Domestic to Internation connection - Syd

[JohnK]

and a much longer journey sat around an airport

Dave some people don't mind hanging around at airports to have peace at mind and not stressing rushing to make a flight when things go wrong.

And what happens if the plane is delayed 30 minutes out of ADL? Goodbye SYD-LAX flight until the next day more than likely. Some people do not like the idea to have their precious holiday start one day later....

 

[Dave Noble]

And what happens if the plane is delayed 30 minutes out of ADL? Goodbye SYD-LAX flight until the next day more than likely. Some people do not like the idea to have their precious holiday start one day later....

In the unlikely event of missing the connection , QF will be responsible for arranging onward travel. There is an evening flight with VA . I would go with the risk of a wait in the case of missing the connection rather than the guaranteed hanging around an airport of taking an earlier flight

Dave

 

[harvyk]

I'm also going with the 1:15 isn't really enough time basket.

If everything runs smoothly, it'll be a tight connection, if something goes wrong, everything goes out the window. Quite simply it's a connection with no margin of error. (I'd done them in SYD before, the result was myself and my bags arrived on different flights).

I'd be asking for an earlier ADL - SYD flight, more breathing room and more options if something goes wrong, more time to relax once your in SYD T1 (before being stuck on a plane for 14 odd hours). As it was QF who changed the original times of your flights you should be able to change flights without any penalty. (I've done it myself in the past)

 

[Katie]

If your flight ends up arriving late and it's a really tight connection & QF know you've arrived, you might get a security 'fast pass' when your BP is scanned before going down to the transfer bus. We had this when our BNE-SYD flight was delayed by 2 hours for mechanical reasons last May, before our SYD-HNL flight. We ended up on another aircraft, arrived at domestic at 7pm, with the HNL flight due to leave at 7:30. There were about 6 of us on the BNE flight.
The fast passes were useless to us (7pm Sun night at the Intl terminal). Only one security line, a few folk in front of us misplacing their passports and the like. Far more useful getting a fast pass in the middle of the day.

 

[JohnK]

In the unlikely event of missing the connection , QF will be responsible for arranging onward travel. There is an evening flight with VA . I would go with the risk of a wait in the case of missing the connection rather than the guaranteed hanging around an airport of taking an earlier flight

Highly unlikely but still a realistic chance that the connection could be missed. And while the responsibility lies with Qantas it does not guarantee that the family will be put on VA (due to many possible reasons) the same day so again the holiday starts one day later if they are lucky.

And why? To risk a tight connection in order to save spending an extra 90 minutes at the airport.

 

[notzac]

And while the responsibility lies with Qantas it does not guarantee that the family will be put on VA (due to many possible reasons) the same day so again the holiday starts one day later if they are lucky.

I concur with JohnK - the chance of QF endorsing tickets over to another carrier, particularly VA, is v unlikely.

Another vote here for asking QF for an earlier connecting flight from ADL. Plenty to do to while away an extra hour once past customs at SYD.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

A good idea would be to complete the green outgoing passenger cards whilst on the ADL/SYD flight - assuming they have these handy at ADL. You will need one for each of you as children and infants must have their own.

Try and get seated as far forward as possible on ADL/SYD flight so you're not stuck behind people that just don't seem to be in any hurry to get off the plane. Tell the checkin agent in ADL you have a tight connection in SYD & you want to disembark asap in SYD.

Might be a good idea to tell the CSM on the ADL/SYD flight too so they can arrange a MAAS (meet and assist) on arrival in SYD and help expedite your transfer to the international terminal. You could ask them for the fast pass to get you quickly through immigration.

Ensure kids use the bathroom just prior to arrival in SYD as you don't want to be hurrying to catch the shuttle bus only to have one of the kids need to answer the call of nature at the crucial moment thus missing the first shuttle bus.

Don't even think of buying duty free at SYD as you won't have time.

You would need to ask yourself what would cause you more inconvenience
a) missing your SYD/LAX flight and having to stay overnight in SYD or
b) arriving at ADL Airport 90 minutes earlier

FWIW I doubt QF would endorse 4 tickets over to VA if you missed the QF flight SYD/LAX. I don't know the exact cost but I'm betting it would be cheaper to put you up in an airport hotel in SYD for the night & then you'd miss out on earning QF ff points for that sector.

If it was me I'd be asking QF to transfer me to the ADL/SYD flight (at not cost to you due to their sked chng) just for the piece of mind.

Best of luck & let us know what eventuates.

Cheers

Oz

 

[oz_mark]

My last connection through SYD was 1:15, and it certainly didn't leave much time spare - didn't even get to the lounge in the int terminal.

A good idea would be to complete the green outgoing passenger cards whilst on the ADL/SYD flight - assuming they have these handy at ADL. You will need one for each of you as children and infants must have their own.

In MEL in the checkin area with international connections the outgoing passenger cards are certainly available. I'd hope Adelaide did the same.

 

[harvyk]

My last connection through SYD was 1:15, and it certainly didn't leave much time spare - didn't even get to the lounge in the int terminal.





In MEL in the checkin area with international connections the outgoing passenger cards are certainly available. I'd hope Adelaide did the same.

Outgoing pax cards are available at CBR, and yet CBR doesn't have any international flights. I'd be surprised if ADL (which does have direct international flights) couldn't find a couple spare.

 

[serfty]

Hmm, the actual change was from a 90 minute connection to a 75 minute connection.

Boarding for QF11 would normally commence around 12:20 with door close ~12:50.

Depending on the day of the week, the previous ADL-SYD flight arrives 10:25.

 

[JohnK]

Don't even think of buying duty free at SYD as you won't have time.

Don't forget you can pre-purchase duty free online and if, for whatever reason, you cannot collect then they refund your money. From memory last time I collected pre-purchased duty free it took an extra 74 seconds of my time.

You would need to ask yourself what would cause you more inconvenience
a) missing your SYD/LAX flight and having to stay overnight in SYD or
b) arriving at ADL Airport 90 minutes earlier

For some reason some people want to turn up to the airport as late as possible. No idea why and the extra 90 minutes at home must be really precious to them....

 

[jsd]

I would personally be ringing QF and having the flight changed, especially when travelling with kids, could go one way or another

Not worth the risk




Josh

 

[bnroz]

well, i have rang qantas twice about this and twice they have said this is not a problem, i did mention we are travelling as a party of 6 and 2 kids, but they said it should not be a problem, one of the said that i should call up first thing in the morning on the day we leave and see if there are any anticipated delays and they may be able to put us on an earlier flight.......

 

[ozbeachbabe]

bnroz

well, i have rang qantas twice about this and twice they have said this is not a problem, i did mention we are travelling as a party of 6 and 2 kids, but they said it should not be a problem, one of the said that i should call up first thing in the morning on the day we leave and see if there are any anticipated delays and they may be able to put us on an earlier flight.......

How frustrating. I'm sure we've all had missed connections etc in situations that should not have been a problem. The good old Aussie "she'll be right mate" is ever present particularly when it comes to air travel. If they're prepared to transfer you on to an earlier flight on the day why not do it now? What if the earlier flight is full by then?

Telling you to ring up first thing in the morning enquiring about any anticipated delays is about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. I can think of heaps of delays that have happened in the past none of which were anticipated. You could take off from ADL on time but be put in a holding pattern by ATC just out of SYD, or have a long taxi to the terminal if landing on RW16L or even 16R or maybe an aircraft is still on your bay/aerobridge and your plane has to wait......

I would ring them again and ask them if it does become a problem what other flight will they put you on that day to get all 6 of you to LAX. We know that your flight is the last QF flight so I would be saying to them "so if we miss the SYD/LAX through no fault of our own will you e transferring us on to the V Australia flight" or "what is your plan to get us all to LAX that day if we miss our SYD/LAX flight?

May the force be with you.

Cheers
Oz

 

[Allegro Vivace]

Regarding transit / transfers.
FlyerS should be a ware that when transferring / transiting in Shanghai you need to formally enter arrivals through immigration and customs, collect your bags and re check them back in at the check in desk.
I recently flew HKG with CX to Shanghai with a transit stop to connect with QF 128 to Sydney - a One World requirement. At check in in HKG at CX desk we were told our bags would be tagged to Sydney and to pick up a boarding pass for QF 128 in Shanghai. CX computers don't talk to QF computers!!!
No one told us - including CX FAs that we would need to clear immigration and customs, collect baggage and re- check baggage.
The transit desk was closed.
This took 2 hours from arrival to check in. We did not have a visa for China, but were granted entry anyway.
Fortunately there was a 4 hour time window between arrival from HKG and departure for SYD.

I always try to allow 2 hours minimum for transiting

 

[docjames]

I'd take the extra 90 mins at SYD, rather than miss the LAX flight, and end up on a much later VA flight (if possible) or on the next day flight. not to mention the grief of stuffing up any connecting / arrival at LAX plans.

I say move the ADL-SYD flight earlier.

+90mins wont stress you out sitting in T1 at SYD, missing your flight will.

 

[hogie]

I'm all for the earlier flight.

I had 1hr10min connection between MEL-SYD and SYD-Tokyo Friday week ago. Qantas assured me that the connection time was within their limit. As we know, Friday night is usually bedlam, and there is never a bus at the transfer desk just waiting for you. It cost me $150 to change my flight to an hour earlier. So worth it - the hour earlier flight left an hour late. Lord knows what happened to the 7.30 flight, and I'm sure that I would have just wasted the first night of vacation in Sydney if I had remained on that flight.

Book an earlier flight, go for a walk around the airport, and practice plane spotting. You'll be way more relaxed than handing over a vacation day to Qantas.

 

[cryan]

Had a similar experience Melb-Syd-LA - just made the flight, but sadly the bags didnt - Qantas sent them on a later flight and then couriered them to our hotel room about 18 hours later and gave us $US100 per bag in compensation. Not complaining - had the spare undies in the handluggage, so it wasnt a problem.

 

[Mitch_W]

Whilst on this subject of tight connections...

In couple of weeks, I am arriving SYD from SIN (SQ) Bus Class at 11:10 and connecting SYD - TMW (domestic) Qantaslink Dep 12:20. I will check in with QF on line before I leave SIN to save time and will use the Transfer & baggage drop service between INT & Dom terminals but will still have to walk across to Terminal 2 Dom after the shuttle bus drops me at T3 and go thru security again.

I think it is OK as long as there are no customs holdups etc.

What do you think

Regards,

Mitch

 

[straitman]

Whilst on this subject of tight connections...

In couple of weeks, I am arriving SYD from SIN (SQ) Bus Class at 11:10 and connecting SYD - TMW (domestic) Qantaslink Dep 12:20. I will check in with QF on line before I leave SIN to save time and will use the Transfer & baggage drop service between INT & Dom terminals but will still have to walk across to Terminal 2 Dom after the shuttle bus drops me at T3 and go thru security again.

I think it is OK as long as there are no customs holdups etc.

What do you think

Regards,

Mitch

Mitch_W,

Irrespective of minimum connection times etc I would not be comfortable with this. Can you swap to a later flight out of SYD :?: