SYD-BNE-LAX questions

[clipped_wings]

Hi all

We are travelling as a family of 8 to the USA in January 2020. We have (3) separate bookings due to the mixed cabin classes. But each booking includes the domestic sector as part of the international itinerary. Details are as follows:

SYD-BNE-LAX
Depart SYD 09:00 - arrive BNE 09:30
Depart BNE 11:55 on VA7
Mr Clipped and I are J reward pax
2 pax economy reward
4 pax revenue (getaway)

Dad is VA Plat, everyone is is Red.

We've never used this route to get the the States before. So I have a few questions:

• Do we check in our luggage at Sydney, or lug it to Brisbane and check in again?
• What is the International check in process like at BNE? (swift, slow, forget about it)
• Is the 2.5 hour layover at BNE enough time to disembark, transit from Domestic Arrivals to Customs & Immigration, then get to the boarding gate?
• Anyone with knowledge know the usual departure gate at BNE for VA7?
• Lastly, it's probably a moot point, but is this a foolish time of the year to use Brisbane as a departure port? I've heard some horror stories about the cyclonic activity during summer and how flights are either delayed, diverted or cancelled (for good reason obviously). But it still worries me that I may have taken unnecessary risks with this itinerary.

We are thinking of utilising the Sydney Premium Lounge around 7am for a quick breakfast - between the Platinum benefit, Amex comp entry passes and Biz class perks, we have enough access to get all 8 of us in. That way the kids can have some breakfast to fill them up until lunch service on the long haul.

Appreciate all advice and tips

 

[blackcat20]

Your luggage will be checked through from Sydney to LAX. Can't help with the rest.

 

[ozfflyer]

BNE is much more passenger friendly than SYD & not as congested, but that's not hard. SYD is worst airport in Australia by far.

Think delays are far worse at SYD than BNE.

Going skiing by any chance ?

BTW have been looking at fares to USA myself & notice Virgin have the best fares, especially for students, under 31 years & teachers/tutors/lecturers/anyone working in edication, but invariably from SYD to LAX the cheapest is via BNE or MEL, but can get nonstop on way home, either on Virgin or Delta(Virgin code share)

What are your dates of travel ?

 

[CPMaverick]

You don't need to check-in at BNE. You check-in at SYD, and they will check your documents, etc there. BNE is just a transfer. You won't see your luggage again until LAX.

Virgin has very good transfer information on their website: Brisbane Transfer Maps | Virgin Australia

There is a long-ish shuttle between terminals at BNE. Then you will need to go through security and exit customs. Ask for an Express Pass at SYD check-in (for your J tickets) and you can take the shorter queues. I don't have recent experience to say how long customs & security will take, but I wouldn't expect it to be more than 15 minutes.

If you search for VA7 you will find historical gate information: Virgin Australia (VA) #7 ✈ FlightAware

Are you returning via BNE or direct? The return process will be a bit different.

 

[ozfflyer]

You don't need to check-in at BNE. You check-in at SYD, and they will check your documents, etc there. BNE is just a transfer. You won't see your luggage again until LAX.

Virgin has very good transfer information on their website: Brisbane Transfer Maps | Virgin Australia

There is a long-ish shuttle between terminals at BNE. Then you will need to go through security and exit customs. Ask for an Express Pass at SYD check-in (for your J tickets) and you can take the shorter queues. I don't have recent experience to say how long customs & security will take, but I wouldn't expect it to be more than 15 minutes.

If you search for VA7 you will find historical gate information: Virgin Australia (VA) #7 ✈ FlightAware

Are you returning via BNE or direct? The return process will be a bit different.

you will have your docs checked again at BNE INT passport control/immigration outbound.

Have found that generally transitting airport at BNE is much faster than at SYD.

 

[CPMaverick]

you will have your docs checked again at BNE INT passport control/immigration outbound.

My reference was in regards to airline check-in. The airline document checks occur at the first flight in the itinerary, even if it is a domestic leg.

 

[clipped_wings]

The outbound trip is via BNE but the homebound journey is non stop LAX-SYD.

No skiing, just smashing the theme parks as we usually do when we tow a truckload of teenagers and twentysomethings.

 

[clipped_wings]

If you search for VA7 you will find historical gate information: Virgin Australia (VA) #7 ✈ FlightAware

Wow, did anyone see the spike in filed speed around 5.5 hours in for this flight? They peaked at 1576kph! The elevation data doesn't support severe turbulence, but it is certainly an interesting observation.

 

[CPMaverick]

Wow, did anyone see the spike in filed speed around 5.5 hours in for this flight? They peaked at 1576kph! The elevation data doesn't support severe turbulence, but it is certainly an interesting observation.

The peak is in the reported speed not the filed speed. But as you say, probably not 'actual' speed either!

It's sometime around the International Date Line. Perhaps it had to warp speed to go back in time.

 

[Icy]

Adding to the previous posts, I would think 2.5 hours layover will be fine.

The free shuttle between domestic and international runs every 10 minutes and is less than 10 minutes travel time. My last international flight out of Brisbane was 2 weeks ago on an early afternoon Friday flight, and we were through customs and security in less than 5 minutes.

Weather delays are always unpredictable but Brisbane does not suffer anywhere near us much as the north of the state. I haven't experienced a delay in and out of the domestic terminal in the dozen of so flights I have taken in the past 3 months (about the same time you will be travelling through next year).

 

[clipped_wings]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. With this knowledge, I can now settle back and enjoy the anticipation of another great holiday!

 

[ozfflyer]

Adding to the previous posts, I would think 2.5 hours layover will be fine.

The free shuttle between domestic and international runs every 10 minutes and is less than 10 minutes travel time. My last international flight out of Brisbane was 2 weeks ago on an early afternoon Friday flight, and we were through customs and security in less than 5 minutes.

Weather delays are always unpredictable but Brisbane does not suffer anywhere near us much as the north of the state. I haven't experienced a delay in and out of the domestic terminal in the dozen of so flights I have taken in the past 3 months (about the same time you will be travelling through next year).

mornings out of BNE INT can be very busy on some days, when have 2 flights to LAX, few to Fiji & other flights to Asia going around about the same time.

 

[Ausbt]

Hi clipped, I flew this route in early Feb, but VA9 departing BNE at 11 pm. I had a bit of time so used arrivals access at domestic BNE. On reflection I should have stayed there as long as possible, as SQ were not allowing any pax to enter their lounge at international so I had to make to with Plaza Premium (it's not a great lounge, but there are worse). Hopefully you will have The House by that time.

Anyway, all bags done at SYD domestic. Shuttle at BNE dom is easy enough. VA gave me an express pass at BNE int but unnecessary as no queue.

On my last trip to Universal I went for a 'front-of-line' pass and managed 24 rides/attractions in one day, but that was solo, you've got a bit of a big crew there.

 

[clipped_wings]

Hi clipped, I flew this route in early Feb, but VA9 departing BNE at 11 pm. I had a bit of time so used arrivals access at domestic BNE. On reflection I should have stayed there as long as possible, as SQ were not allowing any pax to enter their lounge at international so I had to make to with Plaza Premium (it's not a great lounge, but there are worse). Hopefully you will have The House by that time.

Anyway, all bags done at SYD domestic. Shuttle at BNE dom is easy enough. VA gave me an express pass at BNE int but unnecessary as no queue.

On my last trip to Universal I went for a 'front-of-line' pass and managed 24 rides/attractions in one day, but that was solo, you've got a bit of a big crew there.

Thanks @Ausbt this information is priceless.

re: Universal, Mr Clipped and I did the VIP tour last October - unlimited Front of the Line, gourmet lunch, backstage access etc. It was certainly fun, but agree that a party of 8 just doesn't qualify as good economic sense. The older girls and one boyfriend have done it too, but we buy annual passes each time we go which allows plenty of visits over the 3 weeks. Our Disneyland 10 day Park Hopper tickets do the job as well. Ten days of unlimited access to both Disneyland and California Adventure over a 13 day period.

Now you can see why I insisted on Business Class fares for the two of us. Mr Clipped's new knees will be due for a service when we get home. And I will be due for a stroke

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

When you arrive at BNE, it would be the domestic terminal, so you have to get to the international terminal, by bus/train, which is up to you.
You will see that the gates at BNE international might sound big, ie, up to the number 70 or so, but really, they have fewer gates than that.
Go to www.bne.com.au which is the Brisbane Airport website, you can see gate info there, or www.flightaware.com, also have gate info.
I did BNE domestic to BNE international, mine was QFd to QFi when they flew US to BNE to SYD, was able to fly as a domestic pax on an international flight.
Found BNE international quite manageable, not as big as DXB/SIN.
If you go later on, you would have access to one of the new lounges that VAi have set up, I did the QFi J lounge when I flew QF7 or something like that a few years ago now.
When I did it, my first flight ADL - BNE domestic was the night before, and then I got the first Connexion bus from hotel to BNE international, was able to get through outgoing scanning and immigration in 15 mins, 747 QF plane from the US was an on time arrival.
As mentioned, you can avoid the BNE VAi international counters, as 99.99% SYD VAd would have provided you with BP's in SYD, grin, just don't loose them in the seat back (as some people love to put BP's).
No more OPC, so no form filling needed on departure from Australia.
Just use the new fangled Smartgate!
Slip passport into reader, look at the bright light slightly to the right of the desk, above the spot/slot where you slip in the passport, (don't smile), gate opens, walk through.
Haven't done the US, so can't say, but have flown out of Aust many times, internationally, and BNE (granted once only, but BNE international, at that).
Ideally, I would have chosen to fly SYD - BNE domestic the night before, or get the first flight from SYD, if at all possible.
On some occasions, they do close the airport due to thunderstorms, but best of luck anyways.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Arrivals at BNE international is on ground level, but departures is one level up, so your bus will go up a ramp on approach to BNE international.
You avoid the BNE international check in counters, as you have passports and BP's already.
With HLO, you go down one level, via escalators, going down, go through the winding line to outgoing security processing, then through ABF, and then to lounge, you would probably get questionings by VAi staff/agents with ipads, as you would have needed to apply for ESTA, and the VAi staff/agents probably check your data at the gate at BNE, (have seen this happen prior to my trips to NZ, others were flying AA from SYD to US)...
BNE international airport does not have dungeons like SYD, its a very light filled airport, very open, everything is glass opened towards the runway.
Will end my diatribe here.