Should I be concerned? Sydney Airport times

[kcoulson]

Hi everyone,
I just got an email about flight changes (flight leaving 15 minutes earlier). These are reward flights that I booked my husband and daughter on, for travel in April (booked via Aadvantage points for Qantas flights).

The domestic flight arrives in Sydney at 10:25am (Qantas 418), business class. The Qantas (Qantas 117) international connection (business class) leaves at 12pm. This leaves 95mins. I think they are eligible for the seamless connection. I assume that they won't have to deal with bags at Sydney Airport.....?

Should I be concerned about these tight times?

 

[docjames]

Hi everyone,
I just got an email about flight changes (flight leaving 15 minutes earlier). These are reward flights that I booked my husband and daughter on, for travel in April (booked via Aadvantage points for Qantas flights).

The domestic flight arrives in Sydney at 10:25am (Qantas 418), business class. The Qantas (Qantas 117) international connection (business class) leaves at 12pm. This leaves 95mins. I think they are eligible for the seamless connection. I assume that they won't have to deal with bags at Sydney Airport.....?

Should I be concerned about these tight times?

Whilst bookable and "protected" the issue will be if there is an inbound delay, your connection becomes extremely tight.

Call QF and ask for an earlier flight. They typically (but not always) agree.

If they don't, arrive earlier at MEL and see if you can grab seats on an earlier flight.


Either way, "seamless" connection isnt an issue, you will get checked luggage tagged through and the free bus ride - the "issue" is still clearing customs and immigration and security outbound in the international terminal. All of which (together with the bus ride) takes time.

 

[kcoulson]

The complication is that there are 2 prior domestic flights (Launceston to Melbourne) and (Melbourne to Sydney). The Launceston flight is the earliest of the day. Should I ring Aadvantage or Qantas (booked through Aadvantage)?

 

[JohnPhelan]

This just gets more and more complex. If it was me, there is no way in the world I would chance it with two domestic flights prior to the international, in that timeframe. See if Qantas can get you from Launceston to Sydney the night prior, and stay in one of the airport hotels. It will be far less stressful.

 

[docjames]

The complication is that there are 2 prior domestic flights (Launceston to Melbourne) and (Melbourne to Sydney). The Launceston flight is the earliest of the day. Should I ring Aadvantage or Qantas (booked through Aadvantage)?

OK that changes it.

You'll need to ring AA first and see if they'll do it. If not, try QF.

This just gets more and more complex. If it was me, there is no way in the world I would chance it with two domestic flights prior to the international, in that timeframe. See if Qantas can get you from Launceston to Sydney the night prior, and stay in one of the airport hotels. It will be far less stressful.

Agree if missing the international flight is a problem, then night before and leisurely breakfast better than OMG O'clock departure and mad rush.

 

[Lemon_Party]

Out of personal interest, whose fault and responsibility is it if the queues and transit for bus, immigration, security etc are so great that the PAX misses the connection? Must QF re-seat on next available flight, or is it tough luck? Does it depend on whether incoming flight landed on time?

 

[docjames]

Out of personal interest, whose fault and responsibility is it if the queues and transit for bus, immigration, security etc are so great that the PAX misses the connection? Must QF re-seat on next available flight, or is it tough luck? Does it depend on whether incoming flight landed on time?

Depends on if it's single pnr (through ticket) or ticketed separately.


The other real issue is what does a 24hr delay (if seats available on next day flight) mean for your onward travel plans?

 

[kcoulson]

Rang both Aadvantage and Qantas, who both said there was ample time (they think 1hr is the minimum). "It is a valid booking" they both said. Because the redemption was from Launceston to Hong Kong, if a connection is missed due to delay - apparently my husband/daughter will be reseated on another flight. In reality, I can see that this could cause big dramas (being business flights booked from Aadvantage). I certainly don't want to find out!

Delay isn't a huge drama - I'm not sure where the costs of accommodation changes would sit with travel insurance though (in this situation).

Thanks for everyone's advice.

 

[futaris]

Having been in a cancellation situation with a QFF ticket, the onus lies on QANTAS. Even if you are flying Jetstar.

I once had a delay on an AAdvantage ticket coming in from NZ, and missed the last flight to BNE. QANTAS organised accommodation and a flight in the morning before we landed.

 

[JohnK]

As others have said 2 domestic flights before international flight is too risky. Yes a 1 hour transit is valid connection time and you would be protected but I wouldn't risk losing a day or more for next flight.

I was under the impression AAdvantage bookings are easily changed if changing only the dates not the routing.

 

[Mattg]

1 hour may be the minimum connection time in Sydney, but it's realistically way too short for domestic > international. I would definitely try to fly the night before.

If you can't, and you do miss the SYD-HKG flight, I guess it would be an option to take another flight later that day on CX, which is also an AAdvantage partner. Either way, the onus would be on the airline and not you to get you to HKG.

 

[TomVexille]

1 hour may be the minimum connection time in Sydney, but it's realistically way too short for domestic > international. I would definitely try to fly the night before.

If you can't, and you do miss the SYD-HKG flight, I guess it would be an option to take another flight later that day on CX, which is also an AAdvantage partner. Either way, the onus would be on the airline and not you to get you to HKG.

With an express pass and smartgates it's possible to be airside at T1 in about 20 minutes. It only took me 25 from arriving at the gate to being in the EK lounge a few weeks ago. So while it's certainly possible, I really wouldn't want to be cutting it that fine too often.

I think the OP's problem is that her family are in J, so finding earlier J seats may be harder then finding available Y seats

 

[Vic]

I'll go against the flow. 95 minutes is plenty of time. In business I think you should get an express pass. That makes life easy. They know you're on the way, and I've seen them slightly hold departure of international flights for people connecting. Don't need to touch the baggage.
The double domestic flights is a bit of a pain, or course.
A random check of the schedule suggests there is only a 6:30 am departure from Launceston. But there is QF416 from Melbourne about 30 minutes earlier. Might be worth asking in melbourne for an earlier flight.
I guess it's 117 that's been changed.

 

[DC3]

Those timings would be very stressful for some. If the flights are on time, great. If not .....

Those sort of connections don't work for me. I would rather spend the night near an International departure point, rather than risk not making the flight. This may not be an option in your case, but best to take the earliest in-bound flight of the day.