Qantas Int'l Check-In, Sydney - What's the latest I can check-in?

[foxoff]

Hey, I am going to be flying pretty much weekly on Friday afternoons between Sydney and Auckland. I'll be economy for now and I will have carry-on luggage only. I know qantas recommend check-in 90 prior to departure but I am thinking I can get away with 60 mins prior. Does anyone think otherwise?

 

[harvyk]

It'd all depend on how busy customs is at syd on Friday arvo's. You can OLCI for the flights so check in is not a problem, and you can certainly get through Syd T1 quickly with only carry on. The problem you might find is that your still stuck in the customs queue when it's time to start boarding if you don't give yourself enough time.

I'd suggest checking in 90 minutes before hand for the first few weeks and then make a decision as to the viability of the 60 minute check in, by then you'd have gotten a feel for the average wait times at customs and security at the time your usually flying. Keep in mind that it's no guarentee as I used to fly out from MEL - AKL on QF25 fairly frequently, and the wait times at customs could be anything from 2 minutes to over half an hour.

Remember that QF probably won't be too keen on helping you if you have a problem if you didn't check in within the minimum time frames as advised by them.

 

[foxoff]

Thanks Harvy, very helpful.

 

[NM]

It'd all depend on how busy customs is at syd on Friday arvo's.

Outbound customs processing is minimal. The delays are more likely to be at immigration (passport control) and security screening.

Keep in mind that it's no guarentee as I used to fly out from MEL - AKL on QF25 fairly frequently, and the wait times at customs could be anything from 2 minutes to over half an hour.

Outbound customs procedure usually consists of someone waiting after the security screening point asking if you have any duty-free items with you. I have never seen that to take anything more than 20 seconds for them to do a quick inspection to ensure any pre-purchased duty-free items are still sealed. Its never going to take an hour.

Now if it was really busy, the immigration (passport control) and security screening can take a little time. But even at peak times I have not seen it even close to an hour. The entire combined check-in, immigration processing and security screening procedure could get to an hour at busy times. But I would not expect Friday Afternoons to be all that busy. Most of the large aircraft flights to the USA and Asia/Europe depart between mid-morning and mid afternoon.

It is always wise to comply with the published times for check-in.

 

[harvyk]

NM your right, I meant to say passport control not customs.

I admit it was only the one time which I had to wait for over half an hour, however it'd be a pain to be stuck in the queue on a busy day and yet they are doing the final boarding call...

 

[simongr]

Can status pax get an ePass even if flying in whY? That could help with the queue.

My general time through the int'l airport is 10-12 mins from kerb to Lounge max

 

[serfty]

Can status pax get an ePass even if flying in whY? That could help with the queue. ...

A WP can go to the F check-in and ask for one.

 

[simongr]

Thought so (and actually I did that recently as a OWE flying in whY to NZ).

If the OP isnt a status member then an APEC BTC might be an option.

 

[foxoff]

Thanks all. Is there somewhere I can go to convert your acronyms into words?!

What do whY,WP, APEC and BTC stand for? Rookie problems, I know....

Thanks again.

 

[NM]

Thanks all. Is there somewhere I can go to convert your acronyms into words?!

What do whY,WP, APEC and BTC stand for? Rookie problems, I know....

Thanks again.

yes, the sticky thread at the top of this very forum:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/abbreviations-and-explanations-5056.html

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Weekly MEL-AKL will see Silver before to long... I checked in at Mel (for MEL-LAX) as QP-NB and got an e-card.. did not help, 'bout three people in the queue...)

 

[foxoff]

Last week I got downgraded to NB from PS. Bad timing. Just before I am about to travel a lot (SYD - AKL). Shouldn't take long to earn the 350 to get my silver back I imagine, but a bit of a shame. Anywho, this was very helpful. I am prepared for the weekly treck through the jungle that is international check-in and customs.

 

[harvyk]

Discount Y would get you to silver in 9 weeks, full Y would get you to silver in 5 weeks. - you'll be a SG before no time...

Also you'd be able to fly return J class every 28 weeks on points alone (purchased with points, not as an upgrade, but you'll still ahve to pay roughly $250 in taxes)

Either way enjoy AKL, it's a city which I love...

 

[JohnK]

I like SYD airport and outbound processing is usually very efficient. I have never encountered a wait of more than 10-15 minutes. In fact these days using express pass it takes ~10mins from kerb to F Lounge....

 

[simongr]

It does depend on the time of day. the first few times I flew out of SYD I was in the immigration queue for 30-40 minutes...

 

[Evan]

I did MEL-AKL on QF25 the other day... was very quick out of immigration.... and customs.... Note you can use you ePassport in AKL now like MEL
Customs just asked if i had food, no i did not and just waved through.

 

[Chicken]

60 mins is OK if you check in on the Internet, hand carry only. The problem in Sydney is more like, the time it takes to get from where you are to the airport, that's the hard part, and unpredictable. *sigh*

 

[foxoff]

60 mins is OK if you check in on the Internet, hand carry only. The problem in Sydney is more like, the time it takes to get from where you are to the airport, that's the hard part, and unpredictable. *sigh*

That's true but I'll be heading in from work down at C Quay on the airport link, so as long as State Fail doesn't stuff up that line too regularly (sigh), I'll be pretty sure what time I turn up!

 

[kiwitripper64]

Thanks all. Is there somewhere I can go to convert your acronyms into words?!

What do whY,WP, APEC and BTC stand for? Rookie problems, I know....

Thanks again.

APEC link here for business travel card
APEC Business Travel Card Scheme

 

[foxoff]

Ok so here was my experience from the first trip:

I arrived about one hour and 10 minutes prior to departure. I walked straight up to OLC with only one ahead of me while the cattle looked longingly at me from the queues. Carry-on only (rather large one too but does just fit the specs and wldnt weigh more than 10kg) I marched to customs. There were about 30-40 people ahead of me, but I got through in about 10-15 mins. I had time for a beer, a phone call and well, I had a bit more time as they had to clean the plane (which apparently they forgot about) and voilah! I was away to Auckland on QF113, arriving about 30mins later than scheduled.

I am ready to tackle the trip again this weekend!

Thanks to everyone here for their help. I am filling in that APEC app right now.

Fox