QF enforcing 3 hour checkin time limit at MEL?

[burnt]

This has been the case for as long as I can remember.

@ozbeachbabe may have better info.

While 24 hours relates to transits and assessable taxes etc., it does not relate to checked luggage

I remember a year or so ago checking in AKL-MEL (overnight stop MEL)-KUL-AMS-LHR then to Pisa Italy and they held the checked baggage overnight and transferred to MH as far as AMS then transferred to BA for the next two sectors and when we arrived in Italy the bags were there to meet us, not like when i used to do three sector flights on QF from BNE-MEL-PER-PHE(remember the old JASA) and most times the bags did not arrive and usually were not transferred in Perth to the hedland flight

 

[hossein_au]

...it depends on the nuances of the connecting airport eg BNE QF SYD Tuesday night connecting SYD YY xx_ Wednesday morning won't cut it. The CSA won't even be able to see your oncarriage so it's exactly the same deal as a domestic point to point pax flying BNE/SYD

Just to clarify, this was CBR QF MEL on a Friday afternoon, followed by MEL QF SIN on Saturday before noon; both on QF metal with QF flight number and on the same PNR, so CSA definitely saw the on carriage.

 

[serfty]

AKL-MEL (overnight stop MEL)-KUL-AMS-LHR

That's International to International - different rule application than Domestic to International.

 

[TheInsider]

I guess no choice with transiting baggage but seems odd that can be accomodated and regular check-in not. I can’t imagine there are that many people that actually want to check-in that early (except perhaps the late afternoon and evening flights, when International isn’t too busy).

Quite a few people would love to have all day check-in at MEL. I suggest everyone that would like it, send feedback into Qantas management.

 

[TheInsider]

Always wondered why MEL couldn't do this, some posts above have now explained it - too tight to spend the money on the infrastructure or systems to send the bags on a nice loop around the internal conveyors for an extended period, or have a staging area?

Melbourne airport T2 has the baggage sortation system to easily accept more bags at an earlier stage. It basically comes down to staffing levels. They can do at T1 (well 6hrs before departure), there is no reason besides staffing costs it couldn't be implemented. Also it's not like staff have to travel far to get from T1 to T2, it's literally an 85 second walk airside from T1 baggage area to T2 baggage area airside.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not sure how big MEL's baggage makeup area is compared to other airports like SIN but it sounds as though there's not enough space for the containers or barrows to load bags onto once they arrive in the baggage makeup area from checkin.

Yet there's is always room for more duty free shops

We have been made to wait in the F checkin in SYD until the 3 hour mark when we flew F on QF 11.

That's really surprising, as SYD don't ( shouldn't) have a 3 hour rule. I checked in, with a bag, 4.5 hrs pre flight, only 2 weeks ago.

 

[serfty]

That's really surprising, as SYD don't ( shouldn't) have a 3 hour rule.

The SYD all day check in has only been around for 2 years or so; drron's experience may predate that.

 

[Ansett]

Hi Serfty I would have put it at about 4 years now.

 

[serfty]

Hi Serfty I would have put it at about 4 years now.

How time flys ...

 

[Ansett]

Indeed it seems to be over 5 years based on the following Ausbt report.

Qantas trials 'all day check-in' for international flights

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Just to clarify, this was CBR QF MEL on a Friday afternoon, followed by MEL QF SIN on Saturday before noon; both on QF metal with QF flight number and on the same PNR, so CSA definitely saw the on carriage.

Did the CSA specifically tell you they saw your onwards flight to SIN or are just assuming that? If they could see the MEL/SIN flight the next day they would have to have short tagged your bag CBR/MEL instead as MEL doesn't store bags overnight.

I wouldn't expect the CSA to see the oncarriage if the rule for the airport pax are transiting through (in your case MEL) doesn't permit bags to be stored overnight.

This procedure is in place at other airports eg BNE QF SYD in the evening then SYD QF xx_ the next morning the oncarriage won't be visible which removes the possibility of bags being tagged beyond SYD by mistake.

 

[hossein_au]

Did the CSA specifically tell you they saw your onwards flight to SIN or are just assuming that? If they could see the MEL/SIN flight the next day they would have to have short tagged your bag CBR/MEL instead as MEL doesn't store bags overnight.

I wouldn't expect the CSA to see the oncarriage if the rule for the airport pax are transiting through (in your case MEL) doesn't permit bags to be stored overnight.

This procedure is in place at other airports eg BNE QF SYD in the evening then SYD QF xx_ the next morning the oncarriage won't be visible which removes the possibility of bags being tagged beyond SYD by mistake.

Yes, she definitely saw the entire itinerary: I approached the desk and handed it my QF card (along with some pleasantries), a quick scan and she said she could see I was traveling all the way to Germany and wondered why I was taking the long way round. I said I was taking the 'scenic route' and wondered whether she could tag the bags all the way to the destination. She said she could only check the bags to MEL and I had to pick them up and check them back in the following day.

I presume you use the term 'on carriage' with a specific meaning, but I took it having a general meaning of the flights after the initial domestic leg. So I guess there was a variation between what I wrote and what you wrote (I acknowledge what you wrote is probably more correct than what I thought the term meant).

 

[Isochronous]

I had the same experience when trying to check-in for QF29 MEL-HKG earlier this year. Very annoying.

 

[JohnK]

We have been made to wait in the F checkin in SYD until the 3 hour mark when we flew F on QF 11.

Interesting. I've had Qantas and other carriers open later flights for check-in.

Although in saying that Qantas did make me wait until the 6 hour mark for international to domestic connection.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

This has been the case for quite sometime. According to QF ground staff ive spoken to in the past, access to the baggage containers is limited due to space constraints at the International terminal.

 

[travellerqff]

Would QF F check-in desk at MEL give me a boarding pass for QF9 early if I have no checked baggage?

 

[serfty]

Would QF F check-in desk at MEL give me a boarding pass for QF9 early if I have no checked baggage?

If the First counters are open they may.

Other than that, avoid exit rows and use On Line Check In - Print your own boarding pass before you get to the airport.

 

[offshore171]

A related question to all this: Some carriers offer downtown check-in at their home city, providing a location in the central business district where passengers can check in their bags.

Would people use this in Melbourne if it was offered in lieu of all-day check-in?

 

[mannej]

I could have sworn there is an old QF handbook floating around here which had info on QF downtown check-in facilities.

 

[serfty]

I could have sworn there is an old QF handbook floating around here which had info on QF downtown check-in facilities.

There was I believe - but maybe not QF. 40 years ago both Australian Airlines and Ansett had check-in facilities at the Franklin street bus depot. I think it was something like $20 one way to use.