Melbourne to Tokyo via Sydney Question

CaptainPersia

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May 2, 2019
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Hey guys,

Question, I have a Qantas Tokyo flight coming up from Melbourne via Sydney. (arrival T3 in Sydney and departure T1) with 1:45 layover now questions:
. Since one leg domestic, Do I need to collect bags in Sydney and checkin again in T1? Or bags go all way to Tokyo from Melbourne?
. 1:45 layover enough to transit via Sydney T3? Easy to get to T1 from T3?

Cheers,
 
Do I need to collect bags in Sydney and checkin again in T1? Or bags go all way to Tokyo from Melbourne?
They will go all the way to tokyo. Not on the way back though, if you are doing the sa e routing.

. 1:45 layover enough to transit via Sydney T3? Easy to get to T1 from T3?

I would aim for an earlier flight out of Melbourne. You’ll need to change terminals in Sydney, then clear immigration.

if your domestic runs late, you could be cutting it fine.
 
They will go all the way to tokyo. Not on the way back though, if you are doing the sa e routing.



I would aim for an earlier flight out of Melbourne. You’ll need to change terminals in Sydney, then clear immigration.

if your domestic runs late, you could be cutting it fine.
Thanks how long changing terminal takes? Is T1 close to T3?
 
@offshore171 has it. You will be boarding your Tokyo flight about 45 mins prior to departure, so that leaves you an hour to:

Arrive/de-plane the domestic flight, get bus from T3 to T1 (not sure of the schedule, but every ?20, ?30 mins if its not running late, or first one is full), clear immigration and security, go to gate etc. Should allow 30 mins for plane being late, too.

No less than 3 hours I'd suggest; personally, I'd do more.
 
@offshore171 has it. You will be boarding your Tokyo flight about 45 mins prior to departure, so that leaves you an hour to:

Arrive/de-plane the domestic flight, get bus from T3 to T1 (not sure of the schedule, but every ?20, ?30 mins if its not running late, or first one is full), clear immigration and security, go to gate etc. Should allow 30 mins for plane being late, too.

No less than 3 hours I'd suggest; personally, I'd do more.
Just called Qantas they said they can't change my flight as it shows on time :(
Qantas seamless transfer is also every 30 min?
 
Question, I have a Qantas Tokyo flight coming up from Melbourne via Sydney. (arrival T3 in Sydney and departure T1) with 1:45 layover now questions:
. Since one leg domestic, Do I need to collect bags in Sydney and checkin again in T1? Or bags go all way to Tokyo from Melbourne?
. 1:45 layover enough to transit via Sydney T3? Easy to get to T1 from T3?,
They will go all the way to Tokyo. Not on the way back though, if you are doing the sa e routing.

I would aim for an earlier flight out of Melbourne. You’ll need to change terminals in Sydney, then clear immigration.

if your domestic runs late, you could be cutting it fine.
At MEL T1 the international check in desks are on the right. Not a kiosk, as document check is normally needed. In my experience the check in staff are good at putting you on an earlier flight if you are early, no matter what ticket type. Ask if they do not offer. They are more pragmatic than the phone agents. But early morning flights can be busy. What time is your MEL-SYD? QF426? Day of week?

At SYD the QF inter terminal bus leaves from T3 gate 15 airside.

From QF web site
MEL SYD QF426 09:00 10:25
SYD HND QF59 12:10 20:00
 
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A strategy then is to turn up at MEL early and plead a case, if there is anyone ther

At MEL T1 the international check in desks are on the right. Not a kiosk, as document check is normally needed. In my experience the check in staff are good at putting you on an earlier flight if you are early, no matter what ticket type. Ask if they do not offer. They are more pragmatic than the phone agents. But early morning flights can be busy. What time is your MEL-SYD? QF426? Day of week?

At SYD the QF inter terminal bus leaves from T3 gate 15 airside.

From QF web site
MEL SYD QF426 09:00 10:25
SYD HND QF59 12:10 20:00
My flight is Tuesday and exactly this: MEL SYD QF426 09:00 10:25 SYD HND QF59 12:10 20:00
 
The distance is not that far, but its not walkable, and no path on the secure side.
You will need to get the transfer bus from gate 15 at T3, where you will need the SYD - NRT/HND BP, to scan.
As you have shown your passport to the MEL QF staff, you don't need to approach the QF staff at T1, just proceed straight from the bus drop off point, up the escalators, to the dep hall, and go through outgoing immi and sec processing.
As you will do dom sec processing in MEL, so no iffy items in HLO.
The QF T3 to T1 bus goes on the internal road, so saves a lot of time.
===
If this is your first time, SYD and MEL airports each have terminal maps/layout of the site, so you can get used to what is where.
Take a look at google maps, to the airport layout of T1 and T3 at SYD.
At MEL, do not go to T2, go to T1, as this where your dom flight will depart from.
If it were me, I would have stumped up for the $ and taken the JL direct from MEL - NRT/HND.
SYD airport transfers, from T3 to T1, or vice versa can be the pits.
The airport views on the bus are great, its just the time taken to get from one T to the T, and coming back, is another whole pain in the prosterior.
 
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What are the consequences to your travel arrangements in Tokyo if you were to arrive a day later?
The distance is not that far, but its not walkable, and no path on the secure side.
You will need to get the transfer bus from gate 15 at T3, where you will need the SYD - NRT/HND BP, to scan.
As you have shown your passport to the MEL QF staff, you don't need to approach the QF staff at T1, just proceed straight from the bus drop off point, up the escalators, to the dep hall, and go through outgoing immi and sec processing.
As you will do dom sec processing in MEL, so no iffy items in HLO.
The QF T3 to T1 bus goes on the internal road, so saves a lot of time.
Thanks this helps
 
The distance is not that far, but its not walkable, and no path on the secure side.
You will need to get the transfer bus from gate 15 at T3, where you will need the SYD - NRT/HND BP, to scan.
As you have shown your passport to the MEL QF staff, you don't need to approach the QF staff at T1, just proceed straight from the bus drop off point, up the escalators, to the dep hall, and go through outgoing immi and sec processing.
As you will do dom sec processing in MEL, so no iffy items in HLO.
The QF T3 to T1 bus goes on the internal road, so saves a lot of time.
===
If this is your first time, SYD and MEL airports each have terminal maps/layout of the site, so you can get used to what is where.
Take a look at google maps, to the airport layout of T1 and T3 at SYD.
At MEL, do not go to T2, go to T1, as this where your dom flight will depart from.
If it were me, I would have stumped up for the $ and taken the JL direct from MEL - NRT/HND.
SYD airport transfers, from T3 to T1, or vice versa can be the pits.
The airport views on the bus are great, its just the time taken to get from one T to the T, and coming back, is another whole pain in the prosterior.
I booked the whole thing with points so nelb Tokyo wasn't available rewards
 
1:45 is quite tight, but on a linked PNR, its good, as QF know where you are in the process.
They "sometimes" hold the int aircraft as they know that they have dom pax coming.
If its not a linked PNR, then there could be a bit more troublesome.
Enjoy the trip!
 
I think it overall depends on the kind of traveller you are. If you get stressed and need things to go exactly to plan, then I'd see if you can't move to an earlier flight at the airport (or even in app on the day).

Id you're a bit more carefree, 1:45 is plenty and the downside isnt terrible either. Worst case is you get delayed by about 10 hours and they move you to the overnight SYD > HND (QF25).

If things are really looking bad at MEL, they may even just move you to the direct MEL > TYO (QF79) flight.
 
Unlike a lot of the posters here I suspect, I have actually DONE similar to this 5 times so far this year; most recently (Oct 11) I got from T3 to T1 airside in 25 mins (around 1100), which is fairly typical (may take longer if security at T1 is busy). Your itinerary looks OK to me.
 
Qantas seamless transfer is also every 30 min?
“Seamless transfer”. Maybe.

Maybe bus waits until it fills up. All depends ….

Anyway, there’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush as you run for the gate, not knowing if the aircraft door will close before you get there 😀
 
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Interesting as when I called Qantas they said its enough time!! They shouldn't be offering it when booking
In most cases it's enough time but in my mind it's still tight especially if any delays.

I don't like like rushing from flight to transfer then go through security/immigration and rush to gate. Doesn't leave much time to relax. Doesn't leave much if any lounge time.

I'm not sure how people book these connections but generally I used to find that multi city booking (split domestic and international legs) gave more options for the same price.
 

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