F Check In at Melbourne

[hb13]

Hi All,

I'm flying from MEL on QF 35 (departing 11:55) in July and wanted to know what is the earliest time I can check in.

I've heard and read some threads here that check in at Melbourne is only open 3 hours before departure, however, I've also heard that if there are other QF flights with F, the check in counter may possibly allow you to check in earlier.

Can anyone confirm if this is actually true?

 

[JessicaTam]

Hi All,

I'm flying from MEL on QF 35 (departing 11:55) in July and wanted to know what is the earliest time I can check in.

I've heard and read some threads here that check in at Melbourne is only open 3 hours before departure, however, I've also heard that if there are other QF flights with F, the check in counter may possibly allow you to check in earlier.

Can anyone confirm if this is actually true?

As long as you don't have checked luggage you would be able to check in earlier as the staff are there for a few flights that leave before QF35.

If you have checked luggage you will have to wait until three hours before. (It might be 3 1/2 hours if it is an A380?)

 

[Hvr]

I tried to check in about four hours ahead of my recent flight to CHC with HLO. Was politely declined and told check in opens three hours prior to the flight.

Went to the DOM J Lounge and waited there until check in time.

 

[JessicaTam]

I tried to check in about four hours ahead of my recent flight to CHC with HLO. Was politely declined and told check in opens three hours prior to the flight.

Went to the DOM J Lounge and waited there until check in time.

Hmm, your experience differs from mine. Probably 6+ months ago since I did it, so maybe they have tightened up on it.

 

[hb13]

Thanks for the responses guys. As I'm based in Sydney, I was planning to fly to Melbourne the night before.

I'm assuming that if I fly to MEL on the morning of my flight to SIN (say take the 6am flight out), I can check in at SYD and spend more time in the F lounge at MEL?

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks for the responses guys. As I'm based in Sydney, I was planning to fly to Melbourne the night before.

I'm assuming that if I fly to MEL on the morning of my flight to SIN (say take the 6am flight out), I can check in at SYD and spend more time in the F lounge at MEL?

Correct.

Edit: and you can do that with checked luggage.

 

[Hvr]

Hmm, your experience differs from mine. Probably 6+ months ago since I did it, so maybe they have tightened up on it.

My experience was in May, so yes quite recent.

 

[hb13]

Correct.

Edit: and you can do that with checked luggage.

Thanks so much Jessica. One final question I probably should have asked. My MEL-SIN flight is an award flight. My SYD-MEL flight would be revenue, as I haven't yet purchased it. Would there be a problem for QF to combine these tickets? I guess my point is I have checked baggage - would there be a problem here for me?

 

[JessicaTam]

They won't be able to combine the tickets, just link them, but you "should" be ok.

Perhaps ask if you can add a sector to the start of the trip, even for a few more points. Then it would be on the same ticket and you would definitely be fine.

 

[hb13]

T

They won't be able to combine the tickets, just link them, but you "should" be ok.

Perhaps ask if you can add a sector to the start of the trip, even for a few more points. Then it would be on the same ticket and you would definitely be fine.

Thanks so much. I will call tomorrow and hopefully it can be sorted out.

 

[TomVexille]

My experience was in May, so yes quite recent.

We didn't have a problem in May checking in HLO about 4 hours before. But I also think we had OLCI

 

[calmelb]

I’ve done CBR-MEL (reward) then MEL-LHR (paid) with separate tickets and at check in the CBR ground staff were able to check my bags through to lhr and also give me boarding passes for all flights

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the responses guys. As I'm based in Sydney, I was planning to fly to Melbourne the night before.

I'm assuming that if I fly to MEL on the morning of my flight to SIN (say take the 6am flight out), I can check in at SYD and spend more time in the F lounge at MEL?

you don't need to call Qantas to link your bookings. Just turn up at SYD airport and give them both tickets. They'll check the bags right the way through.

Flying the night before might make you more refreshed to enjoy the long haul rather than being up at 4am to get to MEL. And avoid any weather issues (fog!) in MEL which might delay your inbound if you choose to take the 6am.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If your aim is to try the QFi MEL F lounge, I would go over from SYD to MEL indeed the night before.
Even if you get that first flight out from SYD, there is the chance of fog or thunderstorms in SYD, which when I fly through that city, seems to always happen.
And yes, I have tried the QFi MEL F lounge, nice.
Assume 6am from SYD, arrive into MEL 7.30am, after getting out from T1, walk to T2, go through immigration and international outgoing security processing, probably 8.30am, get to lounge at 9am, this only gives 2 hours before you have to be at gate for that 380 boarding.
I always transit overnight prior to when I used to do that that EK 380 flight to AKL.
Even when I did the EK 380 from SYD to CHC, I always overnight in SYD.
Having to check in MEL with plane hold bags, in MEL is not as bad, if yo have status can can use premium check in.
Going from SYD to MEL that same day, just so that you don't have to check in on the morning of that flight in MEL, means less time in the MEL int F lounge.
Edit: flight aware says QF401 lands at 7.25am this morning, but did not get to gate till 7.36am.
If they use the far right hand side apron away from T2, its about 15mins walk, if they use the nearer apron, then its about 7 to 8mins walk.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'd be a little less generous on those processing times. Arrival at the gate at 7.30am I'd expect to be in the lounge by 8am. That includes express security, e-gate immigration, and the walk to the lounge.

 

[hb13]

After giving it a fair bit of thought, I'd agree with the above sentiments.

It makes a lot more sense to fly to MEL the night before and check in at T-3 at MEL. Flying from SYD often sees traffic delays and it doesn't seem to be worth the risk.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I got held up in international outgoing security MEL - AKL, was in EK F but with a QF flight number, earlier this year.
The gaggle of Asian ladies drinking up their water bottles, the xray man kept saying in Aussie mandarin for them to drink up, drink up!
Express path wasn't open, so they funneled all into the general line.
This was for the (former) 380 flight, I think I was there as soon as the frosted doors open in the middle of T2 where the shops are.
That time, I didn't go to the QF F lounge, but have in the past, that time, about Mar 2018, my aim was to visit the MEL EK F/J lounge.
The MEL QFi F lounge is one level up from MEL QFi gate 10, I think, and the EK new lounge, is closer to gate 11/12.
OP, check the MEL airport T2 map, you will need it as this is your first time. And see if you can print it out. F lounge is up escalators from the boarding gate, and also when going to plane, so have to go down escalators.
No boarding of plane from lounge.
MEL QFi J lounge is in the basement, don't go to that one.
Also, give yourself a bit of time when going to the gate, you would be in zone A boarding, but gate 10 can be a pain, as it zig zag for boarding, and they move the bunting too.
All these are my experiences from the various trips I have taken with EK with a QF flight number, both in J and F to NZ.
Sorry for the waffly reply.
Edit: Lounge Location | Australia | Melbourne International | International First