SYD questions: airport transfer, DOM from T1, departure customs queues early AM

[thewinchester]

Two questions:

1. does anyone have recommendations for best airport transfer service in Sydney? Looking to get to T1 airport by 0530 for a JQ19 0705 to OOL.
2. Never departed on a DOM service from an INT terminal. I understand that you have a lovely big D sticker on your boarding pass and require government-issued Photo ID, but is there a quick way to get through customs at SYD T1 in this case? Can you use express/APEC/crew lanes, or must you go through with the great unwashed?
3. any experience with the early morning departure customs queues at SYD T1? Will it be quick and painless, or can I expect a wait?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mal]

• Never departed on a DOM service from an INT terminal. I understand that you have a lovely big D sticker on your boarding pass and require government-issued Photo ID, but is there a quick way to get through customs at SYD T1 in this case? Can you use express/APEC/crew lanes, or must you go through with the great unwashed?
• any experience with the early morning departure customs queues at SYD T1? Will it be quick and painless, or can I expect a wait?

There should be a lane for "D" stickers/APEC/Express card holders.

My experience early in the morning has been good (ie not busy), but I haven't been through SYD early for a while.

 

[thewinchester]

Cheers for the response Mal, appreciated.

 

[dk4]

does anyone have recommendations for best airport transfer service in Sydney?

Qantas Airside Bus, Sydney Airport Landside T-Bus* or Train* (depending on what airline you are arriving on, but if arriving on Jetstar at T2, follow the signs out of the terminal to the T-Bus stop. *They do charge for this service. Virgin Blue Airside Bus will not be available to you, even if arriving at T2 with them, as you are connecting to Jetstar.)

…is there a quick way to get through customs at SYD T1 in this case? Can you use express/APEC/crew lanes, or must you go through with the great unwashed?

Don’t use the Express Pass entry at SYD T1 –

• firstly the Jetstar check-in counters are “closest” to the “normal” immigration entry doors (whereas the Express Path is surprisingly well situated for those checking-in at the T1 D counter.)
• Secondly, at SYD T1 the Express Path is different to the Domestic/Diplomat/Crew/etc lane. "Express" is now located on the far left of the processing room, whereas the “D” lane is on the far right. The trick to using the “D” lane is, as you enter the immigration hall; you walk all the way to the right, past the people entering the normal immigration queue, (its is sign posted - but not brilliantly). This will snake you around to the processing booths on the far right, where three things are possible -

1. If they are staffed, you will be processed by an officer at one of these counters. But if they are not open, the queue will snake you back toward the front of the standard queue, i.e. queue-jump you to the head of the standard immigration queue.
2. If an officer is standing at the head of the queue (where the two lines converge) they will prioritise you and direct you toward the next available counter,
3. If there is no one working the head of the queue, you simply merge into it, and take your new place at the front, and then proceed to an officer when one becomes avilable.

For security screening, simply join the queue that seems the quickest (remember liquids in gels in a plastic bag & out of your carry-on).

 

[anat0l]

Two questions:

That's three questions you posed

does anyone have recommendations for best airport transfer service in Sydney? Looking to get to T1 airport by 0530 for a JQ19 0705 to OOL.

I assume you mean getting from the city to the airport? Because unless you're coming off a PER red-eye, there isn't a service that I know of that arrives in SYD that early (apart from the freak international service, but that would mean you're in T1 already). Come to think of it, I don't think PER red-eyes would even get you in time for JQ19.

The train to the airport leaves fairly early in the morning, so you have a few options in that regard (earliest train leaves at around 4.30am according to 131500.info).

Taxi will set you back a bit over double of the train fare. It also takes a bit longer (theoretically); only plusses are you are not constrained by the train timetable, and you're not lugging your bags all the way.

Not sure about airport shuttles - I haven't researched them. They would cost perhaps about $2-$3 less than a train ticket.

 

[thewinchester]

Thanks all for the responses, particularly on the 'D' lane at SYD T1. Really handy to know.

I've got an email back from the Hilton Concierge this morning, who said the following:

Taxi. $45-$65, 30-35 minutes
Shuttle. $12, 60-90 minutes buy tickets at the information desk at the airport
Train. $15. 20-25 minutes to Town Hall, not luggage friendly
Limousine. From $95.00 for a premium sedan, 2-3 passengers with 2 suitcases, 30-35 minutes (this must be booked via email with concierge)

I seriously might take up the limo option just for fun. Does $95 seems like a reasonable price for Sydney City to T1?

Advantage of the limo is I don't feel like negotiating Cityfail that early in the morning, journey time for the shuttle is a joke, and IMHO most SYD taxi drivers annoy me immensely.

 

[anat0l]

Thanks all for the responses, particularly on the 'D' lane at SYD T1. Really handy to know.

I've got an email back from the Hilton Concierge this morning, who said the following:

I seriously might take up the limo option just for fun. Does $95 seems like a reasonable price for Sydney City to T1?

Advantage of the limo is I don't feel like negotiating Cityfail that early in the morning, journey time for the shuttle is a joke, and IMHO most SYD taxi drivers annoy me immensely.

The shuttle seems excessively long - I'd tell them to jump in the lake if it took 1 hour to get from city to airport in nil or light traffic!

Either taxis have gone up or you'd be given a ride (in the pejorative sense), because the last time I rode in a taxi from - coincidentally - Hilton Sydney to Sydney T3 (admittedly T1 is a wee bit further), it only cost me $30 including the credit card charge; light traffic only to the airport. I could be underestimating the distance, but I don't think an extra $15 sounds right. Ah well.

$95 for a limo to the airport is definitely a splurge. If there was traffic (and you weren't in a hurry!), at a possible transit time of about 45 min - 1 hr (possibly greater) it might be "worth" it. But if you've given up on all other options, I guess you've backed yourself into a corner on this one (unless you can convince someone to give you a ride to the airport). Too bad you couldn't, say, recruit some others to join you, if you could get 2 more people, that's not only a comfortable ride, but quite cheap!

 

[serfty]

Most Taxi drivers want to take the "Eastern Distributor" as it adds at least $10 to the fare with little time loss.

Tell the taxi driver you want to go by way of O'Riorden St. That's the most direct way but can be somewhat slow during peak traffic times. (of course, so may be the Eastern Distributor)

 

[Leumas]

The shuttle seems excessively long - I'd tell them to jump in the lake if it took 1 hour to get from city to airport in nil or light traffic!

Either taxis have gone up or you'd be given a ride (in the pejorative sense), because the last time I rode in a taxi from - coincidentally - Hilton Sydney to Sydney T3 (admittedly T1 is a wee bit further), it only cost me $30 including the credit card charge; light traffic only to the airport. I could be underestimating the distance, but I don't think an extra $15 sounds right. Ah well.

$95 for a limo to the airport is definitely a splurge. If there was traffic (and you weren't in a hurry!), at a possible transit time of about 45 min - 1 hr (possibly greater) it might be "worth" it. But if you've given up on all other options, I guess you've backed yourself into a corner on this one (unless you can convince someone to give you a ride to the airport). Too bad you couldn't, say, recruit some others to join you, if you could get 2 more people, that's not only a comfortable ride, but quite cheap!

After taking many early morning shuttles from the city to the airport, an hour is not out of the question. Shuttles may do other pick-ups after you, so will add time. I posted some details on FT regarding the various transport options, in particular to shuttles. Have a look there.

You may also want to try Jetbus. If you're lucky (i.e., they can't schedule a real shuttle), they will pick you up in a limo anyway for no extra costs. I've had that a few times. Jetbus is small in Sydney, so even if you do get a proper shuttle, there're few people in it, so reduce travel time.

BTW, just to clarify when these guys (Jetbus, Hilton, etc.), say 'limo', they just mean a Holden Statesman or the like - a 'town car', using an American term. It won't be a real limo that you see on TV.

The quoted taxi fare is a bit on the high side, even at $45, including any luggage charges.

 

[ejb_nz]

Hi,

As you are planning on getting to the airport at 0530 travel time form the Hilton would be about 15 minutes by limo/taxi, make sure they don't use the ED.

I would take the taxi option and get the concierge to book silver service the night before, this will save you about $60 and for the length of journey I can't see value in a town car for $90.

YMMV

ejb

 

[anat0l]

BTW, just to clarify when these guys (Jetbus, Hilton, etc.), say 'limo', they just mean a Holden Statesman or the like - a 'town car', using an American term. It won't be a real limo that you see on TV.

I thought that was kinda understood, but good clarification otherwise.

You can get stretch limos, but the costs are considerably higher. For example, in Brisbane through the QF Drive service, a stretch from airport to town costs about $110.