Jetstar early check-in (Syd International)

pancakezattack

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Hi All,

Flying on JQ63 from Syd to Melb. I was hoping to check-in early to access the lounge ASAP. Can anyone please share recent experience of how early Jetstar will let you check-in and drop bags at the Syd international terminal?

Thanks!
 
I flew JQ63 recently - my flight from BNE arrived SYD T3 at 8:34 am, took the free T-Bus to T1, managed to check in at the JQ service desk around 9-ish (hand luggage only) and was in the First class lounge by 10 am:
When are you flying?

Paging @kangarooflyer88 for your experience?
 
Last edited:

He said 3 hours
 
My other experience for JQ63 earlier in 2023:
 
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I flew JQ63 recently - my flight from BNE arrived SYD T2 at 8:34 am, took the free T-Bus to T1, managed to check in at the JQ service desk around 9-ish (hand luggage only) and was in the First class lounge by 10 am:
When are you flying?

Paging @kangarooflyer88 for your experience?
That's helpful thanks! Flying soon but don't want to disclose date for privacy reasons. Any idea if they allow checked baggage that early? Unfortunately have a few things I need to bring. Would love to be in the First Lounge asap for a massage and lunch!
 
Couple of points. First online check in is not possible for JQ63, QF9 or any other such domestic flights that leave from the international terminal. The reason being is an ID check needs to be done by a human who will print out a physical boarding pass and affix a D - domestic sticker to the boarding pass. They will then write down the ID number presented (e.g. passport number) and have you sign it. This is crucial since someone from the ABF will need to see the boarding pass and ID to validate on departure (and to stamp out the boarding pass). Then upon arrival at your destination an ABF officer will inspect the boarding pass to confirm you’re domestic and let you through without the hassle of immigration.

In terms of how early you can check-in well for JQ flights it is 3 hours officially. Could you get there early and have them check you in and accept your bags? Possibly. But don’t expect it. If this was a Qantas domestic international flight (like QF9 from Melbourne to Perth) then yes they’ll let you check in early. I know that since I got to First check in about 4 hours prior and had no issues there.

I think what is key to understand here is there are now multiple flights operated by both JetStar and Qantas which have this peculiarity including Sydney to Melbourne and Melbourne to Sydney with JetStar, Melbourne to Cairns with JetStar, Melbourne to Perth with Qantas (and vice versa) and soon when flights to Rome resume, Sydney to Perth with Qantas (and vice versa)

-RooFlyer88
 
Then upon arrival at your destination an ABF officer will inspect the boarding pass to confirm you’re domestic and let you through without the hassle of immigration.
You would not believe the number of people who lose/leave their boarding pass onboard. Usually ABF tell those to go pack to the plane to find it however often that’s not possible and they’ve got a printed list of domestic passengers held at one of the desks they can use to tick you off.
 
I think what is key to understand here is there are now multiple flights operated by both JetStar and Qantas which have this peculiarity including Sydney to Melbourne and Melbourne to Sydney with JetStar, Melbourne to Cairns with JetStar, Melbourne to Perth with Qantas (and vice versa) and soon when flights to Rome resume, Sydney to Perth with Qantas (and vice versa)

-RooFlyer88
Does JQ still have positioning flights from MEL to BNE? There used to be a MEL to OOL (onwards to NRT) flight, but not sure if that got carried over with the shift from OOL to BNE.
 
Does JQ still have positioning flights from MEL to BNE? There used to be a MEL to OOL (onwards to NRT) flight, but not sure if that got carried over with the shift from OOL to BNE.
I don't think they do. They do have JQ15 which does MEL to KIX (via CNS), though.

The JQ flights which feature an international domestic sector seem to change over time. For instance, JQ63 which flies from Melbourne to Saigon but has a Sydney (to Melbourne) tag segment on Mondays and Fridays seems to stop having that tag segment effective April 1. Similarly, JQ47, the JetStar flight to Seoul seems to drop the Melbourne to Sydney tag segment effective March 1. And of course there are Qantas flights which also feature tag segments too (namely QF9: PER to LHR which also has a MEL > PER tag segment) which also change (that tag segment is dropping later this year).

Certainly need to keep on your toes to track these changes with QanStar.

-RooFlyer88
 

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