Nugget_Oz

Yes, maybe, no - as you can light rail and train it to the airport but you'd have to cross your fingers that sydney trains doesn't have any issues that day.

puchong

With a meeting ending at 0830 near Darling Harbour, battling city traffic and then the crowds at SYD, you would need to be very lucky to catch a 1030 flight to ICN.

Not impossible, but also not recommended

Duke787

Thank you! I'll stick with the DL flight at 12pm. Exit row aisle is open which is doable for the long flight.

One other question though: On the way in I snagged LAX - SYD on UA due to confirmable upgrade space but my final destination is MEL for the first part of the trip (no upgrade space on UA direct). There's no question that I'll be taking VA domestically (DL PM so it's a no brainer) but trying to figure out how long I should leave between flights. UA 839 is schedule to land at 745am local time.

Not sure if I'm checking a bag yet -- this is a 10 day work trip so I may take one. I see options at 9:30, 10, 11, and 12pm -- I have VA lounge access and would like a shower anyway, plus since I'll be on separate ticket I'm not protected for IRROPs out of LAX on UA 839. My initial thought is 10 seems potentially doable but 11am might be safer?

Mwenenzi

The normal safe recommendation for an early morning international arrival to a separate domestic flight is 3:00. But you may do it in 75~90min. 3:00 allows for some arrival delay & slow immigration. Your risk. Or buy a flexible ticket.
UA 839 arrived on time today & 10 minutes late yesterday.

CPMaverick

SYD international -> domestic is a pain It's a bus transfer and takes some time. You are right that 10 am is do-able but if you want a shower, go for the 11 am.

You should be able to turn left after clearing customs and go to the VA transfer desks. There you can recheck your bag (if applicable) and get a pass for the VA bus. That should be the easiest way IMO.

Duke787

Okay thanks. Oddly since this roundtrip will be purely a domestic trip (SYD - MEL - SYD), I can't buy actually buy a flexible ticket (our corporate policy requires flexible for international but not for domestic tickets and the difference in cost between to the two pushes it out of policy).

Okay thanks -- I'll go for the 11am. Makes it more likely I can check into the hotel straight away when I get to Melbourne too and can have a shower and coffee.

CPMaverick

Being a DL PM, as long as you aren't on the cheapest fare class (Getaway), you can probably get VA to put you on the earlier flight for free. I don't know if it is a published benefit for partner gold (which is what DL PM is), but VA Golds can do this I believe, so it is worth asking. You might lose a good seat though.

lkar

Can anyone give me a sense of Saturday traffic from the CBD to the airport for purposes of timing a taxi? We'll be at the Hyatt near Darling Harbor. We have tickets for an event at the zoo that ends around 10:45 and our flight is at 1:35 from the international terminal. The plan was to pack our bags and leave them at the front desk and have a cab meet us to bring us to the airport at 11:00, but some friends I just spoke to said that 2:35 is way too little for Sydney international. I was sort of thinking that on a Saturday it should be an easy trip but now I'm concerned.

If we have to cancel the event, so be it, but the kids really want to eat breakfast with the koalas. What can you do? :0)

Scoot airlines departing SYD if it matters.

JClasstraveller

lkar

jayoxd

If I am arriving on QF from AKL and transferring to EY to AUH at SYD, will I need to exit the airport and go to the ticket counter for a boarding pass?

It says mobile boarding pass isn't an option for SYD.

Mwenenzi

Is this 1 ticket/PNR or 2 separate tickets? [AA award?]
Checked baggage?

If 1 ticket/PNR and/or no checked baggage you should be OK. But do not rely on random internet posts: its your risk.

If separate itineraries and checked baggage then:- no. QF will not interline checked baggage on separate itineraries, other than QF to QF/EK
Link---> QF- no checking of luggage separate itineraries from 1 Sep [2016 some exceptions]

You will need to allow a good amount of time to go through immigration, customs & bio security with all your checked & carry on bags. Then to EY check in and back through emigration.

Depending on your passport you may need an Australian visa for the little time you are in Australia (land side).
Even is airside transit worth your personal checking visa requirements.
Australia immigration (incl ETA visa) & customs Click to open the wiki

Smartgate at Australia & NZ immigration Click to open the wiki

(Note this more a question for the QF forum as involves QF interline policy)

jayoxd

Thank you for your quick response.

1 PNR through AA award booking AKL > SYD > IAD. Yes to checked bagged.

I believe I am fine with the luggage being checked through and I will visit a transfer desk in SYD? My flight is also exactly 8 hours so I hope I won't have any visa issues... The agent who assisted my booking said this should be fine.

Mwenenzi

This may get interesting, given EY is not OW or a QF partner. However would expect QF & EY have an interline agreement.
Check the link below :-- (Home Policy and) Guidelines Baggage Information Interline and Through Checked Baggage

Link---> https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect...hrough-checked

QF have an interline exception for awards (The "Yes*"). But to me not clear if only QF awards or all flights with awards (QF and partners)
The middle east partner of QF is EK. For information the middle east partner of Virgin Australia is EY.

Anyway with 8 hours you have plenty of time.
Enough time to take the train to Circular Quay, have a coffee, look at the bridge & opera house in the distance and then back to the airport.
May be worth getting an Australian visa as insurance:--->Free Australian ETA Visa application*

From what I have read on FT it should no issue getting the EY boarding pass at the transfer desk (but I have not done that: never needed to)

jayoxd

So the baggage situation might be good. It says JFK as the destination on the tag but the check in agent said it would only go to Sydney.

I'm currently on hold on the phone with Qantas waiting to confirm...

As for me, I'm stranded without a BP because the no one is at the transfer desk for Etihad and the gate opens an hour prior (for me to get a BP / I can't exit since I don't have a Visa though my mom [with the checked luggaged] does have a Visa. Thankfully the Amex lounge let me in as an arrival lounge so I'm not completely stranded.

Miserable experience before flying in the apartments.