Boarding times for Trans-Tasman flights

[tuapekastar]

I'm having an extended senior moment and for the life of me cannot recall boarding times for QF TT flights at MEL (and cannot find said info). I'm sure it's not 20 like domestic, but is it 30 minutes prior to departure?

Thanks

 

[Mwenenzi]

I think its 90min. But I check in no later than 60min
My AirNZ Aust - NZ next week has 90min
My VA NZ - Aust return has 3hrs: never done that

 

[Hvr]

[h=2]Faster, Smarter Check-in for Trans-Tasman Flights[/h]

Breeze through the airport for your Trans-Tasman flight with our new International Q Card Readers.
Platinum, Gold and Silver Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members who are Australian and New Zealand passport holders can now check-in using the International Q Card Readers for direct flights between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland, Wellington or Queenstown.[SUP]*[/SUP]
Follow three easy steps to check-in for your next Trans-Tasman flight.

1. Scan your Q Card. (Hold your Qantas card at the Q icon on the Q Card Reader)
2. Scan your passport. (Check-in is confirmed once the Q Card Reader illuminates green and a boarding pass will be printed)
3. Collect your boarding pass (unlike domestic check-in, travellers will not receive an SMS).

If you're travelling without bags, go directly to Immigration. If you're travelling with bags, drop your bags at the dedicated bag drop counter. Note that you cannot use the Q Bag Tag on international flights.
Customers who are currently eligible to receive an Express Path immigration card, will have the Express Path logo printed on their boarding pass, enabling access to the Express lane[SUP]^[/SUP] to expedite their immigration clearance.
The introduction of the new international Q Card Readers forms part of our plans to broaden the use of the award-winning Faster, Smarter technology, bringing speed and ease to the international check-in experience.

Interesting, there is no mention of timings at all.

 

[tuapekastar]

Thanks guys, I was referring to boarding time, not checkin time. It has turned out it doesn't actually matter much, but still curious if anyone recalls.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Thanks guys, I was referring to boarding time, not checkin time. It has turned out it doesn't actually matter much, but still curious if anyone recalls.

Good point. Perhaps I had a senior moment not reading you post correctly (I think I am older than you!)
In my experience boarding time is no different from domestic. After all most TT's are only B737 or A320 now

 

[samh004]

Thanks guys, I was referring to boarding time, not checkin time. It has turned out it doesn't actually matter much, but still curious if anyone recalls.

Do you keep your old boarding passes? It would say the boarding time on it, and then you just look online when the flight usually leaves

 

[tuapekastar]

Good point. Perhaps I had a senior moment not reading you post correctly (I think I am older than you!)
In my experience boarding time is no different from domestic. After all most TT's are only B737 or A320 now

Cheers Mwenenzi! You may not be older than me!

Do you keep your old boarding passes? It would say the boarding time on it, and then you just look online when the flight usually leaves

Thanks samh004, I did check some BPs, but with the changing of schedules over time, was not confident of necessarily getting an accurate answer.

 

[serfty]

I believe it's 30 minutes for a non "widebody" ...

 

[tuapekastar]

I believe it's 30 minutes for a non "widebody" ...

You mean me or the plane?

Reverting to serious mode, thanks for that.

 

[Altair]

In SYD it is 40 minutes.
IME the "call of shame" often round the 30 to 25 minute mark as they have boarded most passengers and want the stragglers, me from the First Lounge, to board before the 20 minute mark. Also the 737 use some of the gates furtherest from the lounges.
I MEL I would not think it would be much different for times.

 

[serfty]

...
I MEL I would not think it would be much different for times.

In MEL, I try to leave the lounge 40 minutes beforehand (45 if one of the satellite gates) and generally have a short wait at the gate before boarding commences.

 

[richie9x]

I flew BNE-AKL and return about a week ago. The scheduled boarding time I believe was about 40 to 45 minutes before scheduled departure. However the actual boarding time was closer to 25 to 30 minutes before departure. For the return the flight the crew didn't even show up until 35 minutes before departure. Both flights left on time.

 

[Mattg]

The time published on the BP is 45 minutes ahead of departure, even on a 737, which for some reason is the same amount of time as for an A380. They may not necessarily call boarding until a bit later though, because it shouldn't ever take 45 minutes to board a 737. You would think.

 

[puppysparkes]

I've heard it's the time taken between downing last drinks and briskly walking towards the blurry gate from the lounge.
The exact calculation is somewhat difficult to establish based on individual parameters : )