Advice on getting to Macchu Picchu

[Casso]

Connecting from Jetstar to Qantas would have been too tight by the time you needed to collect your bags.

The subsequent agent did the right thing as connecting from Qantas to Qantas would have meant your bags were checked all the way through. You would have disembarked in SYD, taken the free bus across to domestic, gone through security and been in the departure hall. Passport control takes a matter of seconds these days with the automated gates.

Is one 1hr35mins enough? It never seems to be, mentally. But QF regularly schedules connections of this time - and less - in SYD. Hundreds of passengers each day make their flights. I don't agree with that policy, but it must work because ti would cost QF too much money to provide everyone with hotels who missed their connections.

Once you have a schedule change you can request a move to another flight, flex fare or not. And just to tidy up on the ticket and 'protections' - no need to have this in writing. If all flights are on the one ticket you are protected by the airline's contract of carriage. you can have problems with separate tickets, or some low cost carriers, but for the major legacy carriers it is the norm.

All in all moving the day before is less stressful

Thanks Mel.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Not that I am being much help here. But Mrs GPH and I are at the stage where it’s all too difficult to try and second guess the reliability of airlines. We allow a “minimum “ of 24 hours transit time in situations like this. Yes it’s an extra night in a hotel, and yes it kinda eats into the time away. BUT! We prefer to be ( airport connections) there with time to spare and in a relaxed and unhurried place. (Sydney Security will do their best to stuff you up for you though) good luck with your changes and here’s to a great holiday.

we are the same - wherever possible now we overnight, rather than try to make a connection. We are getting to know airport hotels round the world quite well .

 

[Boca68]

From memory only Australians and Mexicans have to pay for the reciprocity visa
.

Can update that, Australians are the last ones left. Since about September/October I first noticed it. (I travel through SCL 4 or 5 times a year). I remember the first time about 12 years ago now, it was a list of about 10 countires. Slowly whittled down to just us now.

Even though the Mexicans only had to pay $23 compared to ours of $117.

 

[Casso]

I understand that this is true for connecting from a JQ Domestic <--> JQ Domestic flight, and possibly also from a JQ Domestic <--> QF International flight, however I found this information.

Baggage transfers and flight connections | Jetstar

View attachment 119759

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So I guess it does come down to whether they consider JQ26, which departs CNS International Terminal and arrives at SYD International Terminal as an International flight. For the purpose of the definition above, I'd say yes.

Thanks kevrosmith - we were told initially it was an international flight and then that it wasn't as it left from the Cairns domestic terminal.

 

[Casso]

Hello again, any thoughts on a good room choice at the Rydges near the Sydney international in terms of quietness etc? Also, would you recommend having breakfast at the hotel (our flight is at 11.35 so we would probably aim to get to the airport at 8.30am-ish just to be sure) or eat somewhere at the terminal? We do not fly that often so are not Qantas Club members. Is this a good option? Do we both need to join or only one? Thanks for your help - not a 'biggie' but it all helps make the experience a good one. Cheers.

 

[Casso]

Of course, I always recommend people allow enough time for things to potentially go wrong to help reduce stress, and certainly if you have Lounge access, there's always time for Lounge Time, but as a reference point:

I did have a friend fly last November on QF CNS-SYD connecting to a QF flight to NZ. Scheduled landing at T3 was 16:20 with the departure time for flight to CHC from T1 at 17:45, so a 1:25 connection time. I was mildly concerned for them, and monitored very closely their departure from CNS, arrival into SYD and remained in touch with them during their transit, ready to arm them with alternate flight options should they have missed their connection.

I also prepared them to navigate through T3 with photos and maps showing where they needed to head for the transit bus (they weren't terribly familiar with Sydney Airport), along with the scheduled bus transfer times (every 20 minutes at that time of day). Even with some mobility issues (nothing major, just a slow-mover), they managed to move with purpose, catch the 17:00 transit bus and make it to the gate with plenty of time to spare (at least 20 minutes I reckon). International Security and Smart Gates were quick to navigate through. Their baggage even made it across and arrived safely in CHC.

Admittedly, this is with a QF to QF connection, and therefore much easier with guaranteed through-checking of baggage etc.

If the originally booking was with Qantas, all on the one ticket, and if you were originally on JQ26, then yes, this is a domestic-sector of an International flight. The domestic passengers are known as "domestic-on-carriage" or DOC in the industry. It would've departed from the International Terminal in CNS and arrived at the International T1 Terminal in SYD. I'm not certain, however, how you would've transited in SYD based on it being a JQ to QF transfer.

Usually, domestic passengers on these flights are called D-Sticker pax, because they have a large sticker with D for Domestic on their boarding pass, which is meant to make getting out of the arriving International Terminal easier (through Immigration etc.).

Depending whether you did still need to collect your bags or not, then you still would've been in T1, and no need to transfer from T3 in SYD.

If your bags did happen to be automatically checked-through to SCL from JQ to QF, then you would've been able to use Transit Security, where, rather than exiting Airside through Immigration, you would've taken the paths to International Transit/Transfer, and ended up straight in the International Departure Lounge after going through Transit Security.

Anyway, these last comments are a moot point now, as you've been able to successfully move onto earlier Qantas flights. All the best.

Thanks again Kevrosmith, just saw this post now. I wonder do the people on the end of the phone know all this? It was interesting that even though it was a Qantas booking, every agent said "ring Jetstar, it's their flight". Should we have done that? We thought Qantas should sort it out as it was a Qantas booking and we prefer to fly Qantas in any case.

 

[mannej]

Hello again, any thoughts on a good room choice at the Rydges near the Sydney international in terms of quietness etc? Also, would you recommend having breakfast at the hotel (our flight is at 11.35 so we would probably aim to get to the airport at 8.30am-ish just to be sure) or eat somewhere at the terminal? We do not fly that often so are not Qantas Club members. Is this a good option? Do we both need to join or only one? Thanks for your help - not a 'biggie' but it all helps make the experience a good one. Cheers.

Qantas Club provides guesting rights, so you would only need 1 membership.

However, if you are using for this trip only and only for the lounge benefits, does it provide good value for money?

 

[Casso]

From memory only Australians and Mexicans have to pay for the reciprocity visa

Also, if you want good & easy accomodation for 1 night, the Holiday Inn at SCL is about 50 steps from the terminal door. I dropped my bags off and caught the bus, then train into the city for the day and explored on foot. Stayed there on the way back home again. Upgraded to huge rooms both times.

Thank you ALH, I have added to my Chile notes.

 

[Denali]

Im team hotel breakfast first because I get really narky when I dont eat/low blood sugar/crowds so check-in queue, crowds, immigration, the stupid *&((@&*$ duty free lights, I need breakfast before all of that.

Do you get immigration express passes for QF premium Y?

Do you have an AMEX card to get entry to the Amex lounge? Amex | American Express Lounge
Check out the April lounge meet to see if someone is there the same day/can guest you in: Wiki - Lounge Meets April 2018 Click "read more" to drop down the wiki.

 

[Casso]

Qantas Club provides guesting rights, so you would only need 1 membership.

However, if you are using for this trip only and only for the lounge benefits, does it provide good value for money?

I just had a look at prices - I don't think so.

 

[Denali]

and Re Santiago Holiday Inn. Yes, across the road and there it is. So easy and I thought the staff were nice, rooms comfy. No need to keep your bag trolley in your room as they keep some trolleys outside the hotel entrance as well.

 

[Casso]

Im team hotel breakfast first because I get really narky when I dont eat/low blood sugar/crowds so check-in queue, crowds, immigration, the stupid *&((@&*$ duty free lights, I need breakfast before all of that.

Do you get immigration express passes for QF premium Y?

Do you have an AMEX card to get entry to the Amex lounge? Amex | American Express Lounge
Check out the April lounge meet to see if someone is there the same day/can guest you in: Wiki - Lounge Meets April 2018 Click "read more" to drop down the wiki.

Thanks again, Denali. I don't know about the immigration express passes - it doesn't say anything on our ticket.

 

[Hvr]

Thanks again, Denali. I don't know about the immigration express passes - it doesn't say anything on our ticket.

They're actually a separate BP sized card handed to you at check in. Not really needed now with SmartGate. But the express arrival cards can be very handy for bypassing long queues to get through Customs.

 

[Casso]

They're actually a separate BP sized card handed to you at check in. Not really needed now with SmartGate. But the express arrival cards can be very handy for bypassing long queues to get through Customs.

Thanks Hvr, do we ask for express arrival cards at check in and take them with us for the return home?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Hello again, any thoughts on a good room choice at the Rydges near the Sydney international in terms of quietness etc? .

as far as room goes, we have stayed at Rydges quite often and have never noticed any issues with noise. The rooms are very basic but what do you need for 1 night and the staff have always been very friendly. Just be aware that the fridge is under the bench top, so be careful where you put things in the bathroom as the heat from the fridge goes upwards. I ended up with a melted lipstick once so I have been careful where I put things since then .

 

[Casso]

Thanks Hvr

 

[Casso]

as far as room goes, we have stayed at Rydges quite often and have never noticed any issues with noise. The rooms are very basic but what do you need for 1 night and the staff have always been very friendly. Just be aware that the fridge is under the bench top, so be careful where you put things in the bathroom as the heat from the fridge goes upwards. I ended up with a melted lipstick once so I have been careful where I put things since then .

Noted, thanks Flying Mermaid.

 

[Pushka]

Everyone here knows I love Rydges Pork sliders as a great start to an overseas jaunt.

Rydges is excellent.

 

[RooFlyer]

How are you getting to Machu Picchu Casso?

 

[Casso]

How are you getting to Machu Picchu Casso?

Hello RooFlyer,
We have a day and a half in Santiago (walk around the city on our arrival day, vineyard tour the next?) before flying Latan from Santiago 5.20am to Lima arriving 7.15am, leaving Lima at 9.15am and arriving at Cusco at 10.47am. We have that day and the next in Cusco to acclimatise then the following day travel by car and train via Pisac and Ollantaytambo to Urubamba to overnight. The next day we catch the train and get off at Km104 to walk the last day of the Inca Trail to the Sun Gate (12km and 6 hours walking). We catch the bus to Aguas Calientes (abt 20 minutes) for overnight and get up early the next day to catch the bus to Machu Picchu to watch the sun rise and have a guided tour. We have put our hand up to climb Hyanu Picchu but understand that so much of this is dependent upon how we handle the altitude. We then catch the train from AC to Ollantaytambo and board a different train to Cusco to spend the night and reconnect with our main luggage. The next morning we catch the bus to Puno across the Altiplano. We are booked for the La Hacienda Plaza d'Armas for two nights with a full day to Lake Titicaca and reed islands in between. We leave Puno and head for the airport at Juliaca with maybe a detour to Sillustani (pre-Incan archaeological site with 12m stone burial towers). We then fly back to Lima from Juliaca at 13.28, arriving 14.55. The following day leave Lima on Latan at 8.35am, arriving Havana, Cuba, at 15.25. PHEW! We have six days in Cuba (hopefully the imminent elections aren't going to generate any problems) then to Costa Rica on Copa via Panama for a week and to Quito (EC), again on Copa, for 2 nights before catching the plane and boat for the Galapagos. We fly back to Quito for three nights (with two day trips to Otavalo markets and Mindo for birds - any thoughts on these?) then on the Tuesday fly Quito to Santiago. There is no real time to do anything at this end - arrived on the Tuesday, then fly out on the Wednesday night at 0:10am (Thursday morning). Any thoughts? Cheers.