Arrivals access in SYD Lounge with luggage

[smit0847]

Here's an odd one:

I'm flying VA MEL-SYD Y on a Sat morning in June to then check into my TG SYD-BKK J flight (long story). We've allowed plenty of time for delays as they're non-linked itineraries, so even if the flight is slightly delayed, we will arrive in SYD well before TG check-in opens.

We will be checking in luggage on both flights as we're away for a long time. So my question is what to do between our VA flight landing and check-in for our TG flight opening (Im anticipating this time will be at least 1 hour).

I'm assuming I can collect my luggage after my VA flight and then attempt arrivals access in the VA dom lounge but I know you're not really supposed to take bulky luggage through the premium curbside entrance (or drag it through a Lounge).

Alternatively we could get off the VA plane, head straight to the VA lounge with HLO and hope our luggage is somewhere when we eventually go and get it to make our way to the intl terminal.

We'll certainly be checking into our TG flight as early as possible so we can check-in our baggage and go relax in the Koru Club but what's the best use of our time before check-in opens?

 

[AIRwin]

TG is one of VA's interline partners:
Other airline partners | Virgin Australia

So you should be able to ask the check-in agent at MEL to check the luggage straight through to BKK.

 

[smit0847]

TG is one of VA's interline partners:
Other airline partners | Virgin Australia

So you should be able to ask the check-in agent at MEL to check the luggage straight through to BKK.

Ahh, I didn't know that!

It's a relatively complicated MEL-SYD-BKK-IST-OSL-KEF with only the SYD-BKK sector on TG - I assume they can't check it all the way through?!

 

[AIRwin]

Ahh, I didn't know that!

It's a relatively complicated MEL-SYD-BKK-IST-OSL-KEF with only the SYD-BKK sector on TG - I assume they can't check it all the way through?!

Funnily enough, I have been to Reykjavik but routing is not as complicated as yours! I assume onwards travel from BKK is on TK? Best to call VA to confirm if they can do a through check-in...

 

[Must...Fly!]

personally with a routing like that I'd ask the question at MEL but if it wasn't possible or there is a bit of hesitation I'd be tempted to check it just to Sydney then deal with the presumably more competent (at complicated routings) Thai staff.

 

[AIRwin]

Sounds like a plan! I had a bad experience once where my luggage didn't show up at the final destination after a connecting flight (booked separately). I had explicitly asked the check-in agent if they could do a through check-in and was even issued with a baggage tag for the final destination. But it turned out that there was no interline agreement and my luggage was left behind at CDG...

 

[smit0847]

personally with a routing like that I'd ask the question at MEL but if it wasn't possible or there is a bit of hesitation I'd be tempted to check it just to Sydney then deal with the presumably more competent (at complicated routings) Thai staff.

I agree. I'll be impressed if my luggage makes it to KEF the same time as I do anyway.

So this brings me back to my original question, what should I do when I arrive in SYD?

 

[moa999]

Doubt you will get interline all the way.
Most systems can't handle more than four segments (or 24hrs advance)

Have you got any other layovers where you can recheck?

 

[AIRwin]

So this brings me back to my original question, what should I do when I arrive in SYD?

Here's a simple decision tree:
1. At MEL, confirm if through check-in possible (as per Must...Fly!)
2. If yes, end. If no, check-in to Sydney only.
3. At SYD, retrieve baggage and proceed to VA lounge (I couldn't find anything on baggage in the lounge terms and conditions or lounge rules). I've seen passengers parking their baggage trolleys near the lounge exit and sit around there...
4. If entry allowed with baggage, end. If no, last resort will be to use a luggage storage service (around $10 per item for up to 4 hours).

Don't forget to pack your bathers for the blue lagoon!

 

[markis10]

. At SYD, retrieve baggage and proceed to VA lounge (I couldn't find anything on baggage in the lounge terms and conditions or lounge rules). I've seen passengers parking their baggage trolleys near the lounge exit and sit around there...

Wont get past security if its bigger than carry on dimensions, recently we had a member wanting to take something in for a meeting and was stopped. I would attempt to check in at International as soon as possible, 3 hours seems to be the norm for checkin for many airlines these days.

 

[smit0847]

Wont get past security if its bigger than carry on dimensions, recently we had a member wanting to take something in for a meeting and was stopped. I would attempt to check in at International as soon as possible, 3 hours seems to be the norm for checkin for many airlines these days.

I think we arrive just over 4 hours before the next flight leaves, so if we can't interline bags (which I don't think we will be able to), we will prob head straight to the lounge after exiting the plane, have a quick bite to eat, then retrieve our luggage from the belts (within say 25 mins of the flight landing) and slowly head towards intl arriving just before check-in opens.

This is such a first world problem!!

 

[markis10]

I think we arrive just over 4 hours before the next flight leaves, so if we can't interline bags (which I don't think we will be able to), we will prob head straight to the lounge after exiting the plane, have a quick bite to eat, then retrieve our luggage from the belts (within say 25 mins of the flight landing) and slowly head towards intl arriving just before check-in opens.

This is such a first world problem!!

That might work out well.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Head straight to the lounge and tell them you have luggage on the carousel and they'll arrange for it to be collected and kept until you collect it. At least this happened for me at OOL when I arrived 1/2 hour before another flight I had to collect other pax off before leaving. At least then you hopefully don't have to worry about anyone else liking your luggage more than you do.

 

[notmensa]

... after my VA flight and then attempt arrivals access in the VA dom lounge but I know you're not really supposed to take bulky luggage through the premium curbside entrance (or drag it through a Lounge).

Has VA reinstated arrivals access to their DOM lounges? I was turned away recently even though platinum.

-n

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Has VA reinstated arrivals access to their DOM lounges? I was turned away recently even though platinum.

-n

That's odd, unless the lounge was chockers.

 

[Ewing]

Has VA reinstated arrivals access to their DOM lounges? I was turned away recently even though platinum.

-n

I didn't realise it went anywhere? It was always subject to space availability though.

 

[notmensa]

Happened at BNE in December. I asked why I hadn't been notified of this change.The response was 'it's a soft launch'. They finally let me in so I could use the bathroom, and I left straight away. Unimpressed.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Sounds like a plan! I had a bad experience once where my luggage didn't show up at the final destination after a connecting flight (booked separately). I had explicitly asked the check-in agent if they could do a through check-in and was even issued with a baggage tag for the final destination. But it turned out that there was no interline agreement and my luggage was left behind at CDG...

who were the incompetent scoundrals who hatched that plan?

 

[AIRwin]

personally with a routing like that I'd ask the question at MEL but if it wasn't possible or there is a bit of hesitation I'd be tempted to check it just to Sydney then deal with the presumably more competent (at complicated routings) Thai staff.

Happy Birthday!

 

[AIRwin]

who were the incompetent scoundrals who hatched that plan?

Umm that would be me... I should have known better!