Sydney Domestic to International Transfer time

[renouf]

Hi guys,

Long time reader, first time poster!

I am due to fly to New York from Brisbane on the 26th of December 2012. I booked all my tickets through the Qantas website so all flights are on the same itinerary. I am due to fly Brisbane to Sydney domestic, leaving at 7:25am and arriving at 10:00am Syd time. I then have a flight on QF107 from Sydney to New York stopping in LAX leaving at 11:55am. This leaves me, all flights running on schedule, 1 hour and 55 minutes to transfer from Domestic to International. This is what I am a bit worried about.

I have spoken to Qantas and when I told the lady firstly she said that won't be enough time, but then she said that it is still showing up a legal connection so that's fine. That made me a bit uneasy haha. So my question is should I ask for an earlier domestic flight? I presume that Qantas charges a fee for changing this flight also?

Finally, what is the procedure for transferring from Domestic to International in Sydney if all flights are through Qantas? Do I go through security again etc or does Qantas transfer me to the International whilst staying airside? Do my bags get tagged to NY in Brisbane and am I supplied with all the documents I'll need in Brisbane? Do you advise doing online checkin or just go to the counter in Brisbane?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

 

[whughes3]

1:55 is plenty of time to make this connection; I do similar connections regularly with no problems. You should get all your BP's and other documents in BNE, and they will check your bags through; when you get to SYD, you go to the transfer desk opposite gate 1, and they will check your BP and direct you down to the bus waiting area. At this time of the day the buses run every 10 mins, and they will take you over to international landside, where you can go directly to immigration, security etc. You can OLCI, but you will still need to go to the counter in BNE.

 

[mella2007]

Not a problem at all. The best part is that you've been ticketed with QF the entire way, so you'll have your boarding passes and luggage receipts already. Depending on the transfer desk, you may have to wait 15 mins or so for the next bus to arrive

 

[harvyk]

As all on one ticket, you'll be fine... I can normally do the transfer in about an hour (inc clearing emigration and security at T1), and that is typically as a Y pax. If you are flying J you'll get an express card which will reduce that time down even more.

If things start getting a little tight, QF will also step in and help, plus you can always arrive at BNE airport a little earlier and see about getting onto an earlier flight. I've found that they can be pretty accommodating with such requests if there is a connecting flight.

 

[truesouth]

I did the train for transfer Dom to Intl today Tues 9.30am
Time from Virgin gate to Intl Check in counters Row A (Nthn end): 12m30s!
Fare $5. Takes credit card but seemed to require PIN.
Frequency of trains: about every 8 mins (2min wait for me)
Travel time: 2 mins.
O'all: great! Beats VA transfer bus. Had 1 hr in lounge prior to flight.

 

[medhead]

I did the train for transfer Dom to Intl today Tues 9.30am
Time from Virgin gate to Intl Check in counters Row A (Nthn end): 12m30s!
Fare $5. Takes credit card but seemed to require PIN.
Frequency of trains: about every 8 mins (2min wait for me)
Travel time: 2 mins.
O'all: great! Beats VA transfer bus. Had 1 hr in lounge prior to flight.

Just note that the train frequency is variable and can be as long as 15 minutes at off peak times.

 

[schomers87]

Quick question on this - what part of the INT terminal does the QF transfer bus drop you off at? I need to meet someone out the front of the INT before I go through immigration for my flight. Is that still possible?
Thanks

 

[serfty]

It is still possible.

You come out at the emigration end of the C (IIRC) check-in counters - to get outside you'll need to walk past these.

 

[flyingfan]

Quick question on this - what part of the INT terminal does the QF transfer bus drop you off at? I need to meet someone out the front of the INT before I go through immigration for my flight. Is that still possible?
Thanks

It drops you off at the bottom of escalators/stairs that you take to go up to the landside part of the departures check-in area, i.e. before immigration and security.

You can definitely meet someone outside before passing through immigration.

 

[schomers87]

Thanks eastflyer!