Help: changing tight Sydney connection to Jo'burg

[laurach]

Hi all

I'm booked to travel Melbourne to Jo'burg on Qantas (via connection in Sydney) in early March for my honeymoon. Planning to spend one night in Jo'burg then travel up to Botswana via South African Airways, with a connecting small prop plane into the Okavango Delta.

However our Sydney connection allows only the minimum time (1 hour, 10 mins), and I know from experience that these Mel - Syd flights tend to be delayed and run late in the morning (it's a busy Monday morning too). I've spoken to Qantas and they have advised that my only option is to pay $2200 to shift the booking to an earlier leave time from Melbourne. These flights were sale fares in the recent Christmas sale and apparently they need to upgrade the entire fare to flexi to make this small change. The problem is, if we miss the Syd - Jo'burg flight we will miss the following two flights and two nights of booked accomodation at very significant cost (we splashed out because honeymoon, but the thought of missing the start of our holiday and losing all of this is giving me heart palpitations!)

I've checked and there's no way to upgrade the fare with points, or to book a brand new flight and forfeit the domestic connection. Apparently even if we made our way to Sydney earlier and were checked in and ready to go, they would cancel our international flight if we don't make the Melb-Syd one! I'm a silver member and a QC member - not that this seems to matter in this scenario. I will most certainly plan to get to the lounge in Melbourne early and see if a sympathetic staff member mightn't be able to bump us forward, but it seems unlikely. Our connection to Botswana is the next day so we actually have 18 hours on the ground in Jo'burg - plenty of time - but apparently if we miss it they would put us on the next Qantas flight out the following day, so we'd miss all connections.

So two questions:
1. Does anyone know of any way that I could get these changed at reasonable cost? Willing to pay what it would cost to book brand new domestic flights ($400 or so) but not the cost of the flights again ($2200!!) as they have proposed. Are there any circumstances by which Qantas would be willing to change this for you? I will feel much less anxious if this is possible. However customer service so far has not been at all sympathetic to our circumstances - it's a sale fare, you signed up for this, your fault etc.
2. What are the chances of actually making this flight with the 1 hour 10 min turnaround? I might be overthinking this. The last time we did this in Sydney it was maybe 30 mins but I was transferring to a domestic not international connection. Any chance the domestic Qantas Club would be inclined to give us the speedy transfer passes etc to help us on our way? Has anyone done this recently with any success?

Worth noting that we will not have checked baggage, so they wouldn't need to transfer our bags for us.

Thanks so much in advance, I really appreciate anyone weighing on on this, I'm so nervous about this holiday now.

Thanks
Laura

 

[defurax]

The agent was correct, the entire ticket has to be repriced to change the first domestic leg. You should make your connection, but in case of delays on the morning of your departure just ask the check in agent if they can move you on an earlier flight, typically they are happy to make sure you don't miss your international connection.

Also, since you don't have checked bags, you can go directly to the lounge and ask if they can book you on an earlier flight because of your tight connection.

 

[opusman]

With no checked bags the odds are in your favour. If flights are running late on the day speak to the staff as defurax suggests, and especially without checked bags the odds are they'll move you to an earlier flight. If flights are on time then your transfer in Sydney should be fine.

 

[sudoer]

If you aren't able to convince the check-in counter to put you on an earlier flight and your transfer is tight or you just miss the transfer bus, hop on the train. They come every 6-9 minutes and only take 2 minutes between terminals. You can tap on/off with any credit card so no need to buy tickets.

 

[jpp42]

If you aren't able to convince the check-in counter to put you on an earlier flight and your transfer is tight or you just miss the transfer bus, hop on the train. They come every 6-9 minutes and only take 2 minutes between terminals. You can tap on/off with any credit card so no need to buy tickets.

It takes a significant amount of time to walk down through the concourses to the train platforms, and back up at the other terminal, so I'm not sure this is actually a time-saver. The Qantas "seamless transfer" buses run every 10 minutes in the morning when this transfer will be (assuming no re-timing of QF 63 on the day, but a delay would solve the OP's problem anyway). I would definitely advocate waiting for the Qantas bus even if you just miss one - importantly it also puts you into the Qantas system as they will scan your BP at the transfer desk at T3, and thus they will be aware that you're on your way to the International terminal. This will increase the chances of them holding the flight for a few minutes if they know you're almost there. And yes, ask about an Express Pass for immigration and security at this transfer desk.

 

[Austman]

I've checked and there's no way to upgrade the fare with points

Can you upgrade the MEL-SYD flights only? If you can, once at the airport I've always been able to move to an earlier flight subject to seat availability. It seems the upgraded fare gives that flexibility.

Else, on the day, the international connections check-in service desk at MEL domestic can have discretion to move you to an earlier MEL-SYD flight. I've had success in the past. But it's not guaranteed.

 

[laurach]

Hi all thanks for the advice. Really good to hear that others have had luck switching flights to an earlier time on the day. Definitely a relief to know it's possible. I figure I can try at the check in desk and the lounge... keep trying my luck. And lucky that we are light packers - will definitely ensure we are taking small bags to facilitate easy flight switching!

@Austman unfortunately that's a no on the upgrading one flight, they say that the segments are 'married' and so you can't change one without changing the other. And - re: the international desk - I'm figuring I'd be checking in at domestic not international in Melbourne - do you think the domestic desk has the ability to switch people too? Or should I actually head over to international first?

I thought I would also try the trick of looking for new seating when the Gold-Platinum seating comes off hold so we can get close to the front to facilitate a power walk to the transfer desk, plus with the express passes hopefully even if the flight is delayed a bit we would be okay.

If anyone else has any ideas or experiences in trying to do this, I'd be most grateful to hear them! Looking at the recent flight history for this 9am flight it sounds like it is very frequently delayed by about 10 mins so it will definitely be a push.

 

[Austman]

And - re: the international desk - I'm figuring I'd be checking in at domestic not international in Melbourne - do you think the domestic desk has the ability to switch people too? Or should I actually head over to international first?

I did a later edit. There used to be an International Connections check-in service desk at Qantas MEL domestic. But I think now all the service desks can do it. But I've have success moving to an earlier flight in the lounge too. Not 100% guaranteed unfortunately.

 

[Austman]

@Austman unfortunately that's a no on the upgrading one flight, they say that the segments are 'married' and so you can't change one without changing the other.

Not suggesting changing the flights. But when you look at your flights online, have you the possibility to upgrade just the MEL-SYD flights only, using points, to business?

If you can and actually do that, IME I've then never been refused an on-the-day change to an earlier flight. It seems that once in that class of J, on-the-day changes are possible.

 

[laurach]

No you can't change/upgrade one without changing/upgrading both according to the contact centre. It's weird because I'm sure I've been offered updates on domestic connections and not on the international leg before. I think it might be because they are sale fares. In my Qantas profile the upgrade option is greyed out for both, so I think it's the fare type.

I often get those emails a few days before flying that offer an update though on the Sydney to Melbourne route and never bother because the flight is too short to bother - so if I get one of those emails this time I might see what the options are.

 

[laurach]

I did a later edit. There used to be an International Connections check-in service desk at Qantas MEL domestic. But I think now all the service desks can do it. But I've have success moving to an earlier flight in the lounge too. Not 100% guaranteed unfortunately.

That's good to know. I guess we'll get there really early (there are worse places to hang out than the lounge after all) and see if they can find a way either at the check-in desk or the lounge to switch us onto something earlier.

 

[mannej]

No you can't change/upgrade one without changing/upgrading both according to the contact centre. It's weird because I'm sure I've been offered updates on domestic connections and not on the international leg before. I think it might be because they are sale fares. In my Qantas profile the upgrade option is greyed out for both, so I think it's the fare type.

I often get those emails a few days before flying that offer an update though on the Sydney to Melbourne route and never bother because the flight is too short to bother - so if I get one of those emails this time I might see what the options are.

A sale fare shouldn't preclude you from upgrading the domestic leg, there must be another reason as to why it isn't allowing you to submit the upgrade request online.

 

[TeaKozy]

I did a later edit. There used to be an International Connections check-in service desk at Qantas MEL domestic. But I think now all the service desks can do it. But I've have success moving to an earlier flight in the lounge too. Not 100% guaranteed unfortunately.

I was proactively moved to an earlier flight in the lounge once checked in (connection to SFO in Sydney). Called to the desk in Melbourne and new boarding pass issued. No harm in asking, however Qantas (in my experience) are reasonably proactive in ensuring you make your flight. Just make sure you check in early.

That said, an MCT of 60 minutes seems way too short. Especially if the bus is running to its off-peak frequency.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can confirm several sets of friends have booked themselves similar 1 hour connections in SYD. Each time QF told them a massive change fee would apply. Each time they got to the airport super early and were accommodated on earlier flights. Last time this happened was for a party of three, 1 business class and 2 economy. All of them successfully moved to a much more comfortable connection.

 

[BD1959]

Slightly different scenario but last year I had been upgraded to F for my SYD-DFW leg and had booked a spa treatment which I was in danger of missing if my original MEL-SYD was even slightly delayed, or if the bus wasn't playing fair or if there were queues at SYD emigration.

Using the standard International Connection check-in at MEL (there's no priority line for status or COS pax), I arrived early - like 1 hr early - and explained the issue of a (now) short connection time at SYD. They were more than willing to look for an earlier flight and reassigned me accordingly ... and this with checked luggage.

Hopefully you meet with a similar successful outcome.

Regards,

BD

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

OT: in the old days, the last few 767 QF flights, I got to SYD T3 dom and found that my wanted 767, was swapped to a 737.
I went to the service desk at SYD T3 dom, and they moved me to a flight that was a 767.
A lot of the call centres, are overseas, no harm in trying to get the 6am from MEL to SYD, by asking at MEL T1 when you check in, QF400, this is the first one that leaves MEL at 6am, this one might be full of business people, but try anyway.
QF402 might have space.
If you can, have a look to see if these are 330s on your day.
As mentioned by the others, do not run to/for the train, as you will have to go through the auto door that prevent people coming into the dom secure zone, takes too much time, and then have to mix with everyone at T1.
The QF bus goes via the secure roadway, less traffic, the bus might wait for other pax, but its better to be dropped off where the QF bus does, and run up the escalators, than be dropped off at the train station in the basement of T1.
Your passport would have been swiped in QF's system at check in in MEL T1, so you don't have to do anything in SYD, and on the same PNR, you would have the 2 BP, 1 MEL - SYD, 1 SYD - JNB per person.
I have done ADL early afternoon QF flight to SYD, run across where the QF bus dropped off, up through immi and outgoing security secreening, to get the 17.50 flight to WLG/CHC in NZ in Y.
Edit: you won't have time to pop into the SYD QFd T3 QP/QC on the way to gate 15 where the bus departs from, rather than make the effort to go up to the doors of the QP/QC at SYD T3, go straight to gate 15.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Firstly congratulations to the OP on choosing Africa as your honeymoon destination, my wife & I also went for our honeymoon last June/July to South Africa. Whilst this was my fourth visit, and my wife’s first visit- we’ll be sure to be back again in the near future as Southern Africa is a destination that offers great bang for your buck ( ZAR v AUD is still great compared to 5 years ago, when the AUD was so strong against the USD for example) and of course offers an superb cultural and culinary experience.

So, back on topic, last year we flew on QF MEL > SYD > JNB on J award seats and the QF call centre agent booked us on the same annoying 1 hour connection in SYD.
Like on other occasions when I have rocked up at QF domestic MEL terminal to check in for the Domestic sector we were proactively asked if we would like an earlier flight.
( I have traveled on paid discount Y, standard Y, and PE award seats In the past and have always got an earlier flight on the day of departure with paying an extra).

Whilst it can’t be guaranteed that QF will move you forward, there is a very good chance on the day it can be done at MEL domestic, the agents for international connections in MEL, IME are really lovely.

Oh and if you haven’t heard the goss, choose a seat on the left handside of the aircraft for some possible ice sheet action 5/6 hours into the flight

 

[love_the_life]

Firstly congratulations to the OP on choosing Africa as your honeymoon destination, my wife & I also went for our honeymoon last June/July to South Africa. Whilst this was my fourth visit, and my wife’s first visit- we’ll be sure to be back again in the near future as Southern Africa is a destination that offers great bang for your buck ( ZAR v AUD is still great compared to 5 years ago, when the AUD was so strong against the USD for example) and of course offers an superb cultural and culinary experience.

So, back on topic, last year we flew on QF MEL > SYD > JNB on J award seats and the QF call centre agent booked us on the same annoying 1 hour connection in SYD.
Like on other occasions when I have rocked up at QF domestic MEL terminal to check in for the Domestic sector we were proactively asked if we would like an earlier flight.
( I have traveled on paid discount Y, standard Y, and PE award seats In the past and have always got an earlier flight on the day of departure with paying an extra).

Whilst it can’t be guaranteed that QF will move you forward, there is a very good chance on the day it can be done at MEL domestic, the agents for international connections in MEL, IME are really lovely.

Oh and if you haven’t heard the goss, choose a seat on the left handside of the aircraft for some possible ice sheet action 5/6 hours into the flight

The views are very much dependent on the winds and month - once had great views, the next time (same month of year) nada as winds were not as bad and flight did not deviate so far south. Good luck though - you might be lucky.