Virgin Australia Sydney Terminal Transfer

[Lukeyd]

Just wondering if anyone knows if the Virgin domestic transfer desk is open at Sydney T1 and what the transfer process is currently looking like?

 

[Mwenenzi]

VA web site-->

Sydney Airport

Guide to the Sydney airport including information on transport and airport facilities.

www.virginaustralia.com

Has not been updated as still lists "Virgin Australia International counters are staffed 3 hours prior to departure for flights to Los Angles and Abu Dhabi"
VA has some international flights to Fiji, but I would expect/guess will need to self transfer

SYD airport-->Transit at SYD

 

[Albert Hoffman]

Is the international transfer desk available to anyone with a domestic virgin flight, or only for those arriving on VA and partner airlines ? That's what the website alludes to, but I imagine there is some flexibility there? I believe Qantas offer it to anyone with a Qantas domestic flight, regardless of who you flew in on.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

The bus is provided by Tbus, which is a private one (operator).
You are given this little thin strip of paper by the VA staff at the counter, and supposed to show this to the driver for your free ride.
As your next flight is a VAd, just drop by the VA counter, and show your next flight details, or QR coded BP if you have done OLCI.
The Tbus driver couldn't care, as its a free service provided by Sydney Airport.
Too many people for the bus driver to collect the small tear off slips.
Are you planning to drop off bags, for them to carry your plane hold luggage, or are you HLO.
The last time I was going from T1 to T2 with VA, the line was so long, every one who couldn't use the QFF side, was using the Tbus which is the free service.
I am HLO, so didn't want to wait for the free for all, so used the Sydney buses T1 to T2/T3 and paid with opal instead.
VA has some int flights coming in from NZ and Fiji, so the VA transfer desk at T1 should be staffed.
+++
Form the VA website, shouldn't have changed majorly:
Sydney

Sydney: International to Domestic​

On arrival of your international flight, you are required to collect your bags from the carousel and clear Customs and Quarantine.

Once you have cleared Customs and Quarantine, follow the signs to the Virgin Australia transfer desk, located in the Arrivals Hall. The transfer desk will check you in for your domestic flight and accept your baggage. You can then follow the marked signs to the T-Bus pickup location for your connection to the domestic terminal. The T-Bus pickup location is located opposite exit A

 

[Albert Hoffman]

So the staff at the transfer desk don't care which international flight you arrived on as long as you have a domestic VA booking? In regard to taking your luggage and getting a boarding pass? Because on the website it says

The following information is for guests with connections to or from Virgin Australia Domestic flights and International flights operated by Virgin Australia and partner airlines.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

They don't have time to check your past flight.
It's the next one they will check you in for, or if you have done OLCI they might still take your plane hold bags and issue you a paper BP.
Even with my QF T1 to T3 pre covid transfers in SYD, they never asked about my previous flight, whether it was MH/AirNZ/LA/JQ or QFi.
Also Tbus as I mentioned is the free for all bus service by Sydney Airport.
That is why it's so full like the QF inter terminal bus in SYD, ie it's for free.

 

[Albert Hoffman]

That is why it's so full like the QF inter terminal bus in SYD, ie it's for free.

Thank you for your reply, by full you mean like people jostling and missing out on the ride and having to wait half an hour for the next bus? in that case as you say, better to jump on the 420 which goes every 15 minutes

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

This was pre covid, maybe a bit better now till int travels rises again.
Yes, long as in long line.
Everyone knows it's free and it's the only one, ((apart from QF)), which goes to secure gate 15, not good in your case.
But, yes, the 420 is good but slow, the train is pricey but very fast, very good too but station is best hot and study in summer.

 

[JoshuaL1997]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some advice, I purchased lifemiles (avianca) during the last 200% bonus sale and managed to get a really good deal on ANA flights in Business from Sydney to Tokyo next year. However lifemiles was a bit useless re domestic tag on flights in Oz so i just decided to use a few Velocity points for flights to and from BNE.

Now my question is, will Virgin check my bags through from BNE to Haneda if I made two seperate bookings? Has anyone got any experience with this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[HS-TQE]

From experience (personal) and also past posts by others on this forum. VA generally does not allow through-check on different PNRs, even if it's on their own airline (e.g ADL-BNE-DPS on 2 separate VA tickets for example). There may be a agent that may be willing to help, but chances are they won't be authorised to interline the separate tickets.

In the vast majority of cases, You will be required to collect your bags in SYD and take them with you on the transfer bus (or train) and re-check them in again at the International Terminal in SYD.

Edit: Had SYD/BNE mixed around, now corrected.

 

[JoshuaL1997]

From experience (personal) and also past posts by others on this forum. VA generally does not allow through-check on different PNRs, even if it's on their own airline (e.g ADL-BNE-DPS on 2 separate VA tickets for example). There may be a agent that may be willing to help, but chances are they won't be authorised to interline the separate tickets.

In the vast majority of cases, You will be required to collect your bags in SYD and take them with you on the transfer bus (or train) and re-check them in again at the International Terminal in SYD.

Edit: Had SYD/BNE mixed around, now corrected.

Figured as much, thanks for the advice! Shall make sure I have a long enough layover in that case.

 

[ferntree]

Just to confirm, we have just got back from Haneda after an itinerary essentially similar to yours. It wasn't possible to check bags all the way from HBA to Haneda. Like you say, arrange for a long connection time. We went up to SYD the night before and had a relaxing stress free evening!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Now that VA and (Air)NZ have joined up again, does anyone know if the VA bus, that used to go from the dom inside dom sec screening zone at SYD T2 is back up to T1, or not.
That was like the QF side of things.
When the relationship broke up, and covid happened, it all stopped.
Just wondering if its up again, or have to go out into the open area and get Tbus to T1 at SYD.

 

[clifford]

Now that VA and (Air)NZ have joined up again, does anyone know if the VA bus, that used to go from the dom inside dom sec screening zone at SYD T2 is back up to T1, or not.

I don't believe that it is back up, and would be surprised if it ever is. Don't forget VA is now an LCC.