Originally Posted by seadan

Thanks for all the insight here! I just completed this trip today and wanted to report back on my experiences. Since I originally posted, J award space opened for these flights, so I was able to move both legs up to Business. The ANA flight was on-track for early arrival, but then we ended up circling around a few times due to ATC delays and ended up arriving about 9:05am. It seems like we were the only plane disembarking at that time -- all the immigration, baggage, and customs lines were empty. Off the plane at 9:15a, used the e-passport kiosk/gates and walked out with my carry-ons at 9:20a -- about 5 minutes total from plane to outside (no checked bags this trip). The VA check-in area after customs was empty, and the agent had no issue moving me to the 10:30a flight, which luckily had 1 J seat left. The T-bus was easy enough, took about 10+ minutes from boarding until T2 drop-off.

Perhaps I just got lucky, but this was about as smooth as it could have gone.

Originally Posted by 787SEA

Original itinerary was booked through United: SFO-SYD-WLG. I have NZ ETA but not Australia ETA, so I can transfer in Sydney for a maximum of 8 hours. I can't get an Australia ETA in time; mine has been pending for over a month.

My SYD-WLG was cancelled. United offered SYD-WLG, but I declined because that would violate the 8 hours.

In a panic, I just booked a Jetstar flight to NZ. But I am not sure how to check in for that flight, as it does not allow me to online. Is it possible to check in for Jetstar airside at T1, without going through customs?

Second, would United or Air New Zealand be willing to rebook me to CHC or ZQN? I had plans to go immediately to the South Island, so AKL or a long connection to WLG are not desirable.

Originally Posted by Mwenenzi

When is the flight? Schedules are for ever changing
As a UA ticket SFO-SYD-WLG is for UA to sort out. Suggest you ask UA for any NZ airport AKL-CHC-ZQN as WLG cancelled. If you leave SFO a day before or a day later is the WLG flight operating? Or SFO-MEL-WLG (if operating)? Or ask UA to put you on an Air NZ USA-NZ non stop flight. Air NZ will not touch the ticket as issued by UA. The problem is UA's and yours.

Checked bags or just carry on?
In AU (and NZ) international arrivals and international departures are physically separate. Need to go through a transit door/security.
Would be surprised if JQ would be able to check you in airside [departures] for a separate JQ flight. JQ would need to do a full document check. JQ are a low cost carrier. Do not expect anything

A map from Great Circle Mapper - Great Circle Mapper

Edit
787SEA post on AU ETA-->Australia immigration (incl ETA visa) & customs

Originally Posted by 787SEA

Thanks for the reply. Currently on SFO-SYD and in limbo. I actually asked several UA agents at SFO and they all insisted that the SYD-WLG flight was not cancelled, even though I showed them the flight status online and the emails I received from Air New Zealand. They want me to sort it out with NZ in SYD.

I only have carry-ons. I was hoping Jetstar would be able to check me in at the gate. I read online that SYD has international-international transfers possible without clearing customs.

Originally Posted by desafino

This thread scared me into getting an Australian ETA for the same itin

Originally Posted by mtimmer

Reading the posts above about SYD-WLG connections, I have a similar itinerary, arriving LAX-SYD at 7:55 am and connecting to WLG on NZ at 9:25 am--all one ticket. So based on the above, should I be thinking about getting an Australian ETA as insurance in case I miss the connection and there's not a suitable flight to NZ as a replacement? Flight is in late October.

Originally Posted by mtimmer

Reading the posts above about SYD-WLG connections, I have a similar itinerary, arriving LAX-SYD at 7:55 am and connecting to WLG on NZ at 9:25 am--all one ticket. So based on the above, should I be thinking about getting an Australian ETA as insurance in case I miss the connection and there's not a suitable flight to NZ as a replacement? Flight is in late October.

Originally Posted by 787SEA

When my SYD-WLG was canceled, I was rebooked onto a connecting SYD-AKL-WLG. I turned this down and requested a nonstop the next day. To my surprise, they accommodated my request and helped me get a temporary visa so that I could leave the airport overnight. NZ staff escorted me through customs and were very friendly. This is very much a YMMV situation though. My partner who had an ETA had a much easier time, and obviously could have passed customs as normal.

Originally Posted by kirkwoodj

How are immig/security queues lately? Flying UA J on Sunday.

Originally Posted by bensyd

Domestic is horrific at the moment. International not bad, but it's been a few months since I went international.

Originally Posted by TheCanuckian

I went through international a couple of weeks ago for a morning flight to Canada and it was a breeze. It couldn't have been much faster.