Minimum connection time Sydney?

[danielt25]

Hi, I'm arriving into Sydney from Auckland on Tuesday at 14:10pm. (QF144) What would be the minimum time to connect to a domestic flight? I'll need to collect bags and check them in to Qantas Domestic (will be different tickets)

 

[AIRwin]

Domestic flight to BNE?

 

[danielt25]

Domestic flight to Brisbane and then a connecting flight to Cairns.

 

[justinbrett]

The legal minimum is 1:30 for QF ID, T1 to T3.

QF-QF ID 1.30 TRM 1 - 3

That said, QF will interline QF to QF bookings on separate tickets. I'd allow 3 hours to be safe, but you should be fine.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

A question that is unanswered by the discussion so far is what happens if the OP was to mis-connect? Would QF protect that second flight since they were the ones delivering him to SYD or would they be on their own?

In any event, the connection process for Sydney is as follows:

1. Clear immigration
2. Collect your bags
3. Clear customs
4. Head to the domestic transfers centre just outside the international terminal, near the coaches area
5. Re-check your bag for the domestic flight
6. Clear security
7. Board a bus that will take you air-side to Qantas domestic terminal
8. Walk to your gate

Having done a number of connections over the past while, this is by far the most annoying, and that includes major airports in the US like LAX. Lots of cough to clear and need to move around to get somewhere and frankly there is no need for any of this. At most one would need to clear immigration to enter Australia then simply be dumped to whatever terminal they need to go since they already cleared security and customs by definition could be handled at immigration. This is what they do in Vancouver and other leading airports that adopt the IATA Annex for connections.



-RooFlyer88

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

3 hrs if all on QF, yes, doable, if with JQ a bit of farfing around
If VA, more farfing around.
You will need to do OLCI as soon as you are clear of the double doors at SYD T1, ie, after where they take the little print out off you, the slip you get from the waist high e passport reader.
Better still, if you have internet connection in NZ and can either do it by app or on the QF website, 22 hrs prior to dom flight.
You will need the QFd BP to get onto the QF bus, assuming the flight from SYD to BNE to CNS os also on QF.
They might (reprint)/re issue you a paper BP in the SYD T1 int - dom transfer lounge zone, they might not.
3 hrs or more if QF, more if QF/JQ, more again if JQ only.
You don't say which airline is flying you SYD onwards.
If QF, all good, if JQ from SYD - BNE, then you will need to go from the bus drop off at T3 to JQ's SYD T2, ...
HLO, or with plane hold bags?
Edit:
there are types (remits/limits) of sec screening, the ones that Customs do, and the ones that avia sec do, their remits are different, as far as Aust is concerned.
Customs incoming sec & bio, are to prevent you from bringing illegal items into Aust, but dom avia sec, is more so about bringing things across that customs & bio do not look into.

 

[justinbrett]

A question that is unanswered by the discussion so far is what happens if the OP was to mis-connect? Would QF protect that second flight since they were the ones delivering him to SYD or would they be on their own?

In any event, the connection process for Sydney is as follows:

1. Clear immigration
2. Collect your bags
3. Clear customs
4. Head to the domestic transfers centre just outside the international terminal, near the coaches area
5. Re-check your bag for the domestic flight
6. Clear security
7. Board a bus that will take you air-side to Qantas domestic terminal
8. Walk to your gate

Having done a number of connections over the past while, this is by far the most annoying, and that includes major airports in the US like LAX. Lots of cough to clear and need to move around to get somewhere and frankly there is no need for any of this. At most one would need to clear immigration to enter Australia then simply be dumped to whatever terminal they need to go since they already cleared security and customs by definition could be handled at immigration. This is what they do in Vancouver and other leading airports that adopt the IATA Annex for connections.



-RooFlyer88

We've been over this so many times. The only difference between the process at SYD and the process at LAX for I>D is at SYD you get a bus to the domestic terminal, at LAX you walk (or possibly get a bus also). Everything else is the same.

 

[danielt25]

The connecting flight SYD/CNS will be with Qantas either the QF544 (6:05pm) or QF546 (6:35pm) - the 6:35pm flight gives an hour changeover in Brisbane.

Also, is the transfer bus efficient now as there's always the train link I saw people referring to a while back

I don't want to book JQ as my first option in case it gets cancelled on the day.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If HLO, the train can be good, but it can be crowded, as about 14.10/15.00/15.30 will be full of kids if school day.
Train at T1 is a short hop down to basement, from far right hand side end, facing the Rydges, but the other way though, under T2/T3, its a very long way up from underground escalators, and quite a far walk.
Have used it before, several times.
The QF bus was as we know, was ok, prior to covid, but I haven't used it lately.
On here, it was mentioned QF changed some procedure, then it came back.
Granted less people are flying int now, as prior to covid, so QF might hold the bus till its full, but if you know your way around T1, its ok to use.
Train will need you to pay $7.70 (edit: $7.79 can be a tap debit/credit card), at the most, not sure how much the int - dom temrinal gate fee is, but the arr time of the flight from NZ is considered SYD trains, peak time.
If on a Sun, its $6.65, as its off peak all day.
Have a look at the opal.com.au website, it gives the times and fare details.
To sum up, catch the QF bus this time, if you had gotten the earlier flight from NZ, and had the whole day, I would get the train.
The good thing about the QF bus is that you will have the chance of getting to make sure you have a BP for the whole trip, even as far as CNS.

 

[gaz0303]

Data point - Customs was a mess yesterday. Landed at 6:40am and arrived at dom via QF bus at 8:30am. That’s the slowest I’ve ever had. Reticketing missed connection was painless with QF.

 

[RichardMEL]

If HLO, the train can be good, but it can be crowded, as about 14.10/15.00/15.30 will be full of kids if school day.
Train at T1 is a short hop down to basement, from far right hand side end, facing the Rydges, but the other way though, under T2/T3, its a very long way up from underground escalators, and quite a far walk.
Have used it before, several times.
The QF bus was as we know, was ok, prior to covid, but I haven't used it lately.
On here, it was mentioned QF changed some procedure, then it came back.
Granted less people are flying int now, as prior to covid, so QF might hold the bus till its full, but if you know your way around T1, its ok to use.
Train will need you to pay $7.70 (edit: $7.79 can be a tap debit/credit card), at the most, not sure how much the int - dom temrinal gate fee is, but the arr time of the flight from NZ is considered SYD trains, peak time.
If on a Sun, its $6.65, as its off peak all day.
Have a look at the opal.com.au website, it gives the times and fare details.
To sum up, catch the QF bus this time, if you had gotten the earlier flight from NZ, and had the whole day, I would get the train.
The good thing about the QF bus is that you will have the chance of getting to make sure you have a BP for the whole trip, even as far as CNS.

Waffle waffle waffle. add syrup.. waffle.

Pooch did you not read the OP mentioning collecting bags? So you know, HLO is irrelevant in this case.
Train is likely not an issue because they can use the QF dom transfer bus, and it works fine now. You admit you haven't used it so why comment?
Even if not, there's the orange bus outside the terminal which is free, but that's going to be annoying with luggage. Again though, this is where they can use QF domestic transfer check in at T1 (which also is a 5-10min walk from int arrivals)

Further, if the OP uses the QF transfer then QF "know" where they are from the point of checking in at domestic transfer. Otherwise they're an unknown if catching the train or the landside bus over to T3 and check in there. It makes no sense.

As for

to sum up, catch the QF bus this time, if you had gotten the earlier flight from NZ, and had the whole day, I would get the train.

Huh? This makes no sense at all. If anything, this is a reason to NOT catch the train (cost, time etc) but to use dom transfer at T1 (the agets there could potentially move pax to earlier BNE/CNS flights).

imo, OP will be able to check through from NZ to CNS (assuming QF all the way), will have bag tagged through, have BP's, and go straight through dom transfer at T1, get delivered to Gate 15 and go to their next flight/lounge - and if there's an issue, QF will rebook (in theory) as required.

Unfortunately you're again confusing things imo.

 

[jpp42]

The only difference between the process at SYD and the process at LAX for I>D is at SYD you get a bus to the domestic terminal, at LAX you walk (or possibly get a bus also). Everything else is the same.

While I agree with your sentiment - LAX is hardly better than SYD overall - I will note that if you arrive at the Tom Bradley terminal, and I believe it's similar at the other terminals, the baggage re-check area is immediately after customs and does not require first exiting into a public area and finding your way to a separate facility, as you do at SYD T1. This is a minor point but I believe it does make it somewhat easier on first-timers. Also, I've never seen a significant queue for these counters at LAX, while Qantas always has a queue for re-checking in the morning peak times. This is offset by security queues - at LAX you join the standard security checkpoints in the destination "domestic" terminal, which can be extremely lengthy, whereas it's usually pretty quick to get through the domestic security checkpoint at the Qantas T1 facility.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Train is likely not an issue because they can use the QF dom transfer bus, and it works fine now. You admit you haven't used it so why comment?

I took the QF transfer bus from international to domestic back in January and can confirm that all is well on that front. Waited maybe 5 minutes at the bus for them to collect a few more passengers than bus left for T3. Also if you like plane cough as do I, this ride gives an excellent "tour" of SYD.

Train is also an option too but I think the QF bus would be smoother for OP since everything gets handled at the domestic transfers station just outside the international terminal. Also you get to save $7 or whatever the heck TransportforNSW has the audacity to charge for using their train to connect between terminals (in London by contrast, there is no charge to take the train between terminals)

Even if not, there's the orange bus outside the terminal which is free, but that's going to be annoying with luggage. Again though, this is where they can use QF domestic transfer check in at T1 (which also is a 5-10min walk from int arrivals)

Orange T bus is okay, and depending on when OP arrives may be the only option (I think the QF bus only runs to 9 PM?). Big issue though is they'll wait 10 or 15 minutes to collect passengers at each terminal with the routing being Terminal 1 > Terminal 2 > Terminal 3. Also you'll have to mingle with JQ passengers and may catch a nasty case of IRROPs from them!

Huh? This makes no sense at all. If anything, this is a reason to NOT catch the train (cost, time etc) but to use dom transfer at T1 (the agets there could potentially move pax to earlier BNE/CNS flights).

That's assuming QF is willing to touch a separate QF ticket for CNS. I've never experimented with this before which is why I keep asking whether QF will protect OP should they "mis-connect" at SYD for their separate ticket from SYD to CNS (via BNE).

 

[RichardMEL]

That's assuming QF is willing to touch a separate QF ticket for CNS. I've never experimented with this before which is why I keep asking whether QF will protect OP should they "mis-connect" at SYD for their separate ticket from SYD to CNS (via BNE).

I guess it depends on your definition of "protect"

the Staff at T1 dom transfer have traditionally been very proactive, and seem to have higher levels of authority (or experience) to move pax and sort things out.

While slightly different to your question, when arriving early ex-SQ SIN-SYD and connecting to a QF separate ticket - which I'd booked a fair buffer into - the staff had zero issue moving me to an earlier flight. Sure, high status helps, but this is their bread and butter.

Now, if one arrived into SYD late for that separate ticket... I guess technically all bets are off. However, again, the staff are used to the mess that SYD can be, and I think can show some real leeway to sort something out. While not as formal as the US domestic airline so-called "flat tire" rule, I think they'd look after a pax coming in. Of course if it was a same ticket connection they're absolutely obliged, but even without (and specially if the pax was flying in on QF) I think there would be something sorted out even if technically they could tell the pax to go forth and multiply (and that probably has happened for sure).

the better option of course, if able and practical, is to try and sort it out before getting to that point. eg if a flight ex-AKL is delayed by an hour or two then you know you'll miss the connection, so work to rebook that ticket before one becomes a no show. Or, if one lands at SYD and it's a total mess, to get on the phone or app and move the flight if possible. Of course this is not always practical to do but is what I would aim to do in this sort of situation.

imo

 

[jpp42]

While slightly different to your question, when arriving early ex-SQ SIN-SYD and connecting to a QF separate ticket - which I'd booked a fair buffer into - the staff had zero issue moving me to an earlier flight. Sure, high status helps, but this is their bread and butter.

I've never had any luck with that as WP at Melbourne in similar situations (I live in Sydney), so that might be a WP vs P1 difference? One case was on UL ticket stock and they simply said the fare class wouldn't allow changes - maybe would have been better on a QF ticket? You'd think, regardless of fare class, it would be to Qantas' advantage to fill up a flight departing in 45 minutes to give more chance of selling more seats on the later flight, but I guess things aren't quite that simple. (Yes I understand why they don't want to allow "flow forward" as a rule on a pure domestic itinerary as that devalues their flexible fares, but when connecting from International it seems it should be different.)

 

[RichardMEL]

I've never had any luck with that as WP at Melbourne in similar situations (I live in Sydney), so that might be a WP vs P1 difference? One case was on UL ticket stock and they simply said the fare class wouldn't allow changes - maybe would have been better on a QF ticket? You'd think, regardless of fare class, it would be to Qantas' advantage to fill up a flight departing in 45 minutes to give more chance of selling more seats on the later flight, but I guess things aren't quite that simple. (Yes I understand why they don't want to allow "flow forward" as a rule on a pure domestic itinerary as that devalues their flexible fares, but when connecting from International it seems it should be different.)

I guess MEL is different because there's not a dedicated facility as in SYD. And again, things may have again changed in that regard post pandemic (as in my experiences there in the past years have either been ontime and no need to change, or a delayed flight which was already rebooked when I landed from LAX).

I suppose again that some agents may or may not be able to (or want?) to do the seemingly common sense thing to flow forward if technically there is a fare class issue, or even computer says no (ie they have no choice).

I do ack that in my own personal experiences, having P1 does open many more doors than to most. I do try to remember that and not ascribe those experiences to regular pax because that's not fair. I do know going through SYD when Gold or WP still found the staff very helpful, but that was >10 years ago, so just not even a reasonable experience to make comment on with regard to current practices.

 

[MelbFlyer]

For an international connection in SYD, I wouldn't book anything with less than a 4hr transit time tbh.

Changing terminals is a pain in itself, plus any unforeseen delays (that happens in Sydney a lot), I wouldn't be comfortable with anything less than 4hrs.

Domestic though, 2-3hrs should be fine.

 

[justin23]

I used the T1 to T3 bus a few months ago and was with a few people from Perth who had never transited Sydney inbound, off the flight from Santiago. they thought it was relatively painless, its a bit of a walk to the bus, but I'd do that over the train. You'll get your bags rechecked and get your boarding pass, the buses seem to go as required and on schedule, so if its full it will leave, if its not it will wait til the scheduled departure (thats just from my experience). It took me just over 1 hour from landing and that was around 9:30 landing, so just after the early morning rush. Actually outbound on that trip there was the longest queue i'd ever seen to get the D to I transfer!

But I'd say 3 hours is fine (the biggest issue is if the flight to sydney is delayed), having done Auckland to Canberra via Sydney many times, then again CBR flights seem to be cancelled every time i've travelled since covid!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Domestic though, 2-3hrs should be fine.

Should is the operative word. I've had 3-4 hour connections blown travelling domestically due to delayed flights. Again, on separate tickets there's no guarantee that everything will work out, at least as far as I'm concerned. I'd be really curious to have someone who has travelled on separate QF tickets comment on what QF did when you mis-connected. Did they provide free rebooking or did they say, "you're on your own?"

The one thing the OP does have is MC99 which both Australia and New Zealand are a part to for international travel. One of the key elements is airlines are on the hook for up to $7000 USD in damages due to flight disruptions. So in theory if QF doesn't honour the separate ticket in a blown connection scenario, they could walk up and buy a new ticket, and just claim it back to Qantas under MC99.

-RooFlyer88

 

[justinbrett]

I have never seen QF not accommodate misconnects for QF-QF even on separate bookings.

I've had them accommodate JQ-QF domestic misconnects on separate bookings.