No show on final leg of transit flight

[S215b]

I am planning to go to Bali with my FF points. I live in Melb and don't have enough points (points and pay) to do MEL-DPS return. I do have enough to do ADL-DPS return however. I could spend $40 on a cheap MEL-ADL flight then use pay and points for the Bali flights. Interestingly, the flight back comes via MEL. There is a number of hours layover and I imagine we clear customs here at MEL. If that is the case, can I then just make a late notice cancellation of the final (now domestic) leg from MEL to ADL. I do realise that I wouldn't get any refund or anything, but nor would I have to buy another $40 ticket to get back to MEL from ADL.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I am planning to go to Bali with my FF points. I live in Melb and don't have enough points (points and pay) to do MEL-DPS return. I do have enough to do ADL-DPS return however. I could spend $40 on a cheap MEL-ADL flight then use pay and points for the Bali flights. Interestingly, the flight back comes via MEL. There is a number of hours layover and I imagine we clear customs here at MEL. If that is the case, can I then just make a late notice cancellation of the final (now domestic) leg from MEL to ADL. I do realise that I wouldn't get any refund or anything, but nor would I have to buy another $40 ticket to get back to MEL from ADL.

just grab your bags and no show the last leg. in fact you could probably just tell DPS staff only check you in as far as MEL, it's no inconvenience to anyone if your bags are not checked in and you miss check-in.

 

[mella2007]

Agreed with Daz. Heaps of people do it (especially common in the states where it's cheaper sometimes for multi city than return etc etc)

 

[eric2011]

If it is a dedicated DPS-ADL flight then I would have thought you would be in transit at MEL and clear final customs at the completion of the flight when you hit ADL.

Just thinking out loud here but wotif you did a multicity ADL-DPS-MEL. havent looked if it is even possible with point+pay

 

[asg29e]

I am planning to go to Bali with my FF points. I live in Melb and don't have enough points (points and pay) to do MEL-DPS return. I do have enough to do ADL-DPS return however. I could spend $40 on a cheap MEL-ADL flight then use pay and points for the Bali flights. Interestingly, the flight back comes via MEL. There is a number of hours layover and I imagine we clear customs here at MEL. If that is the case, can I then just make a late notice cancellation of the final (now domestic) leg from MEL to ADL. I do realise that I wouldn't get any refund or anything, but nor would I have to buy another $40 ticket to get back to MEL from ADL.

If the final leg MEL-ADL is a domestic flight, there is no choice; you will have to clear customs in MEL, collect your bags and clear quarantine. At which point simply walk out of the airport.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What airlines will you be travelling on?

 

[harvyk]

If the final leg MEL-ADL is a domestic flight, there is no choice; you will have to clear customs in MEL, collect your bags and clear quarantine. At which point simply walk out of the airport.

Not true, if it's a domestic from international terminal, you remain airside at MEL T2 and clear customs in ADL, but without knowing the actual flight numbers it's a little hard to say.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Not true, if it's a domestic from international terminal, you remain airside at MEL T2 and clear customs in ADL, but without knowing the actual flight numbers it's a little hard to say.

It's not hard to say, Virgin don't fly MEL-ADL from the international terminal end of story.

edit: I just realised I made an assumption it's Virgin but I'm still pretty certain it is, and JQ don't fly international from MEL-ADL either nor do GA or any other airline... so he definitely is getting his bags in MEL

 

[asg29e]

Originally Posted by asg29e
If the final leg MEL-ADL is a domestic flight, there is no choice; you will have to clear customs in MEL, collect your bags and clear quarantine. At which point simply walk out of the airport.

Originally Posted by harvyk
Not true, if it's a domestic from international terminal, you remain airside at MEL T2 and clear customs in ADL, but without knowing the actual flight numbers it's a little hard to say.

It's not hard to say, Virgin don't fly MEL-ADL from the international terminal end of story.

edit: I just realised I made an assumption it's Virgin but I'm still pretty certain it is, and JQ don't fly international from MEL-ADL either nor do GA or any other airline... so he definitely is getting his bags in MEL

Sorry, my bad. I also made an assumption that the OP was flying domestic from domestic. If it is MEL international to ADL international, customs clearance would in fact be in ADL.

And I think Virgin actually do have one or two flights that do MEL international - ADL international, eg VA239 (codeshare DJ239)

So, without knowing the airline/flight numbers it is in fact hard to say

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Sorry, my bad. I also made an assumption that the OP was flying domestic from domestic. If it is MEL international to ADL international, customs clearance would in fact be in ADL.

And I think Virgin actually do have one or two flights that do MEL international - ADL international, eg VA239 (codeshare DJ239)

So, without knowing the airline/flight numbers it is in fact hard to say

DJ239 is domestic. There are no Virgin domestic flights leaving T2 from Melbourne

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Virgin Blue: Flight routes from Melbourne to Adelaide

I'm not saying these are flights you can book domestically, probably only as part of an international flight. I don't know for sure; don't fly DJ much.

Clicking on the above link states from Melbourne International Airport which is terminology for the entire airport comprising all terminals - it doesn't mean those flights depart from the international tetminal.

All the above QF flight numbers for example that operate MEL/ADL are numbered above QF400 indicating they depart & arrive from domestic terminals in both MEL & ADL.

 

[S215b]

Thanks for all the info. Flight DPS-MEL is DJ4152 and then MEL-ADL can be DJ 211 or 213 or 219. I just checked and I can book any of those flights just for the MEL-ADL so pretty sure all are domestic. Guess that means I will clear customes etc in MEL and forfeit the final leg.

 

[asg29e]

Clicking on the above link states from Melbourne International Airport which is terminology for the entire airport comprising all terminals - it doesn't mean those flights depart from the international tetminal.

All the above QF flight numbers for example that operate MEL/ADL are numbered above QF400 indicating they depart & arrive from domestic terminals in both MEL & ADL.

OK, cheers, I understand now.
So we are all agreed that S215b will be able to grab his bags at MEL and walk out the door?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

OK, cheers, I understand now.

So we are all agreed that S215b will be able to grab his bags at MEL and walk out the door?

It's not quite as simple as that.

I see a huge potential problem. Suppose the local staff in DPS check the pax all the way through to ADL? Even if they were asked by the pax to only be checked to MEL only the local staff may not know how to do that or tell the pax they have when they haven't.

Sure the pax has to clear customs with their pax in MEL but if they leave the airport & head home with the bag in their possession without telling airport staff they don't intend to travel the pax will show up as a fail to board passenger when DJ go to depart the flight MEL/ADL.

Then when DJ can't locate the passenger they will have to offload them & as the checkin system will show them as having checked luggage they will have to contact the baggage handlers to offload the bag as if the pax isn't going neither can his bag.

Now here lies the problem - the baggage handlers will have to strip the hold to search for the bag but as the passenger has it with him they will be sent on a wild goose chase as there is not bag to be found. This whole exercise could cause a significant delay to the flight & inconvenience a heap of passengers but disrupting their travel plans & potentially causing them to miss connecting flights.

If the OP is going to go ahead before he leaves MEL airport he should tell the staff he won't be taking the MEL/ADL flight and he has his bag with him. They can then offload him from the flight then rather than have the whole thing turn into a circus later.

 

[serfty]

...

Now here lies the problem - the baggage handlers will have to strip the hold to search for the bag but as the passenger has it with him they will be sent on a wild goose chase as there is not bag to be found. This whole exercise could cause a significant delay to the flight & inconvenience a heap of passengers but disrupting their travel plans & potentially causing them to miss connecting flights....

I doubt it - the bags won;t show on the systems as having been (re)lodged/loaded into the hold.

...
..
If the OP is going to go ahead before he leaves MEL airport he should tell the staff he won't be taking the MEL/ADL flight and he has his bag with him. They can then offload him from the flight then rather than have the whole thing turn into a circus later.

Agree with that - although they may try to tell him the OP is breaking their end of the contact ...