Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) with Domestic Connection in Australia

Hellcrusher3304 on 24/11/2023 - 19:48
Last edited 24/11/2023 - 20:03

Hi there,

I will be flying overseas soon.

The flight will depart from Brisbane and requires a connection flight at Melbourne. i.e. BNE -> MEL -> overseas.

The flights are purchased from the same airline so all baggage will be checked-in at Brisbane.

My question:
1. At which airport do I claim the TRS? Since my bags will be checked in at Brisbane, I assume it'll be at TRS Brisbane?

Anyone who experienced a similar scenario keen to share?

P.S. Most of my TRS items will be in my checked luggage, dropped off in Brisbane.

Poll Options

  • 4
    Brisbane
  • 22
    Melbourne
Travel Tourist Refund Scheme

Comments

  • jjjaar on 24/11/2023 - 19:52
    +1

    Why does bag check location matter? Even if you just did Mel-overseas, TRS is after bag drop, security and customs.

    • Hellcrusher3304 on 24/11/2023 - 20:01

      Most of my TRS items will be in my checked luggage. In BNE, there's a TRS office before bag drop to inspect your checked baggage items.

      • jjjaar on 24/11/2023 - 20:14
        +3

        Well unfortunately to claim it in Melb, you must

        wear or carry the goods as hand luggage on your flight (excluding liquids, gels or aerosols, or oversized or bulky goods that may need to be checked in)

        https://www.melbourneairport.com.au/tourist-refund-scheme

        Edit: I’ve just found this page which may be of help https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/touris…

        TRS claims cannot be made on domestic flights or at domestic terminals.
        If you are travelling domestically prior to international and have restricted or oversized goods, check with your carrier whether arrangements can be made to have your goods available for inspection at your international port of departure.
        This will involve:
        1. collecting your luggage at the domestic terminal
        2. transferring to the international terminal
        3. presenting your restricted/oversized goods at the ABF Client Services office for verification
        4. checking-in for your international flight
        5. clearing immigration formalities
        6. proceeding to the TRS Facility to lodge your claim.

        • Hellcrusher3304 on 24/11/2023 - 20:20

          Thanks!

          Does Mel have a TRS office outside baggage drop-off just like BNE?

          • jjjaar on 25/11/2023 - 07:45

            @Hellcrusher3304: No it does not. That was why the first text/link said it must* be hand luggage, because it’s after bag drop/customs as I pointed out in my first reply.

            I wasn’t even aware Brisbane had the pre-bag check option, which is why I was originally confused about why nah check mattered. I’ve only ever known TRS to need to be hand luggage*.

            *except for those few exemptions listed above

            • tbone74 on 25/11/2023 - 10:23
              +2

              @jjjaar: There is an office outside at Melbourne.

              https://www.melbourneairport.com.au/tourist-refund-scheme

              Note that there are different conditions for claiming a refund on liquids, aerosols, gels and oversized items. These must first be sighted by the ABF office in T2 arrivals and then checked in with your baggage. Refunds for these goods are then made at the TRS booth using your receipts. More information can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website

              I've used it before when the items I was claiming TRS refund for would have been fine for carry on luggage except that the amount filled a large suitcase so had to be checked in. Not technically oversized items but too much for check in.

            • Love a bargain on 25/11/2023 - 14:38
              +1

              @jjjaar: Not true. Your quote specifically says "excluding liquids, gels or aerosols, or oversized or bulky goods that may need to be checked in"

              • jjjaar on 25/11/2023 - 14:47

                @Love a bargain: Perhaps reread my comment and you’ll find the asterisk where I clearly call that out:

                *except for those few exemptions listed above

                • Love a bargain on 25/11/2023 - 15:00

                  @jjjaar: You said there's no TRS office in MEL before immigration because everything needs to be in hand carry… which is plainly incorrect

                  • jjjaar on 25/11/2023 - 15:05

                    @Love a bargain: Right, I said that. But within the context of the rest of my comment, it was regarding items someone wants to check, rather than must check.

                    • Love a bargain on 25/11/2023 - 15:10

                      @jjjaar: When did OP said they simply want to check the TRS items in, rather than it being a necessity?
                      Surely, they wouldn't have be so concerned if they could simply carry the items in their carry on.

  • FutureTech on 24/11/2023 - 20:12
    +3

    If your connection time is ample you may ask to collect your checked luggage in Melbourne, have it checked at Melbourne and re-checked in

    • Hellcrusher3304 on 24/11/2023 - 20:21

      My stopover is 3 hrs, so should be enough?

      Do you know if Melbourne airport also has a TRS office outside baggage drop-off for checked-in items?

      • FutureTech on 24/11/2023 - 20:32
        +2

        that should be fine assuming your first flight is not delayed by much. Yes they all have this office

  • Davo1111 on 24/11/2023 - 20:15

    is your TRS all carry on?

    If yes - mel
    If no - Go ask TRS at brisbane.

    • Love a bargain on 25/11/2023 - 14:39

      No TRS in domestic terminal, which is where OP will be flying out of in BNE

      • Davo1111 on 25/11/2023 - 15:03

        recheck the bag in mel due to restricted TRS items.

  • vodamerc on 24/11/2023 - 20:41

    You'd need to go to the international terminal in Brisbane to see the TRS office… Not ideal.

    • Hellcrusher3304 on 24/11/2023 - 20:48

      If it's allowed, still better than collecting and rechecking my luggage in Melbourne.

  • tbone74 on 25/11/2023 - 01:50
    +2

    Do you know where you'll go through customs? I've done many flights in the past from MEL -> SYD -> overseas where I went through customs in Melbourne and the flight departed from the MEL international terminal. In those instances TRS was done from Melbourne, not Sydney.

    Check with your airline if your BNE -> MEL leg departs from the domestic or international terminal. That will affect where TRS is normally done.

    • Hellcrusher3304 on 25/11/2023 - 02:34

      Thanks for the info.

      I'll be departing from Brisbane Domestic -> Melbourne Terminal 1 (Domestic) :(

      • tbone74 on 25/11/2023 - 10:35
        +1

        My last trip was MEL -> SYD -> overseas and the first leg was domestic. In that instance I had to (was mandatory, not related to any TRS activity) collect luggage in SYD and check it back in again.

        Have you checked if you need to do that anyway?

        • Hellcrusher3304 on 25/11/2023 - 12:57
          +1

          Yeah I just gave the airline a call and it seems like I do need to collect my luggage at MEL.

          So it seems like MEL TRS it is!

          • Love a bargain on 25/11/2023 - 14:43
            +1

            @Hellcrusher3304: Just make sure you re-confirm this with the check-in agent when you check in at BNE.

            P.S. My bags were always checked all the way through on similar itinerary in the past.

            • Hellcrusher3304 on 25/11/2023 - 15:10

              @Love a bargain: Thanks for the heads up.

              My flights are with Cathay Pacific. The domestic portion is operated by Qantas, so that might be why I need to collect them at MEL?

  • Howdydoo on 25/11/2023 - 21:31
    +1

    You literally dont need to do any of this.
    When you check in in brisbane you can ask them to witness your TRS claim items in your luggage and they stamp your invoices. When you go through immigration in Melbourne you then do the TRS claim and tell them it is in your checked luggage and show them the proof it was witnessed at check in in Brisbane.

    • Hellcrusher3304 on 26/11/2023 - 01:25

      Where do they witness my TRS claim, at the TRS office?

      My BNE -> MEL flight will depart from the domestic terminal, but the TRS office is at the international terminal. I don't mind travelling between the terminals, just not sure if it's allowed.

      Have you experienced the same thing where you had the TRS invoices signed off at one airport (e.g. BNE) and then submitted at another airport (e.g. MEL)?

      • Howdydoo on 26/11/2023 - 01:36
        +1

        They witness the goods at the check in desk in brisbane when you check in. Just say you are wanting to declare TRS items in Melbourne that are in your check in luggage so they need to witness it in Brisbane (there is a slight chance they may make you go to another desk to do to witness the goods so but you wont know until they tell you at the check-in desk).
        It will also work better if you register the items in the TRS App before you go (this also saves time).

        • Hellcrusher3304 on 26/11/2023 - 02:02

          Oh interesting, didn't know they do that at the check-in desks. So it'll be checked by airline staff?

          I've always had to go to the TRS office before customs. But those were for direct flights.

  • Aap Ke Papa on 25/11/2023 - 23:47
    -4

    You must carry all the items you are claiming TRS in your carry on produce the physical item on request. Otherwise there is ZERO chance you will get your refund if you check in your items.
    And you do that in Melbourne.

    • Howdydoo on 26/11/2023 - 00:14

      No you dont have to carry it as hand luggage. They just have to sight in at check in. I have done this several times. I have done this for a snowboard i checked in, clothing and even new suitcases that of course were checked in.

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