flight delays and late departures

[maz1]

how often do flights departing Melbourne (to Sydney) get delayed? is it very regular, or can I be a little confident that we will leave on time or close to?

feeling a tad nervous about a connecting flight in Sydney.

 

[DC3]

... MEL-SYD-LAX on QF connecting to AA?

If you provide the QF flight number MEL-SYD, I can check the recent reliability on expertflyer.

 

[maz1]

thank you so much - it's QF412

 

[DC3]

According to EF, QF412 (arriving SYD at 8.55am) has an average reliability of 85% and average delay of 13 minutes over the past two months.

Historically, it's not too bad with on-time performance. The AA flight departing at 10.55am will probably start boarding at least 45-plus minutes prior.

I wouldn't waste too much time in transferring between terminals though.

 

[maz1]

it probably wouldn't be too much of an issue to change this portion of the flight- Qantas assured me it would be ok when I first booked it- she seemed totally unconcerned.

 

[mviy]

I try to allow a generous time to connect when leaving Australia, but when returning there's heaps of domestic flights between MEL and SYD so if it's all on the one booking it's fine.

 

[DC3]

I try to allow a generous time to connect when leaving Australia, but when returning there's heaps of domestic flights between MEL and SYD so if it's all on the one booking it's fine.

I think that the OP is worried about catching the scheduled flight on AA, SYD-LAX, as there's only one a day.

 

[maz1]

it's now 1.36am- I decided to change my flight to one hour earlier- so, now we leave melbourne at 6.30am giving us 3 hours in Sydney- I feel much happier- and as we're flying business, we'll spend a little longer in the Qantas Lounge- less stressful by far!

Yes, I was worried about the connecting flight- there are more than one a day, but no chance of getting an award flight in J on any other flight that's for sure. and we must be in LA on the 9th as we leave on a cruise the next morning

so much less stressful

thank you all for your help

 

[BAM1748]

it's now 1.36am- I decided to change my flight to one hour earlier- so, now we leave melbourne at 6.30am giving us 3 hours in Sydney- I feel much happier- and as we're flying business, we'll spend a little longer in the Qantas Lounge- less stressful by far!

Yes, I was worried about the connecting flight- there are more than one a day, but no chance of getting an award flight in J on any other flight that's for sure. and we must be in LA on the 9th as we leave on a cruise the next morning

so much less stressful

thank you all for your help

Smart for your own well being. It only takes a delay getting away from Melbourne then 10 mins here and there off the plane, change terminals etc and there isn't that much excess time.

I hate rushing at airports, my tightest connection was Dallas, arrive from LAX and out to Cancun, 40 mins from scheduled landing to takeoff and a change of terminals. I just made it as the last 2 people scanning their boarding passes at the gate as I arrived. Not relaxing at all.

Good luck.

 

[maz1]

Smart for your own well being. It only takes a delay getting away from Melbourne then 10 mins here and there off the plane, change terminals etc and there isn't that much excess time.

I hate rushing at airports, my tightest connection was Dallas, arrive from LAX and out to Cancun, 40 mins from scheduled landing to takeoff and a change of terminals. I just made it as the last 2 people scanning their boarding passes at the gate as I arrived. Not relaxing at all.

Good luck.

thank you- I've woken up this morning much happier

 

[whughes3]

I have done Dom->Int connections at SYD well over a hundred times over the years; I generally allow 2 to 2.5 hours for this, and only once in that time have I actually missed the connection (have cut it fine a couple more times). It is actually much more reliable than many people think!

 

[maz1]

I have done Dom->Int connections at SYD well over a hundred times over the years; I generally allow 2 to 2.5 hours for this, and only once in that time have I actually missed the connection (have cut it fine a coiuple more times). It is actlually much more relaible than many people think!

your message makes me even more relieved that I changed to an earlier flight-.
I've had two hour connections all over asia, including flights on Air Asia where you never know if you will arrive on time- however, this flight to Sydney was too important to mess with- if I missed the connection, my whole holiday would have been totally ruined - we would miss the cruise, probably wouldn't be able to replace our Business seats- there was just a little bit too much at stake and a whole lot of stress. All avoided by just one hour.
I'm a happy camper this morning.

p.s. I had a look at the prospect of buying a one way business flight Syd - Lax on Friday and it was an extraordinary amount- I think it was something like $15,000 -

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

At least AA departs gate 9 in SYD unlike UA which departs from gate 58 or 59.

 

[JohnK]

I have done Dom->Int connections at SYD well over a hundred times over the years; I generally allow 2 to 2.5 hours for this, and only once in that time have I actually missed the connection (have cut it fine a couple more times). It is actually much more reliable than many people think!

Not sure I understand the constant SYD connection bashing.

I connected via SYD again last Saturday morning. Arrived at gate 1, went outside to departures to use Westpac ATM then back through security to gate 15. Transfer bus arrived within a couple of minutes and taken to international near the express lanes. Through in a couple of minutes and in First lounge soon after ordering/paying for duty free on return.

Very simple process.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I have never found the transfer from domestic to international an issue - works quite smoothly most of the time. Have had one occasion where we just sat on the Tarmac for no immediately discernible reason.

It is the connection into Sydney that has been an issue for us. The number of times we have sat on the plane and heard passengers totally stressed about missing their international connection! Canberra is particularly bad with cancelled flights and fog. We almost always overnight in Sydney at the Rydges now, if the international flight is prior to 3pm. (Yes I know, serious overkill, but I don't like stress!).