Luggage AA to QF in Sydney

[newmarket]

I could only find old threads. I'm flying AA from LAX to SYD and need to book a separate ticket to BNE. Is AA able to check my luggage through to BNE on QF on a separate PNR?

I just don't want to lug my bags on the bus to the domestic terminals if I don't have to. If I have to, my preference is to fly on VA.

Thanks!

 

[Katie]

You'll need to collect your bags and go through Customs with them in Sydney anyway. If you are going to a QF domestic flight, you drop off your bags at the domestic drop off, go through security, and then catch an airside bus to the QF terminal, carrying only your hand luggage.

I am not sure what the options would be for transferring to a VA domestic flight, but I'm sure someone else here will know.

 

[newmarket]

Thanks Katie,

I realise that I need to clear customs, but will AA check them to QF on separate tickets. It’s a real hassle to use the regular transfer bus with bags.

Thanks

 

[Katie]

@newmarket - if you are transferring to a Qantas domestic flight after arriving in Sydney on an AA international flight, there is no "transfer bus with bags"
The Qantas domestic transfer bag drop off is a short walk from the international terminal, maybe 200m. You walk and drop your checked luggage there, regardless of whether AA checked it through (which they actually won't do if separate PNRs). If the bags aren't tagged for SYD-BNE, you can get tag/scanned for Q-Tags at the domestic transfer.

Then you proceed through security, and board the airside transfer bus with only your carry on. The transfer bus will take you to near gate 15 of the Qantas Sydney dometic terminal, and Qantas baggage staff will transfer your baggage to the domestic terminal and on to your flight.

 

[Anna]

It won't matter whether AA will or won't. At the SYD international terminal you can go to the QF domestic checkin and check in for your QF domestic sector, drop your bag there and then get the bus across to the QF domestic terminal. Your bag does not need to be already checked through to your domestic destination.

 

[newmarket]

Thanks everyone. I don’t think that I am asking the question very well.

I have two separate tickets. AA LAX to SYD and then QF SYD to BNE. Does anyone know if AA will check bags through to SYD at LAX?

These are 2 separate PNR’s and not a single ticket with partners.

Thanks again.

 

[JohnM]

It won't matter. Collect your bag, go through Customs and front the transfer desk and re-check your bag. You won't have to take it across to the domestic terminal yourself. The transfer desk/re-check operates as a domestic check-in, even though it's in the international terminal.

 

[dajop]

The answer is clear - your bags won’t get through checked or even tagged to BNE. You will need to collect them at SYD, as does everyone.

What everyone is saying is you then get to check in for your domestic flight at the international terminal - so you walk 100m, check in and drop your bags at the QF check in area in the international terminal for your flight to BNE, go through security and board the bus to domestic.

 

[Katie]

AA will not tag bags through on separate PNRs/tickets, even when it's oneworld airlines. There may be some specific exclusions to this, but basically that's how it works for your scenario.

In any case, it's entirely irrelevant if they will tag the bags through to BNE or not, given that regardless of how your flights are ticketed, you must collect them in Sydney, and you must drop them off at the Qantas domestic transfer drop off area, which is a short walk from the international arrivals.

If your bags were tagged through to Brisbane, you would drop off the bag at the drop off counter at the domestic transfer.
If your bags were not tagged through to Brisbane, you would still go to the domestic transfer area, but line up to check in and get your bags tagged to BNE.

In both scenarios, Qantas takes your bags from you at the domestic transfer desk, and you proceed through security there at the transfer, and ride the transfer bus airside to the domestic terminal. Then you go to the lounge, or go to your gate and fly back to Brisvegas.

From the Qantas website on transfers from Sydney international to Qantas and QantasLink (not Jetstar) flights:

Sydney T1 international airport guide | Qantas
Transferring from T1 (international airport) to T2 and T3 (domestic airports)

​

The transfer lounge is located on the arrivals level of Sydney International Airport. After you clear customs, follow the signs located outside the terminal; entry is outside of the main terminal within a short walk via a weather protected walkway. Recheck your baggage at the seamless transfer check-in counters and then board the shuttle bus for the domestic terminal. It operates from:

• 6 am to 12 pm every 10 minutes
• 12 pm to 9 pm every 20 minutes.

The bus arrives at T3 at Gate 15. Check the screens for departure gate information.

Passengers connecting to a flight not operated by Qantas or QantasLink should refer to the Sydney airport website for further information on transfer options.