Minimum time for domestic to international transfer - no ticket connection

[drcam]

Decided that I am finally due for a trip home to see my family.
Flying MEL-SYD domestically and then SYD-KUL-HGH on AirAsia flatbed, leaving SYD at 2045.

What is the LATEST time my domestic flight can arrive in Sydney for me to make the connection?
What is your recommended time? I don't want to have to take a whole extra day off work.

 

[tomlee1986]

For international flights, need 2 hours to connect with connected tickets - even more for you because you don't have connecting ticket, thus you need to take your bags and re-check in at Sydney... I would say around 4 hours at a minimum because Domestic and International are different buildings

Edit - I stand corrected... should be 4 hrs instead of 3 hours for you because of your non connected tickets

 

[docjames]

I wouldn’t even contemplate this on less than 3hr connection, and would be aiming for more like 4.

You have no protection separately ticketed, and you are connecting to a LCC So need to allow for checkin cutoff. You’ll need to wait for luggage on your inbound flight to arrive, then get it to the train, and then train to the other terminal. If your inbound flight is late, you’re snookered. So the extra hour is really to “protect” you from a late arrival On MEL-SYD.

On connected tickets (luggage checked through), I still like ~2hrs but it’s bookable down to 90min I believe.

 

[randompunter]

I agree with the posts above, you could get lucky but I also wouldn't risk it under 4 hours. A delayed inbound flight could really screw you over. So unfortunately you may have to take that extra day / half day leave for peace of mind.

Doing the transfer the other way around a few weeks back (which should take even longer) the stars aligned and I reckon we made it from the plane (Bamboo from SGN) to the VA lounge in under an hour. Everything just worked out perfectly and was the opposite of a previous experience in SYD a few years earlier where everything took forever and had massive queues. This time we were in J so off the plane first, had to see a human at immigration due to having an infant but there was no queue. Bags came out quickly, no queue at customs. Checked in bags with VA down the far end and then a walk all the way back to near the Rydges for the T bus. Got lucky again as the bus departed within 5 mins. No queue at dom security. So we got to spend 3.5 hours in the lounge, nice and relaxed.

 

[AIRwin]

Flying MEL-SYD domestically and then SYD-KUL-HGH on AirAsia flatbed, leaving SYD at 2045.

No direct MEL-KUL?

 

[Quickstatus]

No direct MEL-KUL?

There is, however that arrives after midday whereas the SYD-KUL arrives at 4am which allows for the morning connection to HGH - no need to deal with Msia immigration.

 

[harvyk]

I agree with the consensus, 4 hours minimum.

All it would take is a weather delay and anything shorter will suddenly end up feeling very short.

You've also got the terminal transfer which takes time.

On a connected ticket, I don't book anything less than 2 hours connection time for DOM to INT in SYD. So two separate tickets I would double that at a minimum.

 

[mt4789]

4 hours sounds good:

• 30 mins arrival, deplane + bag collect
• 20 mins transfer terminal (train)
• 30 mins bag drop off (and check in)
• 30 mins security
• 1hr starts boarding priority customers early

Add 1 hr contingency for late arrival or any other residual delays.