Recent Experiences with QF’s new terminal transfer at SYD

[justinbrett]

Obviously not enough services running. Private enterprise should not be allowed to run critical services. SYD airport has been a huge money spinner for a long time and the services provided are awful.

Well QF runs it because the service provided by SYD is inadequate. QF no longer runs the service in BNE as theirs is excellent.

Really what should happen is SYD sponsors free opal fares between the two landside stations.

 

[Beano]

Well QF runs it because the service provided by SYD is inadequate. QF no longer runs the service in BNE as theirs is excellent.

Really what should happen is SYD sponsors free opal fares between the two landside stations.

OK for HLO, but if you have check-in, then the transfer desk is at the bus end. You could do a lot of walking even if the train is at that end. Also you clear DOM security at the INT terminal. If you take the train you have to join the regular DOM security queues.

 

[justinbrett]

OK for HLO, but if you have check-in, then the transfer desk is at the bus end. You could do a lot of walking even if the train is at that end. Also you clear DOM security at the INT terminal. If you take the train you have to join the regular DOM security queues.

Yeah I’m talking about a full replacement. Get rid of D security in T1, it doesn’t save anything. Add a bag drop at the top of the train escalators.

QF could use the existing transfer area as an arrivals lounge.

 

[Beano]

Yeah I’m talking about a full replacement. Get rid of D security in T1, it doesn’t save anything. Add a bag drop at the top of the train escalators.

QF could use the existing transfer area as an arrivals lounge.

Isn't there a plan to combine DOM and INT. That would solve some problems.

 

[QPProletarian]

Isn't there a plan to combine DOM and INT. That would solve some problems.

QF really does need this if the airport is to be a hub.

 

[Beano]

QF really does need this if the airport is to be a hub.

We could all go to badgery creek!

 

[Himeno]

Isn't there a plan to combine DOM and INT. That would solve some problems.

There's been a number of plans about SYD airport. A somewhat recent one involved expanding T3 into the current QF hangers and creating alliance based terminals. So T1 would be VA and partners International and Domestic and a combined and expanded T2/3 would be QF, JQ, EK and oneworld. I don't think there has been any sort of movement on this plan.

Dunno if aircraft tarmac movements get in the way of running frequent buses - having that room fill up, with many more still waiting to check their bags, is still diabolical after all these years.

Only a small part of the bus route between T1 and T3 passes through aircraft movement areas. Just when moving across the cargo apron and near T3 passing the QF maintenance area and some gates near the bus transfer gate.
I think any problems with the QF transfer system during peak times is more to do with the amount of buses and drivers QF have.

From memory, I think HND transfers is closest to SYD. They have airline operated buses (for both ANA and JAL) departing the international terminal much like the QF SYD set up (with bag drop for domestic connections in the international terminal and domestic security before getting on the bus), an airport operated land side bus and free tickets from airport info desks for both trains to transfer between airport stations.
The main difference between the HND JL/NH set up and the QF SYD set up is that the International to Domestic buses only operate during peak times, while the Domestic to International appears to be all day.

The QF SYD transfer bus still seems to be better run then the LHR terminal transfer system.

 

[RSVKanga]

Well QF runs it because the service provided by SYD is inadequate. QF no longer runs the service in BNE as theirs is excellent.

Really what should happen is SYD sponsors free opal fares between the two landside stations.

Great idea, but regarding Qantas-specific transfers, I think it should be Qantas that sponsors free train transfers between the two landside stations rather than the airport.

I think QF should strike a deal with TfNSW and get them to enable the use of digital/physical QFF cards (and relevant boarding passes) at the Opal readers at those two stations so Qantas passengers can access the stations for free and transfer.

 

[am0985]

Arriving on China Airlines on QFF booked ticket. Not OW but partner airline.

Transferring to QF domestic.

Can I use Seamless Transfer?

 

[RichardMEL]

Arriving on China Airlines on QFF booked ticket. Not OW but partner airline.

Transferring to QF domestic.

Can I use Seamless Transfer?

Yes, due to flying on a QF domestic ticket/flight (I assume?)

 

[am0985]

So does the arrival flight not matter? I’ve done seamless transfer a couple of times now but can’t recall if they checked my arrival boarding pass (and it didn’t matter as it was QF both times). Should add they’re separate PNRs too…

 

[RichardMEL]

So does the arrival flight not matter? I’ve done seamless transfer a couple of times now but can’t recall if they checked my arrival boarding pass (and it didn’t matter as it was QF both times). Should add they’re separate PNRs too…

Ime no. It is about the onward QF flight. I've used it coming off an inbound SQ flight. Staff more than happy to check me in and transfer over for SYD-MEL.

 

[nj12]

So does the arrival flight not matter? I’ve done seamless transfer a couple of times now but can’t recall if they checked my arrival boarding pass (and it didn’t matter as it was QF both times). Should add they’re separate PNRs too…

IIRC I was able to do seamless transfer from SQ to QF a couple of years ago. Used the Qantas transfer check-in desks then through security and boarded the bus.

 

[Himeno]

Arriving on China Airlines on QFF booked ticket. Not OW but partner airline.

Transferring to QF domestic.

Can I use Seamless Transfer?

For D to I, it's for connections from a QF flight to any international flight, provided you've been through checked to your international destination at your domestic departure point.
For I to D, it's for all international arrivals connecting to a QF domestic flight.

The staff at the entrance to the transfer area at T1 are there to check if any bags are already tagged to a domestic flight and see if you have an onward boarding pass so they can direct you to the correct line (baggage drop or check in).

 

[Mwenenzi]

Arriving on China Airlines on QFF booked ticket. Not OW but partner airline.
Transferring to QF domestic.
Can I use Seamless Transfer?

I have checked in at International T1 for simple SYD-MEL domestic flight. Travelled to the airport by taxi with a work colleague who was flying international.
QF & VA have hundreds of domestic customers per day who arrive at T1 on separate international only tickets. And on other alliance / non alliance / non partner airlines. Good business for both airlines.

 

[eminere]

I have checked in at International T1 for simple SYD-MEL domestic flight. Travelled to the airport by taxi with a work colleague who was flying international.
QF & VA have hundreds of domestic customers per day who arrive at T1 on separate international only tickets. Good business for both airlines.

Genuinely never knew one could do that.