Holidays and Airport 'Chaos' since COVID

[Berlin]

Parents and separately friends flew out of Adelaide yesterday. the big complaint was why were we there SO EARLY. Queues flowed even if baggage was only open 2 hours before flight time..... no block at security point as they were fully staffed.

So this poses two questions: First, why can’t frigging Sydney Airport do the same as Adelaide, why is it so hard? And second, what is one to do if at some airports/ during certain times, people arrive too early while at other airports/times there are queues from hell like what I encountered this morning? Makes it hard for everyone, really.

 

[Sunday horse]

Advice please. Just arrived from SIN to SYD tonight and very quiet and at both immigration and baggage. However tomorrow flying SYD to MEL biz virgin mid morning. Could anyone advise about what time we should arrive at airport? Just reading reports that it has been pretty chaotic. Any advice much appreciated.

 

[jakeseven7]

Advice please. Just arrived from SIN to SYD tonight and very quiet and at both immigration and baggage. However tomorrow flying SYD to MEL biz virgin mid morning. Could anyone advise about what time we should arrive at airport? Just reading reports that it has been pretty chaotic. Any advice much appreciated.

T2 budget terminal in Sydney is a dogs breakfast at the best of times. Reports of over 1 hour waits to get through security on Friday…. Mid morning Sunday, school holidays I would be allowing plenty of time…. (But of course now I’ve said that you will probably sail through!)

 

[Berlin]

T2 budget terminal in Sydney is a dogs breakfast at the best of times. Reports of over 1 hour waits to get through security on Friday…. Mid morning Sunday, school holidays I would be allowing plenty of time…. (But of course now I’ve said that you will probably sail through!)

That “budget” terminal is one of the main reasons I keep giving my money to bloody Qantas- being based in Sydney, I always regret the rare occasion flying Virgin as soon as I set foot in there.

But as you said- I bet the OP will fly through on this occasion!

 

[kookaburra75]

Just went through Sydney T2 to drop off my parents who were flying back to Hervey Bay. Their fight was at 11.55am, and we got they're at 9.55am. We had checked in online. Walked straight in, no problems with checking bags. The security line was no worse than normal flying times, and we were though in about 20 minutes. There were quite a few staff walking around making sure everything was working properly.
The Terminal was busy, but not chaotic.

 

[AIRwin]

Their fight was at 11.55am, and we got they're at 9:55am.

Hope your parents have made up with each other after their/they're/there fight...

 

[kookaburra75]

Hope your parents have made up with each other after their/they're/there fight...

Bloody auto-correct on the phone :-(

 

[CaptJCool]

Airline On Time Performance Statistics —Monthly

Summary of current month Complete monthly report

www.bitre.gov.au

 

[CaptJCool]

The Chaos at Adelaide at 1.45pm was non-existent.

it was a breeze through !

on the ball at the front desk. Scanning boarding pass for access and knew only 2 of us had shown up!

G&T in the QF Club!!

 

[Rugby]

Straight thru at SYD T1 this morning just before 6.30am. QF First check in still closed - no queue for J checkin - staff did say that it’ll be a different story within 20 mins. Used the priority customs lane for First/Bus - but standard didn’t look busy either. All up 20min from curb side drop off to champagne in hand

 

[bam71]

I wonder if QF will start consolidating their flights ex LHR due to the new Heathrow passenger cap.

 

[Lynda2475]

I wonder if QF will start consolidating their flights ex LHR due to the new Heathrow passenger cap.

Doubtful as there is only 2 flights a day, 10 hours apart and fully booked.

Would expect most cancellations would be shorter haul or on routes with several flights a day.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Straight thru at SYD T1 this morning just before 6.30am. QF First check in still closed - no queue for J checkin - staff did say that it’ll be a different story within 20 mins. Used the priority customs lane for First/Bus - but standard didn’t look busy either. All up 20min from curb side drop off to champagne in hand

The F Check-in was open when I flew on QF11 last month. They must only be opening it for F Flights.

 

[Brissy1]

...6.30am...champagne in hand

Aviation time 20:30gmt. So fair enough

 

[sqrt()]

I have a couple of MEL QF D-I transits over the rest of July. I scoped out the transit when I was there a few weeks ago, but anyone have more recent experience? I should be able to check in for the international leg in SYD and skip the MEL queues. Both are 2+ hours so I think it should be fine unless the domestic leg gets canned - definitely a possibility.

 

[RealtimeY]

I have a couple of MEL QF D-I transits over the rest of July. I scoped out the transit when I was there a few weeks ago, but anyone have more recent experience? I should be able to check in for the international leg in SYD and skip the MEL queues. Both are 2+ hours so I think it should be fine unless the domestic leg gets canned - definitely a possibility.

Think you've pretty much nailed it. Last I was at the SYD international connections check-in line there was no priority line, so it took slightly longer.

 

[SYD]

Any recent experiences departing SYD on QF with HLO? Kiosk or still need to front a human? I’m flying QF81 to SIN but as suggested above, F checkin probably won’t be open in the morning so I’ll be relegated to J checkin (along with everyone else who has whY Q jumper status).

I‘m currently undecided if I do HLO or check my bag.

 

[Hvr]

I‘m currently undecided if I do HLO or check my bag.

Do you need the contents of your bag in SIN? If not then check it in and hope it catches up with you somewhere.

 

[SYD]

Do you need the contents of your bag in SIN? If not then check it in and hope it catches up with you somewhere.

I always carry a spare pair of undies in HL...

The constraint on "liquids and gels" (and aerosols) is a PITA for me...

 

[jakeseven7]

That budget terminal is one of the main reasons I keep giving my money to bloody Qantas- being based in Sydney, I always regret the rare occasion flying Virgin as soon as I set foot in there.

The T2 SYD terminal was again an absolute disaster again today, we had 2 team members miss their flights, apparently queues were out the door down the street back to T3!

Hope no AFF'ers got caught.