How to Transit at Melbourne Airport - Connecting Flight Transfer Australia Guide

At Melbourne Airport, Terminals 1, 3, and 4 handle domestic flights, while Terminal 2 serves international flights. 0:03 - International to Domestic All international passengers must collect their checked baggage, clear Immigration/ Passport Control and Customs before transferring to a domestic flight. After clearing customs, exit to the international arrivals hall and follow the directional signs to your domestic terminal. All terminals are connected within the same precinct, located under one roof and within walking distance. Qantas domestic flights operate from Terminal 1, Virgin Australia from Terminal 3, while Terminal 4 mainly serves low-cost domestic airlines such as Jetstar, Rex Airlines, and Link Airways. Check in for your domestic flight, collect your boarding pass, and drop off your bags before heading to the departure area. Proceed through the security checkpoint. For security screening, passengers are required to stand with feet apart and hands raised above their head inside the body scanner. Australia’s body scanners are considered safe as they use millimetre-wave technology, which does not emit ionizing radiation like X-rays. Laptops and tablets can remain in your carry-on bag. but watches can be kept on your wrist during the scan. Unlike many airports in other countries, boarding passes are not checked when entering the domestic secure area at Melbourne airport. follow the signs to board your connecting flight. 2:06 - Domestic to international If your flights are on the same booking or operated by the same airline or a partner airline, and your baggage is through-checked, you won’t need to collect your bags. they’ll be transferred directly to your final international destination. Upon arrival follow the signs to way out. Melbourne Airport (IATA: MEL, ICAO: YMML), commonly known as Tullamarine Airport, is Australia’s second-busiest airport by passenger traffic after Sydney Airport (Kingsford Smith Airport). Opened in 1970 to replace Essendon Airport, it serves as the primary and only international airport in Victoria. In June 2024, the airport handled approximately 24 million domestic and 11 million international passengers. If through-checked, you’ll usually receive boarding passes for all flight segments during your initial check-in and can proceed directly to the departures area. 3:02 - International Departure If not, check the information board for your international flight’s check-in counter. Depending on the airline, you may need to use self check-in kiosks to print your boarding pass and drop off your bags. Then, proceed to the departures area. Pass through security screening. and immigration. You can use the automated eGate by scanning your passport, stepping onto the marked footprints, and completing facial recognition when prompted. You can then head to the boarding gate to board your flight. 3:36 - International to International For through-checked - Upon arrival follow the signs to International transfer and go through security check. Then head to the boarding gate to board your flight. If not through-checked, clear immigration, collect baggage, go through Customs, then proceed to the international departure area, check-in, go through security and clear immigration before boarding your flight. 4:05 - Things to do during Layover In the airport public area, you’ll find a variety of restaurants and cafés, luggage wrapping and secure travel services, vending machines with snacks and drinks, pharmacies, travel accessory stores, ATMs, currency exchange counters, SIM card and mobile plan stores and kiosks, water dispensers, myki card machine, baggage storage facilities and others. Inside the secure area, you’ll find more dining options, shops, and facilities. Relax and recharge at an airport lounge to work, rest, shower, or enjoy a meal. For longer layovers, take the SkyBus or a taxi/Uber to the city. Within Melbourne’s free tram zone, enjoy a stroll around the CBD, visit Flinders Street Station, Federation Square, and the Yarra River, or stop by the Queen Victoria Market for local snacks and souvenirs. Souther Cross Station, Docklands Body scanner security screening is mandatory for all travellers entering the sterile areas of Terminal 2- International and Terminals 1, 3 and 4 - Domestic. If you need to refuse body scanning screening for medical reasons or another specific circumstance, you must provide a letter from a medical practitioner.