BNE Dom to Int Transfer Late at Night?

[8803]

Greetings!

Travelling QF Award SYD-BNE-HKG itinerary below next week, but a tad apprehensive about transit time, given change of terminal, immigration/security, & CX BNE-HKG flight likely to board around 0025HR, if not earlier. And that's assuming no delays SYD-BNE.

QF556 SYD-BNE 2145-2315HR (738)

CX156 BNE-HKG 0055-0735HR (A359)

Transit time: 1hr 40 min (= 1 hr 10min prior to commencement of boarding)

Does the transit time above allow sufficient breathing space, i.e. do the inter-terminal transfer buses run frequently? QF website says show boarding pass to bus driver landside... I've been through BNE Domestic many times, but haven't done the transfer to the international terminal.

Time to call QF to request earlier SYD-BNE connecting leg???

Many thanks in advance!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Personally, I would opt for an earlier flight, but only to build in additional time on a connection. If ex-Syd is delayed - you're overnighting.

IIRC you can take a taxi from BNE dom->intl for a flat fee
The last domestic -> intl free bus transfer is approx 11pm

 

[ozbeachbabe]

You could try and get on an earlier SYD/BNE flight so arrive at SYD T3 no later than T-45 prior to the flight you want.

The last official Tbus leaves at 2237 however the Airpark bus is supposed to pick up the pax and drop them at BIT enroute to the carpark.

You should get your CX boarding pass in SYD so you shouldn't need to see CX at all in BNE - just head up to level 4 departures ar international.

I realise the green departure card is being phased out however you can download the BAC app and complete it electronically just in case. You just scan the QR code at BAC kiosk and it prints out a hard copy.

You don't need to show boarding passes or itineraries any longer as it's free for everyone now.

 

[kevrosmith]

Interesting, the timetable available online here Brisbane Airport Corporation - Airport Transfer Bus is different to the above. Though the online timetable indicates July 2016. Perhaps they haven't updated the timetable online.

 

[8803]

Thank you everybody for your replies & fantastic advice!!

I just called QF, & it went something like this...

I was told there is no availability on any earlier SYD-BNE flights that day, which is fair enough as they were looking for X class availability (I had Expert Flyer open at the time as well!). Also very close to start of July school holidays here in NSW. But, instead of a CX A359, I was offered a QF A333 the following morning at 1110HR, with the advice I would require accommodation for the layover in BNE!!!!!!!!!! CX A359 vs QF A333??? As this is AFF, it goes without saying that this is no contest.

I replied that I would leave things as they are & hope for the best. I'll take OzBeachBabe's advice & turn up at SYD T3 at minimum T-60. And failing that, I'll wear my running shoes with bare minimum carry-on (Was planning on sleeping on overnight flight to HKG anyway)!! First typhoon for 2017 appeared in HKG last week :shock:, which will inevitably wreak havoc on flight schedules. I'll pray that there aren't any more until after my outbound leg.

 

[JohnK]

I intentionally did not choose QF556 to connect to the later EK BNE-SIN flight in 2 weeks time just in case there are issues. I have chosen QF544 the 6:00pm SYD-BNE flight which gets in to BNE ~7:30pm.

Longish connection but I feel more at ease.

 

[kevrosmith]

You could always just catch a taxi for the transfer to guarantee the timing. I'm sure the taxi driver won't be too happy, but they're not allowed to refuse a fare, and if BNE is like other airports, they would have a short-fare system in place to allow taxis to return to the front of the queue.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For anyone reading this, the inter terminal bus at BNE as mentioned by above colleagues, now does not entail having to show bus driver anything.
I did the transfer from BNE dom to Skygate, me and a number of other pax got on, and the driver waited a bit, then moved off to BNE int, then Skygate.
No asking for BP or anything.
Plenty of taxis around, so if the 22.47 bus has gone, just jump into a taxi.
And even during the day, I am not game to walk from BNE dom to BNE int.
There are 2 new hotels opening up in Oct in the vicinity of BNE dom, both of the Accor variety.

 

[JohnK]

And even during the day, I am not game to walk from BNE dom to BNE int.

Why not? I walked from international to DFO after 6:00pm as I'd missed the last T-Bus and I needed to make up the step count for the day. Only about 30 minutes.

 

[katiebell]

If the SYD flight is delayed it is always worth explaining your situation and asking if there are any seats on an earlier flight. I have found staff are reasonably accommodating (& if you get a dragon go out of sight and ask someone else). It might be worth getting to SYD a little earlier just in case.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I was told there is no availability on any earlier SYD-BNE flights that day, which is fair enough as they were looking for X class availability (I had Expert Flyer open at the time as well!). Also very close to start of July school holidays here in NSW.

At least 'X' class is considered a fare type that is changeable on the day at airports (unlike red-e-deal) so if there were award seat released on the day the CSA could change you no problem. If there was no 'X' class but they have a flow forward happening then it wouldn't matter what whY fare bucket was available as long as there was spare seats of some description in the whY cabin you could be moved to an earlier flight.

What date is it for?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Why not? I walked from international to DFO after 6:00pm as I'd missed the last T-Bus and I needed to make up the step count for the day. Only about 30 minutes.

How did you cross those open drains under the big sign near Oztrail?
Or cross Gateway Motorway without a ped crossing, yes, I am a coward and don't dare to cross that road, or even to walk onto the main road from DFO to Ibis Budget over the water drains.

 

[Vic]

How did you cross those open drains under the big sign near Oztrail?
Or cross Gateway Motorway without a ped crossing, yes, I am a coward and don't dare to cross that road, or even to walk onto the main road from DFO to Ibis Budget over the water drains.

Probably just walk underneath the bridge over airport drive that is the gateway motorway.

There is also a footpath beside qantas dr and lakeside drive. Only need to cross lomandra dr, shuoldn't be busy.

 

[JohnK]

How did you cross those open drains under the big sign near Oztrail?
Or cross Gateway Motorway without a ped crossing, yes, I am a coward and don't dare to cross that road, or even to walk onto the main road from DFO to Ibis Budget over the water drains.

Quite easily. Hardly any traffic from Int to DFO.

 

[8803]

At least 'X' class is considered a fare type that is changeable on the day at airports (unlike red-e-deal) so if there were award seat released on the day the CSA could change you no problem. If there was no 'X' class but they have a flow forward happening then it wouldn't matter what whY fare bucket was available as long as there was spare seats of some description in the whY cabin you could be moved to an earlier flight.

What date is it for?

Apologies for the delayed reply ozbeachbabe! Work has killed me this week...

Friday 30th June 2017


Again, many thanks to everybody for your helpful advice!!

Plan A: T-60 SYD T3 for the preceding flight, departing 1930HR.

PLAN B: No cigar on Plan A? Arr BNE QF Dom 2315HR & Taxi to BNE Int.

(I'm in the middle of being enhanced. Only PS now on my way to NB, having been lucky to have spent 2 years WP sandwiched in between 2 years SG.)

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Quite easily. Hardly any traffic from Int to DFO.

Ta.
Will put it into my bucket list to do on one of my next trips to BNE back from AKL/CHC on that am flight.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

8803, see if you put can put yourself onto an exit row, C or D.
As an SG, I put onto my QFF/QPoints profile, front of plane, window.
They always offer me exit row, but I love my window view, so always change it.
Change your dom flight seating preference to front of plane, aisle.
As PS, you probably won't get rows 4/5/6/7/8, that's always greyed out for me, but get row 9, that for me is also not good, as no window.
The fronter of the plane you are, the better.
I think option B probably will have to work.
Paws crossed for you though. Best of luck.

 

[8803]

Again, many thanks to everybody for your helpful advice!!

Plan A: T-60 SYD T3 for the preceding flight, departing 1930HR.

PLAN B: No cigar on Plan A? Arr BNE QF Dom 2315HR & Taxi to BNE Int.

(I'm in the middle of being enhanced. Only PS now on my way to NB, having been lucky to have spent 2 years WP sandwiched in between 2 years SG.)[/QUOTE]

Quick follow-up post-trip in the hope this will help others:

As things turned out, got stuck at work for 6 hours instead of 2 hours, so Plan A went down the toilet...

Plan B: QF556 738 Seat 6D (Thanks AusPooch!!) & legged it on arr BNE QF Dom ~2315HR after dep 10-15min behind schedule from SYD T3.
Walked out of first available exit to AirPark bus stop immediately outside QF Dom, to right of taxi stand. 4 others had also travelled up from SYD to connect to CX156 in BNE (One gentleman said "Sorry!" thinking that having an Express Pass at that time of night was going to make a huge difference...). Timetable says "Every 20 min between 9:30am - 5:00am", but with no designated time. After 5 min glued to my watch, was ready to cab it, & the bus arrived. Quick 5 min ride to BNE Int, with ample time to clear security & immigration. I no longer have lounge access having plummeted to PS, so waited at the gate. The 1hr 40 min between arr BNE Dom & dep BNE Int (make it 1 hr 10 min between arr BNE Dom, bus to BNE Int, & boarding at BNE Int) would not leave a satisfactory amount of lounge time, so the earlier connection from SYD would give an extra 2 hours or so in the BNE Int QF J/F lounges.
Heard my name called as I walked towards the gate, with "Please let it be a new BP. Please let it be a new BP!!" blasting in my head after the chaotic day I'd had, but alas, simply a passport check for those of us connecting from SYD...

CX A359 absolutely brilliant aircraft!! Worth going via MEL or BNE to avoid CX A333 or QF A333/QF B744 dep SYD.
Seat 40A (Y bulkhead) on CX A359 highly recommended! I'm around 6" & was able to stretch out comfortably for the duration of the overnight flight.