Melbourne transfer query

[Kscf]

I am trying to book BNE - BLR in first week of June and unfortunately SQ has no saver avail unless I want to spend 14 hours in transit in SIN effectively doubling my journey.

Thai has opened up some space from MEL but BNE - MEL is not showing as an option in AC even though reward space is avail on the 6 AM flight giving me 1.5 hours to transfer, I will try calling to see if they can book over the phone.

But if they cant, can I book these separately and still make the thai air flight??

I will have checked luggage and also have plat status at VA which means my bags might be out early.

Or should I just bite the bullet and come to MEL the prev night ??

Thanks everyone.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Walking from T3/4 to T2 is easy, but without any PNR linkage, I would do the overnighter.
The Ibis Budget Melbourne Airport is walkalbe, all flat terrain, and can be done, even with pull along.
The Parkroyal is right across, better, but has been used as a covid quaro hotel in the past, have stayed at both.
If the flight was all linked, with one PNR, and you can do immi passport swiping in BNE, then its all ok to do in one day.
T2 check in open at 5.45am, no use getting there to T2 at 5am, as I did a few months back, more like a year and a bit.
Edit: if you have some VFF points to burn, I would also do the overnighter, so you can be guaranteed a J upgrade BNE - MEL, either one way or return, separate to the int flight.
Plus this, if you want, Luggage storage Melbourne Airport - Left Luggage Melbourne Airport - $5.95/day

 

[Mwenenzi]

I am trying to book BNE - BLR in first week of June and unfortunately SQ has no saver avail unless I want to spend 14 hours in transit in SIN effectively doubling my journey.

Thai has opened up some space from MEL but BNE - MEL is not showing as an option in AC even though reward space is avail on the 6 AM flight giving me 1.5 hours to transfer, I will try calling to see if they can book over the phone.

But if they cant, can I book these separately and still make the Thai air flight??

I will have checked luggage and also have plat status at VA which means my bags might be out early.

Or should I just bite the bullet and come to MEL the prev night ??

With separate tickets you do not have 1:30hr to transfer, as the international flight will close X minutes before scheduled departure. So wait for bag at VA T3, walk to T2, document check, check-in and bag drop. Then international bag & personal security (more than domestic), exit emigration controls (swipe passport- always at the international departure airport), through the duty free maze and to the gate. And the risk of a late arriving BNE flight.
Realistically Melbourne the night before is the only sensible option.

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

www.gcmap.com

 

[Kscf]

Thanks everyone. I am hoping when I call tonight I will be able to do a single ticket

 

[JohnK]

Morning flight from BNE-MEL in June? I wouldn't even do it on the same ticket.

I have BNE-MEL flight then MEL-BKK flight on separate tickets next week and I have decided to come down the night before as I don't want to risk a 3 hour connection.

I would not want to miss the flight as that stuffs plans at the destination such as hotels, private car booking etc.

 

[oxfordshire]

Apologies if posted elsewhere. My daughter and 8 yo granddaughter fly from LA to Melb in two weeks with qantas. THEY then fly home to perth with VA. She has only one hour scheduled between arrival at MEL and VA departure which is obviously way too short. What amount of time should she allow as obviously she has to collect bags, customs and immigration and change terminals. Travel agent has also allowed 75 minutes for my son in law on same flight from LA but then onward with qantas to Perth.

 

[aikman]

Apologies if posted elsewhere. My daughter and 8 yo granddaughter fly from LA to Melb in two weeks with qantas. THEY then fly home to perth with VA. She has only one hour scheduled between arrival at MEL and VA departure which is obviously way too short. What amount of time should she allow as obviously she has to collect bags, customs and immigration and change terminals. Travel agent has also allowed 75 minutes for my son in law on same flight from LA but then onward with qantas to Perth.

I think the 9:15 VA departure is too tight so I would choose the 12:15 VA departure.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If its QF94, it does get in at 6am, really MEL airport lists it as 5.33am.
That does give some time.
You don't give info on which airline daughter and grand daughter are coming in on.
If its UA, even better as they are linked to VA, so will have conjoined booking.
Not sure if UA started LAX - MEL again yet, tho.
Heh, sorry, saw you did mention they are both coming in on QF.
Would it be possible to change their flight MEL - PER to be with QFd?
In which case, at the least one PNR so its a bit easier.

 

[oxfordshire]

If its QF94, it does get in at 6am, really MEL airport lists it as 5.33am.
That does give some time.
You don't give info on which airline daughter and grand daughter are coming in on.
If its UA, even better as they are linked to VA, so will have conjoined booking.
Not sure if UA started LAX - MEL again yet, tho.
Heh, sorry, saw you did mention they are both coming in on QF.
Would it be possible to change their flight MEL - PER to be with QFd?
In which case, at the least one PNR so its a bit easier.

Thanks. Originally va flight was 7.15am, now changed to 10am. Many thanks.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Good (updated) timing, walkable (transfers T2 to T3 at MEL) is just next door.
There is a chance they might have closed off dom security screening at T3, and do all at T4, meaning a further walk, on the outside of the airport, ie, walkway near where the Skybus drop off).
If T3 security screening is still open, its all inside walk, otherwise, its an outside walk.
If all goes well, and there are no hiccups, its quite easy to walk across.
Still would have been better to get the QFd across to PER, as there would be the chance that a through BP could be provided at LAX, thus not needing to do VAd OLCI.
VAd allows 48 hours prior OLCI, but not sure how the system would work with the 2 of them being overseas, as to time difference.
If you check in for them OLCI, there would not be a way to the BP to them would there?
Can't remember if VAd allows you email BP to a friend, so she could download the BP to phone in T3/T4 at MEL.
That would save some time.
But if all else fails, just need to go to the check in counters at T4, (if they haven't closed off VA T3), and check in there.
If VA T3 bag drop is still there, there is a chance she might have to do dom security screening at T4 and veer back to T3, on the secure side.
There was talk that the VA dom T3 screening location was going to close, and they were going to join T3 and T4 security screening, meaning a further walk.
But will let the others who have passed Tullamarine more recently to answer on this point.
Sorry for the waffly.
Edit:
No more DPD needed to be filled in anymore, from 03 July, for the time being.