Airport info SYDNEY (SYD) - amenities, transfers, transport
Apr 29, 2022, 7:25 pm
#511
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Location: MEL CHC
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Just to report back. Got if the place 640am, got to the domestic terminal 700am. There was a short line for the smart gate. No checked bag. Got to Tbus just before it left, there was already one parked behind it.
Didn't help much as JQ doesn't allow bag drop til 2hrs prior so I had a 2hr wait.
My flight was 30 min early today, yesterday it was an hour late. So still best to have ample time
Didn't help much as JQ doesn't allow bag drop til 2hrs prior so I had a 2hr wait.
My flight was 30 min early today, yesterday it was an hour late. So still best to have ample time
Early/late flights just part of the risk. https://www.sydney-airport.net/syd-arrivals-terminal-1
Enjoy your time in AU.
May 15, 2022, 9:22 pm
#512
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
Updated information on VA T1 to T3 transfer
From the UA - VA thread
VA link-->At the airport -Transfer maps
Hours of operation not stated. So unknown if only for arriving VA International flights, VA partner flights or all the time.
From the UA - VA thread
interesting. both Syd airport and Virgin AU website list the Virgin AU transfer desk at T1.
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/e...transfer-maps/
https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/info-sheet/maps
https://assets.ctfassets.net/v228i5y...l_Arrivals.pdf
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/e...transfer-maps/
https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/info-sheet/maps
https://assets.ctfassets.net/v228i5y...l_Arrivals.pdf
That is interesting. Am sure that is change on the VA web site. Had the T-Bus before. They may have reopened that desk.
VA only have international flights to Fiji. ZQN (New Zealand) may restart later in the year.
But with AU open will be getting more pax from DL and UA.
The file date on the SYD T1 map is 17 Jan 2020 (before CV19). And dated on lower right hand corner in small text.
VA only have international flights to Fiji. ZQN (New Zealand) may restart later in the year.
But with AU open will be getting more pax from DL and UA.
The file date on the SYD T1 map is 17 Jan 2020 (before CV19). And dated on lower right hand corner in small text.
Looks like this was re-added in the past few weeks.
web.archive.org has a copy of the VA page from April 27, and whilst it doesn't display it properly if you look at the page source it shows the old instructions of taking your bags to the T-bus and then re-checking them in Terminal 2 (domestic).
So sometime between April 27 and today they must have re-opened the transfer desk at the international terminal.
They haven't restarted their own bus, but honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they never do. When they first started running that bus there was no free bus between terminals. Now there is, I could see them considering that as a viable answer - although it's annoying as it's literally at the opposite end of the International terminal as their transfer area.
web.archive.org has a copy of the VA page from April 27, and whilst it doesn't display it properly if you look at the page source it shows the old instructions of taking your bags to the T-bus and then re-checking them in Terminal 2 (domestic).
So sometime between April 27 and today they must have re-opened the transfer desk at the international terminal.
They haven't restarted their own bus, but honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they never do. When they first started running that bus there was no free bus between terminals. Now there is, I could see them considering that as a viable answer - although it's annoying as it's literally at the opposite end of the International terminal as their transfer area.
Sydney International to Domestic
1 On arrival, collect your bags from the carousel and clear customs and quarantine.
2 Follow the signs to the Virgin Australia transfer desk, located in the Arrivals Hall. Here, you can check-in for your Virgin Australia domestic flight and drop your baggage.
3 Make your way to the exit, following the marked signs to the T-Bus pick-up point, located opposite exit A. Proceed on the T-Bus to the domestic terminal (T2).
4 Once you arrive at the domestic terminal, head to bag drop before making your way to your departure gate.
1 On arrival, collect your bags from the carousel and clear customs and quarantine.
2 Follow the signs to the Virgin Australia transfer desk, located in the Arrivals Hall. Here, you can check-in for your Virgin Australia domestic flight and drop your baggage.
3 Make your way to the exit, following the marked signs to the T-Bus pick-up point, located opposite exit A. Proceed on the T-Bus to the domestic terminal (T2).
4 Once you arrive at the domestic terminal, head to bag drop before making your way to your departure gate.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; May 15, 2022 at 9:29 pm
May 17, 2022, 12:04 am
#513
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Are US-bound flights subjected to water bottle confiscation at the gate like in some other countries? Or has that stopped? Sometimes, they check manually every bag to take away bottles over 100ml even if purchased in the airport.
May 25, 2022, 5:01 pm
#515
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
SQ lounge is open. Check if open when your AC flight departs
https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/inf...ine-lounges-t1
https://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-finder
Air NZ lounge may be closed---->https://www.airnewzealand.com.au/int...rmation#sydney
May 25, 2022, 5:37 pm
#516
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Melbourne
Programs: QF, CX, BA
Posts: 147
May 25, 2022, 6:00 pm
#517
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
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Posts: 8,156
Air NZ lounge may be closed---->https://www.airnewzealand.com.au/int...rmation#sydney
May 25, 2022, 7:08 pm
#518
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Programs: QF Plat (Life Gold), SQ PPS
Posts: 1,072
May 26, 2022, 6:05 pm
#520
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Programs: QF Plat (Life Gold), SQ PPS
Posts: 1,072
Even with no Express path, note that all the Smartgate kiosks are now operational which speeds things quite a lot; I got through in < 10 mins at a fairly busy time, a big improvement over my previous experience.
May 26, 2022, 10:46 pm
#521
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Today it was about 10 min from plane door to the train to the city but I had no checked bags
May 27, 2022, 7:49 am
#522
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Programs: QF Plat (Life Gold), SQ PPS
Posts: 1,072
May 29, 2022, 5:03 am
#523
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,505
I will be arriving at SYD with 6 people and need to get to the CBD. This will be during the time of the morning when all the international flights arrive. It looks like a taxi will be cheaper than getting 6 people on the train. My question is: Will there be 6-passenger vehicles available and waiting at the airport or will I need to pre-book that? Does anyone know?
May 29, 2022, 7:42 pm
#524
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I will be arriving at SYD with 6 people and need to get to the CBD. This will be during the time of the morning when all the international flights arrive. It looks like a taxi will be cheaper than getting 6 people on the train. My question is: Will there be 6-passenger vehicles available and waiting at the airport or will I need to pre-book that? Does anyone know?
May 29, 2022, 8:30 pm
#525
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
As some other posts, getting on a T1 to T2/T3 bus at peak times can be/will be an issue.
For information from United to partner with Virgin Australia -- UA elite benefits starting 23 May 2022
From Domestic to international connection time in SYD - only 70 mins??
Thanks. Have not done this transfer since the before times, so good to know it has not changed. I did the reverse a few weeks ago (international to domestic) and missed my connection despite an on time arrival.
For information from United to partner with Virgin Australia -- UA elite benefits starting 23 May 2022
I did SFO-SYD-MEL last week on UA/VA single ticket.
Immigration at SYD was a breeze, but luggage took awhile. Once clearning custom before exit door, there is a door on the left that connects you to the VA transfer desk. Look out for the sign.
Transfer, rechecking the bag (single luggage tag issued by UA), and issuing the boarding pass took less than 5 min.
The longest wait is the bus from T3 to T1. There were mutiple flights arriving during early morning, so the line was long, I got onto the third bus after I got into the waitling line. The buses were crowded and luggages were stored on the seats and between seats, so made it hard to get out of bus if you were stuck in the back. The buses were packed because many passengers were desparate to get to their connecting fights.
Once I was in the VA lounge, nice flat white and full breakfast made me forgetting the unpleasant bus ride quickly.
It would be a much pleasant experience if the inter-terminal bus transfer can be improved.
I budged 3 hours for the transit, and glad I did not take the VA agent's offer to get on an earlier flight (an hour earlier), I needed the extra time for waiting for the bus, and clear security at the domestic terminal. A 40-min relaxing visit in the VA lounge with great coffee is a nice break after a long 15-hour flight. It would be even nicer if the showers were working at the VA lounge.
Immigration at SYD was a breeze, but luggage took awhile. Once clearning custom before exit door, there is a door on the left that connects you to the VA transfer desk. Look out for the sign.
Transfer, rechecking the bag (single luggage tag issued by UA), and issuing the boarding pass took less than 5 min.
The longest wait is the bus from T3 to T1. There were mutiple flights arriving during early morning, so the line was long, I got onto the third bus after I got into the waitling line. The buses were crowded and luggages were stored on the seats and between seats, so made it hard to get out of bus if you were stuck in the back. The buses were packed because many passengers were desparate to get to their connecting fights.
Once I was in the VA lounge, nice flat white and full breakfast made me forgetting the unpleasant bus ride quickly.
It would be a much pleasant experience if the inter-terminal bus transfer can be improved.
I budged 3 hours for the transit, and glad I did not take the VA agent's offer to get on an earlier flight (an hour earlier), I needed the extra time for waiting for the bus, and clear security at the domestic terminal. A 40-min relaxing visit in the VA lounge with great coffee is a nice break after a long 15-hour flight. It would be even nicer if the showers were working at the VA lounge.
From T3 to T1 is about the same as pre CV19. QF bus leaves from QF T3 gate 15. Going the other way T1 to T3 is different (now seamless lite)
If your ADL flight is about on time should be OK. An earlier flight would lessen the risk
If your ADL flight is about on time should be OK. An earlier flight would lessen the risk