Time required to connect through MEL from QFInt to QFDom

[Quickstatus]

Hi Flying into MEL on QF94 and then requiring a connection to QF Dom to SYD. Will have express exit cards as flying P

What minimum time is required?

Was thinking arrival at 1020 then catch 1200. Next flight after 1200 is 1300. I assume luggage checked through. LAX-MEL-SYD.

Could do QLounge for bit of lunch before flight..

 

[opusman]

1h40 is plenty of time.

 

[Hvr]

No problems at MEL, come out of the international part, turn left and you'll see the signs to domestic terminal. Two minutes later you'll be there.

Best and easiest terminal in Australia to go from international to domestic.

 

[RooFlyer]

Your 12:00 flight out is really 11:40 if you include boarding time. So 80 min should be OK, but as ever, it depends if you want to plan for glitches or not.

Assuming you use SmartGate, its 5 to 10 mins to be at luggage collection after your plane doors open. If not, add 10 minutes (even with Express Cards).

Then we have the wild card. How long for baggage? Let's say 15 mins. Could be 25.

Walk to Dom baggage re-check, might be a queue there if you are one of the latter pax to get their bags. Say another 15 mins.

So that's 40 to 60 mins. Should be OK.

 

[Quickstatus]

Cant use Smartgate as we have under 18 travelling.

Can I assume DOM luggage recheck is landside meaning I have to re security?

We always have probs with luggage because we have oversized luggage which always seem to come out last no matter what luggage priority tags are on them.....

I'll do the 1300 that way I wont fret during my P cabin experience, and wont look anxious during "Big Brother" CCTV at MEL and savour some QLounge experience.....

 

[flyingfan]

Hi Flying into MEL on QF94 and then requiring a connection to QF Dom to SYD. Will have express exit cards as flying P

That's just about the crunch time for international arrivals at MEL.

You'll be better off using SmartGate compared to Express Path.

You should be fine but if delays get in the way, QF will rebook you onto the next flight even if you're on the cheapest fare IME.

I assume luggage checked through. LAX-MEL-SYD.

You'll have to collect your luggage, clear customs and recheck it for SYD.

Could do QLounge for bit of lunch before flight..

Seems optimistic...

 

[Mwenenzi]

Hi Flying into MEL on QF94 and then requiring a connection to QF Dom to SYD.

Will this be booked as 1 ticket/PNR or is the MEL-SYD a seperately purchased ticket?
Aussie passports?
Your oversized luggage will slow you down

 

[Robbi]

Hi Flying into MEL on QF94 and then requiring a connection to QF Dom to SYD. Will have express exit cards as flying P

What minimum time is required?

Was thinking arrival at 1020 then catch 1200. Next flight after 1200 is 1300. I assume luggage checked through. LAX-MEL-SYD.

Could do QLounge for bit of lunch before flight..

I am arriving QFi 0735 and departing QF 0905. Done it 2 times before. Biggest stressor for me last time was ridiculous baggage wait but smart gate and 'nothing to declare' sped my exit.

Made my flight each time easily.

 

[fersea]

Will this be booked as 1 ticket/PNR or is the MEL-SYD a seperately purchased ticket?
Aussie passports?
Your oversized luggage will slow you down

Thats the point. If you have one PNR there is nothing to stress about because they will put you on whatever flight you need. Getting in at that time you would have to be 8+ hours late before getting the last flight becomes an issue.

 

[Quickstatus]

Aussie passports no smart gate as 1 pax underage.
QFint to QFDom. So it does not matter if one PNR or not. If late Qf will rebook.

Im just trying to avoid all that..

Ill book 1300

 

[opusman]

You will be sitting at MEL DOM for over an hour bored and wishing you'd gone for the 12pm flight...

 

[Sprucegoose]

If early they can put you on the next flight when you check your bags

 

[Quickstatus]

Thanks all. Should I wait for later on in the year to book this in case DSC reappear?

 

[ckck]

For the MEL-SYD so you might try waiting for a DSC offer. I don't expect that I will get a DSC offer and in my last membership year I was given one targetted DSC offer and I also used the general offer that was up for grabs at the end of the year. I don't know your current strike rate but some people never get the DSC offers.

I would be more likely to wait for a sale and get a good price and if a DSC offer comes my way then it is a bonus.

 

[Hvr]

Thanks all. Should I wait for later on in the year to book this in case DSC reappear?

Depends, what if the price of that particular flight goes up? I'm always in the camp of booking it cheap when I know the time I want to fly unless I have a confirmed DSC offer and specific dates to book.

 

[acoolbreeze]

Cant use Smartgate as we have under 18 travelling.

How old? Although not advertised, children are now being trialled and encouraged by staff assisting passengers. Now available for 12 year olds and up.

 

[Quickstatus]

Actually Smartgate website says its for 16yrs and above. Ill assume not available for us rather than relying on trial

 

[QF029]

Will have express exit cards as flying P

FWIW I've never seen an option to use an inbound express card at MEL.

 

[acoolbreeze]

Actually Smartgate website says its for 16yrs and above. Ill assume not available for us rather than relying on trial

As I said, not advertised, but up to you.
Oh, I should add that there is a proviso...there must be 2 adults travelling (in case someone is rejected and thus a child gets separated either side of the barrier).
FWIW, the QF94 currently lands behind two Chinese flights (CZ, MU) and often behind an SQ and MH, as the QF is at one of the furthest gates, so you might need that express card.

 

[serfty]

FWIW I've never seen an option to use an inbound express card at MEL.

There is not a queue for these all the time, however, they do operate, generally only in really busy periods such as mornings.

The last time I used one was in August - to the far right side as you approach the immigration counters. Only issue was that it merged with the Aircrew lane who had priority - a pain when a group of 20 or so come through all at once.

(The smart-gate corral to the left may have had 200 people milling around.)