Minimum connection time in Sydney

[NicoleLB83]

Hello, I have a VA reward ticket SIN-SYD on SIA arriving at 11.50am, and need to get a connecting SYD-OOL flight.

Unfortunately there weren't any SIN-OOL reward tickets available. I know I will have to collect luggage, clear customs, and recheck in at VA, and transfer terminals.

Is there a recommended guideline for this?

Last time I flew into SYD from SFO, it took 2 hours for my luggage to come out and we missed our OOL connection however it was on the same ticket so no issue.

As this will all be ticketed separately, what time flight would you recommend for the SYD-OOL? I am Platinum so could fly ahead if availability, but there often isn't these days, and I would have come from Europe prior to the SIN-SYD so don't really want to spend more time than I need in SYD before I can get home.

Appreciate anyone's thoughts or advice. Also presume no chance of VA linking the itineraries.

cheers

 

[ben95]

I’d recommend 3 hours if ticketed separately just to give yourself some breathing room. I did this separate ticket connection in SYD just last week and arrived at around 12PM which is a quiet time for international arrivals, got through customs and arrived at the VA connection desk at around 1PM only to find it’s unattended. By the time I got to the check in desk at T2 using the T Bus it’s just past 1:30. If I had booked the 2PM MEL flight I would have missed my connection.

If you were to book a Qantas connection I think the transfer desk would be staffed throughout the day and also lets you go through security in T1 so by the time the bus arrives at T3 you are already airside. Potentially you’d make a tighter connection that way.

 

[NicoleLB83]

I’d recommend 3 hours if ticketed separately just to give yourself some breathing room. I did this separate ticket connection in SYD just last week and arrived at around 12PM which is a quiet time for international arrivals, got through customs and arrived at the VA connection desk at around 1PM only to find it’s unattended. By the time I got to the check in desk at T2 using the T Bus it’s just past 1:30. If I had booked the 2PM MEL flight I would have missed my connection.

If you were to book a Qantas connection I think the transfer desk would be staffed throughout the day and also lets you go through security in T1 so by the time the bus arrives at T3 you are already airside. Potentially you’d make a tighter connection that way.

Thanks for this. I think I will book VA just so I have lounge access as I don't have status with QF.

I wasn't aware their transfer desk wasn't staffed through the day, so good information thank you.

3hrs is fine with me, I was thinking maybe it would be better to do 4-5 (not that I actually wanted to do that), but 3 is a lot more bearable. cheers

 

[Quickstatus]

@NicoleLB83
Welcome to AFF
3 hrs is reasonable but will never completely eliminate the possibility of missing the connection
However even if you miss the domestic sector, VA will look after you
How may SYD-OOL flights are there after the one you are thinking of booking?


Obviously you don't want to book the last flight then miss that.

 

[NicoleLB83]

Thanks @Quickstatus ! Been reading here a while but first ever post!

There's flights at 4.20, 5.20, 6.20 and last one 8.20pm.

Will they actually care if the domestic leg is missed though as it will be a completely different ticket?

 

[Quickstatus]

Will they actually care if the domestic leg is missed though as it will be a completely different ticket?

VA will look after you if you miss the domestic leg due to a late arriving flight booked as a separate VA reward ticket
The minimum connection time at SYD is typically 90 min - this is for flights booked as one ticket
That said most people here would allow 3hrs.

 

[NicoleLB83]

VA will look after you if you miss the domestic leg due to a late arriving flight booked as a separate VA reward ticket
The minimum connection time at SYD is typically 90 min - this is for flights booked as one ticket
That said most people here would allow 3hrs.

That’s comforting thank you! I’ll allow the 3 hours. Cheers

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I would get the 4.20pm or the 5.20pm, but not the one after.
Last flight of the day, can be cancelled more so than the one before.
But of course, any of these dom flights can get cancelled too.
If you can tho, keep that next day free, in case you have to overnight in SYD, pre the VA VA (admin), and pre covid traveling around Aus dom flights I mean was easy, but after covid and with the VA VA (admin), a lot of staff were let go, and the # of planes VA had, was also reduced.
If you have to, the Ibis Budget is cheap, some say mean and cheap.
Use the tbus to get from T1 after exiting the terminal, there is one pickup point just there, outside the VA T1 exit, and wait in line with every one else.
This is the point at which the wait can be very long, as not only VA pax coming into SYD, but also all other non OW/QF alliance airlines pax also use it.
Train will be about $5 with a tap and go visa/mastercard debit/credit card.
Bags will also have to go with you on the bus, as you have to claim it at the AQIS/DAFF check point.
They have (ABF) changed the cardboardy receipt to the flimsy paper print out, keep hold of the photo print out, they will collect it off you with your IPC... so its passport processing, collect bags down the 5 step staircase, and then go the windy bunting thing, to nothing to declare/something to declare, where they collect the IPC and flimsy pix slip off you, then off the T1 pickup point, bus to T2, get off bus, and then through T2 dom sec screening.
In the past pre covid, just by the T1 tbus pick up point, inside the building, VA had a BP printing station, where there a few VA staff handling transfers.
Not sure if its still there now, with less VAi flights.
You could try VAd check in online, by typing in your PNR and surname, give it a try, if you can get your BP printed, from where you are in your hotel in SIN, it would help hasten the whole process.