Sydney CBD and departure in an hour, no bags, OLCI, to NZ--possible?

[mclane]

I'm travelling from NZ to Sydney and back for a job interview. The interview starts at 5.00pm, and the last flight out of Sydney departs at 7.00pm.

Is this feasible? Allowing an hour for the interview, can I get from Sydney CBD at 6pm on a Monday to the airport, and on to the plane in the time allowed? I'll be flying Air NZ so I can check in online, and I'll have no baggage. I could also pay more, if that would expedite things at all.

Doable? At least worth a crack? With a flexi fare would it matter even if I didn't make it? As in, I could try my luck and if I didn't make it just wait until the next day and try again in the morning?

Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Hmmm i doubt it. Let's work backwards.

Aircraft doors shut 5 mins before pushback so now 55 mins. Run to gate from security 5 mins - 50. Security itself 5 mins minimum - 45. Customs 10 minutes - 35. Run from train to customs 5 minutes - 30. Train ride from Central 20 minutes - 10. Run to station.

So if absolutely nothing goes wrong and on the perfect day where the train ran on time and there were zero lines at customs and security (which is not going to happen at SYD!!), you could feasibly make it.

I would not run the risk - or alternatively look into whether having a Flexi gives you the backup you need.

 

[markis10]

I would stay the night, it wont help your interview if your thinking about the pending departure.

 

[mclane]

I think that's probably right actually. The problem is that the flights on Tuesday won't get me back to NZ until the afternoon, which means taking another day off work, on extremely short notice. So I think I'll just try to move the interview time, and if I can't then I will stay another night. It sounds like an hour and a half would be enough though? So moving the interview forward even half an hour would be fine?

Boris--your timings assume train travel, is that quicker than a taxi?

[edit typo]

 

[eastwest101]

I would move the interview time forwards by an hour at least, or staying the night. Bringing the interview time forward probably easier and cheaper than a hotel room in Sydney. Boris's comments assume a perfect run of timings in an ideal world, not likely when we are talking SYD public transport and SYD airport. Taxi would not be quicker as peak hour traffic comes into play in the afternoon, I would believe that train would be quicker, which exact train station in the Sydney CBD would you be leaving your interview from? There may be other Sydney experts out there whom could confirm that a transfer at Central Station can sometimes be necessary depending on which station you start from to get back to the airport, may need to know the date of travel as well as trackworks and maintenence are responsible for delays in trains on particular days.

 

[erkpod]

I'm assuming that the day in question is a weekday so trackwork won't be an issue. Delays can be an issue & can't be predicted.

As for travelling from another CBD station to the airport, it is possible. Obviously you'd have to add the time (up to 15 minutes) to get from the CBD to Central if catching the train. You would only need to change train if getting on at Martin Place (use Wynyard, Circular Quay or St James instead).

If there are delays, sometimes the airport trains start from Central & don't go around the City Circle first.

I agree with others - see if you can move the interview forward.

 

[mclane]

Thanks eastwest,

Yes, I've just asked them for an earlier interview, and I think if I can't get it I'll just stay the night. It's next Monday, and the interview's at Chifley Plaza, so I think I'd probably head to St James Station?

 

[markis10]

If you cannot move, have a look at the JQ flight ex Melbourne that leaves at 1150PM, you would have enough time to get the flight to Melbourne as there are plenty at 8.30 or 9PM. Assumption is AKL being the dest.

 

[mclane]

Hi Markis, I'm not seeing an 11.50pm ex Melbourn on the 24th? There's an 11.50am on the 25th, but that's all I can see? Destination is Wellington btw, but I can overnight anywhere in NZ and be back in Wellington bright and early without any problems.

Sorry, just checked again, there is an 11.50 ex Melbourne, but on Monday 31st, doesn't seem to be one on the 24th.

 

[markis10]

Hi Markis, I'm not seeing an 11.50pm ex Melbourn on the 24th? There's an 11.50am on the 25th, but that's all I can see? Destination is Wellington btw, but I can overnight anywhere in NZ and be back in Wellington bright and early without any problems.

Sorry, just checked again, there is an 11.50 ex Melbourne, but on Monday 31st, doesn't seem to be one on the 24th.

Bugger, it must be part of the Northern Summer change effective in April

 

[Fruitcake]

It's next Monday, and the interview's at Chifley Plaza, so I think I'd probably head to St James Station?

I work very near Chifley, and it's possible to go from my office to the T2 checkin counters in 22 minutes via train from St James, if I walk briskly to the station and arrive at the same time as the train. T1 adds a bit more time on the train and a slightly longer walk at the other end.