International transit - Sydney

[Miss_Kharisma]

Hi,

Apologies if this has been asked elsewhere. I can't find anything recent.

My friend is flying into Sydney from LAX tomorrow. She has a 12 hour layover and then is catching a flight to Auckland that evening.

It's all on the one ticket.

Will her luggage be checked through? She is assuming she will stay at the airport for the 12 hours but I'm trying to tell her there's not that much to do and she should probably get out and go into the city or something.

I've read that there is a transfer lounge. I'm sure there will be no issues with her leaving the airport and checking back in right? But mainly, will she need to take her bags with her - and if she does, would that mean she can't check them back in for her NZ leg until 3 hours prior to the flight?

I've transited an onward domestic flight before via Sydney, but not an international and not with that long of a layover, so trying to work out options for her.

Hoping someone here can help!

 

[Mattg]

I believe she will be able to get her bag checked through all the way to Auckland, since it's all on one ticket. No need to collect luggage in Sydney during an international transit if it's tagged through to the final destination, unless she specifically requests for the bag to be short-tagged to SYD (not sure why you would do this).

On arrival in SYD, she can choose to either just clear transit security and then wait airside in the airport for 12 hours, or alternatively she can clear immigration/customs (without her luggage) and use her boarding pass to return airside later in the day to catch the AKL flight. I would personally leave the airport for such a long layover, weather in Sydney tomorrow notwithstanding!

 

[Mwenenzi]

Apologies if this has been asked elsewhere. I can't find anything recent.

My friend is flying into Sydney from LAX tomorrow. She has a 12 hour layover and then is catching a flight to Auckland that evening.

It's all on the one ticket.

Will her luggage be checked through? She is assuming she will stay at the airport for the 12 hours but I'm trying to tell her there's not that much to do and she should probably get out and go into the city or something.

I've read that there is a transfer lounge. I'm sure there will be no issues with her leaving the airport and checking back in right? But mainly, will she need to take her bags with her - and if she does, would that mean she can't check them back in for her NZ leg until 3 hours prior to the flight?

I've transited an onward domestic flight before via Sydney, but not an international and not with that long of a layover, so trying to work out options for her.

Hoping someone here can help!

What passport? Check if an AU visa is needed.
Technically if processing AU immigration/leaving the airport for a city visit, and then back for SYD-AKL flight the AU$70 departure tax and other govt fess are due. But immigration agents are not interested in the money.
Airline/airlines? Qantas?
Lounge access will depend on class of travel ~ airline status.
The 12hr transit on the same calendar day? SYD closes overnight.
Bags will be transferred

 

[Miss_Kharisma]

Thank you both so much!!

She has no status - so no airline lounge access - will just be able to access the Transit lounge.

She's on AA

Yes - she arrives at 7:30am and then departs on her flight to Auckland around 7:00pm

I hadn't even thought about a transit visa - thanks so much for flagging that one!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you both so much!!

She has no status - so no airline lounge access - will just be able to access the Transit lounge.

She's on AA

Yes - she arrives at 7:30am and then departs on her flight to Auckland around 7:00pm

I hadn't even thought about a transit visa - thanks so much for flagging that one!

Will need an ETA for any transit in Australia longer than 8 hours (assuming passport is eligible for ETA!)

 

[Mwenenzi]

Thank you both so much!!
She has no status - so no airline lounge access - will just be able to access the Transit lounge.
She's on AA
Yes - she arrives at 7:30am and then departs on her flight to Auckland around 7:00pm
I hadn't even thought about a transit visa - thanks so much for flagging that one!

Really no such thing as a "transit lounge". Just need to process the security check when going from international arrivals to international departures, via the transit door. Then into the open departures area with every one else

What passport? Visa-ETA requirement, if any, will depend on the passport held. Will get refused boarding at LAX if not complying

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/transit-771/travellers-eligible-to-transit-without-visa