20 minutes to get off a CityFlyer? - urgent

[Chicken]

My gf and I are going to the Great Ocean Road for a drive this Easter long weekend.

American Express gave us this "free" ticket from platinum credit card.

01 April 2010 QF489 Thursday
SYD 20:30
MEL 22:00

Remember this night is the night before long weekend, so I don't know how many people are going to be flying this late.

Now, to avoid paying $100 extra just to pick up the rental car from Tullamarine / Melbourne city, I thought, may as well go to Geelong straight and sleep there.

We don't have any checked bags, just carry and run!

Question is this:

The last Gull bus to Geelong leaves Melbourne airport 22:20, and it departs outside international, so need to allow some time to walk from domestic to international too.

Do you think I will make it onto this bus?

 

[Will]

Checked bags?

 

[Chicken]

Checked bags?

Sorry, forgot to mention. No, no checked bags, just carry and run!

 

[2muchplastic]

Ooooooh, talk about cutting it fine :shock:. No hope in my view (having had a limited number of experiences at MEL).

 

[harvyk]

Yes, provided that you get in perfectly on time, and you get a gate near to the exit, and your sitting near the front of the plane.

I personally wouldn't risk it as there are at least three things that could go wrong which would mean you'd miss the bus, keep in mind that a departure only 15 minutes late is still considered on time.

 

[samh004]

I’m sorry, but I don’t think you’ll make it. Luckily there are some nice spots to sleep in MEL airport

 

[davidj-bell]

My gf and I are going to the Great Ocean Road for a drive this Easter long weekend.

American Express gave us this "free" ticket from platinum credit card.

01 April 2010 QF489 Thursday
SYD 20:30
MEL 22:00

Remember this night is the night before long weekend, so I don't know how many people are going to be flying this late.

Now, to avoid paying $100 extra just to pick up the rental car from Tullamarine / Melbourne city, I thought, may as well go to Geelong straight and sleep there.

We don't have any checked bags, just carry and run!

Question is this:

The last Gull bus to Geelong leaves Melbourne airport 22:20, and it departs outside international, so need to allow some time to walk from domestic to international too.

Do you think I will make it onto this bus?

I don't like your changes - I'd have a plan B. There's a Vline train to Geelong at midnight, and the sky bus takes you to the station (Southern Cross) from the airport.

 

[JohnK]

Do you have status? Where are you likely to be seated. Keep in mind that the further back you are in the cabin the longer it takes to deplane.

Anyway looks a little tight for comfort with a number of things that could go wrong. No chance of changing to an earlier flight?

 

[737]

Remember this night is the night before long weekend, so I don't know how many people are going to be flying this late.?

Hello

Loads are at about 50% in both cabins, with J likely to fill up a bit more. So not full, but not exactly empty.

Being a CityFlyer SYD-MEL, loads change all the time with last minute changes etc..., but half full at the moment 2 weeks out, so most likely to increase a bit if anything.

Cheers,

737

 

[dajop]

I don't like your chances - I'd have a plan B. There's a Vline train to Geelong at midnight, and the sky bus takes you to the station (Southern Cross) from the airport.

My thoughts exactly.

I voted yes, because if you miss it - Plan B can be done. If you just miss the gull bus, the 22:30 skybus should get you on the 23:05 train to Geelong, if not there's the 00:05 one. And it will be about $7 each less than plan A... but a longer trip!

 

[Blackadder]

I wouldn't risk it, personally would be more inclined to go the rental car option for peace of mind, however as others have mentioned V-Line is also a option.

 

[BensAdventures]

Everyone seems to agree not to risk it, and I've found that if I get to Short Term parking within 15 mins of landing (carry-on only), then I've done very well. Short Term parking would be very close to where the bus would leave from. I also normally get seated relatively close to the front of the plane. If you are towards the back of the plane no chance!

 

[yohy?!]

how about rerouting to Avalon, the hire car may be cheaper there?

 

[power71]

My past experience is that Gull Bus Service is very good and that if you specifically mention your flight arrival time and flight number, they will wait for you to arrive (within reason). It might be worthwhile doing a online booking for a car with a rental company at the airport as a back-up. Companies like Thrifty in the past have no problem with this given that its off-season and they have plenty of cars piled up in their facility at MEL domestic. Enjoy the GOR - great time of year to go before it gets freeeeezing

 

[Batesy]

Spend the $100 bucks on the hire car and be in charge of your own destiny.

 

[ric_melb]

Batesy is right. Why go through the hassle. And $100 sounds expensive for a rental car for one day.
The Skybus and train suggestion would cost you $44 for two. Rental car little more! And who fancies hanging round Southern Cross station at midnight.

 

[anat0l]

I'd say even optimistically it is a very, very fine cut. I'm more worried about the aircraft being dead on time rather than the walk to the front.

It's not completely impossible, but I rate your chances at around 30% if that, so if you can arrange a slightly more comfortable and accommodating alternative, please do so.

 

[dajop]

Batesy is right. Why go through the hassle. And $100 sounds expensive for a rental car for one day.
The Skybus and train suggestion would cost you $44 for two. Rental car little more! And who fancies hanging round Southern Cross station at midnight.

The Gull bus itself would cost $60 for two, so it seems odd that extra day car hire is going to cost $160. I guess theres' the airport collection surcharge on the whole rental that would be avoided if it was not collected at an airport so reallyits' and extra day + an extda 10%(??) on the rental, plus $10 in fuel I guess to get to Geelong.

 

[dejium]

It might be worthwhile doing a online booking for a car with a rental company at the airport as a back-up.

My thoughts exactly. No charge for booking and not showing up. If you get the bus, great, give them a courtesy call to say "sorry, something came up". If you miss the bus, you can always get the car.

 

[rwatts]

I've waited more than fifteen minutes just for the airline to find someone to operate the airbridge.

Not so likely at that time of night but on my last flight we left the gate more or less on time but then waited more than fifty minutes for the nine aircraft in front of us to take off in between all the landing aircraft - just because prevailing wind direction restricted operations to only one runway.

So, no way I would rely on getting off the aircraft and to the bus in 20 minutes. Other posters have suggested sensible alternatives/backup plans.

Richard.