Transfering from UA to NZ in Sydney - Transit Desk?
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,921
You will get a lot of questions from people in uniforms if you try to go back out the transit door (reverse of the official one way flow). Not worth the hassle and no guarantee of success.
#17
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: NZ Gold (*G)
Posts: 92
I assume the departures area has an official exit somewhere though. At CDG I found it down some stairs next to a shower! Does AKL have an exit from the secure departures area?
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,921
In Australia departures and arrivals areas are physically separate.
Incoming/arrival Au immigration, customs & quarantine and Au exit/departure controls are physically separate.
NZ has the same physical separation
#19
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: NZ*Elite *G, QF*G, SPG*Platinum, Accor*Platinum, Hilton*Gold
Posts: 1,006
I haven't transit in SYD before but as others mentioned you can clear immigration upon arrival instead of proceeding to transit as long as you have the necessary paperwork.
#21
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,055
Once you've cleared security in both Australia and New Zealand you've also cleared immigration. To re-enter the country a special process needs to be followed to readmit you to the country. You can't simply walk out a door.
This is very different from places like the US where there is no such thing as immigration as the airlines submit your details.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,921
Any way:- Why do this?
#24
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: NZ*Elite *G, QF*G, SPG*Platinum, Accor*Platinum, Hilton*Gold
Posts: 1,006
I am very familiar with delays and cancellations in SYD and can guarantee you there is no way out once you clear immigration and security. Only way back to arrivals is via exception opening doors which connect the two floors that would normally be closed off for arrivals and departures respectively (or the fire exits)
Last edited by dadig; Oct 16, 2016 at 12:48 am