New domestic transfer arrangements at SYD international

[whughes3]

The long-awaited upgrade of the QF domestic transfer arrangements at SYD international is finally in operation (halleluiah!); I went through it this morning and it is orders of magnitude better than the old shambolic setup. It is located outside the main terminal proper (on the right as you face landwards) and is much larger than the previous area; if you already have an onwards BP and your bags are tagged through it is just a matter of bag drop and through you go, *much* quicker than the old queues. I think I logged more complaints to Qantas about the old setup than any other issue ever, so maybe they really are listening!

 

[Mal]

There's a write-up on the SYD T1 Qantas Airport information page. Looks like they've also changed access arrangements...

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/airport-guide-sydney-international-terminal1/global/en

We now offer a more seamless experience for customers transferring to a domestic flight with a brand new transfer facility at Terminal 1. The purpose-built facility is almost 50% larger than the previous facility, and has been specifically designed to help get you to your domestic flight faster. The facility includes an increase in counters and security lanes, and hosted entry for more personalised customer care. A shuttle bus service is available to passengers that are connecting to a Qantas or QantasLink operated flight only. After you clear customs, recheck your baggage at the Seamless Transfer Check-in counters and then board the shuttle bus for the Domestic terminal.* It operates from 6am to 12noon every 10 minutes and from 12noon until 9.00pm AEST every 20 minutes. The bus arrives at T3 opposite Gate 1.

* Non-Qantas and non-oneworld passengers transferring to a Qantas, QantasLink or Jetstar domestic flight between 6.30am and 9.30am proceed to the Seamless Transfer area where you will be directed to a dedicated bus bay outside the terminal for your transfer to the Domestic terminal. The bus arrives at T3 next to the Group check-in area. Proceed to check-in with your baggage.

You no longer get a transfer if you are connecting from a OW flight to a non-OW flight.

This is what the page apparently said in late 2009:

After you clear customs, recheck your baggage at the Seamless Transfer Check-in counters and then board the shuttle bus for the Domestic terminal.* The shuttle bus service is available to passengers that are travelling or have travelled on a Qantas flight (including codeshare flights) or oneworld flight. It operates from 6am to 12noon every 10 minutes and from 12noon until 9.40pm every 20 minutes. The bus arrives at T3 opposite Gate 1. Check the screens for departure gate information.

* Non-Qantas and non-oneworld passengers transferring to a Qantas, QantasLink or Jetstar domestic flight between 6.30am and 9.30am proceed to the Seamless Transfer area where you will be directed to a dedicated bus bay outside the terminal for your transfer to the Domestic terminal. The bus arrives at T3 next to the Group check-in area. Proceed to check-in with your baggage.

 

[Sprucegoose]

i know someone who came through last mon and it took them 90 minutes in a priority queue!!

so a welcome change

 

[ajw373]

You no longer get a transfer if you are connecting from a OW flight to a non-OW flight.

That's not quite what it says. It says between 6:30am and 9:30am you will directed to a bus bay outside. So you still get a transfer, just not on the Qantas bus. Seems a bit silly to me though, but judging by the times it must be a capacity issue. I wonder if when you get to the domestic terminal if the check-in staff will be helpful if you have missed your flight due to delays at international. At the transfer lounge they were pretty good about that. But at normal check-in, who knows.

 

[NM]

i know someone who came through last mon and it took them 90 minutes in a priority queue!!

so a welcome change

I came through last Monday (12th July) and took less than 10 mins. Longest part was the queue for security screening (5 mins) and then waiting for the next bus (5 mins). That was re-checking 6 bags too!

 

[Sprucegoose]

I came through last Monday (12th July) and took less than 10 mins. Longest part was the queue for security screening (5 mins) and then waiting for the next bus (5 mins). That was re-checking 6 bags too!

they were off the QF SFO flight not sure when it landed but was early.

I dont think they had six bags between them!!!!

 

[straitman]

Have the arrangements in the opposite direction changed :?: ie Dom to Int

 

[hollydavid69]

Hey whughes3

Just out of curosity, how many complaints have you filed with Qantas ?

 

[Bundy Bear]

Have the arrangements in the opposite direction changed :?: ie Dom to Int

I will find out for you on Wednesday; we wouldn't want you getting lost or wearing yourself out with too much time wasted between the domestic terminal the F lounge.

 

[Ewing]

Have the arrangements in the opposite direction changed :?: ie Dom to Int

Bus operates as normal in the opposite direction (at least it was the case on Sunday morning when I connected from QF704 to QF11).

One difference I've noticed (and forgive me, as it's been over a year since I've connected to an international flight through SYD so this may have changed previously) is that the bus now puts you out into the main check in area of the terminal.

You then need to walk past some check in counters to the immigration/security check. This was a breeze with the express path though and I was relaxing in the lounge about 20 minutes after arriving at T3

The last time I caught the bus you were deposited directly into immigration/security.

 

[ajw373]

Out of interest where exactly is the entrance to this new facility. Do you still have to go out into the public part of the arrival hall, or is the entrance before the last set of doors, still within the customs hall (but on the cleared side)?

 

[NM]

One difference I've noticed (and forgive me, as it's been over a year since I've connected to an international flight through SYD so this may have changed previously) is that the bus now puts you out into the main check in area of the terminal.

Its been that way for a while now. At least a year I would say.

 

[serfty]

Its been that way for a while now. At least a year I would say.

Hmmm ...

For DOM -> INT transfers, on arrival at T1 you would head up an escalator and turn right at the top into a corridor.

At the end of this corridor you could turn left to emigration or right to the checkin areas.

Has this changed?

 

[NM]

Hmmm ...

For DOM -> INT transfers, on arrival at T1 you would head up an escalator and turn right at the top into a corridor.

At the end of this corridor you could turn left to emigration or right to the checkin areas.

Has this changed?

Yes, in my recent transits there is no direct access to the immigration area. Top of escalator and follow the hallway to the right and into the main check-in area. Turn left and go through the same "doors" to immigration as SYD check-in passengers. The Express lane is first, then regular lane a little further on.

Its just a matter of following the signs.

 

[ajw373]

Hmmm ...

For DOM -> INT transfers, on arrival at T1 you would head up an escalator and turn right at the top into a corridor.

At the end of this corridor you could turn left to emigration or right to the checkin areas.

Has this changed?

Yes because immigration is now a little bit futher along than it used to be so the hallway from the top of the escaltors to immigration is now gone. So as others have said you now enter the terminal near were the check-in counter A is then enter immigration near rows C/D.

 

[whughes3]

Out of interest where exactly is the entrance to this new facility. Do you still have to go out into the public part of the arrival hall, or is the entrance before the last set of doors, still within the customs hall (but on the cleared side)?

Yes, you still have to go outside and fight your way through the waiting hordes I'm afraid. (Wouldn't it be nice if they could restore the facility they used to have some years ago where there was a special exit door from the baggage area which led directly to the QF transfer area..).

 

[ajw373]

Yes, you still have to go outside and fight your way through the waiting hordes I'm afraid. (Wouldn't it be nice if they could restore the facility they used to have some years ago where there was a special exit door from the baggage area which led directly to the QF transfer area..).

That's interesting. So where is this facility then in relation to the old one? About the only place I can think of is next to the entrance to the train station, near the toilets that were on that dog legged hallway to the old area.

 

[whughes3]

That's interesting. So where is this facility then in relation to the old one? About the only place I can think of is next to the entrance to the train station, near the toilets that were on that dog legged hallway to the old area.

When you exit from the baggage hall, you turn right as you used to, but instead of continuing to veer right, you basically go straight ahead along the line of the access road. It is well signposted so is easy to find.

 

[straitman]

When you exit from the baggage hall, you turn right as you used to, but instead of continuing to veer right, you basically go straight ahead along the line of the access road. It is well signposted so is easy to find.

... and will this cause some chaos in the short term :?: Absolutely, though I'm sure the big picture is better in the long run. :mrgreen:

 

[dfcatch]

I used this new transfer facility last week for the first time and thought it was hopeless.

In fairness - the last time I entered SYD internationally for a DOM transfer was 2 years ago and can't really remember the old procedure - but I seem to recall that all you had to do was exit the customs hall and there was a baggage re-check facility right there (so that you didn't have to cart your bags 3 miles).

SO - what was wrong with the new facility:

1/ Having to cart your bags 3 miles to re-check them after exiting customs (OK - a slight exaggeration - but the distance is extreme for a "world-class airport" such as SYD. I mean COME ON - even LAX does better than this (and no-one is about to start defending LAX).

2/ At 6pm - with QF fully aware of exactly how many incoming PAX it has that require TFR to T3, many PAX had to wait until the 3rd bus (at 15 mins per circuit), before they could board for T3.

At one stage there was QF cabin crew that were made late for their own TFR due to lack of bus capacity by QF.

Eventually - QF prioritised PAX for the arriving bus by those who were apparently due to board their DOM flights at 6:40 (the bus arrived to pick them up at 6:43).

And this was not peak time - the fancy baggage re-check hall was empty - just incompetence on behalf of QF to have sufficient buses to TFR its PAX.

Less than impressed.