Early check in for Dom connecting to International

[Gremlin]

I'm sure that something similar has been addressed before, but it escapes my somewhat poor mastery of the Search function...

I'm catching the 6am BNE-MEL in a few days time with DJ for a day's worth of meetings in Melbourne.

That evening I'm flying MEL-PER-JNB in J booked with QF (the PER-JNB leg is codeshare). I'll have a couple of suitcases with me and was wondering if I'd be able to check in and bag drop at Qantas Domestic in MEL after collecting my luggage from DJ, prior to leaving the airport for the day in the city? I've done something similar when it's involved purely Domestic flights, but don't know if the international connection makes things more difficult.

 

[toowongman]

If all else fails you can store it - Baggage storage: SmarteCarte : Melbourne Airport

 

[JohnK]

I've done something similar when it's involved purely Domestic flights, but don't know if the international connection makes things more difficult.

I don't think the international connection should make a difference. Check-in for your domestic flight early and they should be able to process the international flight as well. International flight will be open for check-in anyway.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I don't think the international connection should make a difference. Check-in for your domestic flight early and they should be able to process the international flight as well. International flight will be open for check-in anyway.

The domestic flight is on DJ.
DJ will not AFAIK interline unless the flights are on the same PNR.

I have used the baggage storage at MEL and it was adequate.

 

[TheInsider]

Check-in for Domestic flights opens 6 hours prior, and due to the international connection you will have to drop your bag off at a Service Desk.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

So I guess if your QF MEL/PER flight leaves within 6 hours of you arriving in MEL ex DJ then you're good to go. If not, get a locker for the day but make sure you give yourself plenty of time to retrieve the bags & checkin.

 

[JohnK]

The domestic flight is on DJ.
DJ will not AFAIK interline unless the flights are on the same PNR.

Not what I meant Princess Fiona.

I was referring to MEL-PER-JNB and he should be able to check-in early in MEL for the domestic flight and hence international connection.

 

[Gremlin]

Thanks all. I'll try my luck and report back...

 

[Gremlin]

Just to let you know what happened...

I ended up with a change of plans in Melbourne, so I moved my original DJ BNE-MEL leg to a slightly later flight with QF. I asked in BNE if I could check bags all the way thru to JNB and was told no - the MEL-xPER-JNB flights were on a separate PNR to the BNE-MEL booking, so I wasn't surprised.

So I collected bags in MEL and proceeded upstairs to check in. Apparently check in for the MEL-PER flight hadn't formally opened as yet, but they were happy to check me in anyway. There was slight consternation about the fact that I was leaving the airport for meetings in the city and had bags that were being left at the airport, but after a few minutes discussion they were happy to let me proceed. The check in officer gave me a number to call if I was going to be delayed so they could retrieve my bags and not hold up the rest of the flight.

Everything went reasonably smoothly and when I eventually arrived in JNB, my bags were 2nd to the carousel.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Just to let you know what happened...

I ended up with a change of plans in Melbourne, so I moved my original DJ BNE-MEL leg to a slightly later flight with QF. I asked in BNE if I could check bags all ithe way thru to JNB and was told no - the MEL-xPER-JNB flights were on a separate PNR to the BNE-MEL booking, so I wasn't surprised.

So I collected bags in MEL and proceeded upstairs to check in. Apparently check in for the MEL-PER flight hadn't formally opened as yet, but they were happy to check me in anyway. There was slight consternation about the fact that I was leaving the airport for meetings in the city and had bags that were being left at the airport, but after a few minutes discussion they were happy to let me proceed. The check in officer gave me a number to call if I was going to be delayed so they could retrieve my bags and not hold up the rest of the flight.

Everything went reasonably smoothly and when I eventually arrived in JNB, my bags were 2nd to the carousel.

What were the flight numbers MEL/PER & PER/JNB?

If you were on QF metal MEL/PER & your PER/JNB flight was in that booking also, your bags should have been able to be through checked from BNE to JNB.

The fact that QF or other OW flights are in different bookings should not matter.

 

[serfty]

Just to let you know what happened...

I ended up with a change of plans in Melbourne, so I moved my original DJ BNE-MEL leg to a slightly later flight with QF. I asked in BNE if I could check bags all the way thru to JNB and was told no - the MEL-xPER-JNB flights were on a separate PNR to the BNE-MEL booking, so I wasn't surprised.
....

QF -> QF/oneworld (even on separate tickets) should have been fine!

What was the PER-JNB flight number?

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[chrisb]

On a similar note, i've got a single ticket QF PER-MEL-LAX with ~16 hours in MEL. Will they check luggage through and hold it for that long? Also, does doing that increase the odds of it getting lost?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

On a similar note, i've got a single ticket QF PER-MEL-LAX with ~16 hours in MEL. Will they check luggage through and hold it for that long? Also, does doing that increase the odds of it getting lost?

Not if you're overnighting in MEL eg if flying PER/MEL & arriving in MEL on Wed night then staying in a hotel you will need to collect your bag then checkin again the next day on Thu for MEL/LAX on QF93.

If you were taking the red eye PER/MEL eg Wed night arriving in MEL Thu am then flying out on QF93 on Thu MEL/LAX, your bags would be through checked from PER to LAX.

 

[Gremlin]

BNE-MEL was QF613. Travelling in Y. MEL-PER was QF481 in J connecting to SA281 in J.

Check in dragon in BNE didn't appear overly helpful unlike Alan on the J Class check in desk in MEL who did went out of his way to sort things out. I'll know for next time to press the issue.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

BNE-MEL was QF613. Travelling in Y. MEL-PER was QF481 in J connecting to SA281 in J.

Check in dragon in BNE didn't appear overly helpful unlike Alan on the J Class check in desk in MEL who did went out of his way to sort things out. I'll know for next time to press the issue.

I can't see any valid reason why the bags weren't checked through. If the CSA cited separate bookings, that only applies to non One World airlines in separate pnrs from QF.

In your case the SA281 flight PER/JNB was already in the same pnr as QF481 MEL/PER so all you were doing was trying to add an extra QF flight prior to that BNE/MEL.