Passing through Sydney

10 August 2015, 02:25

Next July I will be connecting through Sydney on the way to Darwin for a buffalo hunt. My flight options are fairly limited. The best option leaves just two hours and twenty minutes before the flight from Sydney departs for Darwin. My guide informed me that he thought it would "probably" be enough time to pass through passport control and have the paper work inspected for the rifle. I would greatly appreciate anyone's experiences or thoughts in regards to the short layover in Sydney. Thank you very much. Blake

10 August 2015, 12:44

Bakes

are you saying that you want to see Sydney in those two hours?

10 August 2015, 23:57

SDSpink

quote:
Originally posted by Bakes:
are you saying that you want to see Sydney in those two hours?

Hi Bakes. No, what I was wondering is if the two hours and twenty minutes is enough time to process through the Sydney airport and still make my Darwin connection. Remember, I have to process the rifle through Sydney as well.

11 August 2015, 01:08

Bakes

Having never done what your asking I'll have to say listen to your guide. Have you shot Qantas an email?

11 August 2015, 01:29

Minor Nomad

When flying through Sydney the minimum gap for the next domestic connection I personally would plan for with standard baggage is 1.5 hours.

As firearms have to be declared it can sometimes mean that you jump the often long queue of people who are not declaring anything. As long as your paperwork is in order the declaring / checking process was pretty efficient when I went through with a rifle. I am sure this could also be a lengthy process if you get the wrong person on the wrong day.

If your connecting flight is with Qantas you can recheck in your baggage at the International terminal and then catch the Qantas bus to the domestic terminal.

Customs / Immigration are not concerned at all if you miss your connecting flight, so they wont "hurry up" for your benefit. If you miss your connection you will just get booked on the next flight to that destination at the Qantas counter. Just check when that it as it will be your plan B.

So I would say 2.5 hours would normally be enough travelling with firearms if you have an onwards Qantas connection.

I am not sure how a Virgin connection would go? I haven't tried that.

11 August 2015, 03:35

SDSpink

quote:
Originally posted by Minor Nomad:
When flying through Sydney the minimum gap for the next domestic connection I personally would plan for with standard baggage is 1.5 hours.

As firearms have to be declared it can sometimes mean that you jump the often long queue of people who are not declaring anything. As long as your paperwork is in order the declaring / checking
process was pretty efficient when I went through with a rifle. I am sure this could also be a lengthy process if you get the wrong person on the wrong day.

If your connecting flight is with Qantas you can recheck in your baggage at the International terminal and then catch the Qantas bus to the domestic terminal.

Customs / Immigration are not concerned at all if you miss your connecting flight, so they wont "hurry up" for your benefit. If you miss your connection you will just get booked on the next flight to that destination at the Qantas counter. Just check when that it as it will be your plan B.

So I would say 2.5 hours would normally be enough travelling with firearms if you have an onwards Qantas connection.

I am not sure how a Virgin connection would go? I haven't tried that.

Thank you very much for your input and time. I would be coming into Australia on an American Airlines flight and then a Qantas flight from Sydney to Darwin. It sounds like it is at least possible to complete the procedures in in the time frame I have. Blake

15 August 2015, 14:49

nickh

I think your leaving it too tight. Don't believe that you can do the immigration, gun and re check in then transfer to domestic terminal in this time frame.
If all the moons are aligned it can happen, but with firearms, i think its risky.

I need to connect from Sydney to my home town when coming back from Africa, 3 hrs is the best I've done it. other times a lot longer.

cheers

Nick

16 August 2015, 00:10

SDSpink

quote:
Originally posted by nickh:
I think your leaving it too tight. Don't believe that you can do the immigration, gun and re check in then transfer to domestic terminal in this time frame.
If all the moons are aligned it can happen, but with firearms, i think its risky.

I need to connect from Sydney to my home town when coming back from Africa, 3 hrs is the best I've done it. other times a lot longer.

cheers

Nick

Thanks, Nick, for your input. I greatly appreciate it. Blake

17 August 2015, 04:08

ozhunter

[QUOTE]Originally posted by nickh:
I think your leaving it too tight. Don't believe that you can do the immigration, gun and re check in then transfer to domestic terminal in this time frame.
If all the moons are aligned it can happen, but with firearms, i think its risky.

I need to connect from Sydney to my home town when coming back from Africa, 3 hrs is the best I've done it. other times a lot longer
-----------

+1
ALSO ensure you have quatas's letter of approval to carry ammunition and firearm (easy to get with email to Qantas dangerous good) or you may not get ammo & rifle through.
.

17 August 2015, 04:43

SDSpink

There is a Virgin Australia flight that leaves Sydney at 9:50 AM and arrives at Darwin at 2:10 PM. That would give us 3 hours and 20 minutes to process through Sydney's airport. Any good or bad in regards to Virgin Australia instead of Qantas? The only other option is a 7:45 PM flight from Sydney which would dictate a 13 hour layover in Sydney----OUCH!!

17 August 2015, 17:02

nickh

Haven't flown with firearms on VIrgin for a while, they were good when I did
But may have new rules now.
The problem with the Virgin connection is that you will need to get a cab from the
International terminal to the domestic, then line up and checkin.

Only Qantas has a check in and shuttle facility in the International terminal, which saves a heap of time.

Again I don't think it's worth the risk if it's 3 hrs from landing to take off.

Cheers

Nick

Ps Oz is correct, if you fly Qantas you will need a dangerous goods permit, you can get it online, usually takes a few days though.

17 August 2015, 18:19

Big Wonderful Wyoming

We got stuck in Sydney for 6 hours coming back from New Zealand.

Plan for the worst.

They only had one guy that could check to see if our rifles were unloaded.

18 August 2015, 05:05

sambarman338

As long as your first flight arrives on time, I would have thought that time would probably be enough, especially if you haven't been to a farm and your boots are clean - but maybe you should plan a stopover if you haven't seen the beautiful city.

I missed a plane from Sydney to Melbourne after returning from Africa in 2009, despite Customs and Quarantine cooperating to get me through quickly, but they had to look at someone coming back from a hunt with various souvenirs etc.

I can't remember what the time between arrival and the original flight was but, being a domestic transfer where most people would not want to wait long, it might have only been an hour or two. Anyway, Qantas just put me on the next flight. Being a much-serviced route, that was only half an hour later - going to Darwin, you might have to wait a lot longer.

18 August 2015, 07:16

nickh

The problem with Cutoms in sydney is to find an authorised Firearms trained officer. it can take a while to get someone to come and check through firearm and paperwork. IT IS A LOTTERY!!!
you can't rely on a time for this.

I travel 2 or 3 times a year with firearms through sydney. Its always a challenge. THEY WILL BE MORE CONCERNED when dealing with foreign citizens entering with firearms than local returning home.
i.e. may take longer!!!

cheers

Nick

20 August 2015, 01:42

Big Wonderful Wyoming

quote:
Originally posted by nickh:
The problem with Cutoms in sydney is to find an authorised Firearms trained officer. it can take a while to get someone to come and check through firearm and paperwork. IT IS A LOTTERY!!!
you can't rely on a time for this.

I travel 2 or 3 times a year with firearms through sydney. Its always a challenge. THEY WILL BE MORE CONCERNED when dealing with foreign citizens entering with firearms than local returning home.
i.e. may take longer!!!

cheers

Nick

yes this!

20 August 2015, 01:52

SDSpink

I wish to extend a huge thank you to everyone who responded to my inquiry. I MAY have found one flight option with a 4.5 hour layover in Sydney which will still get me to Darwin by mid-afternoon.

20 August 2015, 09:08

georgeld

Spink:
can't you check your guns n luggage all the way thru and let them do the transfers?

I'm hoping to be able to do the same hunt next year too. Who you going with up in NT? What dates?

Thanks n good luck,
George

20 August 2015, 17:29

nickh

Guys,
You can't check through! You must clear in Sydney, then check in onto the domestic connection.

Nick

24 August 2015, 07:14

sheephunterab

Our Quantas flight from Dallas to Sydney is currently delayed an hour, leaving us 95 minutes to make our Darwin flight. We will let you know how it goes! Otherwise it's a 14 hour wait for the next Quantas flight to Darwin.

25 August 2015, 09:54

sheephunterab

We were travelling without guns but from time we touched down, had quaranteen officers hold us on the plane to check out a sick passenger, get through customs and transfer terminals, we did it in 55 minutes. There was some running involved!