Qantas Airlines questions

trojan_sixtyone · Post by **trojan_sixtyone** » December 28, 2006 9:46 am

Anybody have experience with this airline? I'm taking it from St. Louis to LA to Auckland, NZ, and then to Sydney, NSW (over a two-week period).

Any luggage suggestions? Any good or bad experiences that would be helpful? How's the in-flight food/drink?

Never flown Qantas before, nor has anyone I know, so I'm kind of in the dark with it.

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » December 28, 2006 9:55 am

start by checking their website for acceptable size, weight, & number of bags. all airlines have tightened up their luggage policy and are pretty strict about it.

trojan_sixtyone · Post by **trojan_sixtyone** » December 28, 2006 9:57 am

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:start by checking their website for acceptable size, weight, & number of bags. all airlines have tightened up their luggage policy and are pretty strict about it.

Yeah, I've done all that, but I'm talking about real-world, practical, first-hand info. We all know the official word and the real word are two different things in travel.

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » December 28, 2006 10:01 am

i did not see an airline this year let a 50.4 lbs bag slide on a 50 lbs weight limit.....

god know how many times i got stuck behind someone repacking bags at the counter to get under the wieght limit.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » December 28, 2006 10:04 am

I agree with AF. The baggage limits aren't something the airlines are going to let slide.....

trojan_sixtyone · Post by **trojan_sixtyone** » December 28, 2006 10:06 am

Yeah, I know how that feels.

I'm having to be really careful when packing my bags for size, weight, capacity, etc. because I have to take enough stuff to get me through 5 months abroad. Most anything I buy while overseas will get shipped back home to the good ole US-of-A not long before I leave to come home, so I won't have to worry with traveling with a bunch of trinkets, gifts, etc.

comtnfish · Post by **comtnfish** » December 28, 2006 10:08 am

Quantas is a terrific airline!! The people are friendly (really!), and the food is pretty good. I flew to Australia on one of their packages from Hawaii - Sydney - Brisbane - Cairns - Alice Springs - then back to the states via Sydney. Great experiences every time.

Have a great trip!!!

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » December 28, 2006 10:11 am

since you're going to be gone for some time, when does your passport expire?

alot of countries won't let you in if your departure date is inside of 6 months to 1 year of it's expiration.

trojan_sixtyone · Post by **trojan_sixtyone** » December 28, 2006 10:13 am

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:since you're going to be gone for some time, when does your passport expire?

alot of countries won't let you in if your departure date is inside of 6 months to 1 year of it's expiration.

Mine was reissued back in June, so I'm good until June 2016. I hope I'll be home by then.

(Although if I like Oz as much as I think I will, I may stay for a while.

)

Indiana Jolly Mon · Post by **Indiana Jolly Mon** » December 28, 2006 1:30 pm

"Qantas, yeah Quantas never crashes" from Rainman. Sorry, had to be done.

comtnfish · Post by **comtnfish** » December 28, 2006 1:31 pm

trojan_sixtyone wrote:
AlbatrossFlyer wrote:since you're going to be gone for some time, when does your passport expire?

alot of countries won't let you in if your departure date is inside of 6 months to 1 year of it's expiration.
Mine was reissued back in June, so I'm good until June 2016. I hope I'll be home by then.

(Although if I like Oz as much as I think I will, I may stay for a while. )

I loved Australia....I keep thinking there has to be a way for creeky to adopt us all!

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » December 28, 2006 2:03 pm

trojan_sixtyone wrote:
AlbatrossFlyer wrote:since you're going to be gone for some time, when does your passport expire?

alot of countries won't let you in if your departure date is inside of 6 months to 1 year of it's expiration.
Mine was reissued back in June, so I'm good until June 2016. I hope I'll be home by then.

(Although if I like Oz as much as I think I will, I may stay for a while. )

duuuude... you aren't going to pass for a "war bride"..

trojan_sixtyone · Post by **trojan_sixtyone** » December 28, 2006 2:25 pm

RinglingRingling wrote:
trojan_sixtyone wrote:
AlbatrossFlyer wrote:since you're going to be gone for some time, when does your passport expire?

alot of countries won't let you in if your departure date is inside of 6 months to 1 year of it's expiration.
Mine was reissued back in June, so I'm good until June 2016. I hope I'll be home by then.

(Although if I like Oz as much as I think I will, I may stay for a while. )
duuuude... you aren't going to pass for a "war bride"..

Reserve your judgment until you see my killer pumps and black cocktail dress. Two words for you: KNOCK-OUT. Ask my girlfriend.

creeky · Post by **creeky** » December 28, 2006 2:32 pm

Its the BEST way to fly !!!!!!

So far as baggage goes - you can take two bags to Australia - so you should have no trouble with the limits .....

The only problem is the hand luggage - and that is on the USA side of things in LA - it HAS to fit the little size thing, and be in the weight limit, or they will make you send it as checked luggage - not sure if that is a Qantas or US thing in LA- cause anywhere else in the world it is not such an issue with Qantas.

Food is GREAT - its Australian

When will you be in Sydney? I am only a couple of hours and will be going to Sydney for work a bit next year ....

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » December 28, 2006 2:52 pm

trojan_sixtyone wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote:
trojan_sixtyone wrote:
AlbatrossFlyer wrote:since you're going to be gone for some time, when does your passport expire?

alot of countries won't let you in if your departure date is inside of 6 months to 1 year of it's expiration.
Mine was reissued back in June, so I'm good until June 2016. I hope I'll be home by then.

(Although if I like Oz as much as I think I will, I may stay for a while. )
duuuude... you aren't going to pass for a "war bride"..
Reserve your judgment until you see my killer pumps and black cocktail dress. Two words for you: KNOCK-OUT. Ask my girlfriend.

you're scaring me now...

The Lost Manatee · Post by **The Lost Manatee** » December 28, 2006 5:42 pm

Well, let's cover a few points quick and dirty. First, you will need to get your visa for Australia, a US passport alone won't get you in. Second, you aren't flying Qantas from St. Louis to LAX, that flight will be operated by American Airlines. Third, you will want to have lots of time to make the connection LAX, especially on the way back. Fourth, your only other options for this itinerary would be United and their service over the water just doesn't match or Air New Zealand but then you have to connect through Auckland both ways. Fifth, be sure to give Qantas your American Airlines Advantage number when you check in for each flight as they have a tendency to not credit you with your miles if you don't do that. Also, not all fares on Qantas get you miles, generally the really cheap ones don't accrue miles.

Now for the really good news, Qantas has seat back entertainment on every seat, unlike United, which means you can watch whatever movie you want, when you want. Also their seats are slightly wider and have slightly more pitch then United, thus it is a more comfortable ride.

As for luggage, don't plan on them cutting you slack on it and in my experience it is more of an issue when coming back from Sydney then flying out of LAX, unless you are checking in at the American Terminal in LAX, in which case they make you conform to AA's rules, not Qantas. My daughter has taken on her backpack full of school books on several trips and never had a question asked when we checked in at the Qantas counter in LAX's International terminal. Whenever she's had to check in in the American terminal it has been an issue. Likewise when she's come back via Sydney it's been an issue but never out of Brisbane. I don't know what the difference is or why there would be differences.

Last but by no means least, to paraphrase George Benard Shaw, Americans and Australians are two related peoples seperated by the same language.

Have fun.

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » December 28, 2006 10:40 pm

Indiana Jolly Mon wrote:"Qantas, yeah Quantas never crashes" from Rainman. Sorry, had to be done.

Umm, except for twice now, but both of them were on the ground so you should be safe.

And yes, you will need to pay for a Visa. Its all digital now; they just link it to your passport number.

Take some candy with you, but nothing chocolate. Declare the candy at customs and you get to skip the big line of people pretending they don't have anything to declare.

Other than that Qantas isn't too bad. Once you are over there, I found Virgin Blue to have the most bang for the buck. The first two times I was over there, the airlines were still regulated so there was no competition. It has gotten better since then.

creeky · Post by **creeky** » December 28, 2006 11:33 pm

land_shark3 wrote:
Indiana Jolly Mon wrote:"Qantas, yeah Quantas never crashes" from Rainman. Sorry, had to be done.
Umm, except for twice now, but both of them were on the ground so you should be safe.

And yes, you will need to pay for a Visa. Its all digital now; they just link it to your passport number.

Take some candy with you, but nothing chocolate. Declare the candy at customs and you get to skip the big line of people pretending they don't have anything to declare.

Other than that Qantas isn't too bad. Once you are over there, I found Virgin Blue to have the most bang for the buck. The first two times I was over there, the airlines were still regulated so there was no competition. It has gotten better since then.

Can bring chocolate in - so long as it is still packaged. And Virginblue.com.au and Jetstar.com.au (part of Qantas) are our domestic carriers.