Checked baggage on transit/layover award ticket

[banana boy]

Flying ADL-SYD-SIN on a single award ticket booking with a less than 24 hour overnight layover in Sydney (arrive 9PM depart 5PM next day). Is it possible to check my baggage through to SIN for QF1 on the next day or do I need to collect it and then check in again? I really don't want to collect my bags in Sydney and would prefer them to be checked through from ADL-SIN.

 

[defurax]

Yes, you need to collect and recheck.

 

[Austman]

Agree. Qantas won't through check luggage on these types of tickets (domestic to international with an overnight transit in SYD). I've asked a few times and it's always a no. They can't give you a SYD-SIN printed boarding pass either. And you won't be allowed to use the free Qantas T3 domestic to T1 international transfers bus until the day of your international flight. You can however check-in on the day of your international flight at Qantas T3 domestic, receive your international printed boarding pass (if needed) and then catch the free T3 to T1 transfers bus, if you wish.

 

[banana boy]

Wow that sucks I thought it'd just be a normal transit where bags are checked to final destination. Where do they draw the line? Is it just a Sydney thing where the airport basically closes overnight? Evening flights with transits to early morning flights the next day are nothing new so I assume it's not due to a date difference. For example QF656 with a transit through Brisbane to QF8433 at 2:45AM the next day - can't imagine baggage wouldn't be checked to final destination on that route.

 

[Austman]

Where do they draw the line? Is it just a Sydney thing where the airport basically closes overnight?

It might be a SYD airport thing. I know it's SYD airport that prevents pax from using the QF T3 to T1 transfers bus (and vv) unless they have a onwards boarding pass for that day.

So it might very well be SYD airport that also stops QF from transferring DOM-INT checked luggage (and vv), unless it's for an onwards flight that day, as well. But I suspect it happens elsewhere in Australia too.

 

[trooper]

The baggage storage at SYD (international) is very conveniently located.... another option?

 

[BD1959]

The baggage storage at SYD (international) is very conveniently located.... another option?

... although you'll need to schlep over to QFi under your own steam in order to store the bag(s).

Austman's assertion is interesting: you won't be allowed to use the free Qantas T3 domestic to T1 international transfers bus until the day of your international flight.

You won't be able to use the bus without the BP ... suggests that check-in is available at T3 (Domestic) - I wonder if they would also check your bag? If so, then there is a conveniently located baggage storage facility in T3 arrivals. You could drop the bag there after arrival from ADL, then retrieve and check-in upstairs the following day for your SYD-SIN before catching the bus (from airside) to T1. If not - and you're looking to store your bag - you'd probably be better to use the train to transfer between terminals and store overnight at T1.

Never had to try to check-in at T3 though for an Interntional flight which - if possible - would be an option for all those on separate tickets transferring between between a DOM and INT flight. Haven't seen that option offered either anywhere else.

Regards,

BD

 

[Austman]

You won't be able to use the bus without the BP ... suggests that check-in is available at T3 (Domestic) - I wonder if they would also check your bag?

Yes you can check-in luggage for an international flight at Qantas Domestic T3 and receive a printed boarding pass (if needed), then go through security and take the free Qantas T3 to International T1 transfers bus. It must all be for an international flight that day.

I've done it.

Note: There's a lot more hotel choices near T3. Some within easy walking distance - more-or-less at the end of the T2/T3 car parks.

 

[banana boy]

Thanks for the replies. At least I won't be caught out and will pack accordingly. I have a couple of errands to run in the morning on the lower north shore which is why I booked this transit and just wanted to be able to take a small carry on with me for the train/ferry ride to my accommodation. I'll just drag my suitcase along for the round trip as it's much simpler than any other option.

 

[BD1959]

Yes you can check-in luggage for an international flight at Qantas Domestic T3 and receive a printed boarding pass (if needed), then go through security and take the free Qantas T3 to International T1 transfers bus. It must all be for an international flight that day.

I've done it.

Brilliant !!

Regards,

BD

 

[Austman]

Brilliant !!

Sorry, I think I had better qualify one thing.

On a single Qantas DOM to INT ticket with an overnight transit in SYD:
Qantas domestic check-in could not print a Boarding Pass for my next day's international flight or through check any luggage.
I have several times rechecked-in the next day at a Qantas T3 Domestic service desk (international transfers) for the T1 departing flight.
I have then received a printed BP from that T3 service desk.
I have then gone though security and caught the free Qantas T3 to T1 transfers bus.
I *think* on at least one occasion I had checked baggage accepted at T3 as well but I'm usually HLO.

So, on reflection, I'm not confident about the checked baggage being accepted at T3. But I suspect that if they can print a BP, they can accept baggage too.

The reason I was initially confident about it was because when I recently did this, we did have checked baggage. Qantas would only check it to SYD. The next day, when about to return to T3, I was at the last minute persuaded by my +1 to get an Uber instead over to T1. I forgot about that bit. But I remember we then got stuck in dreadful traffic.