Q's re CNS domestic-> international transfers, QP and TRS

[Deewhy]

I'm heading to SYD-CNS-NRT and reverse in January and as it's my first time on JQ and via CNS, so I have some queries:

1. The SYD-CNS leg is domestic, so I assume I'll have to pickup luggage and re-check in CNS for the onward flight?
2. Is the TRS desk beyond the customs departure in CNS? Is there much of a queue?
3. I am intending on using one-off passes in the QP as I have a 4 hour layover between flights (got them as complimentaries from various CC sign ons, and CC pts transfers); Is it practical to checkin at Int'l, walk back to use the domestic QP, and walk back to Int'l again? How long is required to do this (got a couple of "littlies" with me)
4. Coming back in the reverse direction, both flights are international. So do I clear customs at CNS, or remain have to remain airside? Is baggage checked through to SYD?
5. I intend to use more QP passes again in the Qantas NRT lounge - as it's a QF operated lounge, I gather I can get into that as well?

Thanks

 

[MYT105]

Having traveled via Cairns to Port Moresby a few times, I can answer some of your questions

1. I think you should be able to check in your bags in Sydney all the way through, but have not flown Jetstar so they maybe different.

2. The TRS desk is beyond the customs and immigration, as regards being busy I am not sure as it is always quite and usually unmanned at 5-6am, but there is a phone to call for someone to come to process a claim at that hour, during the day it would vary and depend on how many people are making claims.

3. If you are flying Jetstar all the way they should be able to check you in at the start of the trip all the way, but have not flown Jetstar so they maybe different. The walk is about 5-10 minutes each way, and you will need to go through security on the way back into the domestic terminal to access the lounge, so with a couple of "littlies", I would be doubling that so you would end up spending nearly an hour going back and forth between the Domestic to International then back to the Domestic and then back to the International again, then depending on how busy the International is it could be another 30+mins to clear Immigration and Security, and boarding usually starts 30+mins before the flight. So you would be spending a lot of time moving around for what would possibly be 1 hour in the lounge, and it is not all that special a lounge, but better then the Reef lounge in the International terminal. If you are checked all the way through then it might be worth trying to access the domestic lounge as you get off the plane and then it would maybe allow you about 2 hours in there before moving to the International terminal.

4. On the return if both flights are International and you arrive into the International terminal in Sydney at the end then you would only be transiting in Carin's so you would be able to remain air side and clear customs in Sydney.

5. I haven't been there so can't help on that one.

 

[eastwest101]

I'm heading to SYD-CNS-NRT and reverse in January and as it's my first time on JQ and via CNS, so I have some queries:

1. The SYD-CNS leg is domestic, so I assume I'll have to pickup luggage and re-check in CNS for the onward flight?
2. Is the TRS desk beyond the customs departure in CNS? Is there much of a queue?
3. I am intending on using one-off passes in the QP as I have a 4 hour layover between flights (got them as complimentaries from various CC sign ons, and CC pts transfers); Is it practical to checkin at Int'l, walk back to use the domestic QP, and walk back to Int'l again? How long is required to do this (got a couple of "littlies" with me)
4. Coming back in the reverse direction, both flights are international. So do I clear customs at CNS, or remain have to remain airside? Is baggage checked through to SYD?
5. I intend to use more QP passes again in the Qantas NRT lounge - as it's a QF operated lounge, I gather I can get into that as well?

I have transferred at CNS on the way to Japan a few times so may have some answers.

1. Yes pick up luggage from JQ domestic and a 400m walk from the CNS domestic to INT terminal.

2. As far as I know you need to check-in/bag drop at the CNS International JQ counter, and then go through security and customs/immigration. Checkin was pretty slow last time I did this. Is a TRS desk a transfer desk? If so - I don't think JQ have one and not sure why you would need it anyway.

3. Pretty impractical to check-in for a JQi flight and then return to CNS domestic Qantas Club as you then have to rush back to the Int terminal and get through security, customs and immigration before boarding a flight, and think how hot/wet the walk from Dom to Int terminals will be given the wet season in CNS in Jan. The few times I have done it - the CNS departures security/customs and immigration was actually pretty efficient, arrivals is a different story.

4. Check your itinerary again, leaving Narita - if you are on JQ12 then you are transiting in Coolongatta, if you are on JQ26 then you are stopping in CNS and going JQd after that. If you really do have a transit in Cairns its likely you will be on a JQi A330 from NRT-CNS and plonked onto a JQ domestic A320 flight, this of course will require arrival and immigration process in CNS international and then tranfer to CNS domestic for a domestic A320 JQ flight CNS-SYD. After an overnight flight in a JQi A330 from Japan to CNS and say a -34 hour wait in CNS with children I imagine you will end up taking a nap somewhere (possibly the CNS domestic qantas Club if possible, then the joy of the 3hour flight from CNS-SYD crammed into a JQd A320. Although very polite - the Jetstar staff in NRT won't be able to check your baggage through to SYD as you have to collect your baggage and clear customs and immigration in CNS and you will be transferring to a JQ domestic flight after that.

5. Someone else may know if the NRT QF lounge is open at night, if there are no QF flights leaving NRT at that time of night its possible the QF NRT Lounge could be closed, as most of the JQi services to Australia leave between 8-10pm if I remember correctly. If it is open you should be able to get in but watch out for no of passenger/guests vs no of kids situation.

 

[markis10]

2. As far as i know you need to check-in/bag drop at the cns international jq counter, and then go through security and customs/immigration. Checkin was pretty slow last time i did this. Is a trs desk a transfer desk? If so - i don't think jq have one and not sure why you would need it anyway.

trs = tax refund!

 

[eastwest101]

trs = tax refund!

Of course! <slaps self on forehead>

To the OP - sorry - I remember seeing a TRS desk airside at CNS international but don't recall if it was open/closed or busy or not...

 

[bass_ke]

I've used TRS it twice for the early arvo JQ to japan flights and never had to wait.

Checkin for the JQ flight at CNS international has always been raging though, so much so that last time we walked to the service desk to ask how much an upgrade to *class was for both us, the $200 or so each was worth it just to avoid the line!

 

[eastwest101]

Checkin for the JQ flight at CNS international has always been raging though, so much so that last time we walked to the service desk to ask how much an upgrade to *class was for both us, the $200 or so each was worth it just to avoid the line!

Yes especially when its ski season in Japan and if the flight is full then luggage checkin seems to take forever! We asked for the upgrade to * class but he figure quoted was so ridiculous that it wasn't worth it for us on that particular flight.

 

[Deewhy]

3. Pretty impractical to check-in for a JQi flight and then return to CNS domestic Qantas Club as you then have to rush back to the Int terminal and get through security, customs and immigration before boarding a flight, and think how hot/wet the walk from Dom to Int terminals will be given the wet season in CNS in Jan. The few times I have done it - the CNS departures security/customs and immigration was actually pretty efficient, arrivals is a different story.

4. Check your itinerary again, leaving Narita - if you are on JQ12 then you are transiting in Coolongatta, if you are on JQ26 then you are stopping in CNS and going JQd after that. If you really do have a transit in Cairns its likely you will be on a JQi A330 from NRT-CNS and plonked onto a JQ domestic A320 flight, this of course will require arrival and immigration process in CNS international and then tranfer to CNS domestic for a domestic A320 JQ flight CNS-SYD. After an overnight flight in a JQi A330 from Japan to CNS and say a -34 hour wait in CNS with children I imagine you will end up taking a nap somewhere (possibly the CNS domestic qantas Club if possible, then the joy of the 3hour flight from CNS-SYD crammed into a JQd A320. Although very polite - the Jetstar staff in NRT won't be able to check your baggage through to SYD as you have to collect your baggage and clear customs and immigration in CNS and you will be transferring to a JQ domestic flight after that.

5. Someone else may know if the NRT QF lounge is open at night, if there are no QF flights leaving NRT at that time of night its possible the QF NRT Lounge could be closed, as most of the JQi services to Australia leave between 8-10pm if I remember correctly. If it is open you should be able to get in but watch out for no of passenger/guests vs no of kids situation.

Thanks for the info.
Seems like I'll try the reef lounge via priority pass if the QF lounge is too far to walk back to.

tix says JQ26 arrives and JQ16 departs Cns intl on the way back from Nrt. Arrives in SYD intl terminal. I don't have the itinerary with me, so not sure the flight numbers. So I gather we just transit airside in Cns.

Found opening hrs of the q lounge is 830pm so we should be right there.

Thanks again!

 

[bass_ke]

Don't expect too much at the reef lounge!

 

[eastwest101]

tix says JQ26 arrives and JQ16 departs Cns intl on the way back from Nrt. Arrives in SYD intl terminal. I don't have the itinerary with me, so not sure the flight numbers. So I gather we just transit airside in Cns.

Found opening hrs of the q lounge is 830pm so we should be right there.

OK yes - if thats what the itinerary says then you are correct - stay airside at CNS international, but as others say - don't expect too much from the Reef Lounge. How were you able to book JQ26 NRT-CNS and then JQ16 CNS-SYD? Online on the JQ site?

 

[Deewhy]

OK yes - if thats what the itinerary says then you are correct - stay airside at CNS international, but as others say - don't expect too much from the Reef Lounge. How were you able to book JQ26 NRT-CNS and then JQ16 CNS-SYD? Online on the JQ site?

Thanks for the reef lounge warning folks.

I did the booking via JQ website, this was the cheapest return leg option and the shortest travel time. Via GC was more exxy and I think the other option for CNS had the later return time. However, it wasn't until ticketed that I realized the return leg would end up at the intl terminal in Sydney. Bit of a pain as i plan to park at the dom terminal!

However, I shouldn't complain too much as two weeks after I booked in economy, I was still hunting for upgrades to star class at a reasonable price, and low and behold, the return leg star class NRT-SYD (albeit only to CNS) became the same price as the price I paid for economy. So i took it. So at least I can try and sleep a bit better than in Econ.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

tix says JQ26 arrives and JQ16 departs Cns intl on the way back from Nrt. Arrives in SYD intl terminal. I don't have the itinerary with me, so not sure the flight numbers. So I gather we just transit airside in Cns.

Found opening hrs of the q lounge is 830pm so we should be right there.

Thanks again!

What are your flight numbers on the outbound sector?

I did the booking via JQ website, this was the cheapest return leg option and the shortest travel time. Via GC was more exxy and I think the other option for CNS had the later return time. However, it wasn't until ticketed that I realized the return leg would end up at the intl terminal in Sydney. Bit of a pain as i plan to park at the dom terminal!

However, I shouldn't complain too much as two weeks after I booked in economy, I was still hunting for upgrades to star class at a reasonable price, and low and behold, the return leg star class NRT-SYD (albeit only to CNS) became the same price as the price I paid for economy. So i took it. So at least I can try and sleep a bit better than in Econ.

Did you book both the forward and outbound journeys in the same pnr or was it two different ones?

One potential hazard with all flights being in the same pnr is when you only want to change the dates in one direction (same fare available) JQ reassess the whole itinerary so even if you still want the same dates/flights on one sector, if the price for that fare component has increased since the ticket was issued then JQ will charge you the difference.

Sometimes iit's easier to make the forward & return bookings in separate pnrs as it keeps it simple in the event of changes & reissues.

If you are departing from T2 at SYD I would get out to the airport early & drop the rest of the family at T2 to checkin with all the bags then drive around to T1 to park at the international terminal before catching the train to T2. It's much easier to position your car where you want it to be at the start of the trip when you are not tired so when you arrive back your car is where you need it to be.