VA DOM-INT Transfer at Brisbane

[Dannyism]

Hi All, my J rewards flight to LAX is coming up...

I have 1 hour 40 minutes to transfer in Brisbane. Has anyone else done this transfer? It's nearly two hours but it doesn't feel like a lot of time if there are delays.. Not sure.. Do you think it will be ok?

On a different note, I asked Virgin to move us to the MEL flight, I can see the loading is as below on the MEL-LAX direct

Booking Class - Seat Availability
J - 7 C - 7 D - 7 I - 7 W - 7 R - 7 O - 7 Y - 7 B - 7 H - 7 K - 7 L - 7 E - 7 N - 7 V - 7 Q - 7 T - 7

and the loading on the BNE - LAX is below

Booking Class - Seat Availability
J - 5 W - 7 R - 5 O - 3 Y - 7 B - 7 H - 7 K - 7 L - 7 E - 7 N - 7 V - 7 Q - 4


They tell me because there is no Z availability they won't move me, even if there was Z availability I'd have to pay a change fee even as a WP. Seems like common sense doesn't prevail sometimes or perhaps there is a reason they won't move me that I'm not aware of.

 

[NZflygirl]

1hr 40 min feels like loads of time! Never had an issue.

Assuming your luggage is checked straight through you just get off the plane and walk to either the bus or train and at international it's really quick. You could even walk. Ok there might have been a line or 2 at international and I may have been tempted to put up my hand for the scanner as that seems to be quicker. Sometimes express path isn't open but I've never been that pushed for time where I've thought "I'll flash my express path" when the line is closed but if I was desperate time wise I would to see if it opened things up. Apart from that you can just run to the gate from there and I'm pretty sure the VA gate is close to the main area. At least that's what I've noticed when departing.

I've never walked the path but if my connection is ever long enough might give it a shot to kill the boredom.
See if you can get your departure card from wherever you're departing - MEL? - and have that filled in ready to go, although I have just used the queue lines at BNE as time to fill it in, or the BNE app.

 

[Jack_OC]

I have done BNE dom-intnl with QF, with a similar time to transfer. It was ok but pretty tight. I checked in for my whole trip in MEL, so no need to collect luggage or anything at BNE, but there were fairly long queues at security/passport control and no Express Path open. Maybe I was just unlucky, but they announced my flight was boarding about 2 mins after I reached the QF lounge in the intnl terminal. So I'd say I had about 30 mins margin for error at the absolute most (and my inbound flight was perfectly on time). Based on that, I'd say you will be fine if your inbound flight is on time (or even a few minutes delayed), but of course that's a big "if" - you just never know. On the plus side, I have flown MEL-BNE lots of times with both VA and QF and don't recall ever arriving significantly late. I think there is a fair bit of padding in the scheduled flight time.

As to why VA won't move you to the MEL flight - I agree it makes little sense, but I'm not surprised that's what they said.

 

[Dannyism]

Thanks for the feed back. I'm guessing that there is little chance of a 7am flight being delayed. MEL-BNE save for some nasty weather.
I'll be sure to ask for an express path ticket and immigration cards at Melbourne domestic.

 

[Denali]

Can it be done, yes. Would I want to do it, no. But I stress about short transits. Can you get an earlier MEL flight to Brisbane? You wont get near the lounges.

If you are going to take the train, once you clear the train ticket booth at Domestic, keep walking as you want the 2nd furthest carriage from the ticket booth as its the closest to the escalator on the international side. Up the escalator, cross the walk bridge, past the check in counters and down to security/immigration ect.

Have your immigration card filled out so you dont waste time doing it there. They dont even collect them anymore, you put them in a box at immigration.

 

[Luke B]

I did this on Saturday morning, VA309 (7am MEL-BNE) then VA7 (10:50am BNE-LAX),

Checked in at 05:45am, after some time in the lounge we headed off for boarding, no queue and we departed on time out of MEL, took off at 0705 off 34, into BNE early and after a long taxi, at the gate by 09:10am. From there, rather than get the free bus we decided to get the train (beware of the frequency, we had a 20min wait when we arrived at the platform) departed the domestic terminal at 09:34, at the international terminal a few minutes later, when we checked in at MEL they had no departure cards so we were delayed filling in the cards prior to screening then in the express lane we ended up having approximately 8 QF and NZ crew jump ahead of us (in reality, them all going for the one lane in front of the three of us was a bit frustrating, especially standing there for 10min while passengers with no express passes cleared via other lanes well before us.

After finally getting through security we had about 15min in the SQ lounge before we headed down to the gate to board VA7, on board at about 10:20am and departed on time out of BNE and into LAX and off the plane at 06:55am right on time.

That was a no stress transfer for us besides the frustrating wait in the security queue, being a Saturday morning definitely helped, unsure how the weekday would be (I'd imagine the increased train frequency would be beneficial).

 

[aaronm]

Have done this transfer a number of times, you should have plenty of time. I recommend taking the bus as it seems to run more regularly than the train, and picks up/drops off right outside the terminal. Even managed a 45 minute INT-DOM transfer once thanks to a friendly VA agent bumping me to an earlier flight back to MEL.

The BNE app also allows you to pre-fill your departure card and print it out at a kiosk at the terminal, small timesaver.

 

[Dannyism]

I did this on Saturday morning, VA309 (7am MEL-BNE) then VA7 (10:50am BNE-LAX),

Checked in at 05:45am, after some time in the lounge we headed off for boarding, no queue and we departed on time out of MEL, took off at 0705 off 34, into BNE early and after a long taxi, at the gate by 09:10am. From there, rather than get the free bus we decided to get the train (beware of the frequency, we had a 20min wait when we arrived at the platform) departed the domestic terminal at 09:34, at the international terminal a few minutes later, when we checked in at MEL they had no departure cards so we were delayed filling in the cards prior to screening then in the express lane we ended up having approximately 8 QF and NZ crew jump ahead of us (in reality, them all going for the one lane in front of the three of us was a bit frustrating, especially standing there for 10min while passengers with no express passes cleared via other lanes well before us.

After finally getting through security we had about 15min in the SQ lounge before we headed down to the gate to board VA7, on board at about 10:20am and departed on time out of BNE and into LAX and off the plane at 06:55am right on time.

That was a no stress transfer for us besides the frustrating wait in the security queue, being a Saturday morning definitely helped, unsure how the weekday would be (I'd imagine the increased train frequency would be beneficial).

Thanks for your feedback. A few questions..

How was the SQ lounge? Worth spending an hour there ?
Would you recommend we ask to go on the 6am flight out of MEL?
They gave you the express passes at MEL checkin ?

 

[andyhui01]

Thanks for your feedback. A few questions..

How was the SQ lounge? Worth spending an hour there ?
Would you recommend we ask to go on the 6am flight out of MEL?
They gave you the express passes at MEL checkin ?

SQ Lounge isn't bad, it is quite new after recent renovations. Their breakfast offering is pretty decent but coffee was from a machine, but other than that, it is just a waiting room with some decent food. I personally would go on the 6am flight but based on how crowded the lounge is, I think most pax arrive about an hour after me so I guess they have a tighter connection.

I always get express path cards in MEL, ticket for the train. Never had issues.

 

[Luke B]

To be honest, the SQ lounge is small, like really small... A sandwich in the VA lounge in MEL, the food in business on the flight from MEL and on the LAX flight was more than enough to keep the three of us satisfied.

We ended up going to the SQ lounge for 15min, had a jack and coke and went to the bathroom, that was about it. Personally I wasn't stressed about the time we spent there, I personally preferred to board the plane and sit in "The Business" chatting to the FAs (we had a really good set of crew on in J!

Personally it depends on what day you depart and what month? Weekend? Probably not, Weekday? Can't really comment there.

In MEL we got express passes when we checked in at the domestic terminal in addition to our BNE-LAX boarding pass.

 

[Hvr]

Have just done this transfer not too hard but slightly awkward.

Came in off the QF flight ex MEL and went straight to the baggage claim exit. The bus stop is slightly to the right. The staff bus came first with the transfer bus behind it. This meant that people near the end of the vague line got to board first.

After several people had boarded the driver closed the door leaving people behind nd we went to the next stop where a few more people boarded. Next stop international. Go down stairs and into the non-priority queues, didn't see any priority queue.

Eventually through the lines and into the duty free scam area. The went looking for the Qantas lounge. No signage for this lounge so spent 30 minutes walking and looking. Just about to give up when I saw a grey/black door way near the walkway to gates 69-70.

It's full and quite hot. Maybe the AC will be installed when they put signage in?

Eventually found a seat at the counter upstairs. When I mentioned to the QF door man that it was hard to find he sneered, 'we're exclusive'. Not impressed that he did this while scanning my J BP that noted my WP status.

In no hurry to return.

 

[Dannyism]

Have just done this transfer not too hard but slightly awkward.

Came in off the QF flight ex MEL and went straight to the baggage claim exit. The bus stop is slightly to the right. The staff bus came first with the transfer bus behind it. This meant that people near the end of the vague line got to board first.

After several people had boarded the driver closed the door leaving people behind nd we went to the next stop where a few more people boarded. Next stop international. Go down stairs and into the non-priority queues, didn't see any priority queue.

Eventually through the lines and into the duty free scam area. The went looking for the Qantas lounge. No signage for this lounge so spent 30 minutes walking and looking. Just about to give up when I saw a grey/black door way near the walkway to gates 69-70.

It's full and quite hot. Maybe the AC will be installed when they put signage in?

Eventually found a seat at the counter upstairs. When I mentioned to the QF door man that it was hard to find he sneered, 'we're exclusive'. Not impressed that he did this while scanning my J BP that noted my WP status.

In no hurry to return.

Yikes, you make it sound like fun....

 

[Dannyism]

Well well well....

After a polite but firm (savage) insistence that the call centre operator check with their manager they were able to move me to the direct MEL-LAX flight.... However, I could not get the $60AUDpp change fee waived.... Nor did I get any points back. However we saved about 30 per person in reduced taxes.

I'll enjoy my sleep in and the Etihad First & Business lounge in MEL.

 

[Jack_OC]

Well well well....

After a polite but firm (savage) insistence that the call centre operator check with their manager they were able to move me to the direct MEL-LAX flight.... However, I could not get the $60AUDpp change fee waived.... Nor did I get any points back. However we saved about 30 per person in reduced taxes.

I'll enjoy my sleep in and the Etihad First & Business lounge in MEL.

Great outcome - well done! I'd happily have paid $60 pp for that option - it will be a much better start to your journey.

 

[JohnK]

You've now changed flights but I wouldn't feel comfortable with 1h40m connection in most airports even if it meets MCT.

You only need one thing to go wrong for things to go pear shaped.

 

[Dannyism]

You've now changed flights but I wouldn't feel comfortable with 1h40m connection in most airports even if it meets MCT.

You only need one thing to go wrong for things to go pear shaped.

Yeah, for a big flight to start the holiday it certainly is a weight off of the shoulders.

 

[serfty]

... QF flight ... Qantas lounge ...

You do realise this thread is in the VA forum?

 

[Dannyism]

You do realise this thread is in the VA forum?

We can't let that stop us bagging Brisbane's separate domestic and international terminals !!

 

[Hvr]

You do realise this thread is in the VA forum?

Oops, obviously not.

 

[serfty]

Oops, obviously not.

It's OK, the observations about the bus from domestic thoroughly matches my experience (except the second stop is the VA part ).