Minimum transit time MEL International to Domestic as AUS citizen

[21510702]

Is it possible to transit in Melbourne from an SQ Wellington to Melbourne flight onto a VA Melbourne to Perth flight within 1 hour 5 minutes with baggage? Is that possible as an Australian citizen which can use the e-gate. My 4 hours transit option just got downgraded from an A330 to a B737 by VA.

 

[Himeno]

That depends. There is what's possible, what's 'legal' (ie MTC) and what's sane.

It is possible to make such a connection in 20 minutes (assuming 1st bags out, no baggage delays and no delays at customs), but that can only been done on separate tickets as it breaches min connect time, with all the risk that presents.

 

[Quickstatus]

That’s a very tight connection.
Yes it’s possible but very very tight
The VA flight starts boarding 30min prior. So you really only have 35min

Thought at 3pm it’s not the morning peak hour. No A380 arriving, though a couple A330

Are you on the one ticket WEL-MEL-PER?
Are you seated front of aircraft and do you have priority luggage?

 

[21510702]

That’s a very tight connection.
3 Questions:

Are you one the one ticket WEL-MEL-PER?
Are there other MEL-PER flights if you miss the connection?
Are you time constrained for arrival into PER?

Yes one ticket WEL-SQ->MEL-VA->PER
Arrival into MEL at 16:30. There are two options to PER from MEL by Virgin - 17:35 depature (now operated by an A330) or 20:30 depature (now operated by a B737). I just found out of the schedule and aircraft change.
I will be on holiday so no time constrain. Just don't want to wait for 4 hours for a B737.

 

[Quickstatus]

In that case go with the tight connection. If SQ is delayed or you are delayed thru customs VA will put you on the later flight

 

[dajop]

The VA flight starts boarding 30min prior. ?

I read this a lot in the context of right connections ... ie “boarding starts at x mins..”. But for tight connections it’s when boarding finishes that is most relevant!

In any event in this instance, with luggage, the critical timing is around luggage drop cutoff, IIRC is 30 mins. So that gives 35 mins. If making luggage drop, making boarding won’t be a problem. Usually SQ luggage at MEL is reasonably quick (unless early, where sometimes there can be delays that bring it back to schedule, I presume due to contract handlers working on other flights), so should be just about OK. Definitely worth trying for if on the same ticket.

 

[21510702]

I have contacted Singapore Airlines. They said their minimum transit time in Melbourne airport is 90 minutes, so they are not willing to move my flight

 

[21510702]

Furthermore, I will not be notified or compensated for an aircraft change

 

[kermatu]

Shame, but understandable approach from SQ.