Logistics & Baggage MEL-BNE-LAX

[wannabaff]

Hi all
Travelling MEL-BNE-LAX in July on FF points.
The MEL-BNE leg is Domestic.
Also travelling with golf clubs so will need to purchase excess baggage.
My questions:
- Can I check baggage through from MEL to LAX or will I need to collect and recheck in BNE?
- If I can check all the way through, should I trust the self-check?
- Re the pre-purchase for excess baggage - do I need to buy separate for both legs or will the $105 for the Americas (if I am reading this right) apply from MEL-LAX? Or do I need to buy MEL-BNE and then BNE-LAX?
Advice appreciated.
Thanks

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hi all
Travelling MEL-BNE-LAX in July on FF points.
The MEL-BNE leg is Domestic.
Also travelling with golf clubs so will need to purchase excess baggage.
My questions:
- Can I check baggage through from MEL to LAX or will I need to collect and recheck in BNE?
- If I can check all the way through, should I trust the self-check?
- Re the pre-purchase for excess baggage - do I need to buy separate for both legs or will the $105 for the Americas (if I am reading this right) apply from MEL-LAX? Or do I need to buy MEL-BNE and then BNE-LAX?
Advice appreciated.
Thanks

I'm not 100% sure if you're flying QF so the following advice is based on that assumption.

If your MEL/BNE/LAX is all in the one booking your baggage allowance will be based on the piece system so your free allowance is 2 pieces @ 23kg per piece. If you are only taking your golf clubs plus one suitcase you are within your allowance so no excess baggage is applicable on your ticket Australia/USA/Australia.

At MEL Domestic terminal you will need to go to the service desk ie not the Next Gen kiosks so they can check your passport, ESTA (US Visa) & obtain a contact address for you in the USA then check you in all the way to LAX. You are able to complete certain details yourself at the kiosk eg scan passport & enter USA address details & it will print out your bag tags MEL/BNE/LAX but you will still need to see a person to get your boarding passes so would be quicker to do this from the outset.

At BNE you will need to make your way to the international terminal via the TBus & there is a bus stop right outside the domestic terminal.

Any travel within the USA would obviously be on a separate ticket to your freq flyer redemption so baggage fees would apply for both your suitcase and clubs which is generally around USD20.00 per piece.

There are a couple of airlines that are the exception here eg Southwest Airlines (WN) who allow 2 pieces & Jetblue (B6) who allow 1 piece. Make sure each item doesn't exceed 50 pounds or 23 kilos or you'll get slugged a heavy fee too.

Also flights to/from Canada generally allow a free baggage allowance.

 

[wannabaff]

Hi Oz
Thanks for that. Phew! I thought I was up for at least $105 for additional baggage to America. Also thanks for advice about going to the service desk - that's great.
Interesting your comments about the Canada flights. I am flying Westjet and it looks to me like I'm up for excess charges on them but I will check again given your comments.
Thanks again, wannabaff

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hi Oz
Thanks for that. Phew! I thought I was up for at least $105 for additional baggage to America. Also thanks for advice about going to the service desk - that's great.
Interesting your comments about the Canada flights. I am flying Westjet and it looks to me like I'm up for excess charges on them but I will check again given your comments.
Thanks again, wannabaff

I'm pretty when I was thinking of flying AC SFO/YYC or WS LAS/YYC that I looked into that & they allowed free baggage possibly 2 pieces. Just do a dummy booking on the airlines websites & it will tell you the baggage allowance then bug-out before the payment screen.