Melbourne International Checkin

[snowyflyer]

Hi all,

Hoping to get other people's experiences when checking in at MEL international. I'll do my best to make the story as clear as I can!

I'm traveling on QF 9 this coming Friday with my partner which departs Mel at 22:55. I'm flying in from Perth on the same day and have confirmed that that I'll receive a boarding pass for QF9 in Perth and my checked bag will be held in Melbourne. My flight from Perth arrives at 11:45 so almost an 11 hour first lounge visit!

My partner is departing from Melbourne (not coming from Perth) and he decided to check today to see what time he could check in to join me and could only find one section that stated 3 hours before checkin. He was hoping to join me at about 17:00.

I decided to call Qantas premium. First I was told he couldn't check in before the 3 hours as checkin would be closed...I said what about QF95 & QF155, he then proceeded to tell me there was nowhere to store the bag...I said what about next to mine that would have been there for 5 hours already, he then proceeded to tell me there are strict rules so people don't check bags and leave the airport...I reminded him about Sydney's anytime checkin for international flights, he then said checkin for each flight number open 3 hours before each flight...I informed him about online checkin...the story goes on!!

In the end I gave up and decided 2 things... 1, I'll call QF customer care tomorrow and ask that they attempt to get Mel to allow him to drop his bag off before the three hour limit or 2, he'll be denied and call me, I'll approach a first host and get them to arrange something, hopefully without the need to create a scene!

I could understand if checkin was closed or if there were no baggage handlers to secure the bag but I think this is crazy!

Would love to know other people's experience!

 

[Hvr]

Hi snowyflyer, does your partner have any status? If like you they're WP then they could go to the F check in and ask there, especially if they have HLO. Maybe you could accompany them asking if your partner could check in so they can join you airside?

 

[TheInsider]

He will not be able to check the bags in any earlier then stipulated. Honestly makes no difference if SYD can do it, because it's a different airport with different authorities running the place.
MEL airport don't have early checkin and even if the bags did go down, I can nearly guarantee that the bags won't be loaded on to the plane.

 

[snowyflyer]

Hi HVR, he's only silver but we're on the same booking to LHR so he's already going to the first suite. I'll already be airside as I'll arrive at MEL about 5 hours before him, making it difficult to be at checkin with him.

If they make something so simple difficult while they have very vague policy I'll be really disappointed with a company I have such high regard for when it comes to good service and always looking after me when I fly.

 

[madrooster]

If they make something so simple difficult while they have very vague policy I'll be really disappointed with a company I have such high regard for when it comes to good service and always looking after me when I fly.

Generally, no other airline in MEL allows you to drop your bags earlier than the standard 3 or 4 hour check in time - so why should QF be expected to provide more than this? I believe you are expecting a bit much. Between QF95/155 and 9, there's a few hours where there are no QF staff at check in as check in for QF9 would open around 8pm.

SYD is a different issue altogether as there are flights departing SYD at pretty much all hours in that the 3 hours before departure for every QF flight ex-SYD, overlaps another flight's 3 hours (except the last flight QF21) which means SYD check in effectively is always open during the day. SYD also has baggage handlers staffing the bag room all day, since check in is open all day.

 

[mannej]

If they make something so simple difficult while they have very vague policy I'll be really disappointed with a company I have such high regard for when it comes to good service and always looking after me when I fly.

Disappointed with QF, yet chosen to ignore the post above yours stating it isn't possible?

I'm not sure I see the poor service if this is something outside of their control.

 

[snowyflyer]

I get that there's time between 95/155 and 9 however he's wanting to drop his bag off when these flights are open for checkin. In regards to bags being down stairs with no staff, mine will already be there as well as others as I'm sure I'm not the only person connecting to this flight from another city.

I'm not asking them to open checkin just for us or to complete an unrealistic task. I'm simply asking for them to take the bag so he can go air side!

 

[Austman]

It's possible if the QF F-check-in is open and available to your partner.

It's not published but they will hold a bag until T-4 (or whatever).

At least that's what they have told me. It might have been a initiative of the staff there so it could well be subject to change.

 

[madrooster]

In regards to bags being down stairs with no staff, mine will already be there as well as others as I'm sure I'm not the only person connecting to this flight from another city.

I wouldn't be surprised if QF domestic holds your bag until your flight is open for bag loading.

 

[OzEire]

Apart from trying to get large cases through the Xray machine, is there anything stopping him coming through to join you until check-in opens ? Eg. Is a BP required to clear security/outward immigration ? Could bags be stored in a locker and online checkin to get a BP ?

 

[madrooster]

Apart from trying to get large cases through the Xray machine, is there anything stopping him coming through to join you until check-in opens ? Eg. Is a BP required to clear security/outward immigration ? Could bags be stored in a locker and online checkin to get a BP ?

QF9 is an international flight which means it's necessary to clear outbound immigration.

 

[trixydoza]

11 hours of lounge time would be my idea of hell. Why not just head into town or a nice restaurant somewhere for a few hours, and meet up with him at MEL when he arrives? Or get a room at the airport hotel?

Seriously, the lounge isn't *that* nice.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Your flight from PER to MEL will be a domestic flight, so there is no way to get from T1 MELd directly to T2 MELi without going out into the open.
So you will have to go out past the automatic opening door at MELd, and then go into T2 via the walkway.
Yes, your passport would have had its data page dipped into the reader in PER, and you would have your Expresspath slip, and your BP, but you will still have to go into the "open area" aka public zone of MEL airport and go through int security screening, and also outgoing immigration as mentioned above.
No way to bypass int security or outgoing immigration. No hush hush way to slip from T1d to T2i.
You wont be immigration processed from PER. Passport data page dipped into QF computer is just so that QF have your API data, but you will still have to go through outgoing immigration in MEL.
Off topic: I have done ADL - MEL (VA) MEL - AKL (NZ), through ticketing same PNR.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes, to clear outgoing immigration, you need to show your passport, your OPC and your BP.
You cant get into the outgoing int secure area, and willy nilly come back out into the public zone again to "check in".
If you have been through int airports, you will know that at most 99.9% of airports, outgoing and incoming flights departing and arriving are on different storeys.
So you cant go into the int secure zone, and walk out again... unless you are airport staff with AviationSecurityID.

 

[BD1959]

Hi all,

Hoping to get other people's experiences when checking in at MEL international. I'll do my best to make the story as clear as I can!

I'm traveling on QF 9 this coming Friday with my partner which departs Mel at 22:55. I'm flying in from Perth on the same day and have confirmed that that I'll receive a boarding pass for QF9 in Perth and my checked bag will be held in Melbourne. My flight from Perth arrives at 11:45 so almost an 11 hour first lounge visit!

Agree with others here. The MEL FLounge is good but not for 11 hours!! I'd certainly be looking to head out into town.

My partner is departing from Melbourne (not coming from Perth) and he decided to check today to see what time he could check in to join me and could only find one section that stated 3 hours before checkin. He was hoping to join me at about 17:00.

I decided to call Qantas premium. First I was told he couldn't check in before the 3 hours as checkin would be closed...I said what about QF95 & QF155, he then proceeded to tell me there was nowhere to store the bag...I said what about next to mine that would have been there for 5 hours already, he then proceeded to tell me there are strict rules so people don't check bags and leave the airport...I reminded him about Sydney's anytime checkin for international flights, he then said checkin for each flight number open 3 hours before each flight...I informed him about online checkin...the story goes on!!

The issue here is quite simple: QF have dedicated flight check-in at MEL. Check-In for QF95 is for QF95 etc etce. I was going to suggest that - since you're both on the one itinerary (are you sure ... has he also commenced from PER or is your PER-MEL a separate booking?) - you leave the airport and meet him to use the First Check-In. Since neither QF95 nor QF155 have F - and I'm pretty sure I've passed the First Check-In early evening to see it closed - I don't think that would be open. Have you asked what time First Check-In opens in Melbourne in the evening (I'm guessing QF9 - 3 hrs!!)

If they make something so simple difficult while they have very vague policy I'll be really disappointed with a company I have such high regard for when it comes to good service and always looking after me when I fly.

The policy isn't at all vague. For MEL, airport check-in is 3hrs prior to flight. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as you'd like it to be and I'm sure QF aren't doing this just to disappoint you.

In the end I gave up and decided 2 things... 1, I'll call QF customer care tomorrow and ask that they attempt to get Mel to allow him to drop his bag off before the three hour limit or 2, he'll be denied and call me, I'll approach a first host and get them to arrange something, hopefully without the need to create a scene!

Let's hope so. However, just a friendly piece of advice. Go back and read some of your previous posts. They come across just a teeny, weeny DYKWIA-ish. Perhaps just try to rein-in your expectations to what Qantas *say* they can do rather than what you expect them to do (just for you) and I'm sure your flight will be very pleasant. Enjoy the FLounge, however long you happen to be in there - it's a great benefit for us WPs who aren't actually flying F.

Regards,

BD

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm traveling on QF 9 this coming Friday with my partner which departs Mel at 22:55. I'm flying in from Perth on the same day and have confirmed that that I'll receive a boarding pass for QF9 in Perth and my checked bag will be held in Melbourne. My flight from Perth arrives at 11:45 so almost an 11 hour first lounge visit!

My partner is departing from Melbourne (not coming from Perth) and he decided to check today to see what time he could check in to join me and could only find one section that stated 3 hours before checkin. He was hoping to join me at about 17:00.

You're probably already in PER however if you haven't flown MEL/PER yet you could take your partners bag to PER then check that through from PER.

The only other option would be for your partner to travel HLO.

 

[crankychick]

We've had this situation before in SYD on our way to AUH. Hubby was connecting to the flight in SYD from AKL and I was arriving into SYD from LAX on a separate ticket. I had luggage to check and couldn't check in for the flight to AUH until check-in 3 hours before the flight.

I stored my suitcase at SYD (the service is also available at MEL - google smartcare baggage MEL - I don't have enough posts to link) and booked an award ticket to get me through security to meet up with him and go to the lounge(s) which we later cancelled prior to the flight and had the miles redeposited.

 

[BD1959]

I stored my suitcase at SYD (the service is also available at MEL - google smartcare baggage MEL - I don't have enough posts to link) and booked an award ticket to get me through security to meet up with him and go to the lounge(s) which we later cancelled prior to the flight and had the miles redeposited.

Hi crankychick,

How easy/difficult is it to exit landside once you're in the departures hall, also: no strange looks at going through immigration 4 times in one day?!?

Regards,

BD

 

[opusman]

Your flight from PER to MEL will be a domestic flight, so there is no way to get from T1 MELd directly to T2 MELi without going out into the open.
So you will have to go out past the automatic opening door at MELd, and then go into T2 via the walkway.

The MEL terminals (other than the Tiger shed) are all connected internally (landside) - no need to go outdoors.

 

[crankychick]

Hi. Not sure about MEL - but we exited and entered SYD 4 times before the flight. No issues at all with customs/immigration. The agents were laughing at us - they got a kick out of it and remembered us each time. They did have to reopen the flight I arrived on since I arrived in the AM and we exited in the PM.

Honestly, it was really easy.