Originally Posted by
MacExtreme
Sorry if this has been covered - I can't find any references on the MEL website nor here; How long before departure can you check in for an international flight at MEL? Five or six hours? Even if you can check in that early, would the business class lounge let you stay in there that long?
Depends - which airline are you flying with? (Not as silly a question as it appears at first glance).
If flying QF, check-in normally opens three hours prior to departure, but you may be able to talk them into opening the flight earlier. I have been able to do this in BNE and in SYD. If you can get the flight opened for check-in, then you can proceed through immigration and security and into the lounge. Not sure why you would want to though (unless it was the F lounge, but I am not sure I would want to spend THAT long in there though).
If they won't open check-in that early, and you were stuck at the airport, then (assuming you are entitled to lounge access - I am assuming you are, based on your question) then you could always pop into the domestic QP. Since your next onward flight is on QF or another OW carrier that day, then you are entitled to QP access, and the Melbourne domestic QP isn't *that* bad (once you survive the fire being breathed by the desk dragons).
Dave