JQ sector end of international itinerary

[Rebekkap]

I'm afraid with a 3 week business trip, with lots of papers and field equipment, covering from northern Canada to Kuala Lumpur, HLO wasn't an option

I couldn't see an express customs lane this morning, so asked one of the roving customs people. She said there wasn't one. (I usually enter via SYD, so wasn't in a position to argue re the situation at MEL).

Yes fair enough! I've done two weeks with hand luggage but not with lots of papers and equipment or across different climates!

There is an express lane in Melbourne but only immigration, not customs. Is there an express customs lane in Sydney? If so, I missed it last time I flew into Sydney (where it was total chaos, with ill-defined queues, too many people milling around not knowing where to go, narrowly avoided missing connection to Melb even though had three hours between, and am never landing in Sydney again if I can possibly avoid it).

 

[serfty]

The e xpress lanes for immigration in Both MEL and SYD are not always in operation.

 

[JohnPhelan]

The e xpress lanes for immigration in Both MEL and SYD are not always in operation.

And sometimes even when the express lanes for Customs are in operation, it's just a shambles. I've had a recent experience in SYD where the security guy refused to police the express customs lane, with the excuse "There's just too many people to turn them back, it's hopeless". (The issue was that the carousel for my flight was just in front of the express lane, so every man/woman/dog just went in a scrum straight from the carousel to the express lane for customs).

 

[RooFlyer]

The e xpress lanes for immigration in Both MEL and SYD are not always in operation.

Yes, but I think from memory in Sydney there's a permanently affixed sign for 'express' - on the far right as you face the exits? That's what I was looking for this morning in MEL but couldn't see, hence my asking.

 

[serfty]

Yes, SYD indeed has a permanent sign/queue for express customs where MEL does not.

In recent years the had been no such facility, temporary or not, at MEL. There, all have to queue to a 'triage' point where one gets directed.

 

[Rebekkap]

Yes, SYD indeed has a permanent sign/queue for express customs where MEL does not.

In recent years the had been no such facility, temporary or not, at MEL. THERE

I'm really confused. I used the express lane in Melbourne as recently as January. It's the far left as you face the queues for immi.

 

[RooFlyer]

And sometimes even when the express lanes for Customs are in operation, it's just a shambles. I've had a recent experience in SYD where the security guy refused to police the express customs lane, with the excuse "There's just too many people to turn them back, it's hopeless". (The issue was that the carousel for my flight was just in front of the express lane, so every man/woman/dog just went in a scrum straight from the carousel to the express lane for customs).

Getting a bit O/T (but what the hell, its my topic!) - MEL international was the scene of one of the most disgraceful sights I've ever seen at an Australian airport - or almost any airport.

About 2 years ago, I think the baggage carousel area was undergoing expansion, so there were areas blocked off with white hoardings. I think 2 747s or A380s arrived early and at 6:30am the whole baggage area was a shambles. Queues for customs were snaking all over the place - around the hoardings, around the carousels; you couldn't see what any particular queue was for or where it began or ended. Not too difficult for yours truly sorta used to what was happening, but of course lots of pax never been there before; disoriented after poor nights sleep (if any) etc. etc.

And then there were the ever so helpful roving 'security' people SHOUTING at people who didn't conform to the security's idea of where the queue or scrum should be; pointing and SHOUTING some more "Get over there!! Over THERE!! I said OVER THERE". etc etc.

I told one really aggressive kid in uniform to shove himself up his queue - a very satisfactory response of him cringing and walking quickly away.

Miraculously, at 7am 2 more customs 'gates' opened. Obviously Customs was just dilatory and in spite of it being obvious probably several hours out that there would be a crush of early pax, they didn't bother changing their staffing/numbers, but were content to just have the security types shout at everybody before the regular clock-on time for the extra bods. (and if they don't have contingency plans for just this type of occurrence - well, I wouldn't be surprised)

I wrote a letter of complaint to the airport CEO and Customs Manger at Melb Airport. Reply was basically to get stuffed; apparently there was no problem that morning.

That's why I now usually enter via SYD when I can, in spite of the well known issues that SYD has.

 

[serfty]

Yes, SYD indeed has a permanent sign/queue for express customs where MEL does not.

In recent years the had been no such facility, temporary or not, at MEL. There, all have to queue to a 'triage' point where one gets directed.

I'm really confused. I used the express lane in Melbourne as recently as January. It's the far left as you face the queues for immi.

I had not finished that post.

In both MEL and SYD after immigration (and collecting baggage if applicable) passengers gets to queue to a point where a customs officer assesses you. In SYD there is a dedicated queue for Express and D sticker to this point. In MEL you need to queue with other passengers.

In SYD the 'triage' has several lanes (including express) feeding in to it. In MEL there are simply two parallel queues.

At that point you can be directed in one of several directions. For both MEL and SYD, best is straight out the door with no xray. Second best is the express queue mentioned by Rebekkap (to the right in MEL) - with the other possibilities it gets more interesting.

 

[RooFlyer]

You indicated in the OP "Circle Pacific itinerary".

A oneworld circle pacific fare has the fare code on xCIRnn where x can be A, (First), D (Business) and (L) Economy and nn can be 22, 26 or 29 being maximum mileage.

The fare rules are here: http://www.oneworld.com/content/library/circle pacific.pdf

If you have one of these, the rules far such a change are:

16. VOLUNTARY CHANGES/REROUTING/PENALTIES
...
Local service fees may apply on rebooking, rerouting, reissue or refund.

(a) Rebooking/Rerouting
    (<snip>

Since you are only change time, no USD$125 would be assessible, nor would there by any fare difference payable.

Spot on Serfty. Fare basis was DCIR22. I'm glad I didn't change the flight / pay the claimed fee Normally what I do on these trips is just e-mail the client / TA and ask for the ( business necessary) change. This would have been one of the rare circumstances what I was considering a change for my own convenience.

 

[mannej]

Getting a bit O/T (but what the hell, its my topic!) - MEL international was the scene of one of the most disgraceful sights I've ever seen at an Australian airport - or almost any airport.

About 2 years ago, I think the baggage carousel area was undergoing expansion, so there were areas blocked off with white hoardings. I think 2 747s or A380s arrived early and at 6:30am the whole baggage area was a shambles. Queues for customs were snaking all over the place - around the hoardings, around the carousels; you couldn't see what any particular queue was for or where it began or ended. Not too difficult for yours truly sorta used to what was happening, but of course lots of pax never been there before; disoriented after poor nights sleep (if any) etc. etc.

And then there were the ever so helpful roving 'security' people SHOUTING at people who didn't conform to the security's idea of where the queue or scrum should be; pointing and SHOUTING some more "Get over there!! Over THERE!! I said OVER THERE". etc etc.

I told one really aggressive kid in uniform to shove himself up his queue - a very satisfactory response of him cringing and walking quickly away.

Miraculously, at 7am 2 more customs 'gates' opened. Obviously Customs was just dilatory and in spite of it being obvious probably several hours out that there would be a crush of early pax, they didn't bother changing their staffing/numbers, but were content to just have the security types shout at everybody before the regular clock-on time for the extra bods. (and if they don't have contingency plans for just this type of occurrence - well, I wouldn't be surprised)

I'd suggest you'd avoid PER after a 330 and a 737 arrives then!