[NM]

This Wednesday morning started the way most other Wednesday mornings start, with a few early morning conference calls and helping get three kids off to school (two to be there by 7am, the other for 8:30am). By the time Mrs NM left home to drive Mini#3 to school, I was finishing up my last planned call for the morning and about to start processing the overnight emails. Then a little after 9am I got the phone call I dread most. It was like landing on the Monopoly Chance square and turning over the card that reads "Go directly to KUL; do not pass go; do not collect $200".

I jokingly responded saying there was a flight that departs at 1:45pm that would have me there before midnight (its a concern that I know the flight schedules without looking them up), fully expecting there s no way I could be on that flight knowing our company's travel authorisation bureaucratic bottleneck could process international travel approvals in time. But the boss thought otherwise and assured me he would look after the approvals and I should get it booked and get packing.

So a call to the corporate travel centre resulted in a reservation being made, but the agent really didn't think it was going to be possible to process it in time. She said she needed the approval on her desk within 30 mins if she was going to be able to get the ticket printed in their Brisbane office and couriered to the Brisbane airport in time for me to check-in for the flight. And that approval requires signatures from my boss (Director level), his boss (VP level) and the CEO.

15 mins later I saw the emails flying as the approvals were all forthcoming and forwarded to the TA. The ticket was issued by 10am and arrangements made for printing and urgent courier to the airport. So I had to start packing.

I know I will be there for at least a week, but have no idea just when I will be able to return. So I tell the TA that the flights must be fully flexible with no change penalties. She books a BLFF fare basis for me which pretty much does the trick. Would have been nicer if they would spring for J, but then again the J cabin was sold-out so I would not get on the QF51 that day if business class.

The next problem was to let Mrs NM know I was going to be away for a while. She had plans to take Mini#4 to Playgroup after dropping Mini#3 at school and they that normally means she won't be home until lunch time. So I called her mobile phone to suggest she comes home early so she can drive me to the airport. Hmm, I call her number and hear a phone ringing on the other side of my desk. She had gone out without her phone today and I had no way to contact her.

I packed and waited for her to return ... and waited ... and waited. When it came to 11:45 I had to call a cab or I was not going to get to the airport on time. So I did the only thing I could and left a note on the kitchen table explaining I was leaving for the airport and had no idea when I would be back. Oops, this is not going to be good when she gets home .

[NM]

When the cab arrives, the driver is a friend of mine (pure coincidence). I get to the airport at about 12:20pm and head to the ticket counter hoping the courier had made it. The ticket was still sitting on their desk. I had probably passed the courier as I got out of the cab.

Then over to the Business Class check-in line. The TA had inserted my QF FF number into the reservation, but when you make the reservation just a few hours before departure, the automatic seat allocation system is not very successful. Out spat my boarding pass reading seat 55E. The check-in agent looked at it and said "ouch - lets see if we can do any better than that". He tapped away and then went to speak with a colleague. They both nodded and he returned. I knew it was not a op-up since I also knew that business class was J0. He had moved me to 34D and blocked off 34E and F for me.

He also confirmed that business class was in fact oversold by 1, so unless someone no-shows there is going to be an interesting check-in experience for someone shortly. I asked what will happen if they all show up. He said they would offer a few options to the unfortunately traveller, such as if they are going through to London (very common for business class passengers on QF51) they may offer Y to SIN and F SIN-LHR, or re-routing on QF29 via MEL/HKG possibly with an upgrade to F. So we can see why QF likes to leave some premium cabin seats available rather than use them all for waitlisted upgrades.

The whole check-in process takes just a few minutes and I am soon heading down the escalator to the immigration desks. There is almost no queue there and I am through in about 2 mins, through the security screening and heading to the FLounge to try to catch my breath and understand what has happened in the last 3 hours.

[Kiwi Flyer]

Originally Posted by NM

I packed and waited for her to return ... and waited ... and waited. When it came to 11:45 I had to call a cab or I was not going to get to the airport on time. So I did the only thing I could and left a note on the kitchen table explaining I was leaving for the airport and had no idea when I would be back. Oops, this is not going to be good when she gets home .

Did you get to talk to Mrs NM from the airport?

[QF009]

Thanks for sharing NM. I'm thinking of flying the same route with QF/BA - seems like the only way to get to KUL on the same day is to catch QF via BNE and get the last MH SIN-KUL flight of the day.

[Kiwi Flyer]

Originally Posted by QF009

Thanks for sharing NM. I'm thinking of flying the same route with QF/BA - seems like the only way to get to KUL on the same day is to catch QF via BNE and get the last MH SIN-KUL flight of the day.

There are same-day options on MH and SQ.

[NM]

Now at the FLounge, and knowing my ticket was a B class fare, it was time to ensure the FF number was changed to AA. AA will pay 1.5 EQP/mile for a B fare, which is the same rate as for J and F fares. So I get maximum status qualification value for the B fare. But B fare on QF FF program is discount economy so would only earn me 30 SCs each way.

So for QF FF program, I would need to do 20 BNE-SIN flights to get to Gold status (well I have lifetime Giold so what's the point in requalifying it with SCs) or 40 flights for Platinum! With AA, I will earn 5724 EQP, which means I would need 9 such flights to requalify AA Platinum or 17 for Executive Platinum.

The FLounge agent takes my BP and AA card and changes the entry while I am enjoying a few glasses of Moet before boarding.

Luckily Mrs NM gets home ad sees my note before I depart. I explain my morning and she is sympathetic - phew! But I know I need to source an appropriate peace offering before I return. Perhaps a bottle of Grandfather port may be a good starting point. I send an SMS message to Mini#1 letting him know about my trip.

I grab a few plates of food (cold meats, sandwiches, fruit etc) knowing its Y food that awaits me onboard.

Boarding is called about 1:20pm and its time to stop pretending I am an F passenger and bring myself back to the world of the Y cabin as I follow the heard of sheep towards Gate 84.

[NM]

Originally Posted by QF009

Thanks for sharing NM. I'm thinking of flying the same route with QF/BA - seems like the only way to get to KUL on the same day is to catch QF via BNE and get the last MH SIN-KUL flight of the day.

The only real option on OneWorld is QF51 to SIN and then I normally use MH610 to KUL. Going via HKG is more expensive and poor timing.

[NM]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer

There are same-day options on MH and SQ.

From BNE, the MH flight is different timing at each end of the week. Beginning of the week the northbound is daytime and southbound is overnight, and the end of the week it changes. SQ routing is similar to the QF/MH option.

[QF009]

I usually get there MEL-SIN-KUL on SQ238/116.

But uhh...thinking of an alternative route this time.
Seems like QF51 is my best bet, and MH610. I wonder if MH will accept my *G card for entry into their lounge, or if the SATS lounge will accept an MH BP - since KUL is operated as a JSA between MH and SQ.

[NM]

Originally Posted by QF009

I usually get there MEL-SIN-KUL on SQ238/116.

But uhh...thinking of an alternative route this time.
Seems like QF51 is my best bet, and MH610. I wonder if MH will accept my *G card for entry into their lounge, or if the SATS lounge will accept an MH BP - since KUL is operated as a JSA between MH and SQ.

Consider just buying an F seat on the MH flights. The incremental cost for F on that route is very small and it gets you into their Golden Lounge at SIN (pretty basic lounge, but still better than the main terminal) and the FLounge at KUL (a wonderful lounge). It also gets you an invitation to use the premium channel for inbound and outbound immigration processing at KUL. Last time I did it, the cost difference was about $35 each way. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to do that this time due to the short notice.