enquiry about flying MEL-SYD and transferring to International flight

[eckorock]

Hi guys, I have a flight coming up in a few months from SYD-AUH on Virgin Australia, flight departs SYD on Saturday 3:15pm

I live in Melbourne, so my plan is to take the 10am MEL-SYD, arrive in SYD before midday (11.35am approx), which should give me plenty of time to check-in, go through customs, etc
I haven't booked the MEL-SYD flight yet.

My questions are...

1. Do I need to attach the MEL-SYD leg to the same flight code / itenerary as the existing SYD-AUH? Is there any benefit to doing this?
2. Will they transfer my luggage from the domestic flight to the international flight? or do I need to collect it from the domestic baggage, then take it through to Virgin International check-in with me?
3. How do I get from the SYD domestic terminal to the International terminal? Do I need to pre-book the shuttle or just rock up?
4. Is taking the 10am flight from MEL-SYD , to catch a 3.15pm SYD-AUH cutting it too fine or plenty of spare time? I figure I will leave myself with a good 1hr + of spare time

cheers

 

[Fantic125]

1. When you check in at MEL show them both itineraries and they will check your bag through to AUH, but you will only get the MEL-SYD boarding pass.
2. You won't need to collect your bag in SYD.
3. At the SYD domestic terminal you will need to go to the VA International transfer desk. They will give you your boarding pass for the SYD-AUH flight. There is no need to pre-book; you wait in the transfer area until the transfer bus arrives to take you to the Int terminal.
4. It takes 10~15 minutes to transfer from the Dom terminal as the bus goes outside the airport and drops you off at the Int terminal. You then need to clear immigration and security, so the amount of time you have allowed should be fine.

 

[CeeJayOz]

I'm doing pretty much the same thing with the same flight times, but it's a single booking, so does it work the same way? And if it includes an Etihad leg AUH-LHR?

 

[notzac]

I'm doing pretty much the same thing with the same flight times, but it's a single booking, so does it work the same way? And if it includes an Etihad leg AUH-LHR?

If you've got MEL-SYD-AUH-LHR on the same itinerary, your bags will be checked all the way through and you'll probably also receive all of your boarding cards in MEL. Unsure whether the international transfer gate is still the same in SYD, but if so - it's at gate 37. Show them your boarding card for SYD-AUH, you ought to be given a pass for the b*s to the International terminal. The b*s drops you off at the front of T1.

 

[Fruitcake]

Unsure whether the international transfer gate is still the same in SYD, but if so - it's at gate 37.

I noticed construction hoardings up in T2 last week around gate 37 with a sign saying the gate was out of use, and giving the number of an alternate gate to use instead. So yes, head to where gate 37 should ​be and read the sign. (Of course it's possible that the work has been finished).

 

[smit0847]

Im flying MEL-SYD VA then SYD-BKK TG next month on unlinked tickets (allowing plenty of time to connect don't worry).

I'm not interlining the luggage (long story) so will collect my bags from VA in SYD and take them to the intl terminal to check them in at TG.

Do I have to pay for the transfer bus?

 

[Blinky]

If you were flying in June, Melbourne's foggiest month, I'd think of flying up the day before. But I have been stranded in Melbourne for 5 hours due to fog in June.

You should have no trouble in August or September.

 

[eckorock]

Thanks dogg.

Here's a follow on question,

I have separately booked a return from AUH-MEL (direct) with Etihad, do I pick up my passes for that flight somewhere in Melbourne or Sydney on the way out?
Because I don't want to be stopped and interrogated at AUH for them asking me why I don't have a return ticket in my hand,
is a printed itinerary enough evidence?

cheers

 

[bubblyguy]

Due to system limitations unless you can get the MEL-SYD sector added to your existing booking as a connection it may not be possible to get your baggage through-checked.

On arrival into Sydney you can use the International Transfer Desk located now at GATE 46.

All you need for your AUH-MEL flight is the itinerary as you will receive your boarding passes when you check in.

 

[ATreeFiddy]

Due to system limitations unless you can get the MEL-SYD sector added to your existing booking as a connection it may not be possible to get your baggage through-checked.

On arrival into Sydney you can use the International Transfer Desk located now at GATE 40.

All you need for your AUH-MEL flight is the itinerary as you will receive your boarding passes when you check in.

Pretty sure it's gate 46.

 

[bubblyguy]

Pretty sure it's gate 46.

You are very correct. Mixing up my numbers sorry.

 

[AIRwin]

Do I have to pay for the transfer bus?

I remember DJ used to give out a small "Transport Pass" coupon to their connecting pax which states "Please present to transport provider for free transport (valid on Sydney Bus service & Brisbane Airtrain only)". Anyone knows if this is still in use?

 

[SQ421]

Early April, CBR-SYD on VA Domestic; outbound from SYD on VA; separate tickets. Both the Lounge and the bus-dragon said they couldn't issue me the "ticket" to get on the bus as I was on separate itineraries. Qantas, OTOH, has never had an issue allowing me to use the terminal transfer bus with a QF(Domestic) - CX "connection" on separate tickets.

 

[eckorock]

Early April, CBR-SYD on VA Domestic; outbound from SYD on VA; separate tickets. Both the Lounge and the bus-dragon said they couldn't issue me the "ticket" to get on the bus as I was on separate itineraries. Qantas, OTOH, has never had an issue allowing me to use the terminal transfer bus with a QF(Domestic) - CX "connection" on separate tickets.

That's ridiculous they denied you the transfer even though you were outbound on VA? So did you take a taxi or what?

 

[smit0847]

That's ridiculous they denied you the transfer even though you were outbound on VA? So did you take a taxi or what?

Can't you just pay to take the bus?

 

[SQ421]

That's ridiculous they denied you the transfer even though you were outbound on VA? So did you take a taxi or what?

Had a 3 hour transit, and Hand Carry Only. Grabbed breakfast in the domestic lounge and too the train to international. $5 - which is what I imagine they'd have asked me to pay for the bus had I enquired about that option. At which point, to be frank, I'd rather take the train than pay virgin to use the bus.

 

[Mak404matt]

Early April, CBR-SYD on VA Domestic; outbound from SYD on VA; separate tickets. Both the Lounge and the bus-dragon said they couldn't issue me the "ticket" to get on the bus as I was on separate itineraries. Qantas, OTOH, has never had an issue allowing me to use the terminal transfer bus with a QF(Domestic) - CX "connection" on separate tickets.

I did a transfer on separate tickets from an OOL-SYD to a SYD-AKL-RAR and they gave me a transport pass no questions asked. I guess it may just depend on who you get manning the desk at gate 46.

 

[AIRwin]

Had a 3 hour transit, and Hand Carry Only. Grabbed breakfast in the domestic lounge and too the train to international. $5 - which is what I imagine they'd have asked me to pay for the bus had I enquired about that option. At which point, to be frank, I'd rather take the train than pay virgin to use the bus.

It seems the bus transfer service is charged at $15 when connecting from international to domestic:
Domestic and International Flight Connections | Virgin Australia

 

[Fruitcake]

It seems the bus transfer service is charged at $15 when connecting from international to domestic:
Domestic and International Flight Connections | Virgin Australia

LOL. I'll take the train for $5, thanks. Almost certainly a much quicker journey too.

Having said that, the extra $10 would include having your baggage checked for you at the international terminal, so they are adding a bit of value. Just not $10 worth, in my view.

 

[totd]

I did ABX-SYD-AKL last month and had absolutely no joy with the Dom to Int transfer. Because I had 2 PNRs I had to pick up bags at the carousel and hop on the public transfers bus ($5.50/person - next time I'll take the train) out the front of T2. Seemed kinda crazy because the dragon in ABX could see I was connecting onto a VA codeshare (NZ metal) and traveling J and VA SG. I mentioned that the website would not let me book ABX to AKL via SYD (might be different now that XR is part of VA) and she told me to talk to the call centre, nothing she could do... Great tip, because I just love booking my tickets over the phone (rolls eyes).

The return trip was a whole different matter. Cleared customs really quickly, first into a deserted Dom transfers area and our bags were checked in & bus coupons issued without question or charge.