one more thing.

Would I have much trouble with carry-on luggage? Incoming is an international 747-400, continuing on with a domestic 767. What could I get away with, seeing that I just got off an international flight, with more lenient carryon rules.

thanks again

goodo

2:20 should be adequate to transfer. You will leave Customs and proceed to an Ansett check-in counter just like you're beginning a trip, and they'll ticket you there (or rearrange your ticket if there is not time to catch the original flight) and you'll check in your bags. Docmestic Australian airlines won't let you carry-on the 21" bags we're used to in the US; you can carry on an 18", but not lots of packages. Arrange your international carry-on luggage so that you can check everything but the computer bag, if you have to.

Goodo,

Sydney is not a huge burden - just far more inefficient and messy than it needs to be. Some of this is due to olympics renovations but 95% of it has always been this way. Customs and baggage is not the issue, the main problem is the inefficient ways of getting from one terminal to the other. A train or moving walkway ala Dallas or Denver would be great.

The points made by ranles in the other post are all good.

As long as all is on time , you should easily make a 1:20 transfer. Basically the only hassle is that AN and QF run buses from international through to domestic - the problem is that while they advertise these run every ten minutes in reality they run when they fill up, or when the last pax from the connecting flight have filtered through. If pushed for time and money is not a huge issue $20-30 to a taxi driver will get you quickly from one terminal to the to other - best to negotiate first. If you get in and say intl terminal while by law they are obliged to take you on a metered fare you will not get very far! There is also an outside terminal bus that costs around $3 (and one that is free) which is supposed to be quicker but trying to find this is awkward at the best of times - esp. with baggage. Although you could check you bags at the AN transfer desk, asses the situation and go outside if that looks like a better bet.

Basically it all relies of class of tavel and status if you are star gold you have two ways of looking at it;

1. if you miss the connexion then you should get priority. AN will need reminding as sometimes they get forgetful. I missed a connexion at 10am and they told me the next available flight was not until 4pm! Reminded them the NZ gold elite is *gold and found myself on the 10:30am flight. Also they do not recognise star orange priority stickers so you will have to get them to put a blue on one - they will need reminding of this also.

If worse comes to worse with connexions ring the airline desk at syd airport of whom you flew in on and get them to talk with AN - this often works wonders

But AN are usually helpful and curteous so you should have no troubles.

2. The AN domestic lounge is well appointed so you may want a longer time to have a break, read the paper, have a snack or even a meal (if at meal time) or a free beer/wine if after 3pm.

If you are flying J, you will need to show your international j boarding card to get into the AN lounge as J doemstic does not give you entry.

Also there is no way that you will get USA sized carry-on onto an AN or QF flight so come prepared to check it through.

Hope this helps,

Mark

When flying 1st on United, I get an escort to a limo which takes me to the domestic terminal. Takes no time at all.

When in business class, I had to wait in a very long Ansett line for over an hour for my boarding pass. But that was during a busy time.

shouldn't I get the Ansett boarding pass for my connecting flights (after UA SFO-SYD, then AN SYD-BNE) already in San Francisco? - or does the date-line-influence (departure SFo Sunday before midnight, SYD departure Tuesday morning) disable that *Alliance-Trough-check-in advantage?

jan-16, UA 863 SFO-SYD 2315 (Sunday)-0840 (Tuesday)
jan-18 AN 120 SYD-BNE 1055-1120
jan-18 AN 124 BNE-CNS 1305-1520

all in paid business ('D'-fare, *A-rtw)


[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 12-21-1999).]

Rudi, when I fly Air New Zealand, they don't issue the Ansett boarding pass when I check in at LAX. It's even a different color and paper stock, and although the Ansett counter is right after leaving Customs in Sydney, it's always the sensation of starting a new trip--not a continuation. No difference in treatment whether business or coach class.

Rudi, I haven't tried it since Ansett joined the alliance. Be sure to ask for a boarding pass.

Another thing you can do is get your boarding pass at the Ansett lounge in the domestic terminal. As an RCC member you are allowed in. However you usually need to show a boarding pass to get on the shuttle bus. Unless you are in 1st class and get the limo.

Rudi, I just did this in October. UA will not issue the Ansett boarding pass. They do that at the recheck outside customs and immigration.

I will not repeat the comments of others here except to echo them. The transfer is time consuming and messy. I missed my flight. The Ansett folks are courteous, and they rebooked me without trouble. I am just glad I wont be there during the games.

Using Sydney airport may soon get a lot easier.

Scheduled to open in May 2000, at long last both the international and domestic terminals will be linked into Sydney's rail system!

It should then be just a 10 minute journey to the city centre and 3 minutes between terminals. Trains will run every 7-15 minutes.

See http://www.transfield.com.au/interne...irportlink.nsf for more details.

I don't know if this is going to be a big help or not for domestic to international (and vice versa) transit passengers. I expect that you will be able to take the train if you wish, but it might not be for free. Does anyone know if this will be possible?

The plan as I heard it a year ago is that the train will be free and easy to use for transiting passengers and it will be ready in time for the Olympics.

But plans do change.