QF enforcing 3 hour checkin time limit at MEL?

[hossein_au]

I tried to check in for QF35 this morning at MEL. I was told by multiple agents (including in the First class check-in room) that I was too early and they only open the check in 3 hours prior to flights (3.5 hours for A380 flights).

I know this has been widely known as a general rule, but many major airlines, including Qantas, used to accept all-day check-in at their (major) home ports (i.e. MEL and SYD). Is this not the case anymore?

On a related note, I tried to check in yesterday at CBR for a trip to Europe. Even though my 'transit' in MEL was less than 24 hours, I was told I had to collect my bags in MEL and re-check them in the next day. While in the lounge I checked QF web site and now they specifically say they only check bagged through on "same day" international connections. Was this always there?

 

[Hvr]

I tried to check in for QF35 this morning at MEL. I was told by multiple agents (including in the First class check-in room) that I was too early and they only open the check in 3 hours prior to flights (3.5 hours for A380 flights).

Yes, I had this same response earlier this year. I was travelling HLO so went to the DOM J lounge and waited there until check in time.

 

[opusman]

AFAIK QF have never had all-day check-in in MEL, only in SYD (and in SYD they still do).

 

[Ansett]

Correct no all day check in with luggage in Melbourne due to security and storage room concerns apparently.

They have wanted to do any time check in for years but Melbourne airport itself will not allow this.

HVR I dont understand why you didn't do online check in if travelling HLO

 

[serfty]

HVR I dont understand why you didn't do online check in if travelling HLO

Being in an exit row (or maybe on a flight to the USA) will do this at the moment.

 

[serfty]

I checked QF web site and now they specifically say they only check bagged through on "same day" international connections. Was this always there?

This has been the case for as long as I can remember.

@ozbeachbabe may have better info.

While 24 hours relates to transits and assessable taxes etc., it does not relate to checked luggage

 

[kpc]

That 3 hour rule at Mel significantly reduces F lounge time

 

[serfty]

That 3 hour rule at Mel significantly reduces F lounge time

Unless you are connecting ...

 

[hossein_au]

Unless you are connecting ...

Unless you are connecting, same day ;-)

 

[TheInsider]

This has been the case for as long as I can remember.

@ozbeachbabe may have better info.

MEL don't allow it because local management don't want to pay for extra baggage staff to remove the bags from the sortation system and then load into different containers. But yes, MEL has never offered all day check-in.

Maybe next time people need to write into Qantas and suggest that this be a thing. Staff want it in.

I don't know how true the excuse of Melbourne Airport don't want it, i honestly can't seem them caring (especially since they get paid from each check-in counter being on, on a per minute basis), also since Qantas pretty much has their own check-in counters at 'A' (it is extremely rare for any other carrier to be there at any time of the day).

 

[muppet]

First checkin was able to force it couple of weeks ago. About 7pm before the 11:15pm AKL service. Was HLO however.

 

[Himeno]

I've connected through MEL a number of times only to find the flight wasn't 'active' in the boarder system yet because I was "early", and I had to be manually processed through immigration.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I've connected through MEL a number of times only to find the flight wasn't 'active' in the boarder system yet because I was "early", and I had to be manually processed through immigration.

Same happened to me on my last ADL-xMEL-AKL flight where I had an F lounge visit, oops I meant transit time, of 4.5 hours.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

On a related note, I tried to check in yesterday at CBR for a trip to Europe. Even though my 'transit' in MEL was less than 24 hours, I was told I had to collect my bags in MEL and re-check them in the next day. While in the lounge I checked QF web site and now they specifically say they only check bagged through on "same day" international connections. Was this always there?

The IATA definition of a transit being < 24 hours has nothing to do with whether or not a bag will be checked through as it depends on the nuances of the connecting airport eg BNE QF SYD Tuesday night connecting SYD YY xx_ Wednesday morning won't cut it. The CSA won't even be able to see your oncarriage so it's exactly the same deal as a domestic point to point pax flying BNE/SYD.

As SYD has a curfew they don't want bags sitting around all night unattended when they can't be accepted by the onward carrier. I'm not familiar with MEL but the reasons given by TheInsider upthread certainly sounds plausible to me.

As for connecting via some other cities where the airport is operational 24/7 eg SIN, DXB etc, having bags through checked to the final destination when you have say a 23 hour transit isn't an issue.

 

[coriander]

That 3 hour rule at Mel significantly reduces F lounge time

Couple of weeks ago arrived at MEL at 1820h for QF49 departing at 2140h. Even though staff were behind counter, there was no check in until 1840h. However we still had plenty of time for dinner and drinks in F lounge as border security was devoid of queues as was TRS claim.

 

[kermatu]

For a home port and major hub 3 hours is pretty ridiculous. I know SIN allows early check-in for multiple airlines, and I presume it’s possible in some other ports?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

For a home port and major hub 3 hours is pretty ridiculous. I know SIN allows early check-in for multiple airlines, and I presume it’s possible in some other ports?

Not sure how big MEL's baggage makeup area is compared to other airports like SIN but it sounds as though there's not enough space for the containers or barrows to load bags onto once they arrive in the baggage makeup area from checkin.

 

[drron]

We have been made to wait in the F checkin in SYD until the 3 hour mark when we flew F on QF 11.

 

[kermatu]

I guess no choice with transiting baggage but seems odd that can be accomodated and regular check-in not. I can’t imagine there are that many people that actually want to check-in that early (except perhaps the late afternoon and evening flights, when International isn’t too busy).

 

[Archipelago]

For a home port and major hub 3 hours is pretty ridiculous. I know SIN allows early check-in for multiple airlines, and I presume it’s possible in some other ports?

We're kind of spoiled up here in SE Asia for choice when it comes to having a number of airports which will happily allow all day check in (HKG, BKK, SIN, KUL - airline dependent and usually legacy carriers, but very flexible)

Always wondered why MEL couldn't do this, some posts above have now explained it - too tight to spend the money on the infrastructure or systems to send the bags on a nice loop around the internal conveyors for an extended period, or have a staging area?