QF SYD D-I MCT up from 60 to 90 minutes, from 21 Aug

[Reddevil]

Is the INT to DOM MCT also likely to change too for the same reason?

Missed an almost 2 hour connection in late July, booked an almost 4 hour transit on an upcoming trip only for Qantas to move the departure of the International flight back 2 hours which now cuts it back down to around 1:50 mins (not including boarding for the DOM flight). Soon we will be booking 6 hour domestic transits to avoid being screwed around.

Hoping they move the INT departure back to its original time slot closer to departure date 11 or bring back the arrivals Express Path for F/J pax with Nothing to Declare.

 

[Ade]

Qantas increases international connection time to address luggage issues

From August 21, Qantas travellers will only be provided flight options with 90 minute connection times, up from 60 minutes, to accommodate for domestic delays which have led to some passengers experiencing baggage issues.

www.smh.com.au

Long overdue. Even 90 minutes is arguably not enough.

Can say for certain that at SYD a 90 minute transfer is not enough ... Especially with new security staff (who, understandably, panic when there is a slight tint of red/orange on their security scanner screens). Recent experience in ex SYD last week & inbound yesterday, it is advisable to have at least 3 hours in SYD for transit.

 

[Cossie]

I called and were put on an earlier flight, 717 not a Q400, now transfer time is 2 hours 40 minutes, time for brekkie upstairs, hopefully.
Down side is I have to get up earlier, sigh.

 

[Ade]

time for brekkie upstairs, hopefully.

If you love corn & fried food - do try the corn fritters with tomato chutney, avocado & sour cream. The dish usually comes with bacon on the side. But I had requested mine to be served without the bacon. Enjoyed the dish.

now transfer time is 2 hours 40 minutes,

That's great. I'm sure 2 hr 40 min must be sufficient at SYD

 

[porterble]

I just noticed one of my trips later this year has been rescheduled from 1115 to 1121 making it a 2h1m CT, rather than 1h55m. That still feels tight for Sydney, and so annoying to find out that its only a 90m MCT...

 

[serfty]

If you love corn & fried food - do try the corn fritters with tomato chutney, avocado & sour cream. The dish usually comes with bacon on the side. But I had requested mine to be served without the bacon. Enjoyed the dish.

That's great. I'm sure 2 hr 40 min must be sufficient at SYD

For me 160 minutes is borderline if wishing for corn fritters () and some bubbles.

Flights generally board 45 minutes before scheduled departure. More time for Dom-Int transfer, Security, getting to lounge, getting to gate, ordering and eating said items etc ...

 

[serfty]

I just noticed one of my trips later this year has been rescheduled from 1115 to 1121 making it a 2h1m CT, rather than 1h55m. That still feels tight for Sydney, and so annoying to find out that its only a 90m MCT...

Today I had an email informing me of a QF1 in November reschedule - by 1 minute from 17:05 to 17:06. I wonder what flight is scheduled to arrive 15:36?

 

[DC3]

… I'm sure 2 hr 40 min must be sufficient at SYD

Yes, but what about the relaxing Lounge time?

 

[Vic]

So glad I took the 5 hour connection option for my Sydney international connection in November. Kind of wishing I took the 9 hour option, now

 

[Princess Fiona]

Today I had an email informing me of a QF1 in November reschedule - by 1 minute from 17:05 to 17:06. I wonder what flight is scheduled to arrive 15:36?

Today I had an email informing me of a QF1 in November reschedule - by 1 minute from 17:05 to 17:06. I wonder what flight is scheduled to arrive 15:36?

Tons of these emails going out today. It’s all over Facebook

I’d say it’s so that the IT will be forced to check all connections for D-I due to the MCT increasing to 90 minutes. Easier to add 1 minute on than subtract it.
QF 11 in January changed from 11:20 to 11:21

 

[dylarr]

I flew out of SYD T1 last Thursday, entering the terminal at 7:00am it took 90 minutes alone just to clear security. Only a handful of the security lanes operating. Granted, Express Path was available for imminent departures, J and F pax, I would not bother with such a tight connection.

 

[justin23]

I changed my booking for friday CBR-SYD-AKL. Couldn't get CBR-SYD in J though, but would rather sit in a dash 8 economy for an hour than test whether 90 min MCT is doable in the current climate. I've regularly done it in an hour in the past, but we know airports are not like they used to be. 3hr 10m gives me a good chance to use the lounge. Also a balmy 6C start on Friday in Canberra.

 

[Reddevil]

Can say for certain that at SYD a 90 minute transfer is not enough ... Especially with new security staff (who, understandably, panic when there is a slight tint of red/orange on their security scanner screens). Recent experience in ex SYD last week & inbound yesterday, it is advisable to have at least 3 hours in SYD for transit.

The frustrating one is when you are travelling with a fairly full carry on that has a lot of portable electronics in it (cameras, cables, battery banks etc) and you ask Security if they would like you to unpack any of the larger items TSA style to make it easier for them X-ray. They insist no it’s fine but then proceed to scan your bag twice and want to then pull it apart anyway while you wait.

Never find anything and then exclaim it was difficult to scan because it was so full.

 

[docjames]

Is the system banning 90min connections but allowing 91min and therefore they’ve added 1m to the departure times?

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

They should also increase mct for int to int connections at SYD. My 2 recent experiences took over 90 minutes and about 45 minutes just for transit security (ie not including the 15 mins to walk from gate 61 including fighting upstream the hordes in the ow pier). Adding to this the delays with inbound flight arriving late and even 3 hours is a risky connection these days.

No wonder so many early am departures are delayed for late pax.

 

[SYD]

They should also increase mct for int to int connections at SYD. My 2 recent experiences took over 90 minutes and about 45 minutes just for transit security (ie not including the 15 mins to walk from gate 61 including fighting upstream the hordes in the ow pier). Adding to this the delays with inbound flight arriving late and even 3 hours is a risky connection these days.

No wonder so many early am departures are delayed for late pax.

Wow. The very few times I’ve gone through T1 transfers, there’s hardly been anyone. Usually pretty seemless.

What flights we’re the pax coming from? NZ to onwards connections or v.v?

 

[sbroadley4]

We had an Alice Springs - Sydney and Sydney - Brisbane dogleg on 12 August. A month before, we received notification of flight changes. When we looked, the Alice - Syd flight had changed. but not the Syd-Bri. So our schedule had gone from a 90 min transfer to a nearly 2-hour negative transfer. Meaning our Syd-Bri flight should have reached Brisbane before we had even made Sydney.

We had to call the call centre because while we are good with making tight transfers, we're not that good. Asked why they didn't change the Syd-Bri leg at the same time? There were no flights available. We said, it's Syd-Bri, there's one every hour. (Response - but no Freq Flyer availability) My response - but you changed the flight time - it's your responsibility to get us home, FF redemption or not. So an hour later, we had a flight - via Adelaide, with an 8-hour layover. Partner was appalled, but I just said we will make the most of the day and visit a couple of wineries and have a long lunch, which we did. Still can't figure out how sending us via Adelaide makes sense for them. But I'm not the genius at Qantas.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Wow. The very few times I’ve gone through T1 transfers, there’s hardly been anyone. Usually pretty seemless.

What flights we’re the pax coming from? NZ to onwards connections or v.v?

Both recent ones were early am - one just before 9am and the other at 6:30am. Previous trips had quicker queues but still longer than pre covid. Eg my late June trip was about 30 min wait at syd transfer security.

 

[Ade]

other at 6:30am.

Arrivals around the 6:30 am would be absolute chokers in SYD. There is at least 15 international flights landing from 5 to 7 am.

I was on the QF82 monday this week and it took me over 2 hours to complete the domestic transfer thingy for my next service to CBR.

 

[karen blancfield]

We booked through a new TA, NTL to Bris to Syd then international to Singapore, flying 1st Sept. We saw the Exec Traveller message re 90 mins and realised we’d never make it with an hour and 5 mins to get from Syd domestic to international they had booked. Wrote an email that night, all fixed by the time we checked emails next morning, now with three hours in Syd rather than sitting in Bris airport. We are very pleased with the new TA as a result. Although, it did seem an odd decision they had made with that original booking, very tight connection.