Checked Baggage transfer between SYD domestic/international terminals

[maunder]

Hi,

I have a party of 7 on one QF PNR ADL/SYD/ADL. Then we connect using another PNR to UA flying SYD/DEN/SYD.

SYD airport has separate domestic & international terminals 3 miles apart, with no airport provided transport. Consequently its a taxi or train ride between terminals.

QF does provide a complimentary bus which we can use & that's fine; except for our baggage checked in ADL.

In the past I have been able to ask the ADL check in desk staff to interline my cases to UA. However, the staff have been replaced by machines that will be totally unaware of my separate UA PNR.

I really want to avoid collecting our checked luggage at QF SYD domestic, getting a 3 mile cab(s) ride & then rechecking it at the UA desk in the international terminal.

How do other Australians (or inbound USA flyers) on separate domestic/international PNR's handle this baggage dilemma at SYD airport?

john

 

[mannej]

As you are on separate PNR's for the QF and UA flights, you according to the QF policy will have to pick your luggage up in SYD and lug it along to check in with UA.

You may be able to ask in ADL (as QF and UA do interline - QF do sell flights with UA connections), but don't be surprised if the answer is no.

 

[eric2011]

Even though machines have replaced staff there will still be 1 or 2 actual people running around to tend to little problems and advise on problems like yours

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hi,

I have a party of 7 on one QF PNR ADL/SYD/ADL. Then we connect using another PNR to UA flying SYD/DEN/SYD.

SYD airport has separate domestic & international terminals 3 miles apart, with no airport provided transport. Consequently its a taxi or train ride between terminals.

QF does provide a complimentary bus which we can use & that's fine; except for our baggage checked in ADL.

In the past I have been able to ask the ADL check in desk staff to interline my cases to UA. However, the staff have been replaced by machines that will be totally unaware of my separate UA PNR.

I really want to avoid collecting our checked luggage at QF SYD domestic, getting a 3 mile cab(s) ride & then rechecking it at the UA desk in the international terminal.

How do other Australians (or inbound USA flyers) on separate domestic/international PNR's handle this baggage dilemma at SYD airport?

john

As you have separate pnrs you will need to collect your bags in SYD and take your bags around to the international terminal & checkin again with UA. QF will only through check your bags to UA if booked in the same pnr which you've just said isn't the case. The only time they will through check to flights separate pnrs is if the connecting flights are on other One World airlines eg AA, US, CX, BA etc.

You cannot use the complimentary QF airside shuttle bus with checked bags as there's no room to store them so you'll need to collect your bags on arrival at T3 then take the train (or maybe a maxi taxi if there's seven of you) around to the international terminal.

Flying inbound to Australia is not too big a deal if you have a connecting domestic flight on QF as once you've cleared customs and immigration at T1 you can drop off your bag if already tagged through to your final destination or just checkin from scratch if you have eg arrived ex UA then are travelling to ADL.

It sounds like you've already made the bookings however I would suggest that you have at least 3 hours in between your outbound flights ADL/SYD/xx_ as you'd want to be already be checking in with UA at T1 about 2 hours prior to departure as anything less than that is cutting it a bit fine.

If you haven't already done so I would pre-allocate your seating on UA (just go to United Airlines - Airline Tickets, Travel Deals and Flights on united.com & enter your UA pnr) because if you don't you could end up split all over the place particularly if the last people to checkin.

Even though machines have replaced staff there will still be 1 or 2 actual people running around to tend to little problems and advise on problems like yours

While there are staff on the floor to assist passengers checking in domestically, the auto bag drops won't accept bags with international flight connections but there are still staff behind checkin counters to check passengers in with international connecting flights.

 

[Nizar]

Sorry to sorta hijack the thread but have a question along the same line.

I am travelling MEL-SYD-HKG on the same booking (award booking made with AA) the first leg is QF 7:30am-8:55am and the second leg on CX departs at 11am. Can I check my luggage all the way through to HKG when I check in at MEL ?

Thanks.

 

[maunder]

Thanks all for your answers, especially OzBeachBabe for the comprehensive explanation

john

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Sorry to sorta hijack the thread but have a question along the same line.

I am travelling MEL-SYD-HKG on the same booking (award booking made with AA) the first leg is QF 7:30am-8:55am and the second leg on CX departs at 11am. Can I check my luggage all the way through to HKG when I check in at MEL ?

Thanks.

Definitely. You should also get your CX boarding pass but in case you don't the luggage can still be checked to HKG & you can get your CX boarding pass in SYD.

 

[mannej]

Sorry to sorta hijack the thread but have a question along the same line.

I am travelling MEL-SYD-HKG on the same booking (award booking made with AA) the first leg is QF 7:30am-8:55am and the second leg on CX departs at 11am. Can I check my luggage all the way through to HKG when I check in at MEL ?

Thanks.

Simply put - yes. Being one ticket QF will check them through to HKG.