Sydney Dom > Int Transfer

[Lukeyd]

Hey All,

Just wondering if anyone knows if the airside transfer bus (outlined on Virgin's website) between Sydney Domestic and International is running? I'm looking at booking MEL > SYD > LAX (on VA and DL) in the next month or so. This would all be on one ticket, hoping I can get both boarding passes in MEL.

If the bus isn't running, do you think an 8:25am arrival into Sydney would be enough time to exit, get the train over to INT, and re-clear security for the 11:35am departure of DL40?

No concerns with being able to leave the country as I'm a dual citizen who is ordinarily a resident overseas - just came back for a brief period to handle a family matter.

Cheers,
Luke.

 

[hydrabyss]

Hey All,

Just wondering if anyone knows if the airside transfer bus (outlined on Virgin's website) between Sydney Domestic and International is running? I'm looking at booking MEL > SYD > LAX (on VA and DL) in the next month or so. This would all be on one ticket, hoping I can get both boarding passes in MEL.

If the bus isn't running, do you think an 8:25am arrival into Sydney would be enough time to exit, get the train over to INT, and re-clear security for the 11:35am departure of DL40?

No concerns with being able to leave the country as I'm a dual citizen who is ordinarily a resident overseas - just came back for a brief period to handle a family matter.

Cheers,
Luke.

Check Sydney airport website.

 

[Lukeyd]

Check Sydney airport website.

I checked out the Sydney Airport transit page, and it said the T-Bus wasn't currently running, but I wasn't sure if that was the airside bus or a different landslide bus for general transfers?

 

[hydrabyss]

I checked out the Sydney Airport transit page, and it said the T-Bus wasn't currently running, but I wasn't sure if that was the airside bus or a different landslide bus for general transfers?

This is from their domestic parking page which mentions this if using it for international flights.

"take the transfer bus or a train from Domestic to International Airport. The trains between Domestic and International stations run from 5:00am to midnight, and the transfer buses run from 8:00am to 7:30pm."

 

[Must...Fly!]

Three hours *should* be enough. Not sure what sort of rigmarole you'll have to go through with border force to get through in to the terminal - e.g. are you a US citizen so easy passage through? If Australian and traveling under an exemption, I would personally plan as much time as possible to connect in Sydney. Maybe even an overnight stay at one of the airport hotels.

Plan on getting the train. I can't imagine the bus is operating and the former is easy, anyway.

 

[SYD]

Passing through T3 (QF) earlier in the week the International transfer desk had a sign saying take train or taxi. So I can’t imagine VA is running at the moment. That could change so try and check closer to the time.

If VA check your luggage through it‘s a simple process to transfer on the train. You don’t need an Opal card - most credit/debit cards will let you in/out of the barriers. The fare is currently $4.72 for 2 mins ride.

Trip Planner

Use the Trip Planner to plan a trip on public transport by metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail, coach or by walking, cycling, taxi or rideshare anywhere in Sydney and NSW, with real-time information where available.

transportnsw.info

If your VA flight arrives on time you ought to have plenty of time To transfer/checkin. Others here might be able to comment on processing time for non bubble departures but the airport is pretty quiet still.

The other potential hiccup - if you’re travelling on a weekend it could pay to check if the trains are running and no scheduled track work (which can happen every few months and obviously a PITA).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Have to book via the DL website though, you probably already know.
VA's website still only list a very limited range of int destos.
US desto is listed on DL, MEL - SYD - LAX, but not on the VA website.
DL website still sells a linked ticket, so you would probably have a linked PNR and it "would" probably be possible to get your 2 BP in MEL, and have the dep passport be scanned in MEL, so you only have to go through Aust outgoing immi in SYD, and don't have to go to the DL desk at SYD T1.
Best of luck in this odyssey.
Ideally, I would do a transit in SYD the night before, as we are at the moment not sure, how good the liaison is with VA2 and DL.
Linked PNR helps, but main point is can you still obtain DL BP in MEL, and can VA in MEL scan/swipe your US passport, they used to be able to do it in the VA1 and AirNZ days, at your originating airport, without having to go to the counter at SYD T1, if SYD int is the intermediary airport.
Edit:

Virgin Australia Restructuring Sees Delta Partnership Suspended

simpleflying.com

 

[Lukeyd]

Thanks for the info everyone - good point on the unknowns as to what VA2 is able to do with DL tickets. I might need to ponder further on if I fly up the night before.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If you do want to stay the night in SYD, Ibis Budget Sydney Airport, is the cheapest, and the night before that is, book a taxi pick up for the next day, from the Ibis Budget Sydney Airport.
Its cheap, but at the least its not a Covid quaro hotel, as far as we know, and the taxi from the hotel to the international terminal might be $25 to $35.
Rydges Sydney Airport, they say they are double glazed, but you can still hear noise of buses, and fumes from them, and the trucks that deliver to the hotel.
Ibis Budget Sydney Airport, also quite noisy on the Qantas Drive side, and airport plane noise, but its cheap, and close to Maccas and KFC.
Far walk from Ibis Budget to SYD domestic airport train station, or the 400 bus stop, so taxi is the best.
Grin/wink, and don't try to walk between the 2 terminals.
Also, don't go to T2/T3 at 4.45am/5am, expecting taxies to be waiting at the domestic terminals that early, there are none, none at all that early there!

 

[Townsend]

I was in Sydney airport last week and the transfer bus was not running. There was about 12 minutes between trains and it only takes about 5 mins on the train.

I have stayed at Rydges and loved it, although the restaurant is average. It was quiet and the view over the runway was great.

 

[henrus]

Apparently, Qantas is running a landside bus from the international to domestic terminal that meets only NZ arrivals. Has anyone used this yet?

 

[Rellim001]

Apparently, Qantas is running a landside bus from the international to domestic terminal that meets only NZ arrivals. Has anyone used this yet?

Yes, I used this free bus last Friday when transferring from the International to Qantas domestic (T3) after arriving from Norfolk Island. While there is still no Qantas domestic check in at the International, the bus has plenty of space to carry baggage.

 

[henrus]

Yes, I used this free bus last Friday when transferring from the International to Qantas domestic (T3) after arriving from Norfolk Island.

Sweet, was it just a single bus (for the entire flight) or multiple services?

I'll just have a small bag so figuring out if it'd be best to wait for the bus or catching the train. I guess if it's just a single service that waits for everyone then the train would be better?

 

[Rellim001]

Sweet, was it just a single bus (for the entire flight) or multiple services?

I'll just have a small bag so figuring out if it'd be best to wait for the bus or catching the train. I guess if it's just a single service that waits for everyone then the train would be better?

It seemed to be multiple services (probably just one bus running continuously but it's a quick trip, so not a long wait).

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Hi all,
I'm doing Virgin from BNE-SYD (VA908) later this month, arriving 7:40 and connecting to UA870, which is a 10:20am departure. All on the one PNR, so hopefully 2 x BP's from my friends in Brisbane and a smooth trip down the coast
Having said that, is it still a case of leaving T2 and taking the train across to International, or is T-Bus back up and running?? VA's transfer page advises this, but I trust AFF membership a bit more.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Yes, T-Bus is running.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

When I was flying through SYD the other week, the "international transfers" signage was still taped over in the VA terminal, so I guess it's still a case of using the public transfer options - just not the one that used to be available from airside in T2 down the escalator.

 

[SYD]

Hi all,
I'm doing Virgin from BNE-SYD (VA908) later this month, arriving 7:40 and connecting to UA870, which is a 10:20am departure. All on the one PNR, so hopefully 2 x BP's from my friends in Brisbane and a smooth trip down the coast
Having said that, is it still a case of leaving T2 and taking the train across to International, or is T-Bus back up and running?? VA's transfer page advises this, but I trust AFF membership a bit more.

What class of travel? After transferring, the next hurdle is security screening. A J BP will get you priority lane access.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

What class of travel? After transferring, the next hurdle is security screening. A J BP will get you priority lane access.

Flying J on all legs, so hopefully Express Lane is operating..

 

[SYD]

Flying J on all legs, so hopefully Express Lane is operating..

Yes, it’s operating but strictly only for F/J PAX (not status PAX in whY / Y+).