How late can you really get to MEL airport for an early morning flight to Bali?

[juzdownunder]

It's been so long since I've travelled international, and I've never done so with Jetstar. A friend has booked a group trip to Bali, and we're going out from MEL on JQ31 at 0640 on a Thursday morning. Ack! Any suggestions from the brains trust as to how late I can safely turn up and still make the flight?

 

[Human]

Are you able to check in online or will you have to queue at the check-in counters? Will you have carry-on luggage only?

 

[juzdownunder]

Can definitely check in online, but between the 2 of us we'll have 1 bag to check in. Is that just an auto drop like domestic?

 

[cjd600]

Flying Jetstar to Bali, I'd be arriving late enough to miss the flight
(Sorry, not helpful)

 

[dajop]

Flying Jetstar to Bali, I'd be arriving late enough to miss the flight
(Sorry, not helpful)

Variation on that theme, 11 hrs after the flight is scheduled to depart. Should still make it

 

[dajop]

On a more serious note, recently flew JQ to SIN, turned up about 1:45 before departure. Would have made no material difference if I turned up 1:15 before departure, as not many joined the queue after me. The key variable is therefore probably security at that time of day.

 

[juzdownunder]

Flying Jetstar to Bali, I'd be arriving late enough to miss the flight
(Sorry, not helpful)

Yeah, I'm dreading it tbh. Mind you who's good Melbourne to Bali these days? Last time some friends went they were flying that airline that went broke the day before they were due to fly back. Merpati or something?
I checked a heap of flights and it was like $1200 return at best (direct). Jetstar was 36000 points return for classic rewards (QF have zilch) and it's the flight the rest of my group is on so figured I'd run the gauntlet.

 

[cjd600]

Yeah, I'm dreading it tbh. Mind you who's good Melbourne to Bali these days? Last time some friends went they were flying that airline that went broke the day before they were due to fly back. Merpati or something?
I checked a heap of flights and it was like $1200 return at best. Got Jetstar for 36000 points return and it's the flight the rest of my group is on so figured I'd run the gauntlet.

Only joking, enjoy the trip!

 

[aikman]

As long as you're standing at the check in queue by 5.39am then you'll be fine.

 

[Sprucegoose]

A friend has booked a group trip to Bali, and we're going out from MEL on JQ31

No friend books JQ !

 

[Hvr]

As long as you're standing at the check in queue by 5.39am then you'll be fine.

That's assuming there is a check in queue. Last time I flew JQ international it was self check in where you scanned your passport, answered some questions and printed your bag tag (if applicable).

If they continue doing self check in then they may well turn off the the machine at exactly 0540 hours and if you've not commenced checked in then too bad, you've missed out.

 

[Harrison_133]

If they continue doing self check in then they may well turn off the the machine at exactly 0540 hours and if you've not commenced checked in then too bad, you've missed out.

Self check in is not available for the Denpasar flights currently. They’re still using manned desks as they need to verify the passengers meet the Indonesian travel requirements.

 

[henrus]

Can definitely check in online, but between the 2 of us we'll have 1 bag to check in. Is that just an auto drop like domestic?

All Jetstar (JQ) international flights still don't offer online check in. You will need to front up to a counter regardless of baggage.

In the last few months kiosk check in has been switched on at some AU airports for some destinations (to NZ) but otherwise counter check in is still standard.

 

[Hvr]

In the last few months kiosk check in has been switched on at some AU airports for some destinations (to NZ) but otherwise counter check in is still standard.

My recent experience (Nov 2022) was kiosk check in for the trip MEL-BKK.
Scanned the passport, did check in myself, tagged my bag and put it down the chute under supervision of a JQ employee.

 

[Austman]

I can confirm that, even just a few days ago, there is still NO online check-in available for JQi flights to SE Asia and there are NO self check-in kiosks at MEL.

JQi seem to have moved as well at MEL. They now use a “regular” check-in row. Near the QF check-in area.

Check-in desks at MEL for JQi only open 3 hours before departure. I had to wait 15 mins a few days ago. Even with HLO, not even the service desk could give me a boarding pass.

I’d not leave check-in past JQi’s deadline. Despite delays etc, JQ are a bit of a “computer says NO” airline.

 

[juzdownunder]

That's assuming there is a check in queue. Last time I flew JQ international it was self check in where you scanned your passport, answered some questions and printed your bag tag (if applicable).

If they continue doing self check in then they may well turn off the the machine at exactly 0540 hours and if you've not commenced checked in then too bad, you've missed out.

I'll take that...if I can turn up at 5am and safely make the flight I'll be happy, given the "3 hours before departure" website instructions mean rolling up at 3.30am.

 

[juzdownunder]

...

I’d not leave check-in past JQi’s deadline. Despite delays etc, JQ are a bit of a “computer says NO” airline.

Thanks, but what do you mean by JQi's "deadline"? Do you mean the "check-in closes 60 mins before departure"? If so then I have no issue with that. I'm happy to turn up 90m prior for the 0640 flight, compared to 3 hours prior as the website suggests.

 

[Austman]

Do you mean the "check-in closes 60 mins before departure"?

That's what I meant. So you really only have a 2 hour check-in window.

 

[dajop]

If so then I have no issue with that. I'm happy to turn up 90m prior for the 0640 flight, compared to 3 hours prior as the website suggests.

This is sensible. I turned up about just over 2 hrs before my last JQ intl flight (needing to come up the Princes Fwy from Geelong and Ring Road, I allowed a good 45+ mins for delays, but they thankfully didn't materialise). There was a lengthy queue and I had a 40 min wait to checkin. By the time I got to check in there were only a handful of people that had joined the queue after me, so had I turned up about 75 mins before departure (which I have a tendency to do) I would have hardly waited at all.

 

[juzdownunder]

This is sensible. I turned up about just over 2 hrs before my last JQ intl flight...

Cheers. Out of interest what time was your JQ intl flight? I'm wondering if 6.40am in intl at MEL is relatively quiet or otherwise. I'm not too worried about being stuck in the queue for a long time, I recall that if you're in the queue they'll generally announce for passengers queuing for a closing flight to come forward no?