Advice on connecting flight please

[clipped_wings]

Seeking advice on the transition period we will have at Melbourne for an upcoming flight to Hong Kong in April:

• First flight VA808 (SYD-MEL) departs 7am arrives MEL 8:35am

• Second flight VA87 (MEL-HKG) departs 10am

We will only have small cabin trolley bags as luggage

I love the idea of visiting either the Etihad Lounge or the new AMEX Lounge. But given our connecting flight departure time, I have no idea whether lounge access will be possible. I don't know the terminal layout at Melbourne very well and would appreciate the experience of fellow travellers......

Thanks.

 

[Hvr]

The terminals are contiguous and very easy to walk between. As long as your incoming flight is on time you should have some lounge time assuming you have access.

 

[AIRwin]

Try getting on the earlier SYD-MEL flight at 6:00 or 6:30 or 6:45 if on a weekday?

 

[clipped_wings]

Yes, we have access (I hope) - full fare Business class, husband is VA SG and we both have AMEX Velocity Platinum cards.

Try getting on the earlier SYD-MEL flight at 6:00 or 6:30 or 6:45 if on a weekday?

I have tried all morning to change to VA804 on 16 April, but it keeps telling me it's "The Business" on an A332 instead of a 737. Now I know that can't be right, but Expert Flyer and even the call centre can't seem to help me. The Expert Flyer alert says "Aircraft adjustment" or words to that effect. Call centre said to keep checking and ring them if I spot an update to the website.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

MEL T2 international has security first, not immigration processing first, so after you go through the frosted door from the open zone, where the man or lady takes a look your BP and passport, you will have to go through the hands up body scanning, so have to put all your items into tray, and then after that, then do outgoing passport control.
Unless you can do the earlier flight, or the day before, I would bear in mind that lounge time might not be a possibility.
I was through from presenting passport on EK to AKL, in J, express path card was useless as the lane wasn't open, so had to go through with everyone last Fri at 6am.
Boarding for me was 7.50am, so I had quite so time in the EK lounge.
Had flew ADL - MEL the night before.
Unless you can get the 6am flight, or night before, I would just like to add, lounge time might not work out.
Even if the SYD - MEL flight came in at 8.45am, you will still have to walk from T3 to T2, though its connected, its still a fair walk.
If you are on the same PNR, and have presented passport to VA in SYD, you can then bypass MEL checkin and "might" have about 20 mins in the lounge.
Without express path, security processing can take a while, especially if you have a group of Asian women on your flight, all trying to drink as much water from their containers as possible, so they can take their empty containers through xray!
Saw it for myself, about 15 ladies, and they were hogging the only 3 lines of xrays available!
Other lines had xray machines, but they were not in use.
Not good.
Edit: I think MEL airport website still has maps available to view online, I might be wrong though.PS, its a maze after you pass outgoing immigration processing, trying to bypass the perfume maze and duty free girls and guy will also take time.
Best of luck in trying to get an earlier flight, in a good way I mean.
I think MEL airport website still has maps available to view online, I might be wrong though.
PS, its a maze after you pass outgoing immigration processing, trying to bypass the perfume maze and duty free girls and guy will also take time.
Best of luck in trying to get an earlier flight, in a good way I mean.

 

[Pushka]

I think you’ll get some lounge time unless flight is delayed. Mel immigration process is fine.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

https://www.melbourneairport.com.au/getattachment/.../Maps/T2-T3.pdf.aspx?...

 

[clipped_wings]

Thanks everyone. I managed to get us on the 6am out of Sydney and yes, we are on the same PNR. We are checking in from the Virgin Lounge in Sydney and are scheduled to arrive at MEL by 7:35am. So, I think we should be fine. Appreciate all the advice

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Just remember, that all lounges except the EK and the QFi F lounge in MEL are on the upper storeys.
If you can find your lounge, you need to go to the basement that the QFi J lounge is on, ie, in the bottom storey.
Of all the lounge at MEL international, the EK and the QFi F are the best, in the sense you get outside views.
While I have not been into the EY/AMEX lounge on the basement, I won't hold too much hope for it being a wow experience.
Enjoy the flight though, at least you are in J.

 

[clipped_wings]

Yes, I think the EK lounge sounds like the best option. For the AMEX lounge, I think we'll probably do a Clark Griswold at the Grand Canyon: enter - stand and nod a few times, then hot foot it outa there to EK..

Just so I can brag I've been there of course..........

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

You are flying VA so the EK lounge wouldn't be accessible in your case though, just saying that the EK lounge is on the upper top most level.
Though, you could say you were genuinely lost, which would have a right of truth to it, I don't know what the EK lounge dragon will do in your case, have pity on you and let you in, or say, "no, you have to go down 2 levels...".
Worth a try though.
Its a circle of shops in the middle, around gate 10/11 at MEL T2 that has several lifts, the ones that read level 1 will be the one where most of the lounges are, level 2 is the departures level, and level 3 is the EK.
Gate 1/2 will be the ones that QF uses for its smaller planes to NZ.
A lot of people say MEL T2 is small, but compared to ADL, its huge.
Grin, I still don't like the (surrender) motion of the hands up in the air thing for full body scan.
Good that you did get the 6am SYD - MEL flight, but can I just add one small thing, try to check in at SYD T2 domestic check in counter, rather than the VA the Lounge at SYD T2.
If the VA the Lounge does not have the swiper, you then have to go back to main check in area!

 

[clipped_wings]

Sorry, I meant EY