Minimum connect time in Sydney; VAustralia to DL
Sep 3, 2012, 2:38 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 543
Minimum connect time in Sydney; VAustralia to DL
What would be the minimum connection time in Sydney to connect from a domestic Virgin Australia flight to the SYD-LAX flight?
Looks like I'll have to take the VAustralia transfer bus from the domestic to international terminal and then check-in at the Delta counter. Anyone have any clue how long this would take?
After a flight schedule change (MLB-SYD) they are trying to tell me a 1hr 25min connection is ok. Seems unrealistic but maybe it's doable. I wish they would have just put me on the VAustralia SYD-LAX flight which leaves a few hours after the DL flight.
Looks like I'll have to take the VAustralia transfer bus from the domestic to international terminal and then check-in at the Delta counter. Anyone have any clue how long this would take?
After a flight schedule change (MLB-SYD) they are trying to tell me a 1hr 25min connection is ok. Seems unrealistic but maybe it's doable. I wish they would have just put me on the VAustralia SYD-LAX flight which leaves a few hours after the DL flight.
Sep 3, 2012, 3:38 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL PM 1MM
Posts: 3,439
What would be the minimum connection time in Sydney to connect from a domestic Virgin Australia flight to the SYD-LAX flight?
Looks like I'll have to take the VAustralia transfer bus from the domestic to international terminal and then check-in at the Delta counter. Anyone have any clue how long this would take?
After a flight schedule change (MLB-SYD) they are trying to tell me a 1hr 25min connection is ok. Seems unrealistic but maybe it's doable. I wish they would have just put me on the VAustralia SYD-LAX flight which leaves a few hours after the DL flight.
Looks like I'll have to take the VAustralia transfer bus from the domestic to international terminal and then check-in at the Delta counter. Anyone have any clue how long this would take?
After a flight schedule change (MLB-SYD) they are trying to tell me a 1hr 25min connection is ok. Seems unrealistic but maybe it's doable. I wish they would have just put me on the VAustralia SYD-LAX flight which leaves a few hours after the DL flight.
MCT at SYD for Domestic/International connections to DL is 120 minutes. 85 minutes is less than MCT.
Sep 3, 2012, 5:47 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,610
Sep 3, 2012, 8:47 pm
#6
Formerly known as aep
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: PAE - born, MEL-dwelling
Programs: Nothing special in many programs
Posts: 382
The option I tend to use at SYD is to transfer using the train. It's $5/passenger and really quick. Dom>Int'l at SYD in the mornings is counter-peak with relatively frequent services, so the train shouldn't be too crowded.
You have to buy the tickets from a station ticket seller - and check the boards for the next train to Int'l.
It beats waiting 20-30 minutes for the bus, especially in a hurry.
You have to buy the tickets from a station ticket seller - and check the boards for the next train to Int'l.
It beats waiting 20-30 minutes for the bus, especially in a hurry.
Sep 3, 2012, 10:56 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
What would be the minimum connection time in Sydney to connect from a domestic Virgin Australia flight to the SYD-LAX flight?
Looks like I'll have to take the VAustralia transfer bus from the domestic to international terminal and then check-in at the Delta counter. Anyone have any clue how long this would take?
After a flight schedule change (MLB-SYD) they are trying to tell me a 1hr 25min connection is ok.
Looks like I'll have to take the VAustralia transfer bus from the domestic to international terminal and then check-in at the Delta counter. Anyone have any clue how long this would take?
After a flight schedule change (MLB-SYD) they are trying to tell me a 1hr 25min connection is ok.
[KVS Availability Tool 7.0.3/Diamond - Reference: Minimum Connection Time [MCT]: SYD/VA-DL]
Code:
DD DI ID II
STANDARD: SYD 030 060 075 060
EXCEPTIONS:
A/L
VA --- 120 --- 090
DL
-ALL- --- 120 --- ---
DL
VA --- --- 120 090
-ALL-
**END OF DISPLAY**
Sep 4, 2012, 7:35 am
#8
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
As a practical matter, if you have to check in anew for your DL flight, I'd say a three-hour layover is the minimum. That gives you time for your incoming Virgin flight to be a little late, for deplaning and getting the transfer bus or train, and lining up at the DL counter. The domestic <-> international transfer deal at SYD is ridiculous.
Sep 4, 2012, 8:30 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ATL
Programs: IHG-Spire, DL-Gold, MR-Platinum, HH-Gold, SPG-Gold, Hyatt-Diamond, BA-Silver
Posts: 277
85 min is not doable if it includes the transfer and check-in to DL flight on the intl term. The bus takes at least 20 minutes to arrive and board unless you get lucky to find the bus the minute you stop by.
Sep 4, 2012, 11:00 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 543
So these are my options:
1. Take my chances and go with it (according to VAustralia, there is enough time).
2. Take the later VAustralia flight (which would give me plenty of time).
3. Route through ICN on Korean
I would really like to stay on my Delta flight because I really prefer their 777 business class. The food and service is fine, and the seat/suite aspect is really ideal for me. I will be traveling alone. Both VA and KE fit their 777 with 2-3-2 even though they have lie flats. In all honestly I have not flown either VA or KE but based on what I have read and see, I think I would prefer DL.
My complete routing right now is LST-MEL-SYD-LAX-PDX.
Anybody have an opinion on VA or KE?
1. Take my chances and go with it (according to VAustralia, there is enough time).
2. Take the later VAustralia flight (which would give me plenty of time).
3. Route through ICN on Korean
I would really like to stay on my Delta flight because I really prefer their 777 business class. The food and service is fine, and the seat/suite aspect is really ideal for me. I will be traveling alone. Both VA and KE fit their 777 with 2-3-2 even though they have lie flats. In all honestly I have not flown either VA or KE but based on what I have read and see, I think I would prefer DL.
My complete routing right now is LST-MEL-SYD-LAX-PDX.
Anybody have an opinion on VA or KE?
Sep 5, 2012, 1:35 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 543
I would do that but it doesn't fly on the day I need it (only Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday).
I went with VA. All the reviews say it's great. I'll miss the suite of the DL 777 though. I like the privacy plus the direct aisle access. Hopefully VA will measure up. It does have a bar which is kind of cool...but 2-3-2 in business seems rather crowded.
My final itinerary:
PDX-LAX (AS)
LAX-SYD (DL) --stopover
SYD-MEL-LST (VA)
LST-MEL-SYD-LAX (VA)
LAX-PDX (AS)
150k and $140 all in business/first. Not too shabby for Skymiles.
I went with VA. All the reviews say it's great. I'll miss the suite of the DL 777 though. I like the privacy plus the direct aisle access. Hopefully VA will measure up. It does have a bar which is kind of cool...but 2-3-2 in business seems rather crowded.
My final itinerary:
PDX-LAX (AS)
LAX-SYD (DL) --stopover
SYD-MEL-LST (VA)
LST-MEL-SYD-LAX (VA)
LAX-PDX (AS)
150k and $140 all in business/first. Not too shabby for Skymiles.
Last edited by mpp; Sep 5, 2012 at 1:41 pm