Bypass duty free SYD INT

[Hvr]

Has anybody tried this?

True, at T1 the duty-free shop means, as he says "every passenger is forced through a maze".

However, you can avoid it by bearing right, immediately after security, down a dim corridor just marked "Tax refunds". It's only four metres long, and decants you right in the middle of the terminal, avoiding a good 10-minute walk through duty free.

The hidden corridor is also just before the connection from the southern wing of T1, with Etihad and Air New Zealand lounges


Read more: The hidden corridor at Sydney Airport that bypasses duty free
Follow us: @TravellerAU on Twitter | TravellerAU on Facebook

I can imagine that this would quickly be closed off if too many people use it.

 

[AIRwin]

Yes I have after learning about this short cut from AFF so I can have more time at the F lounge...

 

[maccaisking]

Has anybody tried this?



I can imagine that this would quickly be closed off if too many people use it.

Yes, used it two weeks ago after recalling something about a shortcut from an article on Ausbt. Not sure how much time I saved as haven’t been the other way but it was not something I would have seen unless looking for it. Also the length of the TRS queue - Wow!

 

[Fergo747]

Yes I have after learning about this short cut from AFF so I can have more time at the F lounge...

But it spits you out further from the F-Lounge (assuming you're referring to Qantas) than if you just walked through the duty free. I've never actually found walking through it (on my way to the F-Lounge) to be too much hassle as the tiled walkway is pretty wide and doesn't have much merchandise

 

[AIRwin]

But it spits you out further from the F-Lounge (assuming you're referring to Qantas) than if you just walked through the duty free.

Oh I see... Guess that will help me work up an appetite for the F lounge!

 

[Dr Ralph]

Tried this sometime ago. Problem is it spits you out too far away from Qantas club

 

[Himeno]

It takes 10 minutes to walk through the duty free maze?

Last time I was in SYD T1, it took me 5 minutes to get from immigration to the QF lounge, cutting through a long line of people blocking off the terminal who were lined up for the cashier.

 

[Eija]

Have tried it. Seemed to work.

 

[deka2]

Use it as well. Good shortcut for SQ flights

 

[woodborer]

It takes 10 minutes to walk through the duty free maze?

Maybe if you stop and look at stuff..

 

[robinsparkles]

Have ended up there after tax refunds, dont think it makes a huge time saving.

 

[dajop]

Wish there was a short cut at MEL. It’s just annoying.

 

[JohnK]

It takes about a minute to walk through the duty free.

A few minutes longer if I'm buying something.

 

[IMOA]

I get the complaints about the duty free maze at Melbourne and some others but in Sydney? It’s a straight line with a wide corridor to the lounge escalators which is shorter than most airports I go to. There used to be a bit of a duty free maze at Sydney where but since the renovations finished its been removed.

 

[TomVexille]

View attachment 155636 Wish there was a short cut at MEL. It’s just annoying.

It exists, you just need an ASIC to use it

 

[Denali]

I hate all Duty Free walks of atonement.

The lights, the people, the heat from the lights, makes me anxious and I f'ing hate it. Wonder how kids with special needs (lights/noise issues) get through them unscathed.

 

[Himeno]

I get the complaints about the duty free maze at Melbourne and some others but in Sydney? It’s a straight line with a wide corridor to the lounge escalators which is shorter than most airports I go to. There used to be a bit of a duty free maze at Sydney where but since the renovations finished its been removed.

Best airport I've seen is HEL. Just after Schengen departure, there is the duty free maze entry and right next to it is a corridor to bypass it, with a sign saying that that is what the corridor is for.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I am just staggered that anybody can think a 2 min walk through a DF maze is in any way onerous - in the Lounge / onboard food and plonk consumed until it runs out our ears - an extra 500 steps is such a problem we need to waste effort writing about it? Seriously?

 

[Denali]

I am just staggered that anybody can think a 2 min walk through a DF maze is in any way onerous - in the Lounge / onboard food and plonk consumed until it runs out our ears - an extra 500 steps is such a problem we need to waste effort writing about it? Seriously?

As I said earlier, the lights, the people, the different music depending on what section youre in, the people, the heat from the lights - they ramp up my blood pressure (anxiety for want of a better word?). Add if you make eye contact or seem to slow down and look at anything, you are bombarded with staff wanting to sell. I would much prefer a clam walk thru.

I recall being badgered by staff on arrival at NZ once, they were worse than a Fiji arrival.

I do 99% of all my shopping online now to avoid actual stores/noise/people so yes, I hate the DF maze.

 

[dajop]

- an extra 500 steps is such a problem we need to waste effort writing about it? Seriously?

500 steps is an extra 5 minutes! There’s a lot more effort and time spent writing about lack of priority boarding which surely wastes only a similar amount of time.

And 5 minutes ... that’s another champagne (at a self serve lounge like SKL or EK lounges at MEL)