Transiting SYD on Domestic to International Connection

[MEL_Traveller]

On yesterday’s flight up from MEL the crew advised pax with international connections were to gate 15 which they ‘understood’ to be back in operation, and if not ‘staff will direct you to kerbside’.

They made a point of saying that gate 15 had only just restarted.

 

[kpro]

I went through today, 20 Dec and can confirm the bus transfer via airside is back in full operation from gate 15.

The last time I was at SYD domestic was 14 Dec and at that time the signage was still up saying you needed to exit and find the kerbside bus.

 

[Daver6]

I went through today, 20 Dec and can confirm the bus transfer via airside is back in full operation from gate 15.

The last time I was at SYD domestic was 14 Dec and at that time the signage was still up saying you needed to exit and find the kerbside bus.

Any improvements to frequency?

 

[markis10]

Is skybus aka kinetic now the operator?

 

[kpro]

Any improvements to frequency?

Well I entered and scanned my boarding pass, then literally walked straight on board, but that might have just been good timing on my part.

Is skybus aka kinetic now the operator?

I'm not too sure, I don't take the transfer often enough to have noticed any difference.

 

[tassie6]

Is skybus aka kinetic now the operator?

Certainly seemed that way when I went through. Anyone working down at bus level had skybus branded gear on

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Certainly seemed that way when I went through. Anyone working down at bus level had skybus branded gear on

Another outsource, if the previous company were a QF company .

 

[justinbrett]

Another outsource, if the previous company were a QF company .

It was outsourced decades ago.

 

[BNEFlyer]

My mum and I flew through SYD (CHC-SYD-BNE) on January 3. My mum requires wheelchair assistance which was waiting at the door on arrival in SYD. We flew EK J connecting to QF J. Due to weather bags were delayed 50 minutes, significantly cutting down our transfer time of 2h15m. Thankfully passport control took no time at all and we had nothing to declare.

Unfortunately, even though our booking had wheelchair assistance noted, no one told the bus drivers at the transfer area, so a driver had to arrange the smaller 12 person but to take us to domestic (apparently this wasn't even the first time that day this had happened). The regular bus was waiting to take other pax over.

Made it to domestic in 15 minutes, went up in the lift from the service area and we ended up across from our gate, gate 10 with 20 minutes to spare until boarding.

 

[cowombat]

Hi, it's years since I did a domestic to international transfer at SYD (avoid like the plague!). But frequent flyer tix has forced this outcome for next trip. Help! Can we check in bags at MEL QF domestic and have them transferred to our QR flight in SYD without us manually collecting and rechecking? There is a single QF confirmation code for all segments in the trip. (Our friends at American AAdvantage have provided 1st class SYD-DOH and biz class MEL-SYD and DOH-EBB for just 100K miles and $160. Nice enought to put up with the transit!)

 

[equus]

Yes (on the way out). If your return is the same, then you need to collect in SYD to clear customs, then redeposit at the bag drop at International before connecting domestic back to MEL.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

No major changes since you did it years ago.
Still go to gate 15 at T3, then bus to T1, yada yada yada.
===
Tho, SYD airport had gone through a lot, take a look at google maps and you will see what I mean, visually.
But the procedures dom to int, wojld still be the dsme.

 

[jbman]

There should be a sticky thread for AU transits as these questions come up regularly. I am sure it would help everyone, myself included

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

There is.
(((Not a sticky as such))).
Can also read up on Reddit or Executive Traveller.
Lots of our AFF colleagues have doke it.
QF and QR are still in OW, but not chummy anymore.
QF in MEL should be able to issue BP for all sectors out to DOH, and do passport initial scans in MEL.
Just have to do outgoing immi in SYD T1.

 

[CaptJCool]

Here it is

K

Post in thread 'Transiting SYD on Domestic to International Connection'

Dec 21, 2025

Any improvements to frequency?

Well I entered and scanned my boarding pass, then literally walked straight on board, but that might have just been good timing on my part.

Is skybus aka kinetic now the operator?

I'm not too sure, I don't take the transfer often enough to have noticed any difference.

• kpro

• 

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Dep Aus on an airline linked PNR, its easy.
1.15 hrs to do it is tight.
===
I assume its min time they have given you, but try to get to Tullmarine bit early, for chances of an earlier QFd flight, (might be in Y).
Unless you value MEL QFd J lounge.

 

[markis10]

No major changes since you did it years ago.
Still go to gate 15 at T3, then bus to T1, yada yada yada.

Although years ago it wasn’t Gate 15 you went to, the transfer desk was opposite gate 1

 

[cowombat]

There is.
(((Not a sticky as such))).
Can also read up on Reddit or Executive Traveller.
Lots of our AFF colleagues have doke it.
QF and QR are still in OW, but not chummy anymore.
QF in MEL should be able to issue BP for all sectors out to DOH, and do passport initial scans in MEL.
Just have to do outgoing immi in SYD T1.

Yes, QF and QR definitely not chummy, and easy to see why. QF political lobbying screwed their extra services. Keeping prices up for QF. Glad AA and QR still work together. Relatively easy to get seats out of Australia on QR using AAdvantage rewards, thank goodness.