's, 1 742 and 1 733)

What kind of meals can I expect on flights at 7am MEL-SYD, 9am SYD-CNS, 1pm CNS-SYD, 7am BNE-SYD?

Also, Melbourne and Cairns are my first 2 stopovers enroute to Sydney. Will I be granted access to the domestic QF lounges based on those segments being part of a greater internation F itinerary?

Terminal 3 at SYD, is 35 minutes enough for a connecting flight (MEL->SYD->CNS) in the am on a Thursday?

Do the QF lounges or airports have smoking facilities or does one have to go outside?

Thanks guys, any and all thoughts/comments appreciated.

Gene

Congratulations. You have done well as it can be very difficult to secure 2 x F award seats on the same trans-Pacific flight.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">However, since I have 4 legs in domestic business I was wondering what this service is like? What are the seats like? (I'll be flying 2 763's, 1 742 and 1 733)

What kind of meals can I expect on flights at 7am MEL-SYD, 9am SYD-CNS, 1pm CNS-SYD, 7am BNE-SYD?

The meals should be of reasonable standard. MEL-SYD is a short flight, but at 7am you will get a choice of a hot breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato etc) or cerial, plus fruit, toast , coffee etc. SYD-CNS may be a little late for the breakfast, but as this is a 2.5 ours flight you will substantial morning-tea. CNS-SYD will serve lunch. Maybe hot, but may not - pot luck really. Still, the food quality on QF domestic J is generally good.

The seats on the 763 vary depending on the aircraft. Some are used for international services and have the same dreamtime seat as the QF 744's in J. These have 1x2x2 config. Some are the ex-BA 767-336 model and have the BA cradle seats, which I really like. These are 2x2x2 config. Some are only used on domestic services and have the old QF international J seats, which I don't like as much and are also 2x2x2 config. If the aircraft registration is VH-ZX? then you have the ex-BA aircraft, which are very common on the monorail services.

The 742 will have the old QF international seats. This indicates you must be flying very soon as the last of the QF 742's will be taken out of service soon. It is going on a one-way trip to Longreach. Two others remain in service oin lease to Air Pacific, so maybe they are returning to QF service??? Business class is the first two sections on the lower deck. Seating in rows 1-5 is generally preferred, but the seats are all the same.

The 733 will have 2 rows of 2x2 in J, plus up to 4 rows of 2x2 convertable seats (can be used 3x3 by moving the arm rests). Some people don't like the convertable seats, but I prefer them since they have greater recline. The first two rows actually don't recline much at all. But the first row is good with plenty of leg room. There is not a great deal of leg room between the rest of the J seats on the 737's.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Also, Melbourne and Cairns are my first 2 stopovers enroute to Sydney. Will I be granted access to the domestic QF lounges based on those segments being part of a greater internation F itinerary?

If these flights are all on the same ticket stock, then yes you are entitled to entry to the domestic lounges. But you may need to educate the agent - most are pretty helpful and err on the side of allowing access rather than shutting the door.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Terminal 3 at SYD, is 35 minutes enough for a connecting flight (MEL-&gt;SYD-&gt;CNS) in the am on a Thursday?

Yes, this is a legal connection and will not be a problem unless the inbound flight is 30mins late. The MEL-SYD flight will most likely use one of the dedicated CityFlier gates (1-6 I think) and the 742 flying SYD-CNS will use next gate along (7 I think). You will see the 742 parked at the gate as your SYD-MEL flight taxis to the gate (look out the right hand side window).

But even one end to teh other is only a 5 min walk. And you won't be the only people on your MEL-SYD flight connecting to CNS and they will hold the flight for connecting passengers if your inbound flight is not too far away.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Do the QF lounges or airports have smoking facilities or does one have to go outside?

There is no smoking area anywhere inside the terminal buildings. You will need to leave the terminal to smoke, then come bback through the security check (no more than a few minutes to get through).

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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Thanks guys, any and all thoughts/comments appreciated.

There can be a significant temp variation between MEL and CNS, especially in winter. But in summer, you may actually find it hotter in MEL but the humidity will be the most noticable change in summer. Enjoy your trip.

NM, thanks for the great info

The trip dates are 8/30 - 9/15, so we are looking forward to our stay in the tropical north (as we want to do some snorkeling and rain-forest excursions).

The basic trip plan is:

MEL 3 nights @ Westin or Sheraton Southgate (not sure which yet, any suggestions?)

CNS 4 nights @ Hilton

SYD 5(4) nights @ 4 Points

BNE 2(3) nights @ Conrad

NM...I noticed you are from BNE, could you please help resolve one of our last issues?

We added BNE as a bonus to an otherwise great trip. However, we do not know much about the city/area and were wondering should we be there for 2 or 3 nights? Is the extra night in BNE worth reducing Sydney to 4 nights? Neither of us have been to Australia before.

For anyone wishing to respond...

Aside from the obvious touristy stuff, are there any really unique experiences not to be missed in the cities we will be traveling to?

Thanks,
Gene

I suggest Westin - right in the thick of MEL, great beds, great rooms.

With regard to BNE v SYD - BNE is a lot more "laid back" than SYD, which is really exciting, buzzy and frenetic. We've really grown up over the past 10 years, yet still managed to keep a bit of the "country town" charm. You will enjoy both, but I would respectfully suggest that if you want the "cosmopolitan big city" experience, do more of SYD, and if you want a more relaxed destination, try BNE. Sydney is also more expensive than Brisbane, but that won't worry your $US that much!

I echo willyroo's comments. The Melbourne Westin is very nice and a little more centrally located than the Sheraton, although the Sheraton is closer to the Casino and Southbank which has some great eating opportunities. When in MEL, make sure you eat at Lygon St at least one night. Hotel concierge will offer specific suggestions. It is a short cab ride and you won't get ripped off by the cabbies.

Around MEL, also try to fit in a trip through the Dandenongs (mountains). There are lots of options, including the Puffing Billy train. The Fairy Penguins at Phillip Island are also worth seeing, but dress warmly as it can get very cold at dusk down there.

The Brisbane Conrad hotel is part of the casino complex. If you like the Hilton chain (as reflected by your choices mentioned) you might also like to try the Brisbane Hilton which is located right on the Queen St Mall. There is a current post in the Hilton forum about it. But by all accounts the Conrad is very good.

There are less touristy things to do in BNE than in and around Sydney. In BNE, I recommend taking the CityCat (ferry) along the river and have a walk through the Southbank garden area (either walk over the new foot bridge or use the CityCat). Mt Cootha is work a look if you can get there (rental car, tour, public transport). Otherwise most of best things to see are outside the city. If you have a rental car, then Montville is wonderful. As is Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin's zoo about 45 mins north of Brisbane). Then of course there is the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

From Sydney, the Blue Mountains are a must. I am sure thadocta can recommend a means transport through that region - that is, unless all his cabs are busy delivering beer . He will be able to offer plenty of tips.

The flight will leave MEL on time - there are rarely problems at that end of the trip, and when they are it is caused by SYD - departure deferral due to congestion in SYD sort of thing.

Where there are likely to be delays is on arriving in SYD - you might get to see the Blue Mountains, and then the Blue Mountains (again), and then the Blue Mountains (yet again) - my record was four loops in the stack upon arrival in SYD, we spent more time in the stack than we did between MEL and reaching the stack.

One consolation though is that if you miss the SYD-CNS flight, they will move you to another flight/s - probably via BNE, and then you get to sample an extra Qantas Club (believe me, you WILL be impressed by the lounges Qantas offers, they leave just about everything offered by third world carriers such as AA, UA, DL for dead).

Dave

ROFLMAOPMP!

Seriously though, the Blue Mountains are a MUST - pop along to http://www.bluemts.com.au/ for further information about the region. I am an expert on the Wentworth Falls/Leura/Katoomba/Medlow Bath/Blackheath parts of the area, and can provide some useful tips about where to stay whilst up here.

Email me closer to the date (my email address won't be changing) for a contact phone number, and I will provide you with some further information.

Dave

Things have been much better in this area for the last year or so. Maybe it is due to less aircraft flying domestically in Australia? Seriously thought, it has been better for a few year now. Going back 5 years you could almost guarantee a delay into or out of Sydney. Now we find long delays are the exception and not the rule.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">One consolation though is that if you miss the SYD-CNS flight, they will move you to another flight/s - probably via BNE, and then you get to sample an extra Qantas Club (believe me, you WILL be impressed by the lounges Qantas offers, they leave just about everything offered by third world carriers such as AA, UA, DL for dead).

Speaking of while, when I popped into the BNE lounge yesterday I noted the construction is almost complete. The new food bar is operational and the only bit partitioned off now is the left end of the bar while they redo the flooring. Very impressive. Managed a quick beer and salad for lunch, topped off with a capaccino and Arnott's cream bickies while waiting for a work collegue to arrive.

Now lets see an AA EXP get into an AC lounge without paying a membership fee and flying on the same day!

SYD-MEL-SYD is my specialty, I have flown it 19 times this year - and I have been delayed more times than I haven't. I have often been able to pick out the townships below.

Was speaking to an AA EXP in the CBR QF lounge yesterday - he was overwhelmed by the lounge, and that was BEFORE I told him that capital city lounges (he did not understand why CBR was not classed as such, but I won't go there) were much better - the CBR lounge was the only lounge he had experienced, he still had to experience SYD, MEL and BNE.

Sems a dinky little lounge like CBR beats AA's FL lounges hands down.

Dave

[This message has been edited by thadocta (edited 11-13-2002).]

You guys are great!! Thanks for all the info so far.

Maybe it is just better from the north. I do a similar number of BNE-SYD-BNE trips and can't remember orbiting at all this year. now LHR, that is a different latter!

I have notices that they tend to use 34R/16L for flights from the north and 34L/16R for flights from the south. Not exclusively, but mostly. I don't think I have had a BNE-originated flight land on 34L/16R for a long time. So maybe there is less congestion on the tracking for the 3rd runway? But then again, we probably spend as much time taxying to/from 34R/16L as you are spending circling. Now, decising who has the most interesting view during the "excursion" is probably a matter pertaining to how warped one considers oneself to be .

Sounds like Dave, having to go to MEL instead of BNE, gets stuck in the QF floogie bird - flying in ever diminishing circles until it disappears up its fundamental orifice, from which great height it proceeds to **** on all below.

Thanks for all the info. I'm benefitting from it also.

I have business class tickets.....do I have any lounge privilege?

How about LAX?

I'm traveling in May and June.

Those flying on an international business class itinerary are entitled to use the lounges, even on domestic sectors, as long as those domestic sectors are part of the international itinerary.

Dave

Yes, at checkin in LAX you will be invited to the business class lounge. But don't get your expectations too high, it is one of the lest impressive QF lounges in the world - but the drinks are free .