QF28 to QF5 customs clearance

[twoharts]

Hi All, have not posted for a while, finally traveling international again. We are flying Santiago-Sydney-Perth with 1hr 20 min stopover in Sydney. Booked on QF28
SCL-SYD then QF5 SYD-PER. QF5 SYD-PER being the domestic leg of the SYD-ROM flight. Can anyone tell me if we clear customs and immigration in Sydney or Perth. Thanks in advance.

 

[NamarrgonFlyer]

Always your first port of call in a new country. Sydney in your case.

 

[twoharts]

Thanks. I have heard this is the case but have also heard not so.1hour 20min seems a very short time to collect luggage, clear customs, check in and get to the gate for QF5. Especially with the long queues at Sydney. Why clear customs then check back in for what is basically an international flight. Interested to hear others.

 

[henrus]

Always your first port of call in a new country. Sydney in your case.

QF5 and QF9 operate as international services so this is not always the case.

Why clear customs then check back in for what is basically an international flight. Interested to hear others.

There was someone back on AFF who flew an international flight connecting through to QF9 MEL-PER. From memory the first time they did it was no problem and then the second time it was an issue and they were told to clear in MEL before boarding QF9. I'll see if I can find that thread, if not interested to hear your experience.

Edit found that thread:

Arriving into MEL on QF 70 connecting to QF9 to PER

I'm curious how this will work. I'll be arriving from DEL on QF70 with a connection to PER on QF9. So obviously arriving and departing MEL from the international terminal. I'll be travelling HLO. Normally when you take QF9 as a domestic flight you get the little sticker. So I'm sure I can clear...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Warragul]

If you are checked through to Perth (bags and seat), you should be able to stay airside at Sydney. Probably best to check with them, if you're confident they know the answer.
Australia is one of the minority of countries that does not insist on first port clearance on arrival by commercial flight. Harks back to to the days when many flights first ported at Sydney and then do a shuttle to Mel/ Bne etc. Sydney would have had to clear many more people each morning, which would have been interesting especially before the additional terminal was added circa 1999. I recall QF 2 operating from Syd to Mel, with flight numbers 22,28,12 'codesharing' on it as passengers from numerous flights were bunched onto one plane to Mel to clear CIQ there.

 

[exceladdict]

I imagine you'd need to go to the transfer desk and be directed accordingly.

I did something similar last year before connecting to qf5 but wanted to spend the day in Sydney so intentionally had my bag short checked.

In any case 1hr 20 is pretty tight, if you do need to do customs etc - and then re check - you may be pushing it to make the bag drop timelines even if the flight is on time.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

There is also a small chance they will insist, (QF) that is, on the day via announcement, on the plane, that pax have to get processed int and DAFF in SYD T1, and then get transferred to T3 for the dom flight to PER.
Wait and see, yes, ideally, it (immi & DAFF) could/would be done for you in PER, but who knows, in the end its QF.
Best of luck!

 

[Daver6]

QF5 and QF9 operate as international services so this is not always the case.


There was someone back on AFF who flew an international flight connecting through to QF9 MEL-PER. From memory the first time they did it was no problem and then the second time it was an issue and they were told to clear in MEL before boarding QF9. I'll see if I can find that thread, if not interested to hear your experience.

Edit found that thread:

Arriving into MEL on QF 70 connecting to QF9 to PER

I'm curious how this will work. I'll be arriving from DEL on QF70 with a connection to PER on QF9. So obviously arriving and departing MEL from the international terminal. I'll be travelling HLO. Normally when you take QF9 as a domestic flight you get the little sticker. So I'm sure I can clear...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

That was me. I actually was on QF9 MEL-PER just as a domestic flight on Tuesday. Noticed at PER there was no customers officer on duty. That would indicate everyone on the flight who connected internationally would have cleared customers and immigration in Melbourne. Whether this applies to to QF5, I can't say. My gut says you'll clear it in SYD.

 

[serfty]

Hi All, have not posted for a while, finally traveling international again. We are flying Santiago-Sydney-Perth with 1hr 20 min stopover in Sydney. Booked on QF28
SCL-SYD then QF5 SYD-PER. QF5 SYD-PER being the domestic leg of the SYD-ROM flight. Can anyone tell me if we clear customs and immigration in Sydney or Perth. Thanks in advance.

There is no way known 1:20 minutes meets any minimum connection time if you need to do immigration, collect luggage, do customs, recheck luggage and do security.

Your bags should be checked through to PER at SCL and you would clear customs and immigration at PER. If your bags are not checked through then you will be unlikely to make the connection.

The MCT for QF I to QF I (mainline) at SYD T1 is 60 minutes.

You will use international transit. Sydney T1 has a two airside transits facilities. For QF the pier you generally land in has this at the juncture of the "Y" after which you take a lift to the departures level (or the Qantas Lounges if you have access and enough time):

Spoiler: SYD MCT data QF Int to QF Int

[size]Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com[/size]

Minimum Connect Times:
Connecting at SYD, Incoming airline QF, Outgoing airline QF, Flight type International to International

STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I.
ONLINE    .30  1.00  1.15  1.00
OFFLINE   .30  1.00  1.15  1.00
** OR * ARE ALL
QF-QF II  1.30 CDS  EK -  EK
QF-QF II   SUP FLT 8400 - 8499 - ALL TRM 1 - 1 ALL - COUNTRY VU
QF-QF II   SUP FLT 8700 - 8799 - ALL TRM 1 - 1 ALL - COUNTRY VU
QF-QF II   SUP ALL - FLT 8400 - 8499 TRM 1 - 1 COUNTRY VU - ALL
QF-QF II   SUP ALL - FLT 8700 - 8799 TRM 1 - 1 COUNTRY VU - ALL
QF-QF II  1.15 FLT 8000 - 8999 - FLT    1 -  199 TRM 1 - 1
QF-QF II  1.15 ALL - FLT 8000 - 8999 TRM 1 - 1
QF-QF II  1.00 ALL - FLT    1 -  199 TRM 1 - 1
QF-QF II  1.00 ALL - FLT    1 -  399 TRM 1 - 1
**-QF II  1.30 ALL - FLT    1 -  199 TRM 1 - 1
**-QF II  2.00 ALL - FLT  200 -  299 TRM 1 - 1
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  2Z
**-** II GLSUP CDS  2Z -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AD -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AR -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  BC -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  BT -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  D8 -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  DY -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  EK -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  EW -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  F9 -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  H2 -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  HX -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  KC -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  MX -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  NK -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  PC -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  PD -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  QS -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  RO -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  SY -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  TR -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  TS -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  UX -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  VA -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  VB -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  W6 -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  XP -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  Y4 -  AA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  AR
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  BC
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  BT
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  D8
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  DY
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  EK
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  EW
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  F9
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  H2
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  KC
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  PC
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  PD
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  QS
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  RO
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  SY
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  TR
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  UX
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  VA
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  VB
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  W6
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  XP
**-** II GLSUP CDS  AA -  Y4
.

 

[Must...Fly!]

There is also a small chance they will insist, (QF) that is, on the day via announcement, on the plane, that pax have to get processed int and DAFF in SYD T1, and then get transferred to T3 for the dom flight to PER.
Wait and see, yes, ideally, it (immi & DAFF) could/would be done for you in PER, but who knows, in the end its QF.
Best of luck!

Huh?

How is going to T3 for a flight that departs from T1 in any way useful conjecture.

OP if it's all on the one ticket you should be fine to be checked through & transit airside at T1 in Sydney, per @serfty's advice above.

 

[henrus]

How is going to T3 for a flight that departs from T1 in any way useful conjecture.

If OP misses the T1 flight then QF will send to T3 for a regular domestic flight to Perth.

 

[Must...Fly!]

If OP misses the T1 flight then QF will send to T3 for a regular domestic flight to Perth.

Yes in the event of a disruption anything can happen but that's not what was said in the post I quoted.

 

[twoharts]

Thanks all, everything is on 1 ticket, actually coming from Bogota via Santiago-Sydney-Perth, already have seating and QF flight numbers all the way, business. Latam metal BOG- SCL then Qantas metal SCL-PER so hoping luggage will be booked through to PER from BOG which will mean clearance in Perth. BUT would feel much more comfortable knowing where would be clearing customs etc. I will be contacting Qantas to see what they say. I am hoping Perth clearance for as serfty says 1:20 minutes connection in SYD is really not enough time to make QF5 even if QF28 is ahead or on time.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes in the event of a disruption anything can happen but that's not what was said in the post I quoted.

Just more negative yapping spreading unhelpful opinion-as-information.....

As others have said, it's essentially an I-I connection at SYD if all is obtime. If not, then QF will rebook appropriately and a domestic transfer would be involved. 1:20 is tempting fate a little imo, but should be fine if flights are reasonably on time.

 

[moa999]

We won't really know until QF5 starts in a couple of months.
But its PER arrival is at 2200.

Don't think QF has any other T3/4 international arrivals around that time, so I wouldnt be confident that they would staff inbound immigration for what might be a handful of passengers.
(Assuming the service will operate from T3/4)

Is an international connection allowed on QF9 MEL-PER ? Haven't flown it myself.
@kermatu might be able to comment on whether they went through intl immigration on deboarding QF9, or whether it was seemingly closed like daver6's experience up thread.

 

[madrooster]

For QF28 to QF5 you'll clear immigration / collect your bag in PER. SYD international transit is open all day so it is permitted.

Transiting internationally to QF9 however varies, as this is due to the limited international transit hours at MEL.

 

[RichardMEL]

QF9 MEL-PER goes away soon anyway...

 

[Must...Fly!]

We won't really know until QF5 starts in a couple of months.
But its PER arrival is at 2200.

Don't think QF has any other T3/4 international arrivals around that time, so I wouldnt be confident that they would staff inbound immigration for what might be a handful of passengers.
(Assuming the service will operate from T3/4)

Is an international connection allowed on QF9 MEL-PER ? Haven't flown it myself.
@kermatu might be able to comment on whether they went through intl immigration on deboarding QF9, or whether it was seemingly closed like daver6's experience up thread.

It will be staffed.

 

[Daver6]

We won't really know until QF5 starts in a couple of months.
But its PER arrival is at 2200.

Don't think QF has any other T3/4 international arrivals around that time, so I wouldnt be confident that they would staff inbound immigration for what might be a handful of passengers.
(Assuming the service will operate from T3/4)

Is an international connection allowed on QF9 MEL-PER ? Haven't flown it myself.
@kermatu might be able to comment on whether they went through intl immigration on deboarding QF9, or whether it was seemingly closed like daver6's experience up thread.

Just to be clear. Immigration is still staffed and you need to present your boarding pass with the orange sticker. It was customs that wasn't staffed.

For QF28 to QF5 you'll clear immigration / collect your bag in PER. SYD international transit is open all day so it is permitted.

Transiting internationally to QF9 however varies, as this is due to the limited international transit hours at MEL.

That's not been the issue on the MEL end. Even when not staffed at MEL, there is a call phone and someone comes to let you through. This happened to me. It was only when I got to the F lounge and my pass wouldn't scan that someone twigged I couldnt clear customs and immigration on arrival in PER. I was HLO so no idea what would have happened had I checked bags at my international departure port.

 

[exceladdict]

Just to be clear. Immigration is still staffed and you need to present your boarding pass with the orange sticker. It was customs that wasn't staffed.



That's not been the issue on the MEL end. Even when not staffed at MEL, there is a call phone and someone comes to let you through. This happened to me. It was only when I got to the F lounge and my pass wouldn't scan that someone twigged I couldnt clear customs and immigration on arrival in PER. I was HLO so no idea what would have happened had I checked bags at my international departure port.

Did you get an orange sticker at the transit area? Imagine you wouldn't get one at original point of departure.