Checking luggage question - flying int but going through domestic first

[Omarko_man]

hi all

I'm flying to Europe leaving Sydney to Melbourne and from there to Singapore etc.

The question to all the more seasoned travelers is – can I check in my luggage at the self check-in Sydney domestic and it will go all the way to Europe? Or do I have to pick it up at the carousel in Melbourne since its just a domestic flight and then re-check it in Melbourne at the T2 international check in counter?

Also, a note that my flights have different booking references as they have been booked separately. (ie. Syd - Mel - Sin is one booking reference, Sin - Bud is another).

Finally, can the self check kiosk in Sydney check me in for all the flights ?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[harvyk]

It depends, which airline(s) are you flying?

 

[Omarko_man]

this is the flight plan:

1st booking reference:
Qantas SYD - MEL
Qantas MEL - SIN

2nd booking reference:
Finnair SIN - BUD

all J class (if that makes any difference).

 

[Mal]

Don't self check the luggage or use the kiosks. You'll need to go to the desk (I think there is still an "international connections" desk (?).

Have printouts of both bookings, you should be able to get BPs and your bags tagged all the way through.

Qantas has changed about a year ago who they will interline baggage with on separate tickets, but Finnair is still allowed.

 

[Omarko_man]

oh ok, I am flying down to Mel week after next so will check out the "International connections desk" in Sydney.

Also, lets say the bags are sorted all the way from Syd. When I get to Melb, what is the process to get from Domestic T1 to International T2? I assume I just walk out once off the Syd-Mel flight as I would normally (through the security gates at the baggage collection area) and then just walk over to T2 which is only 5 mins and simply go straight through customs to the T2 terminal and then find the QF lounge? Is this correct?

and one more question, my return flight is also on two separate bookings:

BUD - BKK with Finnair
BKK - SIN - Cathay
SIN - SYD - Qantas

would they check my luggage all the way from Budapest to Sydney since they all airlines are partners?

 

[crm911]

The only unknown can be the length of the queue at the intermediate airports. I have landed at SYD (QF) and the queue for interstate transfers and bus pass took almost half an hour.

 

[Omarko_man]

The only unknown can be the length of the queue at the intermediate airports. I have landed at SYD (QF) and the queue for interstate transfers and bus pass took almost half an hour.

I don't think any of my connecting flights require a shuttle transport at any of the airports.

 

[Fantic125]

Because your first ticket includes an international flight you will need to present your passport at a checkin counter in SYD. When you do this, show them both PNR's and ask them to check the bag through to BUD.
Get a departures card at SYD and fill it out on the SYD-MEL flight - just saves a few minutes at immigration.

When you get to MEL, instead of going down the stairs to the baggage area go up to next to the security screening area and there is an exit there that takes you out onto the departures level. Once you get out into the departures area, turn right and keep walking to the international departures gate. You'll need to present your boarding pass at the entrance, and then once inside you'll go through immigration and security.

Once you're airside the QP is easy enough to find.

For the return trip you should be able to get your bag checked all the way through to SYD by giving them the PNR's at checkin.

Enjoy Budapest, it's a beautiful place.

 

[Omarko_man]

many thanks Fantic for the detailed reply! Sounds all pretty simple then !

 

[Sprucegoose]

You require to ID yourself before leaving Aus with your bags.

 

[harvyk]

At MEL, simply follow the signs which point towards the international terminal...

 

[schomers87]

At MEL, simply follow the signs which point towards the international terminal...

the bliss of having connected terminals!

 

[Omarko_man]

So I rang Qantas today to confirm that they will indeed be able to take my baggage in SYD and I can pick it up at final destination of my trip, BUD. They were bit iffy about it saying that its not ideal transferring baggage between different flights and that there is a risk it might get lost but apparently in 95% of cases its ok. Hmm .... Its 4 hours in Singapore layover where I changing airlines so I hope it will be ok.

Now,Qantas could not tell me what will happen on the way back since I am travelling through 3 different airlines. Finnair to BKK , 4.5hr layover, Cathay BKK to SIN, 5 hr layover, Qantas SIN to SYD. I rang Finnair since they are the one who will be checking in the baggage however I was not very impressed with quite rude and short customer service person who said that they will not guarantee anything and that its the departing airports discretion if they will check it in all the way to SYD or not. Flying in J class apparently has no privileges.

Qantas recommended I should pick up the baggage in BKK and then check it back in with Cathay all the way to SYD. Sounds like a lot of hassle.

What do you guys think is best thing to do ? Anyone been in similar situation?

 

[nonpop]

Here is my personal experience (from 2012).

Have done the same thing as you with connecting to and from AY / QF and reverse. Each time I just show the other PNR (print out) and both airlines check my luggage through.
The more hops the more you run the risk of error. But I ALWAYS check the luggage tag and ask them to show me the luggage tag before they put it on the bag. Especially where there is a date change.

Tip: When you check in for QF in SYD and ask them to tag your bags to Europe, I suggest you have a print out of your return flights out of Europe. They always ask to see this of me. Want proof of booked exist from Europe only.

Do plan for a bag not showing up ... so consider having your essentials in you carry-on e.g 1 change of smalls, meds, laptop / phone / tablet charger etc. I work on that my checked bag is a bonus if it appears. That way it just comes down to insurance and no tears before bedtime if you know what I mean.

And along the way just use the lounges and freshen up if you can. I find BKK to be a good mid way point for a shower etc especially on the way back to Oz. BKK is a very good airport IMHO.

Even if you do have to collect your bags at BKK it is no hassle. Fast and easy I tend to find. The only challenge may be checking in for your CX flight which could only open two hrs prior. So you either hang round or go check into the Novotel airport hotel and go for a swim, shower, meal then come back. I use this approach as well if a long lay over is on the cards.

In the trip reports section I've posted a recent AY set of pics (was from CDG to HEL to BKK).

Happy travels. At least you have options.

 

[Omarko_man]

thank you so much for the reply!

The only challenge may be checking in for your CX flight which could only open two hrs prior. So you either hang round or go check into the Novotel airport hotel and go for a swim, shower, meal then come back. I use this approach as well if a long lay over is on the cards.

so I wont be able to get a boarding pass when I leave BUD for all my flights? Meaning I still have to check in in BKK ? and SIN? to get a boarding pass?

 

[nonpop]

thank you so much for the reply!



so I wont be able to get a boarding pass when I leave BUD for all my flights? Meaning I still have to check in in BKK ? and SIN? to get a boarding pass?

No. If you can only check your luggage as far as BKK then yes you will need new BPs. But if you can check all the way to Oz then you will be issued with your BPs. But it is really much of a much. Seriously, don't stress either way. You have enough time. So just roll with whatever happens. If AY will check your baggage all the way through then great. But in BUD you may find the ground crew are not AY staff, but rather they are operating on behalf of AY (like Menzies for FJ in SYD). So their knowledge of systems may be 'less' due to this fact. Therefore if your luggage only goes as far as BKK, no biggie. Just collect and re-check in. BKK is a good airport with good services. And in J you will get Fast Track access to immigration and bags and customs etc.

 

[Simo]

When you check in in SYD take all your info and they will tell you when you have to get your bags.

BP's might be hard for you Finair flight but it just depends on your duration of flights.

I have had flights and they due to being over 24 hours in transit can not get BP's for those flights.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

So I rang Qantas today to confirm that they will indeed be able to take my baggage in SYD and I can pick it up at final destination of my trip, BUD. They were bit iffy about it saying that its not ideal transferring baggage between different flights and that there is a risk it might get lost but apparently in 95% of cases its ok. Hmm .... Its 4 hours in Singapore layover where I changing airlines so I hope it will be ok.

Now,Qantas could not tell me what will happen on the way back since I am travelling through 3 different airlines. Finnair to BKK , 4.5hr layover, Cathay BKK to SIN, 5 hr layover, Qantas SIN to SYD. I rang Finnair since they are the one who will be checking in the baggage however I was not very impressed with quite rude and short customer service person who said that they will not guarantee anything and that its the departing airports discretion if they will check it in all the way to SYD or not. Flying in J class apparently has no privileges.

Qantas recommended I should pick up the baggage in BKK and then check it back in with Cathay all the way to SYD. Sounds like a lot of hassle.

What do you guys think is best thing to do ? Anyone been in similar situation?

People that work in reservations at airlines generally have not worked at airports so therefore have no direct involvement in checking in passengers and as such no first hand experience. I can't see any advantage of collecting your bags in BKK on the way back as it's still no guarantee someones bags won't go astray.

All the airlines on the return trip AY/CX/QF are members of the One World Alliance so AY in BUD should be able to check your bags BUD AY x/HEL AY x/BKK CX x/SIN QF SYD. You may not get all your boarding passes when you check in depending on whether the operating airline has opened checkin (for the purpose of through checking pax from downline ports) for that particular flight.

Whether you have all the boarding passes or not, your bags can still be checked through to your final destination of SYD eg if you are issued with boading passes on AY BUD/HEL/BKK you would just go to the transfer desk in BKK to obtain your boarding passes for the BKK/SIN/SYD flights.

If you don't get both CX & QF boarding passes in BKK just do the same thing in SIN ie see the transit desk which is airside to get the final boarding pass. You do not need to clear customs in BKK or SIN to get your boarding passes.

Make sure you have your baggage claim receipt handy with the bag tag number and the bag weights as the checkin agents at the transfer desks will need to enter the bag tag details into the system when they check you in and issue your boarding passes.

Here is my personal experience (from 2012).

Have done the same thing as you with connecting to and from AY / QF and reverse. Each time I just show the other PNR (print out) and both airlines check my luggage through.
The more hops the more you run the risk of error. But I ALWAYS check the luggage tag and ask them to show me the luggage tag before they put it on the bag. Especially where there is a date change.

Tip: When you check in for QF in SYD and ask them to tag your bags to Europe, I suggest you have a print out of your return flights out of Europe. They always ask to see this of me. Want proof of booked exist from Europe only.

When you checkin at SYD & they add in AY flights the system should merge the flights for the return sectors into your checkin record in Altea which means when you checkin at BUD they should automatically see the oncarriage after the AY flights.

How many pnrs do you have altogether? Is it just an AY one for their flights & a QF one for the CX & QF flights or was the CX sector flight booked on its own?

 

[Omarko_man]

Thanks for all the replies again ! I am bit of a nervous traveller and I like to know in advance what happens exactly.

How many pnrs do you have altogether? Is it just an AY one for their flights & a QF one for the CX & QF flights or was the CX sector flight booked on its own?

There are three booking numbers at the moment (if thats what you mean by PNR, sorry I am still learning the jargon) :

1. SYD-MEL-SIN (Qantas)
2. SIN-HEL-BUD and return is BUD-HEL-BKK (Finnair)
3. BKK-SIN-SYD (Cathay + Qantas)

 

[serfty]

I am quite certain that due to oneworld interline contracts your luggage should be checked through for the whole journey, even on three PNR's.