Arrivals access in SYD Lounge with luggage

[kevrosmith]

Arrivals access for Platinum and Gold is still listed here... Virgin Australia's Airport Lounges | Virgin Australia Hmm.. time to add a watch on this page for any possible changes.



As others have suggested, I've seen others report here that you can go to the Lounge and tell them your luggage is going for a ride on the carousel and they call down to have it stored.

You could collect it and put it in storage lockers, or you could just let it go for a ride on the carousel and eventually the baggage handlers will store it as lost luggage.

Personally, I wouldn't rely on interlining check-through luggage on such a complex trip. Way too many points for things to go wrong if not done properly.

 

[JohnK]

I agree. I'll be impressed if my luggage makes it to KEF the same time as I do anyway.

So this brings me back to my original question, what should I do when I arrive in SYD?

Do not attempt to check luggage all the way through in MEL or even SYD especially on separate itineraries.

As mentioned earlier just head straight to the lounge when you arrive and let them know you have checked luggage on flight and will collect it soon.

 

[prozac]

Do not attempt to check luggage all the way through in MEL or even SYD especially on separate itineraries.

As mentioned earlier just head straight to the lounge when you arrive and let them know you have checked luggage on flight and will collect it soon.

I am not about to counter what JohnK recommended as he has some serious experience under his belt. I can relay my experience booking SYD-SIN-IST-TBS when I booked my luggage through and it went without a hitch. You clear customs so quickly in TBS that you end up standing around with your fingers crossed waiting for your luggage to come out.

 

[JohnK]

I am not about to counter what JohnK recommended as he has some serious experience under his belt.

One of my best was ~12 months ago where I had SYD-ICN-MNL-HKG-TPE-HKG-BKK on 2 separate itineraries, OZ and CX, and an overnight in MNL.

Managed to somehow trick the agent in SYD into checking it through to TPE. Took close to 45 minutes and also meant I did not have enough time to claim back the TRS and I had also arranged to meet an AFFer.

When I went to check-in counter at MNL and enquired about the luggage they went over to OZ check-in to collect my luggage and golf clubs and brought them back to CX check-in counter. Waited around ~15-20 minutes for this to happen. So checking through meant my luggage was stored at check in counters in MNL overnight. :shock: I suspect this is also where my golf bag was damaged although I cannot be certain.

So luggage was now checked to TPE and I was going to collect and check through to BKK. If only MNL-HKG was not delayed. They put me on next flight HKG-TPE and I told them not to send luggage through to TPE as I was coming back. In TPE I was told they do not know where luggage is located but will send it to BKK. Back in HKG I was told that luggage was on its way to TPE. :shock: I was told to file a delayed luggage report in BKK.

I had spent the transits in HKG, TPE and HKG organising luggage rather than relaxing in lounge.

Wasted more time at BKK reporting delayed luggage and apparently luggage was going to be sent on TG TPE-BKK and then couriered over to Hua Hin.

It was now quite late at night and I still had another ~2.5 hours in a taxi to go to Hua Hin. Torrential rain, driver doing 130 km/h+ and on the phone most of the time. Luckily I managed to fall asleep and get there in one piece.

Luggage arrived around 7:00am the next day and I was able to head off and play golf before lunch.

I don't know whether bad luck follows me everywhere or I follow bad luck everywhere I go....

 

[DeKa]

My wife took a 60cm suitcase through the premium entry a few weeks ago to use the lounge on arrival. She said they thought she was mad but did allow it.

 

[Jurahn]

Has VA reinstated arrivals access to their DOM lounges? I was turned away recently even though platinum.

-n

That's odd, unless the lounge was chockers.

Yes, that's strange - Mr Jurahn (Gold status) went through BNE on the way to LAX in February, and used the Lounge on arrival. He said the lounge WAS chockers at that stage (early Monday morning) and it was almost standing room only, but he was still allowed in, no problem. He didn't stay long, he decided he might as well head over to the International terminal and into the Koru lounge instead so he could at least get a seat!

 

[smatho10]

Bumping...

We have flights on VA HBA-MEL then NZ MEL-AKL. Problem is two different PNR's (due to sales) and 1.5 hour wait before check-in opens. Will be travelling with a 9 month old...

Soooo......

1. Will bags be tagged for AKL?
2. Or will VA look after my bags in MEL off the carousal and get arrivals access?

Just seeing how the OP went as well...

 

[williamsf1]

Bumping...

We have flights on VA HBA-MEL then NZ MEL-AKL. Problem is two different PNR's (due to sales) and 1.5 hour wait before check-in opens. Will be travelling with a 9 month old...

Soooo......

1. Will bags be tagged for AKL?
2. Or will VA look after my bags in MEL off the carousal and get arrivals access?

Just seeing how the OP went as well...

I would say no reading this information

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ing-across-multiple-va-itineraries-52654.html

 

[smatho10]

Oh dear... Just remembered that the lounge is before security - can we take luggage into the lounge?