What Qantas Lounges Accessible for NZ Business Trip? When Do You Clear Customs with a Domestic Connection?

tunzafun001 on 01/07/2023 - 16:27
Last edited 01/07/2023 - 18:59

My parents have booked their first ever QF Business flights using points.

Flying ADL to CHC (1.5hr stop in Melb) 6am out of ADL.

Then AKL back to ADL (a couple hours stop in Mel again). 8am out of AKL off memory.

Not sure when they will clear customs and be airside for this itinerary, and which lounges they can visit once airside?

Cheers all.

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Comments

  • tunzafun001 on 01/07/2023 - 16:36

    Cheers, read them. Well kind of, they are very jumbled on my phone.

    But trying to work out which lounges are airside int vs domestic.

    Ie. Do they clear customs in ADL… And the QF lounge is domestic side..so they cant access it once cleared customs.

    Or do they fly domestic to Melb, then clear customs in Mel, so need to find the QF int lounge?

    Etc

    • Hybroid on 01/07/2023 - 17:05
      +1

      Not sure what's confusing you. They have maps of every floor in the airport. Adelaide airport intl and domestic are the same building.

      Qantas club lounge is on departures Level 2 opposite Gate 21. They then go down to Level 1 for international departure. I'm sure they can just follow the signs.

      https://www.adelaideairport.com.au/travellers-guide/finding-…

      • tunzafun001 on 01/07/2023 - 18:40

        Ok, so they cant clear customs, then sit in the lounge in ADL. Ie. the lounge isnt air side…unless

        Since the first leg is a domestic leg to Mel, then they can visit the QF lounge in ADL all the way to boarding.

        Then would clear customs in Mel…then there might be an airside qf (or another accessible/ shared lounge) in Mel?

        I dont know how Qantas handles this itinerary.

  • thatonethere on 01/07/2023 - 17:19
    +1

    If they are business class, they will have lounge access every stop. They can just ask the flight or ground crew for directions.

    • tunzafun001 on 01/07/2023 - 18:44

      Yeah,cheers. It's more about being able to access the lounge all the way to boarding on this itinerary.

      Or in other words, when do they clear customs, and is there an airside lounge QF business passengers can access once airside.

      • thatonethere on 01/07/2023 - 20:28

        You need to fully check thru customs

  • AndyC1 on 01/07/2023 - 17:21
    -1

    Are you flying for business or are you flying on a business class ticket on the plane?

  • jacobb on 01/07/2023 - 20:53

    The ADL to MEL is domestic so they will be able to use the lounge until boarding. In MEL the will need to go through immigration and will be able to go to the lounge once through.

  • ifyareckon on 01/07/2023 - 21:04
    +1

    There will be lounges airside for each of the 4 flights.

  • markathome on 01/07/2023 - 21:26
    +1

    I'm pretty sure this is the answer:

    • Adelaide - they'll have access to the Adelaide Qantas Club - it's not air-side - no alcohol - expect that red bean soup that drives frequent flyers crazy
    • Melbourne - they'll have access to the lounge affectionately called the "dungeon" (no natural light) - there will be one breakfast plate available - the ice cream will more than likely not be available - they should have alcohol too because it's always 5pm somewhere
    • Christchurch - no lounge on arrival
    • Auckland - they'll have access to the Auckland International Business - a satisfactory lounge with tarmac views - strangely no morning alcohol (I'm not sure if Qantas changed their rules or if it's a New Zealand thing)
    • Melbourne - this is the best lounge they will visit; make sure they go to the Qantas Business Lounge - though they should be redirected if they miss it - I just used it and was pretty impressed. They'll probably still arrive for breakfast - so no alcohol/noodle bar - but tarmac views and a good breakfast that is not the red bean soup
    • Adelaide - no access on arrival

    Open to corrections from those in the know.

    • tunzafun001 on 01/07/2023 - 23:28

      Thanks heaps for this.

      So this seems to indicate they can visit a domestic lounge in ADL, then will need to leave the lounge with plenty of time to go through customs and need to wait in a normal seating area to board. Being a 6am flight and they need to clear customs before 6, i'd assume they will give the ADL lounge a miss altogether. Should get decent food/ coffee/ memosa in the air anyway. All sound right?

      Then remain airside through Melbourne, and should have a solid hour in Melb lounge. Can wait in the Melbourne lounge until just about boarding (depending on gate)

      On return they can go through security in AKL, then go find a lounge. Upon arrival in Mel will go straight through customs, and this time go to a different lounge, being the domestic business lounge and wait for flight to board back to ADL.

      Hopefully got this right as well? Being their first experience with lounges, and my old man is near 80 (but still in good nick), just want to make the directions for them smooth as I can.

      Cheers again

      • markathome on 02/07/2023 - 02:07
        +6

        Wait a second. What makes you think they are clearing customs in Adelaide?

        Adelaide Airport does do international flights but right now Qantas does not from Adelaide. In that case, my non-airside comment makes no sense. It would only apply to someone flying ADL-DPS (Jetstar) - and even then it was clumsily phrased - what I meant is they can't go from lounge to an International flight without passing through passport control first.

        The actual approach will be:

        • Go to the Adelaide Qantas Club
        • Get on ADL-MEL flight
        • Transfer from Tullamarine Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 (walkable distance)
        • Clear passport control at Tullamarine Terminal 2
        • Go to the Melbourne Qantas International Business Lounge
        • Get on MEL-CHC flight
        • Clear customs and passport control in Christchurch

        Then:

        • Clear passport control at Auckland Airport
        • Go to the Auckland Qantas International Business Lounge
        • Get on AKL-MEL flight
        • Clear customs and passport control in Australia
        • Go to the Melbourne Domestic Business Lounge (best)
        • Get on MEL-ADL flight
        • Go home

        Your parents will need to pay close attention to where their baggage is checked through to. I think they may find it is checked through to Christchurch for the outward flights. I'm unsure whether it will be checked through to Adelaide for the inward flights.

        • SBOB on 02/07/2023 - 09:07

          Wait a second. What makes you think they are clearing customs in Adelaide?

          Exactly

          ADL to CHC (1.5hr stop in Melb)
          Would indicate domestic adl to Mel.

        • tunzafun001 on 02/07/2023 - 10:51

          Brilliant mate. This is exactly what I needed to know.
          Just know I have caught a flight ADL to Hawaii once (via Syd stopover) that made us go into a seperate departure area (where we could no longer access the QF domestic lounge).
          Cheers again.

      • markathome on 02/07/2023 - 02:12
        +1

        So to highlight two things:

        • Check where the baggage is checked through to each time they check-in. They should get boarding passes for both flights at check-in.
        • Check that your parents use the Qantas Domestic Business Lounge not the Qantas Club in Melbourne.

        Otherwise should be a good trip.

      • Kayrhcp on 02/07/2023 - 08:54

        No mate, no customs in Adelaide.

        It’ll be a standard Adelaide domestic flight with access to Adelaide’s domestic business lounge theyll land in Melbourne, go over to the int terminal, get through security and have access to melbournes int business lounge

        Leaving Auckland, it’ll be int business lounge
        Then they’ll land in Melbourne, go to Qantas domestic terminal, go to melbournes domestic business’s lounge.

  • jonkvh on 02/07/2023 - 08:17
    +2

    markathome, you've put a lot of effort into this. Well done!

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