Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Perth Domestic -> International Transit Question

Hi,

I have a domestic to international connecting flight with the following traveling route Adelaide -> Perth -> Singapore, traveling on Qantas and Jet Star. Recently Jet Star amended my flight schedule, the plane now departs 1 hour earlier!

Now I am getting worried as I am just unsure if I will miss the Jet Star flight. I wish to know if it is possible to make it between the Domestic and International airports based on the following schedule.

5 April 2009
Carrier: Qantas
Arrive Perth
9:50 PM
Terminal 2

6 April 2009
Carrier: Jet Star
Depart Perth for Singapore
00:15 AM

I plan to take the taxi as I am not sure if the Terminal Transfer Bus Service (http://www.perthairport.com/default.aspx?MenuID=34) will take me to the International airport on time. Would anyone be able to advise the fastest way to travel between 2 airports and the traveling time between them? Would I be able to make it on time?

Your assistance is appreciated.

Cheers,

Bumping this thread, even though the OP's travel date has come and gone, because I have a similar question.

I am arriving PER /T1 on an international flight and meeting my family, arriving about the same time at PER / T3 on a DJ flight from SYD. We're both terminating at PER, and the airport authority says I can't ride the $8 transfer bus from T1 to T3 to meet them because I have no onward ticket.

They quote the price of a T1 --> T3 taxi at $25. Seriously? There's no other way to get over to T3? Please tell me there's a friendlier alternative.

It's like 2 separate airports. The domestic terminal is on the other side of the runway, so the taxi has to go all the way around the perimeter -- several mile trip, and almost as long as going into the CBD. A truly absurd situation, but it's been this way forever. People just learn not to do this at PER, or to meet off-airport instead, perhaps at a hotel.

It's like 2 separate airports. The domestic terminal is on the other side of the runway, so the taxi has to go all the way around the perimeter -- several mile trip, and almost as long as going into the CBD... Thanks for the reply, number_6. I pulled up an airport map and looked at the layout, and I understand it, but I guess I don't understand the lack of free / reasonable transfer transport for everyone. (For that matter I don't understand the determination to bar me from what is likely to be a half-full Connect transfer bus, just because I don't have onward same-day travel.) LHR T5 and LHR T2 might as well be two separate airports, but they don't stick you for a GBP15 tax ride to transfer. DTW / MacNamara and DTW / North are well-separated, but... ditto.

I guess do they really check if you have a connecting flight? Could always try and explain to the transfer desk.

If they care about onward connecting flights, buy a refundable onward ticket from your destination terminal. Once you get there, turn it in for a refund.

(If your credit card isn't charged in A$, you may make or lose a little based on exchange rate fluctuations during the time you have the ticket. That happened to me a few years back when I needed a ticket to get into a Qantas Club at SYD with my AA card. It was worth it anyhow, up to the time we were kicked out - but that's another story for another time.)

Perth International Airport is a disgrace. I'm trying desperately to come up with something I like about it. Maybe short taxiing times? It's beggars belief that something built less than 25 years ago can be so woefully inadequate. I believe some major extensions/improvements are in the pipeline. They should really build a train line out there as there are existing rail lines in the area but they won't and travellers will continue to be ripped off.

Thanks for the reply, number_6. ... DTW / MacNamara and DTW / North are well-separated, but... ditto.I paid USD 20 for a taxi to get from AA to BA terminal at DTW once, when my AA flight was canceled and I was rerouted onto BA -- with 15 min to go, couldn't wait for the free landside bus. So this happens at US airports too -- just not so often and they all run some sort of free bus, inconvenient as it might be.

PER is so isolated, that there simply isn't a domestic feeder network for international flights (all mining towns in WA) and they didn't anticipate PER hubbing for other states. Lots of vested interests are visible in the reality of PER airport. A great example of what bribery will get you, imho.