International to International SYD

[Yipchoi]

Hi All

Flying LAX to SYD (Booked) with Virgin AU as VA P which lands at 6:30am, planning to take the 10am VA flight to HKG (not booked yet). Not sure if we would then have to clear immigration then check in via Departures or does SYD have a transit lane for international to international transfer.
Concerned if arrival from LAX is delayed may miss the 10am VA to HKG. Would one option be to be HKG flight on VA and ask them to link bookings?
Have tried searching SYD website but very vague info there, would appreciate any advice. Many thanks in advance

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Not ignoring your Q, but haven't done it, so can't add.
Have seen the veer to the right, for the transit zone, on my flights back from NZ, but as mentioned, (apologies), haven't done it.
Personally though, I would not chance it.
If you are not an Aust citizen, you can get an Au transit visa for free, and do an overnighter in SYD.
I do realise you do want to get up to HKG asap, ...
Best of luck!

 

[opusman]

There is international transit in Sydney, so as long as your luggage is checked through to your final destination you won't need to clear immigration. If your luggage isn't checked through then you will need to clear both immigration and customs and then re-check your bags. Note that you will need to have a boarding pass for your onward flight in order to use the transit lane.

 

[Yipchoi]

There is international transit in Sydney, so as long as your luggage is checked through to your final destination you won't need to clear immigration. If your luggage isn't checked through then you will need to clear both immigration and customs and then re-check your bags. Note that you will need to have a boarding pass for your onward flight in order to use the transit lane.

Thanks mate appreciate the clarity, makes total sense

 

[serfty]

Note that you will need to have a boarding pass for your onward flight in order to use the transit lane.

Since when? I have never needed to show any BP before using the SYD T1 International airside transit.

 

[opusman]

Since when? I have never needed to show any BP before using the SYD T1 International airside transit.

Hmm, it has been a few years since I've done it but I distinctly remember being asked to show an onward boarding pass. Perhaps not!

 

[henrus]

Hmm, it has been a few years since I've done it but I distinctly remember being asked to show an onward boarding pass. Perhaps not!

Never heard of this... sometimes they'll ask your onward destination at transit security but this seems to be more pointing people in the right direction. Apparently they get a few people accidentally going through looking for domestic flights.

 

[Quickstatus]

At LAX checkin, tell them to check you through to HKG. As it is a 4 hr turnaround and a VA to VA, you should have no problem.

International transit will minimise any mandatory ground time

If your first sector arrives late and you miss the flight, VA will reroute you to the next day’s VA83.

VA69 MEL-HKG also departs in the morning so if you miss it it is likely you will have to overnight in SYD.

Does VA reroute via SQ SYD-SIN-HKG?

 

[Yipchoi]

At LAX checkin, tell them to check you through to HKG. As it is a 4 hr turnaround and a VA to VA, you should have no problem.

International transit will minimise any mandatory ground time

If your first sector arrives late and you miss the flight, VA will reroute you to the next day’s VA83.

VA69 MEL-HKG also departs in the morning so if you miss it it is likely you will have to overnight in SYD.

Does VA reroute via SQ SYD-SIN-HKG?

Many thanks for this Quickstatus, only issue at the moment is that not booked SYD - HKG yet, one further question....if I do I guess I can ring VA and ask them to link the bookings so as to allow through check in?

 

[Quickstatus]

I have done an VA Int to VA Int at SYD (LAX-SYD-AKL) but this was several years ago. Separate bookings and luggage checked through LAX-AKL with boarding passes issued at LAX.

The best thing you can do is ask that question of VA by contacting VA and confirming if checkthrough LAX-HKG is possible.

“Linking bookings” does not actually do anything other than put notes in each booking which actually remains separate. These “notes” May not actually confer any benefit.

Depending on how the booking was initially created, it is possible to insert a subsequent flight into the existing booking (this is not the same as linking bookings) - ring VA or ring whoever created the booking to see if that is possible.

 

[clipped_wings]

“Linking bookings” does not actually do anything other than put notes in each booking which actually remains separate. These “notes” May not actually confer any benefit.

Depending on how the booking was initially created, it is possible to insert a subsequent flight into the existing booking (this is not the same as linking bookings) - ring VA or ring whoever created the booking to see if that is possible.

Agreed. I have these notes applied to our multiple booking itinerary. When making them, VA warns you that it's an admin observation and nothing official that you can reference.

 

[CPMaverick]

I would feel comfortable booking that 10am flight.

The key here is getting VA to 'check through' your luggage at LAX. I would make sure you arrive to LAX early to make sure this is done (it should be easy, but not all agents might be comfortable with it). I don't personally see any point in calling and trying to get notes 'linking' the itineraries, but I suppose it can't hurt.

As long as your bags are checked through, the process is easy, just follow the international transit signs on arrival. I have been asked for my BP before, but I'm unsure if it is was required (I got the feeling they just wanted to make sure I was in the right place).

Honestly, even if you can't get your bags checked through for some reason, you have time to make the connection anyway if it is on time, unless immigration/bags are taking a highly unusual amount of time.

Of course, if your flight from LAX is delayed/cancelled, then you are at the mercy of VA to take care of you. But as a WP member, I'd like to think they would help you out.

 

[Yipchoi]

Hi All, just wanted to say many thanks for all your assistance on my questions, really appreciated the insight!
I spoke with VA Plat line and explained situation, they did check and they said that LAX are unable to check through to HKG, I did ask out of curiosity if I was to amend my booking to SYD-LAX-HKG-SYD, would it be possible then (due to connection time) and after checking they said it came up with system error, after checking they said not possible to ticket a that particular itinerary.

 

[Quickstatus]

@Yipchoi who did you buy the original ticket from?

The other interesting aspect to this is a dummy search using the VA website will show a fare for LAX-SYD-AU/NZ on a single booking but not LAX-SYD-anywhere else in the world in a single booking. Not sure if this is a true reflection on fare availability on these routings or another example of VA website issues.

 

[Yipchoi]

@Yipchoi who did you buy the original ticket from?

The other interesting aspect to this is a dummy search using the VA website will show a fare for LAX-SYD-AU/NZ on a single booking but not LAX-SYD-anywhere else in the world in a single booking. Not sure if this is a true reflection on fare availability on these routings or another example of VA website issues.

@Quickstatus Booked VA website direct, going to opt to fly to HKG next day to avoid any potential delays on the LAX to SYD leg

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Don't forget to get your Au transit visa if not Au citizen or Au PR visa (holder) or NZ citizen.