Melbourne Int-Dom transit, separate ticket

[kamchatsky]

I have JL773 nrt-mel arriving at 05:40am. I am looking to book VA from Mel-syd on separate ticket.

Would a 8:30am departure at Mel allow sufficient time to clear immigration and customs and then check in? I have never transited at Mel before for international arrival. The transit time is 2:50.

 

[Quickstatus]

Would a 8:30am departure at Mel allow sufficient time to clear immigration and customs and then check in? I have never transited at Mel before for international arrival. The transit time is 2:50.

Possibly not, but that's not a problem because VA will simply put you on a later flight if you are delayed.
In MEL's favour is that the DOM terminal is next door to the INT terminal and no requirement to take a bus/train/taxi.

I think it is more realistic for people to actually assume departure time to be boarding time. Hence your transit time is realistically 2:20.

 

[AIRwin]

Possibly not, but that's not a problem because VA will simply put you on a later flight if you are delayed.

Even on a separate ticket?

 

[Quickstatus]

Even on a separate ticket?

Yes. Ive been late on VA and QF before on a cheap ticket. They no show you on the original (ie take your money) but will simply move you to the next available if you turn up. Whether they add on extra fees (ie change fees) or not is separate question. They didn't for me. They are not FR or U2

 

[BCons]

Shud be enough time but normal circs dont seem to apply these days, Hv a look at Mel airport site for arrivals on the day of the week you arrive with JAL. Gives a rough idea of Intl terml congestion (wch happens most in Bag hall and then lining up to exit bag collection) Usually a squeeze to get into the line for AQIS (or whatever thr effn name was changed to - DAFF Biosecurity..) to triage you for risk prior exit. Good day 15 min from arrvl Bag hall to exit, bad day 45m to collect & exit. Call it 10m if things are quiet and you're carry-on only. If you need to check a bag with VA then thats only 5 mins up the escalator to the R from Intl arrivals to VA checkin. Allow 20 mins from VA checkin to gate (assuming J tkt?). Its morng commuter peak, VA have a priority lane but people management at security is usually a shambles (DR:TL). If you know Mel from of old, these days you hv to do a big clockwise loop from VA checkin around towards new T4, down thru security and back R along a corridor past VA lounge to the main length of gates. Flightradar will show you recent on-time performance of yr JAL flt but this advice is worth what you hv paid for..

 

[Mwenenzi]

I have JL773 nrt-mel arriving at 05:40am. I am looking to book VA from Mel-syd on separate ticket.

Would a 8:30am departure at Mel allow sufficient time to clear immigration and customs and then check in? I have never transited at Mel before for international arrival. The transit time is 2:50.

A few days ago was landside 25 minutes after aircraft door opened on a ~18:00 international arrival with checked bag/AU passport. Early morning may have different number of flight arrivals.

The *big* delay with MEL is the last customs bio security check before landside. Tend to only 2, or sometimes 3, officers checking the manual cards, before directed to exit or to the Xray check. Very poor line management ~ tensa barriers. If a few wide body aircraft the random line (no tensa) of passengers sprawls around. If flights from Asia-India get more passengers with a lot of bags and more directed to Xray. Can be very slow. Why the AU govt - airport allow this to keep happening a mystery. Been this way for a long time.

Once landside a few minutes walk to T3/T4 for VA. Will be a peak time for domestic departures at 08:30 -more time.

 

[zsw]

Landed at 5:50am last Wednesday and was through landslide by 6:25am - biggest delay was waiting in line for final customs check. I think a 8:30am departure should be fine provided there are no delays on the incoming flight.

 

[Seat0B]

We have done a number of MEL int-Dom on separate ticket arrivals in the recent past at all different times of the day. It has always been pretty quick, with the 2 biggest variables being luggage arrival from aircraft and especially oversized luggage (eg skis), and the final customs/quarantine check that others have mentioned. That said, we have found that it’s usually taken us between 1.5-2 hrs at the most until we are sitting in the domestic Q lounge, all checked in, security screened and ready to go. I also think you should be right as long as your flight isn’t delayed.

 

[Seat0B]

Landed at 5:50am last Wednesday and was through landslide by 6:25am - biggest delay was waiting in line for final customs check. I think a 8:30am departure should be fine provided there are no delays on the incoming flight.

Welcome to posting on AFF @zsw!

 

[justinbrett]

I think you’d be safer booking on QF, from what I can find in other forums JAL will transfer bags to separate tickets (and both are Oneworld which makes it easy). Obviously you have to recheck your bag in MEL but it will already be tagged to SYD. JL doesn’t have an interline agreement with VA.

Also if you did miss your connection QF would see your inbound flight (having been linked by JL) and I doubt you’d have any problems rebooking.

If you do go with VA you will be wearing all the risk. I doubt VA cares your flight, a rival to their partner, was late.

 

[kamchatsky]

Yes. Ive been late on VA and QF before on a cheap ticket. They no show you on the original (ie take your money) but will simply move you to the next available if you turn up. Whether they add on extra fees (ie change fees) or not is separate question. They didn't for me. They are not FR or U2

I am surprised by this for VA. Were you a higher-status member for VA at the time? Ie they are more lenient for you for no-showing? I am unfortunately a VA Red.

be enough time but normal circs dont seem to apply these days, Hv a look at Mel airport site for arrivals on the day of the week you arrive with JAL. Gives a rough idea of Intl terml congestion (wch happens most in Bag hall and then lining up to exit bag collection) Usually a squeeze to get into the line for AQIS (or whatever thr effn name was changed to - DAFF Biosecurity..) to triage you for risk prior exit. Good day 15 min from arrvl Bag hall to exit, bad day 45m to collect & exit. Call it 10m if things are quiet and you're carry-on only. If you need to check a bag with VA then thats only 5 mins up the escalator to the R from Intl arrivals to VA checkin. Allow 20 mins from VA checkin to gate (assuming J tkt?). Its morng commuter peak, VA have a priority lane but people management at security is usually a shambles (DR:TL). If you know Mel from of old, these days you hv to do a big clockwise loop from VA checkin around towards new T4, down thru security and back R along a corridor past VA lounge to the main length of gates. Flightradar will show you recent on-time performance of yr JAL flt but this advice is worth what you hv paid

Good call about the commuter peak. I was looking at Domestic Transfer desk (shorter queues) in MEL map but realised they do not have one. So I would need to check in among the masses and may need to line up.

A few days ago was landside 25 minutes after aircraft door opened on a ~18:00 international arrival with checked bag/AU passport. Early morning may have different number of flight arrivals.

The *big* delay with MEL is the last customs bio security check before landside. Tend to only 2, or sometimes 3, officers checking the manual cards, before directed to exit or to the Xray check. Very poor line management ~ tensa barriers. If a few wide body aircraft the random line (no tensa) of passengers sprawls around. If flights from Asia-India get more passengers with a lot of bags and more directed to Xray. Can be very slow. Why the AU govt - airport allow this to keep happening a mystery. Been this way for a long time.

Once landside a few minutes walk to T3/T4 for VA. Will be a peak time for domestic departures at 08:30 -more time.

Sounds like a bit like Russian roulette.

Landed at 5:50am last Wednesday and was through landslide by 6:25am - biggest delay was waiting in line for final customs check. I think a 8:30am departure should be fine provided there are no delays on the incoming flight.

Were you travelling in Y or J? If it is J then you be first to get to immigration + customs. Were there already a lot of people at immigration when your plane land?

We have done a number of MEL int-Dom on separate ticket arrivals in the recent past at all different times of the day. It has always been pretty quick, with the 2 biggest variables being luggage arrival from aircraft and especially oversized luggage (eg skis), and the final customs/quarantine check that others have mentioned. That said, we have found that it’s usually taken us between 1.5-2 hrs at the most until we are sitting in the domestic Q lounge, all checked in, security screened and ready to go. I also think you should be right as long as your flight isn’t delayed.

I think I need to check flight radar on the on-time performance of this flight

I think you’d be safer booking on QF, from what I can find in other forums JAL will transfer bags to separate tickets (and both are Oneworld which makes it easy). Obviously you have to recheck your bag in MEL but it will already be tagged to SYD. JL doesn’t have an interline agreement with VA.

Also if you did miss your connection QF would see your inbound flight (having been linked by JL) and I doubt you’d have any problems rebooking.

If you do go with VA you will be wearing all the risk. I doubt VA cares your flight, a rival to their partner, was late.

Originally I wanted to book QF but their prices is almost 2 * VA (VA has a sale now), and I need to buy 4 tickets. Hence I was looking at VA instead.

 

[equus]

Were you travelling in Y or J? If it is J then you be first to get to immigration + customs. Were there already a lot of people at immigration when your plane land?

You might be first to get to immigration for your flight, but it is not immigration that is the bottle neck. After you get through immigration, you then need to wait for any checked bags, and only then can you head for the final customs and bio-security check. You can be passed by many people with no checked luggage, your luggage may be delayed, and then you have any other flights to contend with.

 

[kamchatsky]

So after much thought, I decided to book the 10am VA flight to SYD instead of 8:30am one. Will give me (and my family) less stress, and if we have spare time in between flights then we will go to decent cafe for breakfast. My kids will vote for Maccas though.

 

[Gremlin]

So after much thought, I decided to book the 10am VA flight to SYD instead of 8:30am one. Will give me (and my family) less stress, and if we have spare time in between flights then we will just decent cafe for breakfast. My kids will vote for Maccas though.

To quote the random guy my wife and I sat next at a wedding once...

"Maccas coffee is the best coffee."

No. We did not become friends.

 

[AIRwin]

So after much thought, I decided to book the 10am VA flight to SYD instead of 8:30am one.

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www.velocityfrequentflyer.com

 

[kamchatsky]

Remember to activate this offer if you haven't already:

Activate your exclusive member only offer

You won't want to miss out on our special limited-time offer! Activate now

www.velocityfrequentflyer.com

Certainly did! I fact I activated this offer for all 4 of us before I made the booking, and their points and status credits all pooled to me.

 

[Seat0B]

To quote the random guy my wife and I sat next at a wedding once...

"Maccas coffee is the best coffee."

No. We did not become friends.

you should post this in the "good coffee" thread!

 

[AIRwin]

Will give me (and my family) less stress, and if we have spare time in between flights then we will go to decent cafe for breakfast.

And now there's a post about a missed connection on VA due to late arrival of a JL flight into MEL:

JAL 777-300ER back on Sydney route

My wife, daughter and I are on JL52 today - cabin is full. The crew have been excellent. Much more friendly and casual than I expected - the 5 month old may have helped break the ice. One FA is also near native in English which feels like a rarity on JL... or maybe they just hide them in First...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[kamchatsky]

And now there's a post about a missed connection on VA due to late arrival of a JL flight into MEL:

JAL 777-300ER back on Sydney route

My wife, daughter and I are on JL52 today - cabin is full. The crew have been excellent. Much more friendly and casual than I expected - the 5 month old may have helped break the ice. One FA is also near native in English which feels like a rarity on JL... or maybe they just hide them in First...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

The JL was late into SYD rather than MEL. SYD is even more complicated for transit given the bus/train requirements between terminals. But yes better safe than sorry.

If JL773 rocks up on time and I get out of immigration and customs by say 6:30am, what is the chance of VA putting all of us on an earlier flight if asked?

 

[Flyfrequently]

The JL was late into SYD rather than MEL. SYD is even more complicated for transit given the bus/train requirements between terminals. But yes better safe than sorry.

If JL773 rocks up on time and I get out of immigration and customs by say 6:30am, what is the chance of VA putting all of us on an earlier flight if asked?

Late to the party and reading this thread 2/52 later.
Have you flown yet @kamchatsky ?
If so, how did you go?

Always the enemy is " flight delay".