Flights down under

[radeng]

What's life like as SLF in Australia and New Zealand? Is there as much hassle as in the UK with Bl****y Awful Airports? How do they go on with bottles of prescription medicine that are more than 100ml, and injection syringes and needles?

[redsnail]

For international travellers, yes (http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/security/aviation/lag/index.aspx). That is, arriving and departing Oz.

Here's (http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/SACL/Terminal+Information/Safety+and+Security/default.htm) more info.

[NZScion]

Speaking of NZ here...

Domestic is easy. Only 737 flights are subject to security checks. (I think the rule is all domestic flights with >100 pax). Anything else and they don't bother. If you are on a flight with Eagle (B1900), the cockpit is open as well.

International is the usual, although not as bad as in the EU (I haven't been through the UK since the liquid rule was in place). Although being a smaller place, the queues tend to be small and you get through in 5-10 mins max. Flights to/via the US are subject to additional checks (though why bother with the US when you can go via HKG/SIN/DXB?)

[radeng]

Thanks for the info. Came through LHR T4 today with no problem, although the medicine comes in 150mL bottles. Really makes a mockery of the whole thing, doesn't it? And they didn't even look at the hypodermic needles......

Looking forward to the Australia/ New Zealand holiday in August. It will be the 'trip of a lifetime'.

[John Hill]

Have a great visit and I trust the weather will be kind to you in August.

[Monkeytoo]

If you are transiting through Australia onto NZ I have always found the security people much worse in Melbourne than in Sydney or Brisbane so avoid Melbourne if you can.

[radeng]

Current plans are arrive SYD Aug 14, train to MEL Aug 15 to see something of the country, stay with a guy I was an apprentice with in the 1960's, train to SYD Aug 18, SYD sightseeing Aug 19, ZigZag railway Aug20, Fly Brisbane to stay with friends Aug 21 and to Auckland Aug 25. Fly back from SYD on Sept 9 arriving LHR Sep 10 - our 25th wedding anniversary!

Splurged 500,000 BA miles plus an upgrade for 2 and £480 on two First Class return tickets LHR - SYD. As I said, holiday of a lifetime!

From everything I hear, if I was 30 years younger, I'd emigrate......

[Paracab]

Recently took a domestic flight with Qantas from Sydney to Cairns and it was truly the worst airport experience I've had in years. The queue (which blocked the main doors to the terminal) went on forever and took the best bit of an hour to get through, to the point where staff were calling for passengers with flights departing within the hour to make themselves known, in order to get to their aircraft on time.

A massive thumbs up to Singapore airport though, on arrival our baggage beat us to the carousel and then straight though with minimal fuss on departure the next day. Once airside we found complimentary entertainment and internet access.

[kiwi chick]

It surely is a beautiful country - I wouldn't live anywhere else! :ok:

Got friends who are Air NZ crew, and even they have to abide by the 100ml rule... one of them has even been hassled about it a couple of times.

:ugh:

[Fliegenmong]

Hiya Radeng, make a trip down to the "Goldy" if you can, in particular the (disputed) NSW / QLD border region beaches. A trip up to Mt Coot-tha is well worth the while for a look out over the greater Brisbane area. :ok:

[parabellum]

Friend of mine recently planned a rail trip SYD-MEL and finished up on a coach!!! Be sure to ask before handing over any money that you are going on a train and not the bus.
Never had any problems at MEL airport, quite a friendly bunch all round I thought.

[kiwi chick]

HA!! Same thing happened to me! MEL - SYD

Well... we started off on a train and then an hour or so into the trip got arseholed onto a bus!!

:ugh: What's with that?

[parabellum]

Probably essential engineering and not enough rolling stock to run a train either side - or some bozo that thinks he can drive over a crossing to beat the train and fails!:(

[angels]

I caught a train to Bourke once from Sydders. It was excellent until Dubbo when we had to get on a battered old coach the rest of the bleeding way.....

[John Hill]

Since we are now telling bus experiences! My darling wife and I boarded a bus in Hobart to go to Launceston, a trip of several hours. It was very hot and the bus was overcrowded so when they asked for volunteers to wait for another bus we were only too happy to oblidge, no one else got off and the bus eventually left with standing passengers.

No sooner had we returned to the waiting room when one of the drivers came to us and said he was delivering a new bus to Launceston! Brand new and fully air conditioned! We set off in great style and soon overtook the other bus labouring up a bit of a gradient. We stopped half way for a cup of tea and a sandwich at Oatlands where the other bus soon arrived and some passengers asked to transfer to our bus. "Get stuffed, you had your chance!" was what our driver told them.

[c3pd]

:) Wow, BA First Class LHR/SYD/LHR..everything else is going to be a bonus whatever you do eh? :)

Re the train journey to Melbourne from Sydney..just a couple of considerations:

1. Interstate train travel is probably not the first choice mode of travel here in Oz, flying is the obvious prime mode..have you considered a Qantas return to Sydney after your Melbourne sojourn? Is there any point in doing the same route back by train (seeing same scenery) when the flight gets you back in Sydney in an hour? Flying BA may get you a good price on a one way Melb/Syd with Qantas? Check out Qantas.com.au for the latest one-way fares here in Oz..perhaps your friend could book you a one-way Melb/Syd if it's cheaper to buy the ticket here than thru BA?

2. Check out a couple of travel sites to get feedback from people who have actually done the Syd/Melb train journey (ie: prices, tickets, hassles etc). I only really know Virtualtourist.com but there are obviously more..just Google them. I have never travelled on the rail network here in Oz, but I don't think it's like the 'Canadian Pacific experience'..if you know what I mean..I could be wrong though, the Syd/Melb route may be fine..see what travellers say.

3. August in Australia and New Zealand is winter time in the Southern Hemisphere..now coming from the UK you'll probably think it's "summer"! Sorry. I'm a Pom too, daytime temps will be most likely in the 12 Celcius to 20 Celcius range in Sydney and 10 to 18 in Melbourne, most probably you'll get some rain..so you'll feel at home, sorry again. Brisbane will most likely be in the 15 to 20 Celcius range, warmer. New Zealand will most likely be chilly and wet, so have a jacket (or be ready to buy one).

But who cares mate..you're travelling bloody First Class on BA :O :p ;)

[radeng]

I'd figured that August is not quite the middle of winter but early spring, so raincoat, scarf, gloves and umbrella need packing......

The APX train is based on the UK's High Speed Train: I gather it's worth the small amount extra to go First Class, and because of the darkness, we'd see different bits of country each way. It would be bettter if hauled by steam, of course.........We are intending to atke the train out to Lithgow so we can ride the preserved steam ZigZag railway.

Travelling First on BA should be nice, but it has been paid for - think how many hours I've spent in an aluminium chicken to hit 900,000 FF miles! I also have a lifetime Gold card on American for hitting 1,000,000 miles with them. This is punishment, not nourishment!

Off again tomorrow. Done 8 European flights on BA so far this year, 4 more next week......and I'm supposedly partially retired, working part time!