Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Three hours in the SYD airport.

Hi all,

I'll be connecting from an SQ flight at ~6AM to a DL flight at ~9AM in SYD. Having never been to Australia, I wonder if there's any wisdom (or possibility) of "entering" the country, if only for a bit. Is there anything interesting or worthwhile near the airport that I might be able to do at that hour? I'm in C and suspect I'll have access to a lounge (though no idea what lounge DL will use) so I guess I could just shower and hang out there, but there's no adventure in that.

Another related question: should I misconnect for some reason, will I be trapped in the airport for 24 hours or is it possible to get a visa on arrival (US passport)? Or would it be money well spent to order the ETA ahead of time just in case?

TIA!

Not sure what the visa situation is for you but from my experience applying for and getting an Australian visa is a very straight-forward process. It's all done online and you usually have a confirmation within the day. Might as well do it to have the option if you need it.

As for what to do for 3 hrs, I'd stay in the airport if i were you.

Ok, if EVERYthing went very smoothly for you, it might be feasible to take the train to Circular quay (about 30 minutes IIRC and they run every 10-15 minutes), have a quick look (more like a quick glance) at the Sydney harbour bridge and the opera house and go straight back. But you'd be rushed. A lot.

G'day Alan, considering you are supposed to be at the airport '-2h' before international flights, it's not worth leaving the airport, with all of the runaround of getting the ETA and having to be back within the hour. Any delays will kill any chance of an activity in that time.

If you're able to access the Koru Club (just a guess, unless UA can block it) you will really enjoy your time there. There's nothing interesting nearby unless you get a taxi to Brighton le Sands, which would be peak hour, so fuggedaboudit!

If you could swing it, the QF F lounge would be the choice option at SYD.

Thanks everyone. Here's hoping for a good lounge!

BBB, did you suggest the Koru club on the basis of my arriving SQ flight?

At 6am immigration and customs queues are long. Expect 1 hour to get landside, maybe longer. Unless you are meeting someone there isn't much of interest. I'd be inclined to stay airside. Airside transfers are quick and simple with just a security check. There are transfer desks by security to pick up onward boarding passes. I expect DL will use the same pier as SQ (getting between piers is a bit messy since the airside walkway was closed - there is an airside bus but this requires boarding pass).

All lounges at SYD are departures lounges only, thus no access to SQ lounge or any other than whatever one DL uses.

I don't know what lounge DL will use - perhaps NZ or perhaps MH.

Thanks everyone. Here's hoping for a good lounge!

BBB, did you suggest the Koru club on the basis of my arriving SQ flight?

No, departure only; I have no idea yet on DL's lounge; can you check and confirm which one you'll be able to access?

I can only guess that you'll be at a gate near the SQ/NZ end of the terminal. Hopefully it will still be the NZ KC lounge as it has the capacity and has great showers and very nice, friendly, helpful staff.