PER via SYD to CHC

[MattD]

Hi all.

Possible dilemma: transit time too short.

Flying with Qantas from Perth to Christchurch I must transit at Sydney around 7am.
Change from domestic to International (bags checked through i hope means no reclaim to clear security again?)
So I'm guessing bus across terminals and proceed to immigration (hopefully staying airside all the way?).
Clear immigration and head to departure gate and board plane.

Easy right ? .... Well easyish.
Transit time is 1hr and 5minutes.
Difficulty factor +5
Qantas say that it is doable. I have my doubts with that slow transit bus.

So for extra difficulty points add 1 cranky wife and two excited kids (7 and 9) having just enjoyed the midnight departure from Perth. None of whom are FFlyers.

Any advice or recommendations ?

thanks,
mattD

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Firstly, welcome to AFF!

When you check-in in PER, your bags will be checked through to CHC - so no need to collect them in SYD.

On arriving into SYD, head straight for gate 15, and have your boarding passes ready for the CHC flight (they will be scanned before boarding the transfer bus). On leaving the bus, you will go up an escalator, and into the main departures check-in area.

You can find the Express Path queue just to the left of the Qantas check-in desks. I would recommend asking for Express passes when you're dropping your bags off in PER, citing the short transit time (if they are not already given).

You will then need to clear immigration, and then int'l security - so perhaps use the time on your PER-SYD flight, or time on the transfer bus to prepare for security (ie. get your liquids in an easy to access pocket etc).

When you finally clear security, start following the duty free maze path, but after about 10-20 steps, turn around, and on your left you should see a passageway with Myer-like anti-theft walk-through gates. Cut through there, and you're out in the middle of the terminal.

If your flight happens to be early (or your CHC flight late) and you have lounge access, you'll find them by turning left, and taking the escalator up beside the Travelex. If not, you're somewhat central, and shouldn't be *too* far from most gates.

If they know you are coming (as your boarding passes will have been scanned as you entered onto the transfer bus), they may also consider holding the flight by 5 or 10 minutes (depending on the airport traffic that day).

You should be fine, but just don't stop to admire the 'duty free'!

EDIT: Just to note, when you return to Australia, you WILL need to collect your bags on arrival into SYD for Customs/Quarantine checks, before dropping them back off in the domestic transfer area for your flight home.

 

[chrisb]

I've done this trip a few times. Yes,it's tight. When I did it we were about 30mins late into Sydney, but there were apparently 45 people transiting from PER to CHC so they held the CHC flight for about 45mins. They had QF staff yelling at people to run all through the international terminal.

Worst case, I imagine you'll get rerouted on jetstar.

Oh and it's a horrid flight combination. Out of Perth at midnight and end up in Christchurch late afternoon from memory.

Oh, and depending on when you're going, air nz has direct Perth to Christchurch on some days. Far better, but sometimes QF loyalty wins even if they do hate Perth.

 

[ashleyn]

Firstly, welcome to AFF!

When you check-in in PER, your bags will be checked through to CHC - so no need to collect them in SYD.

On arriving into SYD, head straight for gate 15, and have your boarding passes ready for the CHC flight (they will be scanned before boarding the transfer bus). On leaving the bus, you will go up an escalator, and into the main departures check-in area.

You can find the Express Path queue just to the left of the Qantas check-in desks. I would recommend asking for Express passes when you're dropping your bags off in PER, citing the short transit time (if they are not already given).

You will then need to clear immigration, and then int'l security - so perhaps use the time on your PER-SYD flight, or time on the transfer bus to prepare for security (ie. get your liquids in an easy to access pocket etc).

When you finally clear security, start following the duty free maze path, but after about 10-20 steps, turn around, and on your left you should see a passageway with Myer-like anti-theft walk-through gates. Cut through there, and you're out in the middle of the terminal.

If your flight happens to be early (or your CHC flight late) and you have lounge access, you'll find them by turning left, and taking the escalator up beside the Travelex. If not, you're somewhat central, and shouldn't be *too* far from most gates.

If they know you are coming (as your boarding passes will have been scanned as you entered onto the transfer bus), they may also consider holding the flight by 5 or 10 minutes (depending on the airport traffic that day).

You should be fine, but just don't stop to admire the 'duty free'!

EDIT: Just to note, when you return to Australia, you WILL need to collect your bags on arrival into SYD for Customs/Quarantine checks, before dropping them back off in the domestic transfer area for your flight home.

Hi Chris, I will be doing CHC to PER via SYD in October with a pretty tight transfer. Can you please elaborate on the EDIT as to what I'll need to do and where ?

 

[harvyk]

Hi Chris, I will be doing CHC to PER via SYD in October with a pretty tight transfer. Can you please elaborate on the EDIT as to what I'll need to do and where ?

Whilst I'm not Chris, I do transit SYD INT-DOM a lot...

Basically your bags will be tagged from CHC-PER, however when you land at SYD you need to go through immi there. You need to pick up your bags from the carousel and go through customs. You then follow the signs to the QF dom transfer desk and drop you bags at the counter before boarding the bus to T3. QF will then transfer your bags onto your DOM flight.

 

[ashleyn]

Whilst I'm not Chris, I do transit SYD INT-DOM a lot...

Basically your bags will be tagged from CHC-PER, however when you land at SYD you need to go through immi there. You need to pick up your bags from the carousel and go through customs. You then follow the signs to the QF dom transfer desk and drop you bags at the counter before boarding the bus to T3. Your bags will be available for you in PER.

Great, thanks for that.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Hi Ashley,

On arrival into SYD, you will have one last chance to purchase any duty free. Then, you will clear passport control (or SmartGate), collect any checked bags, and then proceed through Quarantine (or just walk out, depending on if they would like to look at your bags).

Once passing through the arrivals doors (where everyone usually gathers to say hi to people as they arrive, turn right, and follow the Qantas Domestic Transfer signs. You'll leave the building for a moment, though it is a covered walkway in case the weather is poor.

Here, you can drop your bags off again for your domestic flight. If your bag was checked through to PER from CHC, it won't new a new tag. If you have a boarding pass, it'll be even faster!

I also see from your profile that you're a QF WP. Note that there is a priority WP/SG line on the very left of the baggage desks (don't just join the main queue).

After your bags are dropped, you'll then clear domestic security screening, before having your BP scanned as you board the domestic transfer bus. It will arrive at gate 15, and will let you straight into the terminal sterile area.

EDIT: The posts didn't update in the iPhone app, so I didn't see the response to the question. Oh well!

 

[ashleyn]

Hi Ashley,

On arrival into SYD, you will have one last chance to purchase any duty free. Then, you will clear passport control (or SmartGate), collect any checked bags, and then proceed through Quarantine (or just walk out, depending on if they would like to look at your bags).

Once passing through the arrivals doors (where everyone usually gathers to say hi to people as they arrive, turn right, and follow the Qantas Domestic Transfer signs. You'll leave the building for a moment, though it is a covered walkway in case the weather is poor.

Here, you can drop your bags off again for your domestic flight. If your bag was checked through to PER from CHC, it won't new a new tag. If you have a boarding pass, it'll be even faster!

I also see from your profile that you're a QF WP. Note that there is a priority WP/SG line on the very left of the baggage desks (don't just join the main queue).

After your bags are dropped, you'll then clear domestic security screening, before having your BP scanned as you board the domestic transfer bus. It will arrive at gate 15, and will let you straight into the terminal sterile area.

EDIT: The posts didn't update in the iPhone app, so I didn't see the response to the question. Oh well!

Thanks so much.

 

[MattD]

Firstly, welcome to AFF!

Snipped awesome answer

Thanks ChrisCh. Very informative.
Thanks also Chrisb.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Thanks so much.

Thanks ChrisCh. Very informative.

It's my pleasure.