The EK415 routine (Sydney 6am Departure)
 

Hi,

I just wanted to clarify the timings on EK415.

This is a special case, as it is the earliest international flight each day out of SYD, so it is constrained by the opening times of the various airport operations.

From memory:

3am? Airport opens. EK check-in desk opens?
4am? Security and passport control open?
430am? EK lounge opens

Can anyone confirm these are correct?

I've actually used this flight before, a couple of years back, and I wanted to check my timings. No point getting there too early, if it means sitting around waiting, instead of getting extra sleep!

https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/inf.../opening-hours

your airport times are correct, but I can’t find a definitive time for the EK lounge opening, I’m sure someone will be able to confirm.

I can tell you that you've got everything correct. If you are a premium passenger, and even if you have entitlements to use J/F check in, don't bother arriving before 4am.

I hate this flight, can't wait for the new 1645 EK flight in March 18.

Funnily enough I'm the opposite. I appreciate that not everyone is continuing on to Europe, however for those that do, the 6am start means arriving in Europe in the evening, which I have found to be the best way to mitigate jet lag. You can check in to your hotel and go straight to bed on arrival.

The alternatives from SYD to Europe generally involve arriving in Europe at 5am(ish) and having to remain awake all day after a 24 hour flight and not being able to check into the hotel until 2pm.

For me, the evening arrival works for both personal and business travel. When travelling long haul for work, I normally go a day or two early, so there's no benefit to arriving in the early AM.


Anyway, in case anyone searches for EK415 timings in future, here's a bit of an update after talking to Emirates:

Checkin opens at 0300
Passport control and security open at 0400
Lounge opens at 0400

Chauffeur-drive will pick you up at 0330 if arranged over the phone. Via the online page, the latest pickup is 0300 (3 hours before flight).

Hope that helps.

on this flight next year- how did you organise chauffeur over the phone? would love to get a 4am car - almost tempted to forgo it and book a cab if not possible.

also when do they start boarding? tempted to give a short visit to QF F lounge which i understand opens at 5 (and is at the other end of the terminal)

I've just asked Emirates Support this on Twitter. I'm flying the EK415 in January. Their reponse was: -
Shame that the report is contradictory from what you found out. This report tells us that Check-in opens at 0330. I'm not going to be arriving before 0400 for this flight. Lounge hours also slightly different to what they told you - 0430 instead of 0400.

I just rang the main Emirates number. Answered on the first ring, got through to someone straight away and sorted everything. Very impressive compared with calling Qantas.

And the car failed to show at 330am

Due to the tight timeframe before checkin cutoff at 430, as there was no sign of the car, and they weren’t answering by phone, we decided to get 2 Ubers (party of 4 pax with luggage) at about 4am.

This is disappointing to hear, I am on this flight next week. On arrival the CD worked very smoothly, I am hoping for the same on departure.

Poor showing indeed!
Did they call you 24-48 hours prior to confirm the pick-up?
I've been flying EK415 yearly (sometimes twice) for the last 5 years without any CD incidents.

Well it seems to be a common occurrence. CD booked for 3.30, I phoned emirates at 4 o clock as I couldn't find the number for the CD in SYD. (For those not used to the route its a company called Brunel). Emirates contacted them on my behalf and relayed the message that there was traffic and he would be 5 minutes.. Traffic at 4am..

Finally turned up at 4.15. He explained that he had been allocated to pick me up despite having another allocation for the same flight and said he gets this problem all the time. He also showed me the booking information on his phone and it was 20 minutes later than the time they had confirmed with me on the phone the day before, however he was still 25 minutes later than this time.

As annoyed as I am, obviously the driver cannot be in two places at the same time. On the plus side, what a breeze SYD customs turned out to be.

did you get a chance to visit QF F lounge which i understand opens at 5? or just head to the EK lounge for a brief visit and straight to boarding?