For non-SYD members - what would entice you to connect via SYD?

[aybee]

Coming up to corporate travel contract renewal time and a interesting comparison of work related travel claims ensuing in a lively debate has got me thinking.
I used to live in MEL several years back, and in those days we would do anything to avoid connecting Domestic to International at SYD. It's not so much an issue anymore since "Sydney Airways" decided there was indeed more to Oz than just SYD, admittedly, but there are still occasions when another International airline flight has to be made and there is a choice of connecting at SYD or let's say AKL.

Given the carrier quality was the same, pricing was the same & the elapsed travelling time the same, what would entice MEL/BNE/ADL/PER flyers to connect Qantas Domestic to another International airline over SYD rather than say connect over AKL (or say SIN for PER-ites)?
I used to take up Duty Free discount voucher options offered once upon a time, build them up then splurge big time, whilst others at work detested the SYD connection so much they would still go via AKL regardless.

Obviously a big $ saving would be one such incentive to connect over SYD, but would any other incentives move you? Interesting to see some of the responses from work colleagues, but thought I'd throw it out to a broader audience for any reaction. The more ammo I have for the bigwigs come contract renewal time the better!

Cheers.

 

[Nigelinoz]

As someone who lives near Albury I have the choice of connecting to international flights at either Melbourne or Sydney but as I mostly travel to Europe I find that there are more flights out of Sydney so I guess I will stick with Sydney,the other factor is that Qantas don't fly ABX to MEL direct so even if I was able to get a good flight ex MEL I would still have to use another carrier like REX to get to Melbourne and that involves booking through another website,picking up bags etc.

 

[jgm]

Given the carrier quality was the same, pricing was the same & the elapsed travelling time the same, what would entice MEL/BNE/ADL/PER flyers to connect Qantas Domestic to another International airline over SYD rather than say connect over AKL (or say SIN for PER-ites)?
Cheers.

The ONLY thing that would get me to transit through SYD would be SIGNIFICANT (say >$1k) price difference.

 

[DJ737]

Connect thru SYD.......you gotta be kidding, plenty of flights ex MEL:mrgreen:

 

[oz_mark]

Price would be about it, although I would not discount other one off factors on occasion.

 

[MelUser]

Some might be tempted by the extra status credits and frequent flyer points!

Also, when flying MEL-SFO last year with QF, we had the choice of direct to LA, then AA to SFO but went for MEL-SYD-SFO. Far easier to do the domestic segment within Australia!

Note for many routes, like NRT or flying on many of the Asian airlines, you have to go to SYD.

 

[parsonstrish]

I purposedly flew syd-jfk return in August starting from Townsville. I didn't want the hassle of missing connection flts.

I would also book through Sydney to obtain PE as not available from Bne.

 

[Mal]

Some reasons why I'd fly BNE-SYD and onwards?

If flying Qantas or oneworld - for the F lounge.

For all other airlines:

The planes that go to Sydney tend to be often better specc'd internally (eg newer forms of IFE or better seating). Also, if flying Premium cabins, "regional" or "no First/PE" type planes tend to fly into Brisbane.
There are exceptions though...

Connecting to London is easier when flying the same plane all the way through. So BNE-SYD-SIN-LHR makes more sense to me than BNE-SIN-LHR.

I did prefer Sydney Immigration and Customs over Brisbane a while ago, altho the benefits have reduced with recent implementation of SmartGate in Brisbane.

The additional SC's for the leg BNE-SYD vv are also nice.

Lastly, I don't mind the airport tour in Sydney from Dom->Int. I wish they'd handle luggage better though and improve the International terminal a bit more.

 

[NM]

I have chosen to connect through SYD in the past for these reasons (in no particular order of preference):

• First Lounge experience
• Daytime flight availability (only overnight available to BNE from Asia points)
• First Class cabin availability (no F on any OneWorld carrier to/from BNE)

 

[garyjohn951]

Thankfully with CX three times out of Melbourne and QF now back to 1, why would I waste hours connecting thru Sydney

 

[garyjohn951]

Some might be tempted by the extra status credits and frequent flyer points!

Also, when flying MEL-SFO last year with QF, we had the choice of direct to LA, then AA to SFO but went for MEL-SYD-SFO. Far easier to do the domestic segment within Australia!

Note for many routes, like NRT or flying on many of the Asian airlines, you have to go to SYD.

Much prefer to use HK as the transit rather than Sydney when going to places in Asia. CX have excellent connections with 3 flights from Melbourne

 

[oz_mark]

Melbourne folk seem to have different answers to brisbane folk.

 

[Mal]

Melbourne folk seem to have different answers to brisbane folk.

Qantas (and to a lesser extent other airlines) have neglected "premium" pax ex-Brisbane (and this includes OWE's) for a long time, whereas MEL is a premium port (slightly less so than SYD). The neglect includes aircraft choices, lounge choices, flight timings, destinations, check-in capacity etc.

(Although, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Gold Coast etc ... are probably less cared about by Qantas etc than BNE).

So connections through SYD will be different for both.

 

[drron]

Last year I went via SYD for Flounge access and the ability to do domestic add on trips.
This year it is because our granddaughter(soon to be 2 grandchildren) now lives in Sydney.

 

[Keith009]

I fly QF whenever I can, and some QF routes only go out of SYD (HNL and NRT for instance) so connection via SYD required. It's not that difficult a connection anyway.

Earlier this year I went via SYD to get on the QF A380 inaugural to SIN/LHR, but I started the journey in AKL so it'd have made no difference going via SYD or MEL.

 

[serfty]

• A388 Operation (yes I am a convert )
• Flounge "All Day Dining" menu rather than "breakfast"
• "mini" Tarmac tour

In reality, I have no issues - going via SYD generally earns more SC's in any case.

 

[wandering_fred]

When the competition and prices in SYD are comparable with SIN

No wandering this time.

Fred

 

[GoldCoastGuy]

• "mini" Tarmac tour

Do you mean the bus ride or the Official Tarmac Tour Airside Tarmac Tours

I've always wanted to do this tour, but have been waiting for a secondary reason to visit Sydney before making the effort to do it.


Evan :->

 

[serfty]

I've done the commercial "Tarmac Tour" once and the Qantas 'seamless' transfer tarmac tour, maybe 100 times.

 

[dot]

For me:

• destinations that don't have QF direct flights from MEL such as ICN, MNL, NRT
• timetables to that allow for daytime flights - Now that I am no longer entitled to J for 8+ hr flights, I try to avoid overnight flights, so my upcoming SIN-MEL is via SYD so that I can get the only Oz east coast flight that is not an overnight flight - it has the added benefit that I get to travel on the A380.

Apart from these factors, I prefer to fly direct from MEL, often to HKG for CX connections - more difficult due to point 2 above thses days.