BNE to CHC via SYD? Transit rules.

[Ron Calls]

Hi all,

I currently have a booking in J from BNE - SYD - CHC return in mid October. With the bubble on pause and NSW covid numbers out of control at the moment, does anyone have any first hand knowledge of transit rules? Can you transit through SYD airport without having to quarantine or declare you've been in a hotspot? I haven't flown into or out of SYD internationally in some years. Is there still a bus between Domestic and International terminals.

Just trying to consider all options at this time.

Cheers in advance for the advice.

Ron.

 

[henrus]

So there are lots of moving parts to this.

Obviously, if the NZ bubble remains shut then this is all a moot point.

If the NZ bubble reopens but NSW or Sydney is still a problem then you won't be able to fly BNE-SYD-CHC as the NZ govt considers you to have been in a hotspot even if you're only just transiting. If SYD is a hotspot then the flight will be canceled anyway as SYD-NZ flights would be quarantine flights.

CHC-SYD-BNE would be possible if NSW was a hotspot because QLD allows people to transit through hotspots (but obviously couldn't enter places like NZ or WA who don't allow you to transit through hotspots).

I haven't flown into or out of SYD internationally in some years. Is there still a bus between Domestic and International terminals.

Nothing major has changed. Qantas is operating a shuttle bus during normal times however if SYD is a hotspot then obviously they don't run it.

 

[Ron Calls]

So there are lots of moving parts to this.

Obviously, if the NZ bubble remains shut then this is all a moot point.

If the NZ bubble reopens but NSW or Sydney is still a problem then you won't be able to fly BNE-SYD-CHC as the NZ govt considers you to have been in a hotspot even if you're only just transiting. If SYD is a hotspot then the flight will be canceled anyway as SYD-NZ flights would be quarantine flights.

CHC-SYD-BNE would be possible if NSW was a hotspot because QLD allows people to transit through hotspots (but obviously couldn't enter places like NZ or WA who don't allow you to transit through hotspots).


Nothing major has changed. Qantas is operating a shuttle bus during normal times however if SYD is a hotspot then obviously they don't run it.

Thanks very much for the reply. You have answered all my questions with ease. I will hold onto the booking for the time being I think and see how NSW goes in the next month or so. Cheers.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF. Yes ... there is another thread on NZ travel and NZ does not allow transiting through airports in 'hot' states. My recent trip got symied because I was transiting both SYD and BNE.

In that thread there was discussion of the covid test you need prior departure and acceptable documentation etc.

Where to get a pre-flight COVID-19 test?

As discussed in the New Zealand travel bubble thread, the NZ government will soon require a pre-flight COVID-19 PCR or RT-PCR test within 72 hours before flying from Australia to New Zealand. Many other countries also mandate COVID-19 tests within a certain amount of time prior to departing...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[craven morehead]

Welcome to AFF @Ron Calls be sure to ask many questions and contribute at will.

 

[Beasley]

Can someone help me with this one.
We are transiting through Sydney between Launceston & Cairns. Is it permissable to move between T3 and T2 and remain within the airport transit bubble?

 

[PineappleSkip]

Can someone help me with this one.
We are transiting through Sydney between Launceston & Cairns. Is it permissable to move between T3 and T2 and remain within the airport transit bubble?

You should be right, but of course this is COVID and there is no certainty about anything.

The general rule this week (Queensland is up to Border restrictions direction No 31) is that transit of any airport in Australia en route to Qld is not entry into a hotspot, which would require you to Quarantine.

A person is taken not to have been in a COVID-19 hotspot under this Direction if the person:

1. arrived in a COVID-19 hotspot by air for the sole purpose of transiting through an approved airport in the COVID-19 hotspot and did not leave the confines of the airport;
   
   Approved airport means any airport in Australia.
   Confines of the airport means the terminal or terminals of an airport used for the arrival and departure of aircraft and passengers by air, or the area of an airport that the person uses to transfer directly between terminals.
   Example: a person did not leave the confines of the airport if they stay in a passenger terminal until their next flight or transferred directly between terminals to depart on their flight. However, a person leaves the confines of the airport if they go to a hotel in the airport precinct and stay overnight.

The pedestrian tunnel between T3 and T2 would be part of the confines of the airport.

Cheers skip

 

[henrus]

Yeh T2 to T3 transit (and vice versa) for QLD is no problem. Just retain all boarding passes to show upon arrival that you're only in transit.

I've wondered about T1 (arriving NZ green) to T2/3 to fly domestically into QLD.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I thought QF were running the airside transfer bus when the green flights from NZ were operating. I’d argue that the train from International to Domestic is “transferred directly between terminals” too, both stations are under the airport precinct.

cheers skip.

 

[henrus]

I thought QF were running the airside transfer bus when the green flights from NZ were operating

From what I understand this ended when the bubble stopped. QF is operating 4 green flights from NZ AKL to SYD this month but all arrive at stupid times making same-day domestic transfers impossible.

I’d argue that the train from International to Domestic is “transferred directly between terminals” too, both stations are under the airport precinct.

I'd agree but hate to arrive in QLD only to be told that because you took the train vs some form of other transit you're now subject to 2 weeks hotel quarantine.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I thought QF were running the airside transfer bus when the green flights from NZ were operating. I’d argue that the train from International to Domestic is “transferred directly between terminals” too, both stations are under the airport precinct.

cheers skip.

My bad. I read in another thread that a hotel in the airport precinct was advised by Qld Health is not within "confines of the airport". And missed the part of the example that says

owever, a person leaves the confines of the airport if they go to a hotel in the airport precinct and stay overnight.

Applying the same logic the train from T1 to T2/3 would be outside the confines of the airport also. Although still debatable.

 

[henrus]

Applying the same logic the train from T1 to T2/3 would be outside the confines of the airport also. Although still debatable.

Yep which is why I wonder how do you actually get from T1 to T2/3 without having a problem.