QF enforcing 3 hour checkin time limit at MEL?

[whughes3]

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.

There certainly was; I recall using the Ansett version of this in the lare 80's.

 

[hossein_au]

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

Ala Hong Kong? I would most definitely use it if it existed.

 

[Peter D]

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.

I have used both the TAA and Ansett check in bus in the seventies. They each had their own very separate buses and depots in Franklin St.

Don’t think Qantas had the facility though. But I do remember once using the TAA’s bus from Brisbane to catch a Qantas flight to New Zealand instead of a taxi in 1972.

I seem to recall that BEA and later BA had such a facility in Kensington for LHR flights in the sixties and seventies.

At the time I just took it for granted that that was how you got to the airport for domestic flights.

 

[offshore171]

Ala Hong Kong? I would most definitely use it if it existed.

Yeah HK is probably the most well known, but KL, Seoul, Vienna and several others do it.

It would make a lot of sense for Sydney and even more so for Melbourne, given the poor passenger transport connections to and from the airports.

 

[Himeno]

Maybe they'll build an in town check in service at Southern Cross Station when they build the airport rail line,

 

[kermatu]

I’d use it and be far more likely to take the train to the airport if this was available. It won’t solve QF’s supposed storage problem though?

 

[Himeno]

I’d use it and be far more likely to take the train to the airport if this was available. It won’t solve QF’s supposed storage problem though?

If the problem is baggage storage, then they could build a secure baggage tunnel and storage area under the airport train station. Bags could be transferred from the train to the station storage, then moved through the tunnel to the normal airport baggage system when the departure time is within 3 hours.

 

[kermatu]

Can’t see Qantas alone feeling the need to do this.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Don’t think Qantas had the facility though. But I do remember once using the TAA’s bus from Brisbane to catch a Qantas flight to New Zealand instead of a taxi in 1972.

TAA had this in Adelaide too. The space for the bus bay is still there off North Terrace, next to the Stamford Hotel, but is used as a car park for workers in that building.

 

[jsf]

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.

Just wondering if I can still check-in online if I have check in luggage? Can I drop the bags before 3hr?

 

[serfty]

Just wondering if I can still check-in online if I have check in luggage? Can I drop the bags before 3hr?

Officially I doubt it, but YMMV.

 

[docjames]

Since Melbourne is scoping and hopefully eventually building a train to the airport, hopefully in-town checkin could be “built in” as part of the plan. Surely it would add to the customer base and therefore the economics of operation (if not build).

Sadly, with the drawn-out saga of “train to Melbourne airport”, i’m not confident it will eventually be part of the build. But its nice to dream.......

 

[BD1959]

Since Melbourne is scoping and hopefully eventually building a train to the airport, hopefully in-town checkin could be “built in” as part of the plan. ...

Sadly, with the drawn-out saga of “train to Melbourne airport”, i’m not confident it will eventually be part of the build. But its nice to dream.......

Sadly, I can't see any of this happening in my working life. I'm 27 (in my head!!) ...

Regards,

BD

 

[docjames]

Sadly, I can't see any of this happening in my working life. I'm 27 (in my head!!) ...

Regards,

BD

Agree and that makes it even less likely for me (+14yrs on you).

 

[Peter D]

Sadly I think the trend is the other way. If they could find a practical/secure way to get passengers to carry the bags all the way to the aeroplane they would jump at it.

The airline will not want to be responsible for luggage before it arrives at airport.

A semi-automatic check in kiosk to print boarding passes, and labels at Spencer St (aka Southern Cross) with bag drop at the airport might work.

 

[Kangol]

For those of you getting declined and being told to wait, are you all referring to travelling with checked luggage?
A while ago I have been able to check-in (sight passport) early (>4 hours) with OLCI, pre-printed BP and HLO.

 

[hossein_au]

For those of you getting declined and being told to wait, are you all referring to travelling with checked luggage?
A while ago I have been able to check-in (sight passport) early (>4 hours) with OLCI, pre-printed BP and HLO.

Yes, it was with luggage.

 

[kermatu]

Luggage seems the issue. When I've had long transits from domestic to international (often the overnight MEL-AKL flight) and my bags are already through, the only issue I've ha is my flight may need to be 'opened' by the border force / immigration agents. But I've never been denied access, even 6 or 7 hours early.

 

[BD1959]

Agree and that makes it even less likely for me (+14yrs on you).

LOL ... I *did* say I was 27 only in my head ... I reckon I've got another 18 years back on yourself (if my young head still calculates correctly!!)

Regards,

BD

 

[Austman]

Any recent experiences?

I've been knocked back a few times this year at the MEL QFi F-class check-in area when I had bags to check. Even 5 minutes early resulted in a "sorry - we can't - MEL airport only allows bags to be checked-in 3 hours prior to your flight".

But over on AUSBT it seems others have had better luck?