Sydney Airport International Transit

[BVMS]

hi.

I'm a usa citizen bearing usa passport with a ETA Australia business visa valid

I've been successfully to New Zealand at least 4-5 times on this passport as well.

I've been to australia at least 10 times in this 10 year passport period, but this is my first time internationally transiting the country- directly from USA to NZ.

Hence my questions below.

I'm confirmed on a May 31 flight ua 839 lax-syd which arrives June 2 in sydney kingsford international @ 06:10 am. I've got a confirmed international connection to ek 412 same day departs @ 07:15.

the transit time between flights is only 1 hour 5 minutes. If I do not have to go though aussie customs yes. I can make that transit. But if I have to check my bag *only* to syd first, collect it, go through aussie customs, re-check my bag at ek desk, then I need at least 4 hours- maybe even more for emirates airlines, say 6 hours totally.

1) If my bags will be through checked and no aussie customs I leave the res as it is.
2) a) If my bags are checked *only* to syd, and
2b) I must clear australian customs
2c) before checking the bags again to NZ,

.. then I need maybe 6 hours totally and for that I should change my ek reservation to depart June 3 instead of June 2.

somebody on this forum, previously told me Australian Frequent Flyer Community - Join to discuss & learn

that since I was an international transit passenger going straight through to Auckland NZ;

1) I will not have to go through australian customs
2) my bags will be through checked from ua 839-to ek 412.
3) I will collect my bags and go through customs only when I enter New Zealand
4) if so, then I can keep my both pnr's intact in this case.
5) keep my ek 412 res as it is dep June 2 and I don't have to change it to depart sydney June 3rd.

yet closer to the date, after hearing United airlines in USA "we don't know" I'm now again asking for info. anybody did this before fellas?

got any rememberances to share here?


a) I asked ek in auckland they said "contact United airlines in USA"
b) I just called United airlines they said, "our system automatically says you have to clear customs at first point of entry" we are not sure if that's sydney or auckland, you better ask the australian embassy"

Hence this letter.

please confirm for me what applies in my case. so I can act with my international RTW reservations accordingly.

thank you.

Martin Steven Law

bvmadhavaswami( a t )gmail.com

 

[JohnK]

Re: Sydney Airport - terminal transfer

Sorry can't help you with international-international connections in SYD but you may want to remove the references to your name, passport number, booking references from your post. This is a frequent flyer site not an airline website.

P.S This is a very old thread....

 

[serfty]

You issue is if United Airlines have a baggage "Interline Agreement" with Emirates.

If so, you baggage should be checked all the way through and you should not see it again until your arrive in AKL.

Are these flights on the one PNR?

 

[NM]

Re: Sydney Airport - terminal transfer

If this was a single ticket, then no problems with remaining a transit passenger at SYD. If its two separate tickets, then its up to UA as to whether they are willing to check your bags through or not. So it may even come down to the specific check-in agent you get.

Also remember that its its two separate tickets, then you may not be protected if your UA flight arrives late and you miss the EK flight.

 

[BVMS]

Re: Sydney Airport - terminal transfer

If this was a single ticket, then no problems with remaining a transit passenger at SYD. If its two separate tickets, then its up to UA as to whether they are willing to check your bags through or not. So it may even come down to the specific check-in agent you get.

Also remember that its its two separate tickets, then you may not be protected if your UA flight arrives late and you miss the EK flight.

righto. it's a ek/ua RTW ticket, They both co-operate and have interline baggage through checkin. fortuneately, the ticket is also re-bookable for the next day in case ua gets in a bit late. (which I hope they won't be).
:mrgreen: