Early Checkin

[straitman]

I know this has been covered in the past, however I can't find the reference.

What is the earliest checkin available for International?
We are travelling MEL - HK and will be free to checkin about 7 hrs prior to flight time. (then go off and do other things)

Can't seem to get a straight answer from QF :!:

The best answer I get from Qantas is 3 hours before flight time which seems rather short to me. :?: :?: :?:

 

[johnsmith]

I know this has been covered in the past, however I can't find the reference.

What is the earliest checkin available for International?
We are travelling MEL - HK and will be free to checkin about 7 hrs prior to flight time. (then go off and do other things)

Can't seem to get a straight answer from QF :!:

I would think it would be about 24 hours. When i fly to the UK i am able to get my boarding pass for my London - Newcastle flight when I check in at Perth 24 hours before.

 

[QF WP]

straitman, standard answers from QF are contained here (accessed from Qantas: The Ultimate Guide). Nothing different comes up on the Travel Agents website.

A lot will depend on when QF MEL Intl have opened up check-in for the flight. Normal check-in opens 4 hours prior IIRC. Their concern is that if you check-in that early, you may leave the airport environs and cause delays for youself/other pax if you fail to get back in time for security/C&I checks and getting to the Gate by the time the flight is meant to close.

I see you're online in this Forum now, so probably reading these responses..

 

[straitman]

Thanks Lindsay.

I've looked through all the usual places (incl Qantas: The Ultimate Guide) The subject of "when checkin opens" appears to be one piece of info that varies dependant upon the wind, temperature, what moods people are in etc. :? :roll:

Oh well we will work on the 3-4 hour plan and hopefully pickup the seats we want. (Just trying to improve upon the pre allocated seats) :wink:

 

[MetroAir]

And yet in HKG (off subject I know) you can checkin with baggage up to 24 hrs before at one of the city checkin's. Great service and with hours to spare, leave your carry on in the left luggage (HK$50 per piece) until your'e ready to go to the airport with your boarding pass.

The technology is there, when are we going to have it so easy?

Cheers

 

[BlacKnox]

And yet in HKG (off subject I know) you can checkin with baggage up to 24 hrs before at one of the city checkin's. Great service and with hours to spare, leave your carry on in the left luggage (HK$50 per piece) until your'e ready to go to the airport with your boarding pass. Cheers

Same in Tokyo.

 

[ozmuzz]

Early Check-in

The Singapore Airlines Internet Check-in and seat allocation system for SQ FF is the best available as far as I am aware - 48 hours before the flight

 

[Alan in CBR]

I can't provide a definitive answer, but I do have a semi-relevant anecdote.

Last June (actually I just checked my records - it was a year ago yesterday!) I was travelling to the US on a business trip. We had a family weekend in Sydney then my wife and daughter were returning to CBR on an early morning flight (only one available on frequent flyer points).

I wanted to see them off, so we all went to T3. While they were checking in, I went to the International check-in desk in T3 to deposit my bag. This was 6 hours before my QF 11 was due to leave.

The check-in agent said that the flight hadn't been opened yet for him to be able to do the check-in, but after working on the keyboard for a good few minutes he was able to get me checked-in.

I suspect if I had been in the International terminal I might have been told to wait until normal boarding time, but I'm not sure.

Of course if you are commencing your journey at an airport which is not the one from where your International flight leaves (e.g. if you are travelling CBR-SYD-LAX), it is possible to check-in for the International flight way before time, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's allowed at the Int departure point.

Since the INT and DOM terminals in MEL are connected I doubt whether the trick of checking in at DOM would work, but as a final resort it might be worth trying.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I doubt that would work.

 

[danielh]

Oh well we will work on the 3-4 hour plan and hopefully pickup the seats we want. (Just trying to improve upon the pre allocated seats) :wink:

Just call Qantas up now and get a prefered seat allocated. I've got my prefered seats for my MLB-LAX and return already.

The flight is in Dec so I had pretty much any seat i wanted and so I choose the best once possible for me and the wife.

Regards
Daniel

 

[Alan in CBR]

I doubt that would work.

What did that comment add? I already said,

... I doubt whether the trick of checking in at DOM would work ...