“Seamless Light” - Experiences with QF’s new terminal transfer at SYD

[AustraliaPoochie]

Has that facility already closed?
Or were you just denied it?

 

[jpp42]

Have you seen the BNE premium entry?

It's literally right next to the regular security line.

On my last two trips out of BNE on QF, the regular security line was running much faster than the premium line, so I just used the regular and entered the "lounge precinct" upstairs. There wasn't really a point, unlike the Virgin arrangement at SYD which at least saves some walking time if nothing else.

 

[justinbrett]

On my last two trips out of BNE on QF, the regular security line was running much faster than the premium line, so I just used the regular and entered the "lounge precinct" upstairs. There wasn't really a point, unlike the Virgin arrangement at SYD which at least saves some walking time if nothing else.

It saves a lot of walking if you're going to the business lounge, and even more so if you are checking bags. But I've never seen the premium entry more than 20 deep or so, normally I walk straight through. BNE in general has pretty quick security across all of the checkpoints.

 

[openseat]

I had my first experience of this new setup yesterday after coming of QF2 and it was bordering on shambolic. After waiting more than 15 minutes there was no bus. A staff member appeared to tell us to wait as the bus should be there 'any moment'. Then once a bus appeared we were told to wait for newer customers to board - despite the bus being full and the next bus having turned up. Then being thrown into the traffic going to departures as well as the long security lines at the domestic screening made the whole experience less than seamless.
Obviously seamless is one of those words like enhancement in the Qantas lexicon - it simply means the opposite.

 

[AIRwin]

Obviously seamless is one of those words like enhancement in the Qantas lexicon - it simply means the opposite.

And simpler & fairer

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Its money, and also a couldn't care less attitude anymore.
As I mentioned, unless AJ is going to be affected or affronted, nothing they (QF) do will be for our benefit.
In the end, its all to do with them saving money.

 

[Kceips]

Mr Spieck had SYD international to domestic connection early am Monday this week. Missed his 2 hour connection to ADL as 45 mins waiting for bags (despite flying F,) 1 hour wait to recheck bags and 20 min wait for bus. Said it was chaos. …. In retrospect said he should have got taxi or train with bags and tried checking bags in at domestic terminal instead.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

My experience on Saturday would have been much quicker taking the T bus not the QF bus. While sitting onboard the QF bus waiting for it to leave 2 T busses left, and with no queue.

 

[Guvner]

Well, technically if none of the services are contiguous, it's "seamless".

 

[Franky]

My experience on Saturday would have been much quicker taking the T bus not the QF bus. While sitting onboard the QF bus waiting for it to leave 2 T busses left, and with no queue.

We arrived late from Perth around 0730 and were only 2 gates away from the QF Bus, which arrived just as we did. The bus was full, and about 10m later we were in T1.

 

[Mwenenzi]

We arrived late from Perth around 0730 and were only 2 gates away from the QF Bus, which arrived just as we did. The bus was full, and about 10m later we were in T1.

T3 to T1 is different to T1 to T3. Kiwi_Flyer was going T1 to T3
QF refer to T3 to T1 as seamless (domestic to international airside)
QF refer to T1 to T3 as seamless lite (international to domestic landside)

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/at-the-airport/airport-guides/sydney-t1-international-airport-guide.html

Sydney T3 domestic airport guide | Qantas

Find out the parking options, transport connections, lounge facilities and more at Sydney T3 domestic airport.

www.qantas.com

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

QF refer to T1 to T3 as seamless lite (international to domestic landside)

There in lies the problem, maybe financial had a part in it, for them closing their xray and BP printing processing at SYD T1, maybe too that SYD airport wanted that spot back, and QF agreed, saving money and human resources.
In the past, we could easily get from T1 to T3 on the secure side, after having xray at T1, but now, after the change, they drop you off outside T3 on the open public side, and you have to go dom xray with everyone else, no "special treatment" anymore.
They might call it seamless light, (edit: "lite", going US now, more like problem in the prosterior side.
Not that QF would admit it.
Going from T3 to T1, yes, that one is easy.
And Franky got there just at the right time, as the bus was already full, and I have used it full too, they tend to wait till the bus gets full before moving off, not so much on a schedule.
And packed like a sardine can it is too, not only humans, but also their HLO, that would fit into overhead lockers, but still quite big and large and bulky for the bus..

 

[Katie]

I arrived on QF8 on Sat, 21 May, transferring to BNE. I was in J, but we had baggage handling delays, and it took over 45mins for our luggage to arrive on the belt. Most other early arrivals seemed to have left the luggage carousels by then. I was on a 10am-ish flight to BNE.

I took my two bags, and dropped them off, which was straightforward. There was a bigger queue of people needing to be rebooked due to missing their connection, or they would be missing their connection.
I then joined the line for the landside bus to domestic. After about 2 mins, I judged I was going to be in the 2nd or even 3rd bus to come along. So I walked through the entrance lines (couldn't get past people lined up for the bus - still inside the baggage dropoff building) and made my way to the train station. While I guess it cost me $10, 20mins later I was in the Domestic J Lounge.

I think one of the security machines for the former transfer area had been completely removed, and one was partly dismantled.

 

[RichardMEL]

if QF was serious and didn't want to do a reasonable bus service T1->T3 they'd simply provide a ticket for the train or even organise with SYD to have extra T busses? seems like a real farce

 

[BriarFlyer]

Where is the transfer gate and bag-drop for T1 -> T3 located? Is it the old location, where you head right and all the way down the terminal and into the next building?

 

[Katie]

Where is the transfer gate and bag-drop for T1 -> T3 located? Is it the old location, where you head right and all the way down the terminal and into the next building?

Bag drop is the same location, rebooking is available there if necessary. Security has been at least partly dismantled (as of 21/5/22).

Then you can queue up to take a bus from outside to T3. Or walk back to the terminal to grab a train.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Thanks, Katie. Family arriving on QF12 Thurs. morning and I didn't want to send them to the wrong place.

 

[ozflier]

I'm transferring T3 to T1 round 1300 this afternoon .
Any recommendations which way to go T bus or Qantas bus from gate 15?

 

[Katie]

I'm transferring T3 to T1 round 1300 this afternoon .
Any recommendations which way to go T bus or Qantas bus from gate 15?

In that direction, I'd always try the Qantas bus first.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Ozflier would have done the transfer by the time s/he reads this, either in T1 or in desto country!