MSYtristar From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 6251 posts, RR: 51 Posted (3 years 2 months 4 hours ago) and read 2775 times:
Is it fairly easy to transit from an intl flight to a domestic flight in MEL? I'll have two hours to do so, going from a QF A380 from LAX to a QF B767 to SYD. Should that be enough time between flights? Thanks for any advice.
Pagophilus From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 114 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 2 months 4 hours ago) and read 2745 times:
If you already have a boarding pass for your domestic flight, you would just have to drop you bag off after customs. Two hours should be ok, however I have never had good luck coming in to Melbourne, with my bag always taking a long time to arrive on the belt, and the queue for customs is long when all the morning flights arrive close together. I'd allow an hour between arriving and getting out of customs.
Having said that, you will be fine, since both flights are Qantas flights. You should receive your domestic boarding pass at LAX and therefore Qantas will accommodate you on the next flight if you don't make it in time for your domestic flight.
vhqpa From Australia, joined Jul 2005, 1385 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (3 years 2 months 4 hours ago) and read 2745 times:
MEL is easy to transit even though it's split into 4 terminals. Terminals 1/2/3 are all in the one building after you have cleared immigration and customs recheck your bag proceed to departures level your flight to Sydney departs from T1.
Vhq.
"There you go ladies and gentleman we're through Mach 1 the speed of sound no bumps no bangs... CONCORDE"
MSYtristar From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 6251 posts, RR: 51 Reply 3, posted (3 years 2 months 4 hours ago) and read 2714 times:
Quoting Pagophilus (Reply 1): If you already have a boarding pass for your domestic flight, you would just have to drop you bag off after customs. Two hours should be ok, however I have never had good luck coming in to Melbourne, with my bag always taking a long time to arrive on the belt, and the queue for customs is long when all the morning flights arrive close together. I'd allow an hour between arriving and getting out of customs.
Having said that, you will be fine, since both flights are Qantas flights. You should receive your domestic boarding pass at LAX and therefore Qantas will accommodate you on the next flight if you don't make it in time for your domestic flight.
Quoting vhqpa (Reply 2): MEL is easy to transit even though it's split into 4 terminals. Terminals 1/2/3 are all in the one building after you have cleared immigration and customs recheck your bag proceed to departures level your flight to Sydney departs from T1.
Thanks for the info. I won't be checking bags so that will save me some time as well. This is actually just a mileage run / first flight on A380 trip LAX-MEL-SYD-LAX with no stopovers.
747m8te From Australia, joined Aug 2008, 405 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 2 months 3 hours ago) and read 2659 times:
MEL is a breeze for transit in that regards...once you go out the doors through customs...all you have to do is go up the escalators to your left which takes you basically to the Qantas domestic part of the terminal T1...once you actually end up clearing customs in MEL, it literally only takes about 5min walk (unless there is a big queue at security) and you can be at your domestic gate if you have no bags to re-check LOL
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PITrules From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 2714 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (3 years 1 month 4 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2526 times:
Quoting MSYtristar (Reply 3): I won't be checking bags so that will save me some time as well.
I arrived in MEL without checking bags about 2 weeks ago; It only took 10 minutes to clear customs. However, I came in on UA via SYD, so that flight probably arrives after the morning rush fwiw..
ETA Unknown From Comoros, joined Jun 2001, 2016 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 years 1 month 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2403 times:
Seeing that you're officially entering Australia and taking a domestic flight, don't forget to apply for your electronic Australian visa before departure.
eljonno From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2008, 148 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (3 years 1 month 4 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2119 times:
Seeing that you're officially entering Australia and taking a domestic flight, don't forget to apply for your electronic Aus
Quoting 6thfreedom (Reply 7): MEL is the only major Australian gateway that has international and domestic under one roof. a major advantage for transferring pax.
Actually ADL does as well.
(Might not be classed as 'major' though I suppose...sorry!)
MSYtristar From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 6251 posts, RR: 51 Reply 9, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 2039 times:
My plans have changed and I'll be returning through BNE instead. I see there's an inter terminal train. My connection time will be 1h45m...should be enough you think? It'll be MEL-BNE-LAX.
pugsley From Australia, joined Jan 2010, 158 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 2033 times:
There is a train between the brisbane domestic and international terminal, however over one month ago the transfer options at bne changed.
There is now a complimentary bus transfer between the two terminals called the "t bus", i've not used it but have seen it at the terminal, you just need to head downstairs near baggage claim and follow the signs to just outside.
You may be able to use the train at a fee, but i'm not sure as our new PA's say that the train is for travel to brisbane and the gold coast.
1.45hr is tight, but should be achievable with no luggage, especially if you can get your boarding pass beforehand with web checkin or collecting it in melbourne.
MSYtristar From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 6251 posts, RR: 51 Reply 11, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 2031 times:
Quoting pugsley (Reply 10): There is a train between the brisbane domestic and international terminal, however over one month ago the transfer options at bne changed.
There is now a complimentary bus transfer between the two terminals called the "t bus", i've not used it but have seen it at the terminal, you just need to head downstairs near baggage claim and follow the signs to just outside.
You may be able to use the train at a fee, but i'm not sure as our new PA's say that the train is for travel to brisbane and the gold coast.
1.45hr is tight, but should be achievable with no luggage, especially if you can get your boarding pass beforehand with web checkin or collecting it in melbourne.
All the best.
That's excellent news. Thanks for the information. There is actually an earlier flight to BNE that would give me an extra hour to play with. Do you know if QF has something like a same day standby option? I might just get to the MEL terminal early enough to try to make the early flight to BNE.
pugsley From Australia, joined Jan 2010, 158 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1966 times:
There is not really a stand by option. The rules at QF to change flights have become stricter and stricter over the last few years. And it really depends on the person you speak to and the mood they are in on the day
Unless you purchase a fully flexable fare, its almost impossible to swap flights. You can always visit the customer service desk, which in melbourne is opposite gate one, or counter 27 at the check in desks. Usually they only swap you if the flights later in the day are oversold and they need the seats. I would not hold your breath, but if you ask and the answer is no, well you are not going to be any worse than you already are.
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