Multi booking SYD connection INT-DOM

[Colesmore]

I'd like to wish you all a very happy holiday period.

I'm planning a trip back to Australia this time next year, and will likely be arriving into Sydney on BA15 (Avios 2-4-1 booking) at around 7am I then need to have a seperately booked VA flight to Melbourne.

Notwithstanding all the usual caveats (covid, security, baggage handlers strike, bus flat tyre etc) what's the general consensus on a reasonable time to book the VA flight for? This would need to account for clearing immigration ( Aussie traveling with English partner and child), collecting bags, transfering and then checking in for the VA flight. I was thinking 3-3.5 hrs would be sufficient? And also assuming the timelines are roughly similar to pre-covid...

I'm Platinum and will be flying Business - as I understand this means I can alter the flight any time before departure for free (+ fare difference) and also fly ahead. But in business not sure how likely having 2 seats available for fly ahead would be during the holiday period.

Overall keen to minimise time on the ground in Sydney and don't fancy spending the night ( or part of a day)

Thanks for any input!

 

[serfty]

I can alter the flight any time before departure for free (+ fare difference) and also fly ahead. But in business not sure how likely having 2 seats available for fly ahead would be during the holiday period.

I'd look for a midday initial booking. It may take 2 hours to get though customs and across to T2. Even if quicker, say an hour, and you are unable to fly ahead that only three and a half hours in the lounge. Also, there's generally less enthusiasm for Business class on morning flights.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

You will also have to contend with the VA bus, if its re started up by then, from T1 at SYD, far left end, facing the Rydges, or a taxi.
If the bus has restarted, and if pax numbers are low, you might have half the bus to yourself.
Edit: according to the VA website, Tbus is running from T1 to T2, but half an hour rotation.
If there is no sign of the bus, then a taxi, or Uber on the app would be the next best thing.
Depending on how heavy your bags area, the train might be the next best thing, but with a young child, faster to T2 at SYD, maybe a taxi/Uber.
Train is the public train, but you pay a bit of a surcharge, on top of the tickets.
You can now use a credit/debit card to pay, but for 3, maybe need to go to counter to see how much for 3, if travelling singly, or 2 adults, I would say use a credit/debit card.
As the 2 flights are unlinked, and you would not have any advantages of dropping bags off at QF T1, (ie, you have to carry them yourselves), so maybe a lunch time or mid arvo flight would be a good bet.
But as you can see of late, esp these past few days, VA and J* have been cancelling flights, due to lack of crew.
A bit too far forward to your trip, but I would leave it a few hours at the least.
If you were flying QF, you could pop into T1 QF INT - DOM and use the internal road bus, if its started by then too, that's a consideration.
A lot of waffly, but give it a few hours.
Edit: could/would be able/willing to fly QF on that SYD - MEL sector though, J/Y/discY?
If so, you could see if bag drop after collecting them for customs/quarantine check, then get the QF bus (if its re started), by then, and get the bus on the internal road to T3.
As of now, QF website asks pax to use Tbus, which is the non QF's own bus.
Sydney Airport website says the Tbus is running, but some on ExecutiveTraveller says not, maybe the Sydney Airport website hasn't updated info it, about inter terminal transfers.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Post 3 above: hmmm!

If VA in Dec 2022 is like it was pre CV19 (2019) VA will have a check in area & bag drop in T1.
Both QF (turn right exiting immigration) & VA (turn left exiting immigration) have a lot of pax arriving who travel on separate domestic tickets, so have check in and bag drop in T1. Only some pax have I-D on one ticket.

But as you trip is Dec 2022 (~12 months) I would check again in say October

 

[SYD]

Train is the public train, but you pay a bit of a surcharge, on top of the tickets.
You can now use a credit/debit card to pay, but for 3, maybe need to go to counter to see how much for 3, if travelling singly, or 2 adults, I would say use a credit/debit card.

Hopefully the transfer buses are back to normal by then but if not, according to my Opal app, the train is currently $4.99 pp for the 1 min trip. Child (4-16yo) concessions are available but you’d need to go to a ticket machine for a single concession ticket. Younger ride free.

The T2 station is closer to the VA terminal.

As above, if in bound is on time, a noon connection ought to be ok and hopefully the option to fly ahead if you can.

 

[Colesmore]

Thanks all. Brilliant info. Like my booking it appears there's many moving pieces at Sydney airport to fall into place to say how this might go, but this is excellent info. I shall book the mid-day flight and wait patiently for Covid to throw spanners into the whole operation.

I'll report back how we get on