Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Question about layover time at LAX & Sydney

I have two options for a flight between LAX and Sydney. My trip originates in Nashille. With the first option I have a 2 hour layover at LAX, board an A380 for Sydney and then have a 3 hr 20 min layover in Sydney before boarding a 763 for Cairns. Includes a terminal change at LAX. Second option, I have a 3 hr 20 min layover at LAX, board a 744 for Sydney and then have a 2 hr layover in Sydney before the flight to Carins. The question is, where do I need the extra time the most? Will I need the time to make the terminal change at LAX or to get through immigration in Sydney?

On further investigation, I've discovered that the layover is actually in Sydney. So I think option 2 is my best bet. If the A380 is filled to capacity, is 3 hours enough for all those people, plus any other arriving international flights, to get through immigration and make my connecting flight? I've never been to Sydney, so I have no idea what it's like. Based on my past experience at other airports, 3 hours seems like enough. Any thoughts?

On further investigation, I've discovered that the layover is actually in Sydney. So I think option 2 is my best bet. If the A380 is filled to capacity, is 3 hours enough for all those people, plus any other arriving international flights, to get through immigration and make my connecting flight? I've never been to Sydney, so I have no idea what it's like. Based on my past experience at other airports, 3 hours seems like enough. Any thoughts?

Sydney airport can get quite busy, depending on the time of day. I flew in in the morning and there were several other flights that came in around the same time from Canada, the States, and from China and I waited about 45 minutes in line to get processed. But once that was done, and what I didn't realize, is that to go to a domestic terminal, you have to take a shuttle.

Basically, 3 hours should be OK, but it may get a little tight.

Please continue to follow this discussion in the FT Australia Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Any chance of changing your SYD-CNS flight to a flight with a flight number less than 400? (Assuming you are flying SYD-CNS on QF).

If you can, do it. These flights will be operating between international terminals, so your bags will be tagged through to CNS, and you won't see them until you get to CNS. Likewise, immigration processing will occur at CNS, rather than SYD, and you will be in the departures level at SYD INT within about 15 minutes of stepping off the plane in SYD.

Dave

This is new to me, so I'm not sure that I understand, so let me describe what I found and then, please tell me if I'm understanding. The flight I was initially looking at from LAX to SYD was through American, but it's actually a Qantas flight. The flight number is 7364. I looked up the flight on the Qantas website (same date/departure/arrival times) and the flight number is QF012. Are you saying that since the number is 012, we and our bag can go on to Cairns and be processed there? Even though the flight number is different, isn't this the same flight? If I'm totally off, please explain to me. Booking through Qantas is $300 more, but it may be worth it not to have to worry about missing our connection. We just flew in to Charlotte, NC from Costa Rica last week. Our flight was delayed due to weather and I thought we weren't going to make our connection to Nashville. Fortunately we did, but it was stressful! Thanks for helping.

Ok, QF flights that are numbered between 1 and 399 operate between international terminals. Those with flight numbers 400 and above operate between domestic terminals.

Your QF12 (AKA AA7364) will arrive at SYD at the international terminal.

NOW, this is where it gets interesting.

SOME QF flights operate domestic sectors but between international terminals. These are domestic sectors of otherwise international flight (for example, QF73 does MEL-SYD-SFO, the MEL-SYD is a domestic sector, but operates between international terminals).

I believe there are *some* QF flights which operate SYD-CNS (and then onwards to NRT, IIRC). IF you can get your QF flight SYD-CNS to be one of those flights (it HAS to have a flight number below 400) then what will happen is that your bags will be tagged to CNS, you will be checked through to CNS - possibly - if not, you pick up your BP at SYD - on arrival at SYD, instead of going through immigration, you will go through the transfer section, go through security, go to the lounge (if you have access), fly to CNS, and THEN you will do the whole immigration, collect bags, go through customs stuff.

Far more civilised.

BUT - you will need to be on a QF flight which has a flight number below 400 for the SYD-CNS sector for this to work, and your connection will need to be the same day.

Dave

I should add that QF is very good at ignoring change rules on domestic sectors when you miss your flight due to your international OW inbound being late arriving. As long as your original bookings satisfy the minimum connecting time, they will rebook you, even if on a seperate booking, even if the fare rules do not allow you to change. It HAS to be a OW flight on the international inbound though, anyone else and they don't care.

Dave

Thanks for the explanation. So far I haven't been able to find any flight numbers below 400 for the SYD-CNS leg of the trip, but I'll keep looking. The flight I'm planning to book (if I don't find anything better) arrive at 9:25AM. Do you think 3 hours will be enough time to get through immigration, recheck bags, etc.? So far, the only other alternatives I've found is to fly through Brisbane, instead of Sydney, and have a 7 hr 50 minute layover, or take a flight that has 3 or more stops.

Welcome to Flyer Talk Bobo912 :)

3 hours is plenty. 2 hours is okay but tight. 90 minutes is risky. (You arrive at a busy time of day - early morning - and so immigration and customs will take at least an hour, then you have a walk to the transfer bus with another queue to recheck bags here, then a short wait for the next bus and 10 minute bus ride to domestic terminal.)

IIRC the SYD-CNS international flights are going soon (or at least not bookable) so that may be why you can't find any.

Thanks for the welcome. And thank you everyone for the information. I'm feeling pretty good about the fare and about our chances of making our connections. Now, the long wait until vacation time. But anticipation is part of the fun!

Thanks for the welcome. And thank you everyone for the information. I'm feeling pretty good about the fare and about our chances of making our connections. Now, the long wait until vacation time. But anticipation is part of the fun! Have a great time whilst you are here - you will find out why we call ourselves "the lucky country".

Dave

We're traveling with a tour group, but I'm considering spending an extra day or two on our own in Sydney. Any suggestions on things not to be missed? I'm traveling with my 8 year-old son. He's quite adventurous. We went white water rafting and zip-lining in Costa Rica a couple of weeks ago and he loved it. We're definitely open to activities that are a little less adventurous, as well. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Probably the usual... :) Have a search around the forum...

The Aquarium, the Wildlife Centre, the Zoo and a jetboat ride around Sydney Harbour.

The Powerhouse Museum also has lots of hands-on stuff for kids, but I didn't find that too exciting...

We're traveling with a tour group, but I'm considering spending an extra day or two on our own in Sydney. Any suggestions on things not to be missed? I'm traveling with my 8 year-old son. He's quite adventurous. We went white water rafting and zip-lining in Costa Rica a couple of weeks ago and he loved it. We're definitely open to activities that are a little less adventurous, as well. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Agree with the above.

The Aquarium at Darling Harbour is good. Taronga Zoo in Mosman is worth the visit — you can get there by ferry from Circular Quay (takes about 25 minutes, I guess) and then get the chair lift to the top of the hill (inside the zoo). This means that you then walk downhill through the zoo instead of uphill and you have the glorious views of the harbour in front of you as you look at the animals.

What time of year are you going to be there? A morning at the beach could be fun too. Manly is also accessible on the ferry (the "Manly boat") or by hydrofoil from Circular Quay, and it is quite a pleasant place to spend a couple of hours if you like swimming in (usually fairly gentle) surf. Stay between the flags, where the life-savers operate and which they have placed in a safe part of the beach as far as currents etc go.