meh130

Possible if Y is overbooked. There were about four or five op-ups when I flew LAX-SYD in May.

No.

You are transient, so you should not need to clear immigration or customs. If you do plan to enter Australia, you need an electronic visa. As I understand it, to make a transfer within Concourse C, you got towards the immigration area and take a LEFT towards an elevator or escalator, take it up to the departure level, and then go to the transfer desk between gates 54 and 56. Do not go towards the right towards Concourse B where the main transfer desk is located. That is for QANTAS and affiliated connections.

I assume you are only taking a carry-on.

Standard. Hot dinner/lunch, cold snack, hot breakfast.

Yes. The public restroom in the SYD airport by gate 52 has shower facilities. Take a towel, soap, and a change of clothes if you want to refresh yourself.

I would seriously consider getting the electronic visa and spending the night in the Sydney area, although I know Sydney hotels are pricey. If you are flying BNA-ATL-LAX-SYD-LAX-ATL-BNA you are talking about 42 hours in airplanes over about 50 total hours. The most I have ever done is 24 hours in airplanes in about 32 hours going from Bangalore to ATL via SIN and LAX.

DLFan2

Even if the OP does not plan to enter Australia, I suspect he will not be allowed to board the flight to SYD unless he has a visa.

Sez_Who

It might be possible to avoid the visa by using the international transfer desk. Of course, that means never leaving a limited portion of the airport. It is easy to contact Australian immigration for a definitive answer.

MachOne

I doubt that will fly. Without the ETA it will go something like this:

1. Upon check in DL will check his US passport.

2. A cross check with the Australia ETA database will be made.

3. Without a ETA the agent will say "I'm sorry I cannot check you in since you do not have the necessary visa".

4. You explain that it's a mileage run and and you don't need a visa.

5. The agent says no you are not going.

and so it goes......

MO

jet321

Correct. Delta will not board anyone traveling to SYD (no matter what the reason) unless they have and ETA to enter the country. My cousin was denied boarding the flight to SYD because the agent could not locate his ETA. Luckily I had paperwork with me proving that he had purchased the Visa. It's only $20AUD, better to be safe then sorry.

jeff30189

That's what I did - I got the ETA figuring I'd never get out of LAX without it. Plus, the return on 8/15 is overbooked in both F and J, so if I get lucky enough to get bumped I can spend a night in SYD on DL and negotiate an Op/Up for the next day.

To make things worse I have a PHX-BNA on either end of the BNA-LAX-SYD-LAX-BNA (2 records to make sure I get the BNA origination double miles bonus), so its literally a three day marathon of flights. Thankfully everything else has been upgraded to F.

Thanks to everyone for the helpful info.

number21

How many total MQMs do you calculate receiving for this Herculean MR?

BNA-WNFan

When factoring the BNA bonus in Y, (http://www.delta.com/bnabonus) BNA-ATL-LAX-SYD and back nets 39,736 MQMs and for SMs:

Dirt: 44,868
FO: 49,835
GM/PM: 64,736
DM: 69,703

Sez_Who

Ah, good point. The problem will be here, not on the Australian end where it would be easy to simply deny entry.

Had a problem once flying through mainland China without a visa. In the end I was right -- not required -- but paid the price by having them hold me for hours.

That's okay, watched Spy Game on my iPhone and suddenly relating to the scenes of Brad Pitt in Su Chow prison. Lesson learned, Chinese police have NO sense of humor.

TOB

As a newcomer to the FT scene, this MR plot is so intriguing! I'm jealous of such a feat cause I don't think my wife would be too keen on me flying 42/50 hours in one weekend. However, as a physician, I seriously hope you get into an exit row and wear compression socks to prevent DVTs. An aspirin or two couldn't hurt either! Good luck!

MemphisQueen

And don't forget the 25K RDM bonus for international travel. Me and fiance are doing this MR next weekend - BNA-DTW-LAX-SYD-LAX-ATL-BNA. Unfortunately seats available all throughout coach. No opportunity to op-up, but the Row 30 note is a good one that we'll try in the lounge before the flight.

iamhereandthere

Just note if you're interested in row 30 on the return to ask at check-in in SYD and if you don't get what you need there ask again when the gate area opens, about an hour or so before flight, as the lounge in SYD won't help there.

Probably good to note that the block off the gate area for the flight so that once the departure gate opens they do random screenings of passengers. I wasn't selected (I'm too pretty for that, ha!).

Good luck!

Sez_Who

Apparently I am not too pretty(!) because I got selected for screening by US Customs on the return. Told the guy it was a wise selection since I was born in DC on July 4th. His response: "Really, you were born in 1778?"

1778? Yep, we hire only the best and brightest at US Customs.

Gotta work on getting prettier.

DLFan2

I just bit the bullet and booked BNA-SYD-BNA for a mileage run in September. Right now, plenty of seats in coach, so little hope for op-up.

As I reached the final steps in the booking process, I got the dreaded "the price for this trip has changed" message. BUT it was good news--a DECREASE of about $50.

I am not totally committed to this yet, but at least I can cancel by tomorrow evening if I change my mind.

milesk

What was the final price for this?