Arriving into MEL on QF 70 connecting to QF9 to PER

[Daver6]

I'm curious how this will work. I'll be arriving from DEL on QF70 with a connection to PER on QF9. So obviously arriving and departing MEL from the international terminal. I'll be travelling HLO.

Normally when you take QF9 as a domestic flight you get the little sticker. So I'm sure I can clear immigration exit go check in and clear security again. What happens if I don't and just head straight to the lounge/boarding gate after disembarking from QF70? Is this even possible?

 

[AIRwin]

What happens if I don't and just head straight to the lounge/boarding gate after disembarking from QF70? Is this even possible?

I believe so - I tried it once in 2017 arriving from HKG but the transfer area was closed so I had to ring a bell and wait to be attended...

 

[dajop]

In the "olden days" (pre-2020) there used be signs for international transits and you would go there, go through security and be back in the departures areas to access lounge. You would then complete immigration formalities in PER.

With HLO, I guess there is nothing stopping you passing through immigration, going to the check-in counters and asking them to re-issue your BP with D-sticker, but I don't know if there's any real advantage to this.

 

[Daver6]

My concern is whether on arrival in PER they'll have immigrations folks there to deal with someone like me. Arrival is at the domestic terminal and I assume they only have immigration staff working when QF10 arrives from LHR or the inbound flight from SIN.

 

[serfty]

@Daver6 is this travel on the one booking?

If so you would ordinarily just do airside transit security at MEL and do immigration/customs at PER.

 

[AIRwin]

My concern is whether on arrival in PER they'll have immigrations folks there to deal with someone like me.

There was a queue of people heading towards immigration when I flew QF9 transiting in PER on my way to LHR and more recently DRW so there shouldn't be any changes...

 

[dajop]

With a D-sticker, don’t you have to be checked by immigration anyway to verify the D-sticker?

 

[AIRwin]

With a D-sticker, don’t you have to be checked by immigration anyway to verify the D-sticker?

D for Definitely

 

[Daver6]

@Daver6 is this travel on the one booking?

If so you would ordinarily just do airside transit security at MEL and do immigration/customs at PER.

Yes, one booking. I suppose I'm doubtful that immigration and customers in PER will be expecting anyone who needs to clear customers.

With a D-sticker, don’t you have to be checked by immigration anyway to verify the D-sticker?

I've done it before with the D-sticker. I wish I could recall what the setup in PER was like in terms of whether customers and immigration where ready for international arrivals.

 

[dajop]

I've done it before with the D-sticker. I wish I could recall what the setup in PER was like in terms of whether customers and immigration where ready for international arrivals.

They would at the very least have to check that your identity matches the BP. Otherwise what's stopping someone swapping BP's with someone on a D sticker and slipping into the country? So someone would have to be there.

 

[Daver6]

They would at the very least have to check that your identity matches the BP. Otherwise what's stopping someone swapping BP's with someone on a D sticker and slipping into the country? So someone would have to be there.

Good point. I have a feeling there was someone checking after luggage collection. What I can't recall is whether immigration were present.

I'm sure I'll found out next month one way or the other. I suspect worst case scenario is I turn up, no one is there and they have to call someone to process me. Will just be some extra time.

 

[madrooster]

You will be in international transit in MEL and clear immigration and customs in PER. PER is staffed to handle international arrivals from QF9.

 

[milehighclub]

Immigration are always present in Perth. They check everyone, including the crew operating. They check for the D sticker so you could complete immigration in Perth.

 

[serfty]

Yes, one booking. I suppose I'm doubtful that immigration and customers in PER will be expecting anyone who needs to clear customers.

They'll know exactly how many PAX are expected to clear customs in PER.

Doing a D sticker might only confuse things.

 

[justinbrett]

It’s really not that unique. I think you’d be surprised how many people book it for connection from another international flight (NZ, US etc).

 

[harvyk]

Whilst I can't speak specifically for QF9, I have done a couple of those international tag flights.

A few years back I did QF52 -> QF8, so whilst QF52 arrived in BNE, I cleared customs in SYD. It caused a little confusion but they worked it out.
I've also done QF35 which was a SYD-MEL-MNL, but only did the SYD-MEL component. Again customs was open at MEL despite this being the only "International" flight arriving. They knew virtually everyone leaving in MEL would have a "D" sticker.

So back to the original question, because everyone on QF9 will have technically "left the country" there will need to be customs in PER to let people back into the country, even though the vast majority will have a "D" sticker. So if you're one of the few who don't have a "D" that will not phase them at all.

 

[justinbrett]

Whilst I can't speak specifically for QF9, I have done a couple of those international tag flights.

A few years back I did QF52 -> QF8, so whilst QF52 arrived in BNE, I cleared customs in SYD. It caused a little confusion but they worked it out.
I've also done QF35 which was a SYD-MEL-MNL, but only did the SYD-MEL component. Again customs was open at MEL despite this being the only "International" flight arriving. They knew virtually everyone leaving in MEL would have a "D" sticker.

So back to the original question, because everyone on QF9 will have technically "left the country" there will need to be customs in PER to let people back into the country, even though the vast majority will have a "D" sticker. So if you're one of the few who don't have a "D" that will not phase them at all.

Whether they have staff available to process declared goods is quite another matter though... A couple of years ago I arrived on QF4 (just a straight international flight from HNL, but it arrived at a time separate from other flights so the terminal was a ghost town). I was well over my liquor allowance and declared it - customs guy said "ah - we don't really have the staff to go through this with you, they're on their dinner break. Off you go..."

 

[Daver6]

Just to close the loop on this experience.

Arriving in MEL I headed to the international transfer section. Clearly half the airport isn't in use and the corridors were not heated. It was cold! Got the the international transfer section the doors were closed. There was a courtesy phone to use. Someone answer quickly and was informed that they would need to send someone through to let me through. They asked how long until my departure (1 hour). They said it would be 10-15 minutes. Someone came and after about 10 minutes. Quick security scan and through to the F lounge.

Arriving in PER, there was someone directing pax between ongoing to LHR and those ending their journey in PER. The lady was thoroughly confused that I didn't have an organise sticker and wanted to argue with me. I just landed up walking off to immigration and ignoring her as she was clearly useless.

Not that it was busy at immigration, but there is a signed APEC line (crew line) now. Customs were aware they had one pax (me) coming from international. I was through in no time.

So the PER side of it was great. MEL a bit of a joke. Why is it the airline can't tell the airport to expect transfer pax?

 

[Daver6]

An update on this having just done this same route again on the weekend with a different outcome.

Arrived on QF70. Went to international transfer and it was open. They were waiting for pax (not sure from which flight) connecting to Auckland. The bloke asked me where I was going and I said PER. He told me I need to go to the domestic terminal. I explained the situation and just went down the escalator to the check point.

Again, staff insisted I need to go to the domestic terminal as it's a domestic flight. I went through security but you need to take an elevator up a level which they control. The guy continued telling me the flight doesn't depart T2. I show him the QF app showing T2. He then says show him on the departure board. It eventually scrolls through but he's too busy being otherwise with me to notice. So we have a stand-off until it scrolls through again and eventually lets me through.

I head to the QF F lounge. There's an issue scanning my boarding pass but I'm told the print is just too dark. They'll reprint it for me but may take a few minutes. I said I'll come by after a quick shower.

Back to the front desk and I'm told MEL airport now requires me to clear customers and immigration. Someone will come take me through. It's a QF staff member who does this. Apparently in DEL they shouldn't have issued my QF9 boarding pass. Quite frustrated that QF and no point mentions this and it would have been helpful if the security team who simply told me I need to go to the domestic terminal knew about this change.

So now with this change in place, connecting on to QF9 from an international flight is no longer such a great options in MEL.

 

[Port Power]

An update on this having just done this same route again on the weekend with a different outcome.

Arrived on QF70. Went to international transfer and it was open. They were waiting for pax (not sure from which flight) connecting to Auckland. The bloke asked me where I was going and I said PER. He told me I need to go to the domestic terminal. I explained the situation and just went down the escalator to the check point.

Again, staff insisted I need to go to the domestic terminal as it's a domestic flight. I went through security but you need to take an elevator up a level which they control. The guy continued telling me the flight doesn't depart T2. I show him the QF app showing T2. He then says show him on the departure board. It eventually scrolls through but he's too busy being otherwise with me to notice. So we have a stand-off until it scrolls through again and eventually lets me through.

I head to the QF F lounge. There's an issue scanning my boarding pass but I'm told the print is just too dark. They'll reprint it for me but may take a few minutes. I said I'll come by after a quick shower.

Back to the front desk and I'm told MEL airport now requires me to clear customers and immigration. Someone will come take me through. It's a QF staff member who does this. Apparently in DEL they shouldn't have issued my QF9 boarding pass. Quite frustrated that QF and no point mentions this and it would have been helpful if the security team who simply told me I need to go to the domestic terminal knew about this change.

So now with this change in place, connecting on to QF9 from an international flight is no longer such a great options in MEL.

Thanks for this updated information. It would have been useful for me next March AKL-PER. However, Qantas has cancelled QF9 that day and I have been changed to a domestic flight. So clear immigration in MEL and no access to the QF Lounge.

QF has cancelled a few QF9 MEL-PER on me. No one knows why. Perhaps the 787 is being used elsewhere as domestic flights can ferry the international passengers just as easily. I just want to use the QF lounge!