Transit in Melbourne

[Pushka]

Canberra? Pretty limited flights from Darwin and Perth too. Anyway, quite off-topic.

(Indeed OT. Geography. Canberra isn’t a capital city and nor is Darwin. I just think Qantas should service each capital city when it makes its point as being an Australian International airline. We are best served by Qatar, Emirates and CX here in Adelaide and that’s who we use so those ads where the excitement of hearing the Aussie accent on boarding overseas kinda escapes us).

 

[kermatu]

I always trust the Australian Government.

Capital cities | australia.gov.au

 

[Pushka]

I always trust the Australian Government.

Capital cities | australia.gov.au

Fair enough. I’ve never considered it as such - I’ve limited my thinking to state capital cities.

 

[dajop]

I would suggest booking the connection if the multi city booking shows it’s the only one offered at the right price level. Then get to the airport quite early at SYD and see if they would move you to an earlier flight, to give more time connecting in MEL in case of delays. Sometimes common sense will prevail in these instances.

I assume a WP would have access to express lane for security - which should minimise the time there (noting security is before immigration and is the source of hold ups - never seen a long wait at immigration - due to smart gates and the fact of security being the hold up point).

 

[kermatu]

I assume a WP would have access to express lane for security - which should minimise the time there (noting security is before immigration and is the source of hold ups - never seen a long wait at immigration - due to smart gates and the fact of security being the hold up point).

Yes, but you need to have an express path card. OP can pick one up at SYD domestic check-in or in the lounge.

Melbourne used to have the problem that crew and airport staff would use the priority screening lane - which sometimes made it slower. Never had too long a delay. And that may have been addressed now with the move to the new departures check-point.

 

[dajop]

Yes, but you need to have an express path card. OP can pick one up at SYD domestic check-in or in the lounge.

Do QF still use express path cards? I flew out of MEL 2 weeks ago on SQ and they have switched to printing on Boarding Pass.

 

[Austman]

Do QF still use express path cards?

Yes they do.

Not that they usually matter that much.

 

[kermatu]

Yep. More useful outbound than inbound, but purely for security screening these days.

 

[dajop]

Not that they usually matter that much.

They only ever matter when you don't have one

I think the only time in recent memory I haven't had one when departing MEL was also the only time where the non-express path queue had more than 10 pax in it (in this instance it had about 40). I could have dug one out from a past flight before I left home, but I thought why bother, there's never a queue. Huh, Murphy at work.

 

[Pushka]

I’ve just shown the ticket as coming from
Adelaide we are never given an express path from the domestic flight.

 

[Austman]

we are never given an express path from the domestic flight.

The QF international connections desk (or equivalent) hands them out in other cities. I got one again a couple of weeks ago at MEL domestic when transiting SYD international. But it's a bit hit and miss. It's actually the same physical card for all of Australia.

And if not given a card you can always stop by a check-in counter in the international departure city to collect one.

 

[Pushka]

The QF international connections desk hands them out in other cities. I got one a couple of weeks ago at MEL domestic when transiting SYD international. It's actually the same physical card for all of Australia.

And if not you can always stop by a check-in counter in the international departure city to collect one.

Thanks for the info.
I always try to get into the lounge quick smart and by pass that gathering of people but that might be worth it.

 

[serfty]

I look to book the domestic flight the day before using multi-city - keeping a connection time of 24 hours or less. That way it prices up the same way.

It does require an overnight hotel in or near the airport.

... but then, the corn fritters are yours! (With F/L access.)

 

[kermatu]

Funnily in Adelaide I've always (ie, maybe half a dozen times last two years) been told that the QF lounge will give me an express pass for my transit in MEL or SYD. And they have. For some reason they don't have them at check-in.

 

[Pushka]

Funnily in Adelaide I've always (ie, maybe half a dozen times last two years) been told that the QF lounge will give me an express pass for my transit in MEL or SYD. And they have. For some reason they don't have them at check-in.

Ah. Thanks for that tip. I’ve never thought to ask at the club.

 

[kermatu]

Ah. Thanks for that tip. I’ve never thought to ask at the club.

I'm pretty sure that's been volunteered by the check-in staff - I haven't asked for one. CBR and PER (J) lounges definitely have them. Only dom lounge that doesn't that I've come across is Darwin.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

When I flew the final time from MEL - AKL on the EK 380, (before EK stopped that flight run), the premium lane entry to immi and security was all blocked off with the bunting, and all were corralled into the general line.
So premium screening will work, if the bunting is open, but if the bunting is closed, the line can be snakily long.
You might think, ah, not many people going through the frosted glass door to int screening, where the shops are at T2, but its not till you get inside that you will see the snaking line.
Personally, as has been mentioned, I would transit MEL the night before, as others have mentioned not QFi flight out from Adelaide.
If the bunting blocks the premium lane, you should see the security man saying out loud, "mao shoui", ie, no liquids/water in his version of Mandarin, and all the chinese ladies making screening take a long time, as they start to block the line's quickness by taking out their drinking water container, and start drinking their liquids in the queue.
Fun to look at, irksome too though.
Then the full body scan... hands up in mock surrender mode.

 

[dajop]

So premium screening will work, if the bunting is open, but if the bunting is closed, the line can be snakily long.
You might think, ah, not many people going through the frosted glass door to int screening, where the shops are at T2, but its not till you get inside that you will see the snaking line.

The entry point has now moved, no more frosted glass. Walking past you can’t see much, other than the people who’ve been stopped for explosive screen. But I’ve never seen the bunting you talk about, have departed MEL international 10 times in last year.

 

[whughes3]

The entry point has now moved, no more frosted glass. Walking past you can’t see much, other than the people who’ve been stopped for explosive screen. But I’ve never seen the bunting you talk about, have departed MEL international 10 times in last year.

It was in this state for a brief period earlier in the year during the transition to the new arrangements; I encountered it once, but not since.

 

[Pushka]

The body scans always pick something up on my left side. I never carry anything in pockets so I’m curious as to what it thinks it’s seeing.