Qantas car to airport - cutting it fine!

[barnsleybob]

Travelled to Melbourne airport using the car service was nerve wracking when the car didn't turn up for 25 minutes after booking time that the operator had suggested. Then a less than ideal route taken. We weren't late, luckily, but it was an overbooked flight and we received a phone call to ask if we were coming or not.Bob

 

[serfty]

Hi - interesting. That's really cutting it fine even without a 25 minute delay on pick-up. What time was your flight scheduled to depart and how much time did the recommendation give in the first place?

For me, I tend to not go with recommendations as to time of others as they are not me as I generally have different experience/needs.

Having lounge access helps, but for international travel I start with the departure time then, before even considering expected travel time, I subtract:

• 45 minutes for boarding,
• 15 minutes to navigate through duty free maze/terminal,
• 25 minutes for security/emigration,
• 15 minutes for check-in (if checking luggage/can't OLCI),
• 5 minutes to get from car drop off to check-in/security,
• 30 minutes lounge/finagal time (+90 minutes loading if Flounging).

So, before even considering travel time, I have 2¼ hours at a minimum (3¾ with Flounge).

So, for a 4pm departure with estimated travel time of 45 minutes I would be looking at a 1pm pick up at the latest (11:30am with Flounge).

 

[harvyk]

For DOM (as every INT flight for me starts as a DOM flight). I allow an hour minimum at the airport. So for a 7:00am flight, I will plan to be at the airport at 6:00am, which means leave home at 5:30am. If I am relying on someone else to take me to the airport I would allow an additional half an hour on top of that. So leave home at 5:00am. Yes I sometimes get teased by others about been super early, but I have yet to miss a flight.

I have cut it too fine once and it was not a pleasant feeling running through the airport praying that the plane didn't leave without me.

The way I figure it, I'd rather be relaxing in the lounge with coffee and pancakes or a beer / G&T, than sitting in traffic worried about making it on time, one way is super relaxing, the other way is stressful as nothing else.

 

[vitagen]

For domestic flights, I schedule to leave my house approximately 90m before scheduled departure time, usually gives me 20-25m in the lounge. If I'm travelling with someone, usually leave 2 hrs beforehand.

International I add between 30-60 minutes, so between 2-2.5 heading before departure depending if I'm travelling alone or with people.

 

[Major]

A time and space appreciation is imperative and as Serfty has suggested, always work backwards. You need to consider "worst case scenario" and factor in those timings.
If that then means more time in the lounge its a win/win situation

 

[sanne]

We are flying J MEL/LHR in September. If we decided to stay overnight at the airport hotel, would the transfer pick us up from our home the day before? Or can we only arrange it for same day. We're always concerned about traffic delays particularly with a long OS flight.

 

[serfty]

We are flying J MEL/LHR in September. If we decided to stay overnight at the airport hotel, would the transfer pick us up from our home the day before? Or can we only arrange it for same day. We're always concerned about traffic delays particularly with a long OS flight.

The T&C's indicate between 2½ and 5 hours before the flight - you may be able to call and negotiate a different time.

Qantas Chauffeur Drive Terms & Conditions

 

[sanne]

The T&C's indicate between 2½ and 5 hours before the flight - you may be able to call and negotiate a different time.

Qantas Chauffeur Drive Terms & Conditions

Thanks for directing me to the T&Cs.