V-Flyer

I am flying to Sydney with qantas in November and was wondering whether i will be able to get off of the plane when it refuels in singapore?
Thanks

Yes you will as it's standard policy to get-off during a stop-over as the A/C is cleaned and re-stocked etc. for the next flight leg.

Regards

The stop is not just a 'gas n' go'. They also take pax on in SIN.

Oh thank god for that. Thanks for the info

I have another quick Query i am going to get a connection going to Brisbane.
I am checking in online for my flight to Sydney but as the total journey to Sydney will take longer than 24 hours how will i be able to check in for my other flight as i only have 90mins to get my connection.

Originally posted by virgin crazy
Oh thank god for that. Thanks for the info

I have another quick Query i am going to get a connection going to Brisbane.
I am checking in online for my flight to Sydney but as the total journey to Sydney will take longer than 24 hours how will i be able to check in for my other flight as i only have 90mins to get my connection.

Based on very recent experience of arriving on an International flight in SYD and connecting immediately on to a domestic to CNS I'd be urging you to seriously consider booking on to a later flight.
The Domestic Terminal at SYD is situated a 10 min bus ride from the International terminal (and you will firstly have to clear immigration and customs in the International Terminal).If you're connecting onto a Qantas flight you may be eligible for their "Seamless Transfer Service" (you'd have to contact Qantas to see if you were eligible).
If not,buses run frequently -every 10 mins or so at peak times and half hourly after that. Be warned they get really busy and full to capacity and will leave those unable to cram themselves on to wait for the next bus.Even if you have managed to check in online (somewhere)prior to arrival it's going to be very tight to make a connection in 90 mins particularly if the immigration hall is busy (which it usually is) .We left a 4 hour gap between arrival and departure on the DJ flight which initially I thought was hugely excessive, however this proved to be a wise move as despite being off the VS200 first, several other planes had landed in quick succession and it was a bit of a sprint to the immigration hall and then on through customs (which had horrendous queues by the time we were cleared).
Even on arrival at the Domestic Terminal there were significant queues for the bag drop (for self/online check ins) and anther long queue for ordinary check in.
In total, from deplaneing to dropping bags off took longer than 90 mins (and we saw ourselves as being blessed in that there were several hundred passengers behind us on the VS200 who weren't so fortunate).
The Domestic Terminal is actually OK -a reasonable food court and some shops and space to sit (we were in the DJ lounge for the spare time, but bought some food and drinks to take on the flight to CNS as the stuff in there was pretty basic).
Hope this has been helpful.
Julie

Firstly, when you check-in at LHR you should ask if it is possible to issue the boarding pass for your SYD-BNE flight. If not, ask for your bags to be priority-tagged even if you're not entitled to priority handling. After you clear customs and immigration at SYD make your way to the QF Domestic Transfer check-in which is located to your right after exiting customs (head towards the train station and it's on the right after there). You can re-check your bags here and obtain your domestic boarding pass here before taking the free QF shuttle bus over to the Domestic Terminal.

I don't know how long the queues will be for the QF Domestic Transfer check-in during the evening but I have seen long queues during the morning, when many European and intercontinental flights have landed. Howver, 90 mins should be enough as QF32 land in the early evening which means there aren't too many long-haul flights to contend with.

IIRC there are computers at SIN with free internet, so you could try the OLIC there? As other have said, if you are not an Aussie I would leave longer than 90mins as it can be a nightmare getting through SYD......Have a great time. [y]

I spoke to Qantas and they said that i will be issued with both of the boarding passes at Heathrow and that my bags will go straight onto my next flight so all i haev to do is proceed to the domestic terminal on the qantas shuttle.
thanks for all of the advice.

Originally posted by virgin crazy
Oh thank god for that. Thanks for the info

I have another quick Query i am going to get a connection going to Brisbane.
I am checking in online for my flight to Sydney but as the total journey to Sydney will take longer than 24 hours how will i be able to check in for my other flight as i only have 90mins to get my connection.

I seriously, seriously suggest that you do NOT use JetStar for your connection. As an LCC, despite being part of Qantas, they won't give a sh*t if you miss your connection and you'll have to purchase another ticket. Not to mention their strictly enforced cabin and hold baggage restrictions.

If the immigration and customs (including agricultural inspection) at SYD wasn't bad enough, just think about your transit between international and domestic terminals. There is no free transit. I would allocated 30 mins just for the transfer. I would strongly suggest giving two hours if you possibly can for an international to domestic transit at SYD.

Cheers, Howard

the transfer between terminals is free on the qantas seamless transfer

Originally posted by virgin crazy
I spoke to Qantas and they said that i will be issued with both of the boarding passes at Heathrow and that my bags will go straight onto my next flight so all i haev to do is proceed to the domestic terminal on the qantas shuttle.
thanks for all of the advice.

I'm a bit confused by the advice you were given. It's always been my understanding that anyone flying into SYD with a domestic connection has to clear customs and quarantine inspection with all their bags. That's why there's a QF Domestic Transfer check-in facility located within the Int'l Terminal at SYD after customs and quarantine. So I'm not sure how your bags can be checked-through to BNE in your situation as there would be no customs and quarantine procedures on arrival at BNE (you would, of course, be arriving at the Domestic Terminal in BNE).

I shall contact Qantas again and ask them.

Originally posted by virgin crazy
the transfer between terminals is free on the qantas seamless transfer

Yes - you're right. On the transfers I've done at SYD I was not arriving on QF. Sorry I gave bum info previously.

I still find it astonishing that the airport itself does not provide free terminal transfer, and it's left up to the airlines to do that. In the past I have used my incoming airlines' limo services.

I would still suggest that 90 minutes for the transfer is rather tight. The landside transfer itself takes about 15-20 minutes.

H.

I found some useful information on the oneworld site.

For international to international transfers and domestic flights (QF 1-399):
There is no need to clear Immigration and Customs - this will be completed at your final destination. Follow the transfer signs and proceed through security to upper level. If you do not have a boarding pass for your onward flight, proceed to the transfer desk located before Gate 24.

Does this apply to me?

Or does this one apply to me?

For international to Australian domestic flights numbered QF400 - QF4999:
Proceed through immigration. Collect your bags and clear customs.
Follow signs to Qantas transfer lounge. Recheck your bags. Proceed to the terminal transfer bus and disembark at Terminal 3. Flights numbered QF400-1599 depart from Terminal 3. For flights, numbered QF1600 and above follow the signs from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2.

QF flights numbered 1-399 are international flights. Some include domestic sectors but operate to and from the international terminals (eg SYD-MEL, SYD-BNE, SYD-CNS). If you are booked on any of these flights you can have your bags transferred to its final destination where you clear customs.

In your case this does not apply. You will need to clear immigration first before collecting your bags and then proceed through customs at SYD. 90 mins should be fine. QF check-in for domestic flights with checked baggage closes 30 mins before departure so you have a full hour after landing - and it is only a short walk to the Domestic Transfer check-in after exiting customs. I wouldn't be too worried if I were in your shoes.

Thanks for the info

Originally posted by Strawberry Muppet
90 mins should be fine.

IMHO 90 mins may well mean an anxious dash between terminals. It's not like going from T1 to T2 at LHR. It's like doing a landside transfer T1/2/3 to T4 at LHR. That's once you've cleared their immigration, customs and agricultural xray, and that can easily take an hour, although it very much depends what time of day you get in. Then there's the domestic security to clear. FWIW arriving early morning is generally the worst time in my experience. It's an awful welcome to a country after a 24 hour trip, and the environment in the immigration line and baggage hall can be rather humid.

Anyway, if it's QF flights the whole way they'll rebook you gratis if you miss the connection. I wasn't sure if the OP was still on QF for the last segment.

Howard.

I land at half 7 at night so it shouldnt be too bad and yes it is qantas all of the way

Well, I was just commenting based on my previous experience of going through customs at SYD. Trust me, this airport is rather efficient when it comes to baggage. I've never had to wait too long at immigration and, apart from once being pulled aside for a secondary drug screening at customs, I've always managed to complete all arrival formalities within 45 mins at SYD. I would be surprised if it takes longer than this given the timing of your QF arrival.

Can someone who can access Expert flyer tell me how full QF 32 is on the 1st of November as i canst as i dont have a credit card.

What is the best chance of getting an emergancy exit seat. Do i turn up to the checkin desk early and ask for one?

If i did miss the connection would i be put on the next available flight for free?

Originally posted by virgin crazy
If i did miss the connection would i be put on the next available flight for free?

If it's QF all the way, then yes, especially if it was booked on a single ticket, and QF said the 90 minutes were enough. Last time I tried about six months ago I was unable to find recommended connection times for SYD.

If it's just a TA who said 90 mins was enough I would get written confirmation or at the very least an online reference to it that you can print out.

I see that the last QF SYD-BNE looks like 21:05 in November. I am guessing you're on the QF32 that arrives at 19:35. Hopefully all will work out for you.

Cheers, Howard

yeah hope so. Thanks for your help

Can anyone tell me the economy load factors for the flight.
QF32 1/11
Thanks