Checking a bag only for the second flight of an itinerary
Apr 11, 2019, 6:25 pm
#1
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Checking a bag only for the second flight of an itinerary
I'll be flying from Windhoek, Namibia (WDH) to JNB on SAA then connecting 5 hours later to JNB-SYD-HNL on QF. I'm traveling quite light and within carry on limits, so to save having to go through immigration and customs in South Africa and be able to stay in the transit area I wasn't planning to check a bag. However, I have a fairly long layover in SYD and plan to leave the airport and have a beer with a friend there. Once I'm in SYD can I go to a check in desk and check my back for only the second leg of the QF journey (SYD-HNL) or is this something that QF just won't do?
As a bonus question, am I likely to be able to do online check in for JNB-SYD-HNL on QF? It's a little unclear to me what check in/baggage facilities exist for QF air side in JNB, and if they'll be open when I arrive for my connection. Hence ideally I'd like to online check in and carry on, but I know online check in isn't always available on all carriers for international flights.
As a bonus question, am I likely to be able to do online check in for JNB-SYD-HNL on QF? It's a little unclear to me what check in/baggage facilities exist for QF air side in JNB, and if they'll be open when I arrive for my connection. Hence ideally I'd like to online check in and carry on, but I know online check in isn't always available on all carriers for international flights.
Apr 11, 2019, 6:32 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,597
You will have to wait for the checkin to open for the HNL flight - which iirc is 3 hours prior to departure
If you are wanting to leave the airport and leave bags, then you would be best checking the bag in in JNB and it will stay checked through until Honolulu
Checking in in Sydney , would be interesting to see whether the airline picks up on the additional taxes that are due, but not likely charged ; if you have a same day connection and stay airside there are taxes that are not charged, but are due if you clear immigration
If you are wanting to leave the airport and leave bags, then you would be best checking the bag in in JNB and it will stay checked through until Honolulu
Checking in in Sydney , would be interesting to see whether the airline picks up on the additional taxes that are due, but not likely charged ; if you have a same day connection and stay airside there are taxes that are not charged, but are due if you clear immigration
Apr 12, 2019, 12:46 am
#3
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Checking a bag for only a portion of a trip is not a problem. I did this yesterday (with a different airline). But just as Dave mentioned QF will not accept your bag in Sydney up until before the flight so you might have to pay for baggage storage. And then this defeats the purpose of your exercise. Epic trip you are doing btw.
Apr 12, 2019, 2:58 am
#4
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Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
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If you can use F checkin at SYD then historically QF has exercised considerable flexibility in allowing early bag drop ... perhaps they keep it set aside and then submit it for you when the time window opens. . The OP does not look to be able to use this facility, but if still provided it would be useful for others to know. As for the original question no problem with QF to add a bag for a connection sector (I've sometimes added shopping as checked baggage during a transit).
Apr 12, 2019, 7:23 am
#5
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
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Posts: 4,847
Sydney all day check-in
Apr 12, 2019, 4:54 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Little old dog box, in Adelaide
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I have not checked your nationality, or what passport you hold, if not an Aust or NZ citizen, you will need a transit visa for Aust.
Aust does not do visa on arrival to anyone except NZ citizens.
I have not done the other odyssey, so can't say anymore to add.
Best of luck.
Aust does not do visa on arrival to anyone except NZ citizens.
I have not done the other odyssey, so can't say anymore to add.
Best of luck.
Apr 14, 2019, 4:00 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: NYC
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From experience the all day check in policy in SYD only applies if you are not going to the US. They do not accept bags more than 3 hours out for US flights due to TSA regulations.
And second the Aus transit visa requirement mentioned above. You need an aussie visa if you are not AU/NZ citizen and want to clear immigration. Certain nationalities need this transit visa even without clearing immigration (US and SA nationals don’t need this). Check https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...t-without-visa
And second the Aus transit visa requirement mentioned above. You need an aussie visa if you are not AU/NZ citizen and want to clear immigration. Certain nationalities need this transit visa even without clearing immigration (US and SA nationals don’t need this). Check https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...t-without-visa
Last edited by hansyuwiwb; Apr 14, 2019 at 4:07 am
Apr 14, 2019, 2:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 56
Do you have details of this TSA regulation? I have had ~8 hour layovers in Sydney, with checked bags, before heading to the US. Not a problem.
Apr 14, 2019, 2:27 pm
#9
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Join Date: Jan 2002
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Unless thing s have changed, there are separate check in desks for passengers travelling to the USA vs travelling elsewhere. I don't think that there is an issue with bags being checked through
Apr 14, 2019, 7:11 pm
#10
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Thanks, everyone! It's good to know this is a readily do-able in a general sense.
Great point on possibly not being able to check in more than 3 hours in advance though! I'll see what I can do to check it through from JNB and if I can't I'll try in SYD (and worse case I'll live if I have to lug my bag around a bit). And thanks for mentioning the visa concern too - I'm a US citizen but fortunately have an ETA visa that is still valid as I was in Australia for a wedding earlier this year.
And yes, it is a bit of an epic trip and I may well not want to get on a plane ever again once I'm done with all the flying! I live in Honolulu, and the trip will consist of a few days in NYC for business and then two weeks in South Africa and Namibia for holiday, and I decided to go through SYD on the way back to make it around-the-world and the flight timing are actually a bit nicer as well.
Great point on possibly not being able to check in more than 3 hours in advance though! I'll see what I can do to check it through from JNB and if I can't I'll try in SYD (and worse case I'll live if I have to lug my bag around a bit). And thanks for mentioning the visa concern too - I'm a US citizen but fortunately have an ETA visa that is still valid as I was in Australia for a wedding earlier this year.
And yes, it is a bit of an epic trip and I may well not want to get on a plane ever again once I'm done with all the flying! I live in Honolulu, and the trip will consist of a few days in NYC for business and then two weeks in South Africa and Namibia for holiday, and I decided to go through SYD on the way back to make it around-the-world and the flight timing are actually a bit nicer as well.
Apr 15, 2019, 8:01 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Miles&more, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 536
From experience the all day check in policy in SYD only applies if you are not going to the US. They do not accept bags more than 3 hours out for US flights due to TSA regulations.
And second the Aus transit visa requirement mentioned above. You need an aussie visa if you are not AU/NZ citizen and want to clear immigration. Certain nationalities need this transit visa even without clearing immigration (US and SA nationals don’t need this). Check https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...t-without-visa
And second the Aus transit visa requirement mentioned above. You need an aussie visa if you are not AU/NZ citizen and want to clear immigration. Certain nationalities need this transit visa even without clearing immigration (US and SA nationals don’t need this). Check https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visa...t-without-visa
May 13, 2019, 10:49 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Just to follow up I was able to check my bag in SYD for the second leg of the my flight (SYD-HNL) about 4 hours before the flight without an issue.