International transfer at Sydney

[chrisjones2024]

Hi, I am having to fly to Brisbane from London Heathrow in a couple of weeks and have booked solely using the British Airways website. The flights I am going on include a short stop at Changi, back onto the same plane to Sydney, then an internal Qantas flight from Sydney to Brisbane (BA flight number still), BA0015 and BA7458. The opposite applies on the way back, BA7459 and BA0016.

2 questions. With both being OneWorld partners will my suitcase get transferred from the BA flight to the Qantas flight and vice versa, or do I have to collect my bag at Sydney and check back in?

With Sydney having two terminals, how long is a safe amount of time to get from the international terminal to domestic? On my flight back BA have left me 90 minutes between my domestic flight and international flight at Sydney, I have phoned them up and they have told me "not to worry, it will be fine", and refused to change me to an earlier flight from Brisbane. I don't mind missing an internal flight, but I don't want to get stuck in Sydney and miss my flight home. What should I do or am I worrying about nothing?

Thanks, Chris

 

[Himeno]

BA should tag the bag through to Brisbane when you check in and issue a boarding pass for the domestic flight, but you will have to collect your bags and move through immigration and customs then drop your bags at the Qantas connections area at Sydney.
Qantas will issue new bag tags/boarding passes for the onward flight to Brisbane if a change is required (such as arriving late).

After dropping your bags, you go through domestic security and wait for a bus to take you to the Qantas domestic terminal.


On the way back, Qantas should check your bags through to London. You will not need to collect bags in Sydney. You will transfer to the international terminal on the bus, then go through departure immigration and international security.

The Qantas Seamless Transfer service is available for customers connecting to/from a Qantas flight, subject to capacity restrictions and operational requirements.

For Qantas domestic to all international flights with through checked baggage, make your way to gate 15 for airside transfer to the international terminal.

For international arrivals, a Seamless service is available for customers arriving on international flights and connecting to a Qantas domestic flight. Customers should collect their luggage on arrival at Sydney International terminal. Follow the signs in the arrivals hall to the Qantas Domestic Transfer area. Baggage will be rechecked and you will proceed to the domestic terminal on our airside buses.

90 minutes is the minimum connection time at Sydney for Domestic to International. It is doable, if everything is on time and you don't get stuck in immigration/security lines. If something goes wrong, such as a delayed arrival from Brisbane, or missing the transfer bus (and waiting 10-30 mins depending on time of day for the next one) then there could be problems.
Many people here like having longer connections in Sydney.

 

[AIRwin]

On my flight back BA have left me 90 minutes between my domestic flight and international flight at Sydney, I have phoned them up and they have told me "not to worry, it will be fine", and refused to change me to an earlier flight from Brisbane. I don't mind missing an internal flight, but I don't want to get stuck in Sydney and miss my flight home. What should I do or am I worrying about nothing?

You can turn up early at the airport and try asking Qantas to put you on an earlier flight but it's up to their discretion and subject to availability

 

[DC3]

Maybe best to wear your running shoes. That connection has a few variables.

If the flights are ticketed on the same PNR, then you have some “protection”. However, if you happen to not quite make the connection, the ‘next available’ flight may not necessarily be the next scheduled flight as you probably are aware.

Regarding “… I have phoned them up and they have told me "not to worry, it will be fine", and refused to change me to an earlier flight from Brisbane …”, perhaps HUACA (even multiple times if necessary) may get someone who is prepared to make a change.

Many AFFers would not book such a short connection in SYD. Also, the QF flight BNE-SYD (BA7459) has run an average of 19 minutes late over the past two months, according to EF. A 3-hour connection would be more comfortable.

Welcome to AFF.

 

[tdimdad]

If you keep the 90 minute connection on your way back (BNE - xSYD - LHR), it might be useful to scout for a couple of alternatives. If it becomes obvious that the departure from BNE gets delayed, can you get rerouted directly to SIN and connect to the BA flight from there? Or any other alternative alternative from BNE that would work for you.