Checking through baggage

10 replies

Marcia Mumme

Member since 25 Nov 2024

Total posts 2

We have been fortunate enough to secure Qantas reward seats from Dallas Fort Worth to Sydney, then Sydney to Perth. The two flights are ticketed separately.


Can we check through baggage to Perth, or do we need to clear customs at Sydney with our checked baggage.

Thank you.

Theresnormissin

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 14 Oct 2016

Total posts 161

You will need to collect you bags in Sydney - clear customs and then check them back in for your flight to Perth. Checking your bags back in can be done at the domestic transfer desk in the international terminal - then just catch the transfer bus across to T3.

This would be the same process even if both flights were on the same ticket. All international passengers need to clear Australian customs with their checked bags at their first international port of arrival before transferring to the domestic network.

If you are worried about missing the connection I suggest you phone Qantas and ask if they can join the tickets onto a single PNR (they may or may not be able to) and it can make life a bit less stressful if there are any delays with your first flight.


Last editedby Theresnormissin at Nov 26, 2024, 02:08 PM.

Marcia Mumme

Member since 25 Nov 2024

Total posts 2

Originally Posted by Theresnormissin

You will need to collect you bags in Sydney - clear customs and then check them back in for your flight to Perth. Checking your bags back in can be done at the domestic transfer desk in the international terminal - then just catch the transfer bus across to T3.

This would be the same process even if both flights were on the same ticket. All international passengers need to clear Australian customs with their checked bags at their first international port of arrival before transferring to the domestic network.

If you are worried about missing the connection I suggest you phone Qantas and ask if they can join the tickets onto a single PNR (they may or may not be able to) and it can make life a bit less stressful if there are any delays with your first flight.


Last editedby Theresnormissin at Nov 26, 2024, 02:08 PM.
Thank you!

Serg

QFF

Member since 12 Apr 2013

Total posts 1,006

It irrelevant - you have to pick your bags and clear custom in first port in Australia

Phil Young

Qantas

Member since 22 Oct 2012

Total posts 259

Exactly the same as when you'd arrive into your first port in the USA, Immigration then collect your luggage from the carousel.

quantumreality

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 16 Jan 2018

Total posts 71

When travelling using rewards ticket(s), Qantas seems to allow check through, as specified below (read the footnotes).

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/policies/book/baggage/interline-and-through-checked-baggage.html#when-can-my-customers-bags-be-through-checked

I have never tried this though, so don't know how they do this in practice.

While it is true that you still have to pick up your luggage and check in again, if you check through, the airline at least knows that there is a connecting passenger which may be useful if first flight arrives late, or something like that.

Just my two-cent.

pab2025

Member since 25 Jun 2012

Total posts 133

You can link your two bookings if they are both booked and operated by QF.

Just call QF and they will link- even if one is paid and one is an award.

Best to link them in case the first flight is delayed they will still get you to Perth.

Warragul

Member since 22 Jan 2019

Total posts 20

Originally Posted by Theresnormissin

You will need to collect you bags in Sydney - clear customs and then check them back in for your flight to Perth. Checking your bags back in can be done at the domestic transfer desk in the international terminal - then just catch the transfer bus across to T3.

This would be the same process even if both flights were on the same ticket. All international passengers need to clear Australian customs with their checked bags at their first international port of arrival before transferring to the domestic network.

If you are worried about missing the connection I suggest you phone Qantas and ask if they can join the tickets onto a single PNR (they may or may not be able to) and it can make life a bit less stressful if there are any delays with your first flight.


Last editedby Theresnormissin at Nov 26, 2024, 02:08 PM.
Multlipe PNRs cannot be merged into one, they can be linked (as explained in other posts), but in theory that doesn't protect you in case of delay etc. Assuming this is a QF-QF connection, bags can be tbhorugh checked and, from personal experience, reaccommodation when delayed was not an issue.

Theresnormissin

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 14 Oct 2016

Total posts 161

To make sure you don’t confuse the OP, their bags cannot be through checked on arrival into Australia. They will still need to collect them and clear customs and check them back in. Refer to Serg’s comment

If the person was flying out of Australia or transiting that’s different, and I would expect Qantas to through check the bags to the final destination.

Warragul

Member since 22 Jan 2019

Total posts 20

Originally Posted by Theresnormissin

To make sure you don’t confuse the OP, their bags cannot be through checked on arrival into Australia. They will still need to collect them and clear customs and check them back in. Refer to Serg’s comment

If the person was flying out of Australia or transiting that’s different, and I would expect Qantas to through check the bags to the final destination.

Absolutely, technically collecting bags clearing customs and dropping off if they are already tagged to final destination is not checking them in but dropping off - the tag numbers generally do not change. Practically, it's the same thing.

Serg

QFF

Member since 12 Apr 2013

Total posts 1,006

Originally Posted by Theresnormissin

To make sure you don’t confuse the OP, their bags cannot be through checked on arrival into Australia. They will still need to collect them and clear customs and check them back in. Refer to Serg’s comment

If the person was flying out of Australia or transiting that’s different, and I would expect Qantas to through check the bags to the final destination.

It is confusing for people who unfamiliar with system. They actually DO check baggage through. For example I was flying from Europe to Melbourne via Sydney and they DID check my baggage to Melbourne. However as I said it is irrelevant because one required to pick baggage in first Australian port (Sydney in my example), pass it through custom and check it again at domestic transfer terminal where original tags will be ripped off and replaced with new ones. It is indeed confusing for people who not travel frequent enough.

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