Don81603 From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 976 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 745 times:
My travel agent just sent me my itinerary for traveling to BNE in Nov, and it requires a transfer from AC 033 (gotta try the AC international product) to QF 522 in SYD. The itinerary shows AC landing at 10:00, and QF 522 departing at 11:35. While this may be a "valid" connection, is it even remotely realistic to be able to collect bags, clear customs and immigration, transfer terminals, and still check in 1 hour prior to departure without doing the old O.J. Simpson run through the airport?
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
Transpac787 From United States, joined Jul 2007, 1390 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (6 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 735 times:
I may have had bad luck when I went to SYD, but the line to get through customs probably took 30-40 minutes for non-citizens (like me). I took UA to SYD which arrives fairly early in the morning - around 630a or so. So, I'm not sure what the line in customs might look like at 1000a - could be better, could be worse.
So, I would suggest booking a later QF flight if possible. Assume 45 minutes to 1 hour to clear customs, to be safe. The customs hall empties right into the arrivals lobby, and all you have to do is go upstairs to find the giant check-in area. If you want a "safe" connection time, I would recommend no less than 2.5 hours. Send me a PM if you have any other questions, and I'll be happy to help.
"Can't we have one meeting that doesn't end with us digging up a corpse??" - Diamond Joe Quimby
FlyboyOz From Australia, joined Nov 2000, 1380 posts, RR: 27 Reply 2, posted (6 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 729 times:
Quoting Transpac787 (Reply 1): I would recommend no less than 2.5 hours.
Yes...there're lots of international pax arriving in SYD from Asia, North America and Europe in the highest peak time between 6am to 1130am. It will take a long time to get out of the international terminal and then take a bus or taxi or train to travel to the QF domestic terminal.
NG1Fan From Australia, joined Aug 2007, 421 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 months 2 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 678 times:
I would allow min 2 hours connection time. If you hold a QF ticket for onward travel, simply head to the QF transfer desk. And no, it is not upstairs, but right once you've made it past Customs/Quarantine and follow the signs. Melbourne is a far easier transfer airport.
You might make it in less time, but it depends on several factors:
1. Do you have 'status' with AC? If yes, then request the 'Express' voucher (dedicated express border control. Also good for quarantine, provided you have nothing to declare and not more than two checked bags.
2. How many other flights are arriving at that time? Or running late?
3. Did all your bags make it? If not, then the queue for the one open baggage inquiry desk can take ages.
4. Queue at QF transfer desk
5. Transfer bus: great for spotting, but sometimes, the drivers take a 'smoko' and nothing happens for 15 or 20 min.
I've done this transfer many times at different times of the morning, depending on the CX flight I took. I've been through onto the bus in 25 min, or up to 1 1/2 hours.
However, in my experience, QF is fairly lenient, so even if you purchased a Red-E-Deal cheapie ticket, they've rebooked me on three occasions for a later flight (I have platinum OW status, so maybe that helped). However, when I've been through customs etc quickly, they've never put me on an earlier flight.
MilesDependent From Australia, joined Sep 2001, 558 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (6 months 2 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 666 times:
Quoting Don81603 (Thread starter): My travel agent just sent me my itinerary for traveling to BNE in Nov, and it requires a transfer from AC 033 (gotta try the AC international product) to QF 522 in SYD. The itinerary shows AC landing at 10:00, and QF 522 departing at 11:35. While this may be a "valid" connection, is it even remotely realistic to be able to collect bags, clear customs and immigration, transfer terminals, and still check in 1 hour prior to departure without doing the old O.J. Simpson run through the airport?
It's definitely a legal connection - I just checked. Minimum connecting time must be 90mins for international to domestic.
Personally (and I live in Sydney) - it seems too tight. QF have plenty of SYD-BNE flights, if it were me I'd take the 12:05pm leaving 30mins later.
Don81603 From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 976 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 months 1 week 5 hours ago) and read 542 times:
Quoting NG1Fan (Reply 3): If you hold a QF ticket for onward travel, simply head to the QF transfer desk
All tickets have already been bought and paid for, just AC has changed their schedule a bit for November, so the flights had to be rebooked.
Quoting NG1Fan (Reply 3): 1. Do you have 'status' with AC?
Nope, just Joe Average Traveller
Quoting MilesDependent (Reply 4): Personally (and I live in Sydney) - it seems too tight. QF have plenty of SYD-BNE flights, if it were me I'd take the 12:05pm leaving 30mins later.
I looked at that, and noticed QF seem to have flights leaving every 30 minutes, almost all day. She has since rebooked me on QF 528 departing at 13:05. I'm hoping it will be upgraded from a 734 to a 763.
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
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