All

Thanks for the additional advice. It seems to be a Filipino trait that rules are there to be ignored/broken. On the way from MNL to SYD they were at first denied check-in by PAL as no visa, but the person who accompanied them to check-in (Anyone who knows MNL will know that normally only passengers are allowed into the terminal) knew someone who knew someone and suddenly they were checked in, and they arranged for someone from PAL at SYD to collect the bag and get it checked SYD-WLG. So this meant they were OK in transit as they did not need to clear immigration.

Of course going back QF at WLG are not playing those games. So today they have flown to AKL to try and get the transit visa issued in time. If they do not get it by tomorrow then they will alter the flight, and of course pay the fees and any fare change. So this saving of NZ$ 150 is working out quite expensive.