BNE - SYD - ZQN Flight

[ab21au]

I’m traveling via SYD and Q have allowed 1:30hr between flights in and out of SYD. Will Q check the bags through or will I have to pick them up and re check them in. I assume it’s the latter as I need to go through customs etc.

Normally I go direct from BNE.

 

[eminere]

Nope, leaving Australia your bags will be checked through to your final overseas destination so after dropping off your bags in BNE you will see them next in ZQN.

You transfer terminals and go through immigration as usual in SYD.

 

[kermatu]

Sounds like it is all one ticket and both sectors are on Qantas? If so, your bags will be checked all the way through to Queenstown. You will not need to pick them up in Sydney.

In Sydney you will need to take the transfer bus from the domestic terminal over to international. This bus is from within the domestic terminal area - at gate 15 from memory. You don't need to exit the terminal.
Sydney Domestic Airport (T3) Guide | Qantas

90 minutes is OK, but if you can switch to an earlier flight out of Brisbane that might ease any concerns around unexpected delays. But 90 minutes is usually enough.

 

[ab21au]

Thanks guys, that makes it easier.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Also with no outgoing passenger card needed to be filled and put into the box anymore, it saves time.
Ideally, I would have put in more time for the connection, have done it many times, with QF and VA, ideally, I would leave more time.
The bus trip is short, 15 mins, but the thing that irks me is that they stuff the bus chockers full, and many people take on all the possessions, so its a lot of the time standing room only.
Very good apron and runway and taxi way views, evening while there is a bit of sun is very good, a certain wow factor, ... but while the time they hold the bus at gate 15 to fill it up, that is the worrying thing.
Hopefully you have status to use Expresspath.
All the best!

 

[GoldCanyon340]

The bus trip is short, 15 mins, but the thing that irks me is that they stuff the bus chockers full, and many people take on all the possessions, so its a lot of the time standing room only.

Better they do that than buses going out half empty.

 

[kermatu]

Better they do that than buses going out half empty.

I don't necessarily agree. I often (in fact almost always) see two buses at the domestic transfer area, with 2 drivers standing around. Why wait more than say 5 minutes if bus 1 only has a few pax? Let it go as you have bus 2 to take the next lot.

Given in my experience they often only start processing pax on to the bus after the 10 (or 20) minute gap has passed anyway - I'm with AP on this one, it's something that irks.

Ultimately a free service and I'm usually not rushing (always allow for some FLounge time!) but it's not a very efficient system in my view if you have drivers and buses idle for 10-20 minutes.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

The two-bus thing certainly has been prevalent recently but letting the buses go out half full is, to me, akin to watching a road of commuter traffic in peak hours: many cars with just the driver increases pollution and decreases efficiency. I realise we’re ultimately talking about airline travel, which is t the most environmentally kind activity around, but surely we need to get to T1 for that Champagne! The fastest I’ve done from aerobridge attached at the domestic gate to sitting in the F Lounge with a glass is 27 minutes.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

27 mins???
Wow.
From T3 to T1? And also past international outgoing security and immigration. Coo.
Tongue in cheek, you must have "wings"!

 

[kermatu]

I've never actually timed it but 30 to 35 minutes to meeting Nestor would be my average I reckon. When you know where you are going, are able to board the transfer bus immediately, pick the right security queues and ignore duty free it's not too hard.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I've never actually timed it but 30 to 35 minutes to meeting Nestor would be my average I reckon. When you know where you are going, are able to board the transfer bus immediately, pick the right security queues and ignore duty free it's not too hard.

Nestor couldn't have been working the day I did the 27 minutes. I always spend 5 minutes talking with him before heading upstairs.

 

[kermatu]

Nestor couldn't have been working the day I did the 27 minutes. I always spend 5 minutes talking with him before heading upstairs.

Maybe he's QF's secret weapon to minimize drinking time in the lounge!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Who knows, the minimum 1hr35/1hr50min minimum connection time from T3/T2 if flying JQ, to T1 in SYD might in itself be a ploy to get us to not have really enough time to enjoy the lounge.
Sometimes, its better to get to SYD the night before, buying a separate ticket if a person has an aim to spend some time in the QFi SYD F lounge. P1/WP/CL members or those flying with an F service especially.
Not so bad if your flight is to SIN and departs at 15.30 and you get from BNE to SYD first flight in the morning, but not so nice if QF puts you onto the 11am flight from BNE to SYD, and have paid good money to feel the F lounge touches.