MEL Int. Transit Airside only possible? MEL - OOL JQ11

[Croupier]

Arriving on QF36 with carry on bags only and would like to stay airside to maximise shower time and brekkie in the F lounge. Is this doable? Concerned transit area might be closed also will they insist I clear immi in Melbourne?

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Arriving on QF36 with carry on bags only and would like to stay airside to maximise shower time and brekkie in the F lounge. Is this doable? Concerned transit area might be closed also will they insist I clear immi in Melbourne?

Transit security for MEL international is hit and miss being open. If not open then use the phone on the wall and wait about 10-15 minutes.

In theory you should be fine, but will probably need to explain at lounge, at gate and again on arrival in OOL that you connected from an international flight (hence no D sticker).

 

[RichardMEL]

Also, how will you get your JQ BP (let alone D sticker?).

I suppose being HLO you could *TRY* and do int connection and "enter the country" in OOL, but I'm really not confident that this would be OK.

 

[opusman]

Don't you have to clear customs at first port of entry? Even though you are HLO you will still have luggage that needs to go through customs.

 

[dajop]

Don't you have to clear customs at first port of entry?.

If doing an airside transfer (assuming A passenger has correct boarding pass) they are considered as an international passenger until they pass through immigration, in this instance at OOL. No D sticker is needed.

Many years ago I’ve done this sort of connection a couple of times when QF2 used to do tag flight from SYD-MEL. Once on QF2 from BKK and another time connecting from SFO at SYD and onto QF2. Treated as an ordinary international passenger on arrival in MEL.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Assuming too that the JQ flight is not cancelled in which case then you will need to get to MEL T4 to get a domestic flight to OOL.
Worst is if you have to get to AVV.

 

[Croupier]

Thanks for everyone’s valued input.
Croupier.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

If doing an airside transfer (assuming A passenger has correct boarding pass) they are considered as an international passenger until they pass through immigration, in this instance at OOL. No D sticker is needed.

Many years ago I’ve done this sort of connection a couple of times when QF2 used to do tag flight from SYD-MEL. Once on QF2 from BKK and another time connecting from SFO at SYD and onto QF2. Treated as an ordinary international passenger on arrival in MEL.

That is my experience too - for SYD-CNS, SYD-MEL, SYD-ADL and all vv

 

[Croupier]

Seeing this will be on a separate ticket does anyone see any issues with getting a mobile/online BP or getting a BP from Jetstar in SIN?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I think its best not to play around with this.
The QF36 arrives at 5.35am, hopefully you make it for the MEL T1 to OOL, but if that is cancelled, they might just put you and any other pax onto the flight from AVV at 10am to OOL, meaning a trek from T1 to AVV, and I am sure it won't be a fun bus or taxi, probably a taxi ride.
If it all works out dandy, you get your wish, but if that JQi flight from T1 to OOL does get cancelled, it will all go pear shaped.
I don't hold a lot of hope of making JQ flights, when I flew them those several times.
I made mentally sure to prepare for the worst, touch wood it my domestic passenger on an international flight (JQi) MEL - SYD and SYD - MEL worked in my favour, but the one that I needed, a purely JQd flight, last one for the day, about 17.00 MEL T1 (at that time now its all MEL T4), to ADL, got cancelled on me.
They (JQd) wanted to put me onto a JQd flight to ADL the next day, $150 hotel voucher, but I needed to work in ADL very early the day of the replacement flight.
In the end I paid an extra $199 for a QFd flight.
This was about 2 years ago now, and put me off flying JQ again.
More chances of them cancelling flights that puts me off.
Best of luck, and I hope it works out for you OP.
Also, is that JQ flight a true international one, or a positioning one?
The orange sticker in JQ BP procedure might be the only way to get onto that flight.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Just had a look, because JQ11 looks like a tag flight, ie, not everyday that it flies out of MEL to OOL, most of the time, its SYD - OOL, that MEL - OOL flight might be an orange D sticker on the MEL issued BP only, and your idea to try and get a BP, online or in SIN won't work.
There is no way to get that orange sticker in the transit zone, I know, I have done it several times, counter only opens 3 hours prior to flight, and have to show passport to get a BP and do it like that, with the orange sticker with D on it.
And at MEL/SYD, when I did it, they took the JQ BP withe the D off me.
So I did not get to use Smartgate.
OP, I think its just too troublesome to do it this time round.
Not only what if the JQ11 is cancelled, more so its that orange sticker procedure.
Even if JQ11 is not cancelled, and its still for take off, if that is the only way to get onto that JQ flight, is the orange sticker way, then you need to process into MEL immi, and then get out to the open zone, go to counter to get orange D sticker and JQ BP, and then into the secure T2 international zone again.
Orange sticker means no Smartgate, so you have to go a counter.
By all means, try it, but I think with this being JQ, it probably won't succeed.

 

[moa999]

But if you managed to do it you shouldn't get a D sticker, as you still need to clear immigration into Australia.

Personally suspect the answer will be a No, even if you managed to get a BP (can't do online for these flights), as immigration will want you to clear at first point in Australia.

(Albeit what happens on QF10 LHR-PER-MEL?)

 

[Austman]

I've done many international to international transfers within Australia.

No D-sticker needed. No first point baggage clearance (with checked-though baggage) although I'm usually HLO.

At least not for me!

 

[dajop]

Personally suspect the answer will be a No, even if you managed to get a BP (can't do online for these flights), as immigration will want you to clear at first point in Australia.

(Albeit what happens on QF10 LHR-PER-MEL?)

Australia is not like the US, it does not require immigration at first point of entry, and allows passengers to transit to flights between international terminals and clearing immigration and customs after the last sector arriving at an international terminal.

The biggest problem may be getting the boarding pass in the first place.

 

[JessicaTam]

I've done many international to international transfers within Australia.

No D-sticker needed. No first point baggage clearance (with checked-though baggage) although I'm usually HLO.

At least not for me!

Agreed.

Australia is not like the US, it does not require immigration at first point of entry, and allows passengers to transit to flights between international terminals and clearing immigration and customs after the last sector arriving at an international terminal.

The biggest problem may be getting the boarding pass in the first place.

@Croupier, you will not need a D sticker. Don't even go looking for one - you are an international passenger. Despite @AustraliaPoochie's comments.

You can get your BP at the boarding gate when it opens.

Have your booking details printed out, take to the F lounge and explain to the staff, enter and enjoy.