Sydney Terminal Connection

[TheAussieDigger]

Hi all,

On the 5th of March I am booked to get in to Sydney at 11:55 on Virgin from Hobart although it has been getting in later recently according to flightaware.

I will be connecting to the Scoot flight which leaves at 2:05 with check-in closing an hour before. This gives me an hour and 10 to get there if the Virgin flight arrives on time. Looking at the schedules and times of everything in terms of terminal transfer this looks like enough time to be fairly comfortable but I'm wondering whether this is actually the case in practice. Ideally I'd go the train but I could alternatively ruin a taxi driver's day and just give him a bit of a tip or something.

A long-shot but would anyone happen to know what check-in desk Scoot is at or does it vary quite a bit?

Also just left school with this being my first time travelling alone just to add to the troubles.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mal]

Unless the virgin flight is seriously late you should be fine. Fastest way is probably the train or alternatively the transfer bus but I think the train would be a touch quicker overall based on frequency etc. Iirc its 5 dollars either way.

Checked bags would slow you down a bit, but again unless luggage takes 30mins to arrive you should still be fine.

Others who do this transfer might have some better options and a better grasp on expected time of transfer.

 

[Gremlin]

Gee, I'm not sure. Do you have checked luggage on the VA leg? If nothing goes wrong, then you'll be okay, but it's too tight for my liking.

 

[moa999]

Scoot generally uses gates to the far end of the International terminal (the other end to where you come out from the train station) (near the now closed second immigration entrance).

Other option is the 400 Bus (departs on the inner road outside the Qantas terminal).
For Sydney Train/Bus timetables download TripView Lite (Free) for iphone/android.

 

[Boris spatsky]

1155 to 1405 is 2 hours 10, not 1 hour 10. If those times are in fact correct, you should be fine.

 

[Gremlin]

1155 to 1405 is 2 hours 10, not 1 hour 10. If those times are in fact correct, you should be fine.

But the OP needs to be checked in for the Scoot flight an hour before departure - they won't be able to check in all the way through from HBA. So has an hour and ten to cover potential delays to VA inbound flight, disembarkation, potentially collecting luggage, terminal transfer and check in for Scoot flight.

Expert Flyer puts OTP for VA1531 at 66%. Today's flight landed 31 mins late. I'd hazard a guess that someone trying to make that connection today would really struggle and would be no chance at all if they'd checked luggage.

If the VA flight's on time then it's doable, but if it were me I'd be looking to get to SYD earlier if possible. YMMV.

Gremlin

 

[eastwest101]

All other things being equal - I have found the train to be quicker for a Dom to Internl. transfer on Mon-Fri during the day than either a bus or taxi - the train just takes traffic out of the equation.....

 

[bigjobs]

Watch out if you use a taxi ... the drivers have been known to refuse to take passengers on that short trip.

 

[TheAussieDigger]

The taxi would surely be the best option still if worst case scenario I'll have to wait 15 minutes for the next train? Otherwise I'll go the train.
Unfortunately I do have checked baggage. I am willing and able to do a lot of running though. My main concern is the Virgin flight so I guess all I can do is cross my fingers.

 

[GladstoneTim]

The taxi would surely be the best option still if worst case scenario I'll have to wait 15 minutes for the next train? Otherwise I'll go the train.
Unfortunately I do have checked baggage. I am willing and able to do a lot of running though. My main concern is the Virgin flight so I guess all I can do is cross my fingers.

What you also need to factor in are:
1. The purpose of the Scoot flight. What would you be missing if you missed it...tour? Wedding? Boys weekend?
2. What would you do if you were denied check-in by Scoot for arriving too late? They rightly won't give a sixpence for the cause of any delay you have. Cost of an alternative flight at walk-up rates would be frightfully expensive.

 

[serfty]

Way to tight IMHO.

Checked luggage would just about ensure you miss the Scoot flight, even if you were on time.

 

[TheAussieDigger]

If I am honest I don't see why I would miss it but I could be underestimating the time for things.

Plane arrive 11:55.

This is what I'm least sure of but surely it won't take more than half an hour for me to get off the plane, get to the carousel and get my bag, even if I have to wait for the bag for a while. Get to train station at 12:30. Max wait 15 minutes for train. Get on train at 12:45. Train trip takes two minutes. 5-10 minutes max to walk to Scoot check-in and I'm there with time to spare.

Can someone tell me at which point with this I'm being stupid and ignorant (because I'm sure I am at some point).

 

[GladstoneTim]

If I am honest I don't see why I would miss it but I could be underestimating the time for things.

Plane arrive 11:55.

This is what I'm least sure of but surely it won't take more than half an hour for me to get off the plane, get to the carousel and get my bag, even if I have to wait for the bag for a while. Get to train station at 12:30. Max wait 15 minutes for train. Get on train at 12:45. Train trip takes two minutes. 5-10 minutes max to walk to Scoot check-in and I'm there with time to spare.

Can someone tell me at which point with this I'm being stupid and ignorant (because I'm sure I am at some point).

your estimated times appear fine but with two provisos....
1. If your Virgin flight is delayed or
2. Any SNAFUS in the other aspects of getting from your VA flight to Scoot check-in before they close.

 

[medhead]

Looking at your timings you have 5 minutes to get to the check in desk once you arrive at the queue. So you're basically assuming you can walk up to the check in desk and get served immediately. That's a bit unrealistic, IMO. Now redo those times if the aircraft is delayed 30 minutes or even just 5 minutes. In that situation you basically screwed. You're also relying on scoot have their watches set on the correct time or not closing the desk early. If I'm wrong about the check in queue and they do clear it 10 minutes early they might even just close the flight early while you're walk down from the train.

Ask yourself what will you do if you miss the scoot flight. This is a LCC they will not care at all about your story and that you are 30 seconds late. You just don't mess with that cough.

So I'd recommend an earlier flight myself. If that means having to get to SYD around 8:30 to 9 am I can guest you into a lounge.

 

[clifford]

Well it's all very interesting.

I took a Scoot flight OOL-SIN recently and all was fine.

But, the queues at check-in were horrendous. What I am saying is that assuming you do make it to the Intl terminal in time (which you should), the long queues at Scoot might get you. If it were me, I'd have a plan B.

Just a couple of bob's worth.

 

[Austashes]

A cheeky option is once you have your bag go to Arrivals, wait for a taxi to disembark a passanger and quickly engage the taxi. I've done it when I was running late and as long as you aren't too obvious they wont complain & the Taxi driver wont worry the next fare is just to teh international.

 

[TheAussieDigger]

There is an option to go via Canberra instead. After reading through the fare rules would I be right in saying that there is a $60 fee for changing the flight? If this is the case then I will change the flight

 

[medhead]

There is an option to go via Canberra instead. After reading through the fare rules would I be right in saying that there is a $60 fee for changing the flight? If this is the case then I will change the flight

I'd guess you'd be up for the $60 fee and any fare difference. Perhaps check to see if the fare is roughly the same or a bit more than what you originally paid. Still Canberra does add complications. How much earlier does it land?

 

[yo yo ma]

There is an option to go via Canberra instead. After reading through the fare rules would I be right in saying that there is a $60 fee for changing the flight? If this is the case then I will change the flight

Smart move - A 1:10 connection with a LCC (Scoot) is not enough and with luggage it is too tight. I would play safe and ensure you make the flight.

 

[TheAussieDigger]

via Canberra I get to Sydney at either 10 or 10:30 depending on whether I go on a Virgin Embraer or a Skywest ATR from Canberra to Sydney. The fare is pretty much the same.