Can't leave Melbourne Airport During transit??? [DOH-MEL-ADL vv]

[JayTee]

I can’t speak for that flight and unsure if it’s common practice but when we did AKL-ADL there were airport staff checking boarding passes and directing those that were getting off in ADL to proceed one way and those heading on to DOH to head another way. I doubt they have any authority to stop you though if you really wanted to get through

Is there DOHA - AKL FLIGHT via Adelaide ?

 

[bcworld]

Is there DOHA - AKL FLIGHT via Adelaide ?

Yes.

 

[jase05]

Is there DOHA - AKL FLIGHT via Adelaide ?

For now yes.
Ends in September when the direct DOH-AKL returns.
DOH-ADL will remain and we still have the DOH-MEL-ADL flight for who knows how long

 

[Warragul]

I've seen this comment a few times. It seems a little surprising to me that they will be cross checking passenger manifests in real time of arriving and departing flights with those people showing up at the immigration counter but assuming they do, will they actually refuse you entry if you have the valid visa or citizenship to enter that country, for the sole reason that you appear on a passenger list for a flight departing flight later that day?

Edit: I assume ADL International has smartgates. Will it be smart enough to pick up that the passenger has an onward boarding pass and refuse entry on that basis alone?

ABF use the advance data in creating the movement record. If the advanced data is not there when crossing the border there is no problem for the traveller provided everything else is in order. Smartgate inbound probably won't work but outbound probably will. A cross check is done post movement to ensure compliance with Advance Passenger Processing requirements, both arriving and departing by airlines.

Australian Border Force Website

Australian citizens cannot be stopped from entering Australia ( although I think there maybe provisions around suspected terrorists holding Australian citizenship being prevented, not sure however). All others can be in the approrpriate circumstances. This scenario alone is not one.

In the scenario of booked DOH-ADL-AKL, clearing in ADL and not reboarding, the likely chain of events as far as ABF is concerned is that the airline will approach ABF to ask if passenger X has cleared as they haven't reboarded and are trying to locate them. ABF will confirm how many passengers they have cleared. Airline compares how many they had boarded in DOH destined for ADL and go from there. They may do an extra security scan of area where said pax was seated. If no bags involved then nothing more for ABF to do, although I'm sure they'd be interested in the final outcome (did the pax turn up etc, not did you find them and charge extra).

 

[JayTee]

ABF use the advance data in creating the movement record. If the advanced data is not there when crossing the border there is no problem for the traveller provided everything else is in order. Smartgate inbound probably won't work but outbound probably will. A cross check is done post movement to ensure compliance with Advance Passenger Processing requirements, both arriving and departing by airlines.

Australian Border Force Website

Australian citizens cannot be stopped from entering Australia ( although I think there maybe provisions around suspected terrorists holding Australian citizenship being prevented, not sure however). All others can be in the approrpriate circumstances. This scenario alone is not one.

In the scenario of booked DOH-ADL-AKL, clearing in ADL and not reboarding, the likely chain of events as far as ABF is concerned is that the airline will approach ABF to ask if passenger X has cleared as they haven't reboarded and are trying to locate them. ABF will confirm how many passengers they have cleared. Airline compares how many they had boarded in DOH destined for ADL and go from there. They may do an extra security scan of area where said pax was seated. If no bags involved then nothing more for ABF to do, although I'm sure they'd be interested in the final outcome (did the pax turn up etc, not did you find them and charge extra).

If I have suitcase, is it the case that I approach QR in ADL and ask them to release it as I won't be joining them on the ADL- AKL flight? Are their consequences for doing this ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If I have suitcase, is it the case that I approach QR in ADL and ask them to release it as I won't be joining them on the ADL- AKL flight? Are their consequences for doing this ?

The plane can’t take off with your bags, and without you. So it will have to be offloaded. There could be significant costs in doing that and the airline would be in their rights to recover those costs from you.

Or they could do nothing! I’m not sure there’s a clear answer.

 

[JayTee]

The plane can’t take off with your bags, and without you. So it will have to be offloaded. There could be significant costs in doing that and the airline would be in their rights to recover those costs from you.

Or they could do nothing! I’m not sure there’s a clear answer.

Yeah, I think you're right.. I'm just curious to see what others have done in the past? Can someone ask QR staff in Adelaide ?

 

[p--and--t]

Australian citizens cannot be stopped from entering Australia

This is the Key. I would not be worried in the slightest about not being able to get off in ADL and cross immigration to leave the airport.

The messy parts will be:

• if you have checked luggage
• if you ever want to travel with QR again in the future
• if you have points stored in the QR loyalty system
• if QR have your credit card details to bill you for breaking the terms of their contract should they desire.

 

[JayTee]

This is the Key. I would not be worried in the slightest about not being able to get off in ADL and cross immigration to leave the airport.

The messy parts will be:

• if you have checked luggage
• if you ever want to travel with QR again in the future
• if you have points stored in the QR loyalty system
• if QR have your credit card details to bill you for breaking the terms of their contract should they desire.

Would it make a difference to ask the transfer desk in Doha to only tag the check in baggage to Adelaide as you have decided not to continue your journey ?

 

[p--and--t]

Would it make a difference to ask the transfer desk in Doha to only tag the check in baggage to Adelaide as you have decided not to continue your journey ?

You would be admitting to QR that you are breaking T&Cs immediately before boarding you flight. Doubt that is a smart move.

 

[JayTee]

Keen on any further developments. I've just booked two tickets from DOH to ADL and intend to get off at MEL.

Have you completed the this flight since your post? I am so keen to know if ' notifying' QR staff at Doha that I only want my suitcase tagged to Melbourne instead of Adelaide is the way to go?

 

[JayTee]

You would be admitting to QR that you are breaking T&Cs immediately before boarding you flight. Doubt that is a smart move.

Yeah true.. I am looking for award availability to Sydney from Doha ( Nothing available). I then discovered a flight to Adelaide with a technical stop in Melbourne ( quite a lot of space). It will just be a complete f.k around if I had to go Mel - ADL - SYD when I can simply just to MEL-SYD..

 

[jase05]

Yeah true.. I am looking for award availability to Sydney from Doha ( Nothing available). I then discovered a flight to Adelaide with a technical stop in Melbourne ( quite a lot of space). It will just be a complete f.k around if I had to go Mel - ADL - SYD when I can simply just to MEL-SYD..

And that is the reason why there is award space on these flights.
I would say there is absolutely zero chance of QR tagging your bags to MEL.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And that is the reason why there is award space on these flights.
I would say there is absolutely zero chance of QR tagging your bags to MEL.

It would probably put them in breach of their air services agreement or whatever it is with Australia. They can only carry pax to ADL, not MEL. If other airlines got wind of this they’d be complaining to the authorities on breaches of passenger caps, etc.

 

[Warragul]

They can carry to pax to Melbourne, the requirement is for the flight to continue to a 'non major' city - ADL/CBR/CNS etc (I think).
For me, the risk of the plan unravelling when asking to short tag the bags when presumably being checked in to ADL and the airline penalising in some form would be too high. But I do have a low appetite for risk in this regard.

 

[JayTee]

Seeking expert advice. I really need to get back to Australia ( any city) from Doha on Qatar in June using award redemption in business. At this stage, there is ZERO availability on 'direct flights' in business class to any city except that dreadful DOHA-MEL-ADL. Would you recommend that I select this flight ' for now' and wait/pray they release award availability on direct flights ( SYD/MEL/BNE/ADL) before cancelling the DOH-MEL- ADL flight OR ??? It sux when you're trying to plan a holiday using award bookings.. Appreciate any feedback. ' My desired destination is SYD but happy to transit domestically but avoid the MEL/ADL flight.

 

[Warragul]

If you have the points available seems reasonable, understanding that nothing else on QR may materialise.
Are you using QF or VA points? Have you checked flights to Perth - its not listed in your last post. There is some J class DOHPER in June via Velocity. You'd probably catch the red eye to the east coast but you're not back tracking at least

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They can carry to pax to Melbourne, the requirement is for the flight to continue to a 'non major' city - ADL/CBR/CNS etc (I think).
For me, the risk of the plan unravelling when asking to short tag the bags when presumably being checked in to ADL and the airline penalising in some form would be too high. But I do have a low appetite for risk in this regard.

Oh! Thanks!

 

[JayTee]

If you have the points available seems reasonable, understanding that nothing else on QR may materialise.
Are you using QF or VA points? Have you checked flights to Perth - its not listed in your last post. There is some J class DOHPER in June via Velocity. You'd probably catch the red eye to the east coast but you're not back tracking at least

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Only avios points. I found one that has a 9 hour stop over in Doha.. So taking this into account and then the stop over in Melbourne and then finding the next flight out of Adelaide to Sydney is a massive turn off. But I definitely see your point. I can only do 14-17 June ( i.e fly to oz between these dates )

 

[frequentflyer91]

Has anyone gotten any updates on whether its possible to disembark in Melbourne if you have checked luggage?

I spoke with the staff of qatar online here and they said you are able to offload your bags but still seems risky