Qantas Int'l Check-In, Sydney - What's the latest I can check-in?

[foxoff]

Hey, I am going to be flying pretty much weekly on Friday afternoons between Sydney and Auckland. I'll be economy for now and I will have carry-on luggage only. I know qantas recommend check-in 90 prior to departure but I am thinking I can get away with 60 mins prior. Does anyone think otherwise?

[harvyk]

It'd all depend on how busy customs is at syd on Friday arvo's. You can OLCI for the flights so check in is not a problem, and you can certainly get through Syd T1 quickly with only carry on. The problem you might find is that your still stuck in the customs queue when it's time to start boarding if you don't give yourself enough time.

I'd suggest checking in 90 minutes before hand for the first few weeks and then make a decision as to the viability of the 60 minute check in, by then you'd have gotten a feel for the average wait times at customs and security at the time your usually flying. Keep in mind that it's no guarentee as I used to fly out from MEL - AKL on QF25 fairly frequently, and the wait times at customs could be anything from 2 minutes to over half an hour.

Remember that QF probably won't be too keen on helping you if you have a problem if you didn't check in within the minimum time frames as advised by them.

[foxoff]

Thanks Harvy, very helpful.

[NM]

It'd all depend on how busy customs is at syd on Friday arvo's.

Outbound customs processing is minimal. The delays are more likely to be at immigration (passport control) and security screening.

Keep in mind that it's no guarentee as I used to fly out from MEL - AKL on QF25 fairly frequently, and the wait times at customs could be anything from 2 minutes to over half an hour.

Outbound customs procedure usually consists of someone waiting after the security screening point asking if you have any duty-free items with you. I have never seen that to take anything more than 20 seconds for them to do a quick inspection to ensure any pre-purchased duty-free items are still sealed. Its never going to take an hour.

Now if it was really busy, the immigration (passport control) and security screening can take a little time. But even at peak times I have not seen it even close to an hour. The entire combined check-in, immigration processing and security screening procedure could get to an hour at busy times. But I would not expect Friday Afternoons to be all that busy. Most of the large aircraft flights to the USA and Asia/Europe depart between mid-morning and mid afternoon.

It is always wise to comply with the published times for check-in.

[harvyk]

NM your right, I meant to say passport control not customs.

I admit it was only the one time which I had to wait for over half an hour, however it'd be a pain to be stuck in the queue on a busy day and yet they are doing the final boarding call...

[simongr]

Can status pax get an ePass even if flying in whY? That could help with the queue.

My general time through the int'l airport is 10-12 mins from kerb to Lounge max

[serfty]

Can status pax get an ePass even if flying in whY? That could help with the queue. ...

A WP can go to the F check-in and ask for one.

[simongr]

Thought so (and actually I did that recently as a OWE flying in whY to NZ).

If the OP isnt a status member then an APEC BTC might be an option.

[foxoff]

Thanks all. Is there somewhere I can go to convert your acronyms into words?!

What do whY,WP, APEC and BTC stand for? Rookie problems, I know....

Thanks again.

[NM]

Thanks all. Is there somewhere I can go to convert your acronyms into words?!

What do whY,WP, APEC and BTC stand for? Rookie problems, I know....

Thanks again.

yes, the sticky thread at the top of this very forum:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/comm...ions-5056.html (Abbreviations and Explanations)