Minimum connection time Dom-Int in SYD, not single ticket

There's no equivalent international flight from MEL on that day, and the next flight from MEL-TFU-FCO (or the one the night before which isn't realistic anyway) costs more than double what I paid for.

1500 or 1530 departure from MEL to SYD are probably the only realistic options
 
drcam said:
The earliest I can leave the Melbourne CBD realistically is about 1340 hours
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Assuming you have check in luggage, I dont think the 1430 VA is realistic

IMO
The 1500 on either QF and VA will give you about 1-2hr spare for delays.
The 1600 on either will give you no more than 1hr spare for delays
The 1700 on either will not have any room for delays

Delays = anywhere along up and including inbound aircraft, pick up checked luggage, bus to T1, check in, security delays

The 1500 QF454 has been on time +/- 10 min in the last week

If you are not delayed then that's fine. But consider the alternatives if you are, and if the delays cause you to miss the 2nd sector
 
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Quickstatus said:
Assuming you have check in luggage, I dont think the 1430 VA is realistic

IMO
The 1500 on either QF and VA will give you about 1-2hr spare for delays.
The 1600 on either will give you no more than 1hr spare for delays
The 1700 on either will not have zero room for delays

Delays = anywhere including inbound aircraft, pick up checked luggage, bus to T1, check in, security delays

The 1500 QF454 has been on time +/- 10 min in the last week
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Feels to me like a 1500 flight whilst leaving Melbourne CBD at 1340 also runs the gauntlet of a traffic incident on the Tullamarine Freeway ruining your day. Especially if you have checked luggage.

Again, if it all goes smoothly, there's no issues at all.
 
Quickstatus said:
I think at leaving at 1340 its not too bad.
But if the Skybus leaves after 1500hrs......
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If it were me, I’d have an Uber or taxi waiting for me the moment I stepped out of the office at 1340. I wouldn’t be then adding in extra delays in waiting for the vagaries of a bus timetable.
 
Gremlin said:
If it were me, I’d have an Uber or taxi waiting for me the moment I stepped out of the office at 1340. I wouldn’t be then adding in extra delays in waiting for the vagaries of a bus timetable.
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The skybus is actually excellent and reliable. Used it 100+ times in the last year and it’s not the problem… the airlines have been!

The other thing to consider is that while any flight can be delayed, if the OP has baggage, trying to move to another flight is problematic. It’s not necessarily a case if the 1530 is delayed you can easily swap to the 1545. If you’ve checked bags you’re likely gonna have to wait until whatever time the 1530 leaves.

In answer to the OP… if you finish work at 1.30, catch the next skybus and air for a 3pm departure from MEL.

Before you check in your bags, look to see if your flight is on time (look also at the incoming aircraft via flightaware). If it all looks ok, check in. If not, ask to be moved to a flight that’s on time.
 
I will in all likelihood take a prebooked Uber from work. Waiting for a bus is potentially time wasting. It is the one time where it is not worth the savings.

My question is does having AC Gold Status give you priority baggage on VA flight such that you bags arrive before those of ordinary passengers? It has never been in play before so I never thought of it. If so I will book a VA flight instead of QF or JQ. Also is it quicker to use the bus or train to transfer between terminals in Sydney?
 
drcam said:
I will in all likelihood take a prebooked Uber from work. Waiting for a bus is potentially time wasting. It is the one time where it is not worth the savings.

My question is does having AC Gold Status give you priority baggage on VA flight such that you bags arrive before those of ordinary passengers? It has never been in play before so I never thought of it. If so I will book a VA flight instead of QF or JQ. Also is it quicker to use the bus or train to transfer between terminals in Sydney?
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The skybus is every ten minutes. While uber or didi is fine, the bus is not really about savings, it’s efficient. And the drivers are in constant communication with each other so if any road is congested they take alternatives.

Dunno about priority baggage through AC, but the wait is not ‘priority vs non priority’, it’s waiting for ANY bags to start coming around. This can take 10-20 minutes. Once the carousel starts the difference between priority and non-priority might be a minute. That’s even if priority comes out first.

As a frequent VA traveller last year, I’d recommend Qantas for on time reliability and service recovery.

The main issue is weather delays on your day of travel. If you’re on the the 3pm from Melbourne I’d be confident you’ll be fine. Just monitor your flight before checking in your bags, so if you need to move, you can.
 
Additionally, when you arrive at SYD, you will have to make arrangements to travel to the Int terminal under your own steam as you won't have an international boarding pass to use to board the airside transfer bus.

There is the Terminal Transfer Bus that operates from both QF and VA terminals to International - supposedly every 15 minutes, but I have found this a bit variable. This is free.

Or you can catch the Airport Train, which is not free and I think needs an Opal card? Although maybe not for Domestic to International, you might be able to just buy a ticket for that.
 
Seat0B said:
Or you can catch the Airport Train, which is not free and I think needs an Opal card? Although maybe not for Domestic to International, you might be able to just buy a ticket for that.
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Contactless payment
 
Booked a VA flight 1500 for MEL-SYD

Will try to get out of work a little earlier, maybe 1300 or even 1230
 
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