Hey guys, looking for some advice on what to do here. I'm getting married to a girl in Texas in late September before coming back to Thailand for our honeymoon. I booked return Syd-Dal with Qantas and have since booked Sydney-Phuket flights on Expedia with Scoot. To avoid any issues, we arrive in Sydney at 6am and leave at ~9pm that night. I don't really want to leave the airport (she'll have to go through customs and then we'll have all the bother of coming back in). I live in Newcastle, so not worth going home in between and Sydney city holds no attraction for spending the day (can come back anytime). I was thinking of hunting down a lounge pass of some sort, but apparently you need to be flying with Qantas to get lounge passes (not sure if lounge passes work for flights you've just finished?). Are there any other lounges I can get cheap access to in Sydney International Airport, or am I stuck?
13hr Layover In Sydney
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Happy wife, happy life?
I feel like we'll both be exhausted after the wedding and then 17hr flight the day after, so didn't want to get too adventurous. I guess it's not a huuuuge amount of effort to get out there, but whatever we end up doing we'll probably want it to be fairly relaxing (no shopping / sight-seeing). I figured a lounge at the airport would fit the bill nicely, but suggestions for relaxing things in Sydney city work too I guess!
Maybe I've misunderstood, but won't you have to go through customs whether you leave the airport or not?
You'll arrive in SYD on Qantas, have to clear immigration and customs, and then be left waiting for the Scoot check in counters to open at around 6pm. If you really have no desire to visit the city or surrounds, I'd recommend that you get a day room at a hotel nearby
I thought if you stayed inside you wouldn't have to clear customs, but clearly I didn't think it through very well aha. I'll see what's nearby because that doesn't sound half bad. :) Is a day room any different to just booking a night? ie. can I book a room from 7am-7pm and pay less?
ahaha it would be the case if it were all under the one booking, but not so for your purposes unfortunately!
Policies and offerings vary by hotel, but a day room is generally for the daytime use of a hotel room (usually something like 8am - 6pm). It will mean you can get off your flight, go straight to your hotel and check in (rather having to wait around for the standard check-in time of 2pm). You could then have a sleep, shower, grab some food and go back to the hotel.
Have a look at https://au.dayuse.com/s/australia/new-south-wales/the-counci…
Amex Lounge could be an option depending on which credit cards you hold.
Don't have an AMEX. Is it free entry if you have a relevant card? My income is ~$60,000 and I've found most of the CC with lounge passes require 70k+…?
I believe Amexi are based on household income rather than personal, so might be able to make it that way?
There about 6 or so Amex cards which give you two passes per year to their lounges.
Partner doesn't have a job atm due to the visa situation and I've only been out of uni for 6 months. We'll be sorting it all out after the wedding. So just my income at the minute (so we're on a bit of a tight budget).
Firstly congrats.
You could look at picking up some priority passes or getting a CC with priority pass. They provide access to some lounges and don't need to be on a specific one.
Thanks! That sounds pretty good actually. Where can I find these priority passes? I assume you also don't need to show a boarding pass for the relevant carrier?
After 17 hours wedding + flight, I’d be getting a room and getting a proper rest.
Any suggestions for a good place at a reasonable price near the airport? :)
It's part of your honeymoon. Just book a room at the nearest hotel. You guys will be randy as all after waiting all this time to get married.
I would go into the CBD and do a walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, bus it to Bondi beach for some scenery and then walk around the CBD before heading back.
But I would say you guys may be real tired after all the travelling and may just want to sleep it off at a hotel in the CBD and chill.
I would use the Sydney transit to 'time shift' towards Thai-time.
Book a hotel for your arrival, and then go somewhere for an early dinner before returning to the airport for the outbound.For the hotel, have a look at: https://www.between9and5.com/en/day-rooms-sydney/
I assume they will store your luggage after your check-out.Taxi ride to Icebergs for a scenic early dinner, taxi back to the hotel / airport.
"Taxi ride to Icebergs for a scenic early dinner"
I will never step into that disgusting place.I was reading about the head chef Monty being a bully to chef Sashi on national TV, so I wonder how he is behind closed doors. Disgusting man.
Sashi was running behind time on his prep so he had to 'ride' him to pick up the pace. The other contestants also got a got kick up the bum to move along. I didn't think there was much bullying going on for just Sashi, I think he wanted to get everything out on time.
Just a stupid reply so thread reads My mum knobbs Tightbottom
Well played!
Your personal opinion, based on a heavily-edited reality tv show.
I've had nice meals there, and the view is nice. It's just a suggestion to OP.
"I've had nice meals there"
Full-price meals?I mean, I understand if they had 2 for 1 like Hungry Jacks whoppers. Please tell me it was shouted or free or half-price.
Thanks for that link! Those hotels look like exactly what we're after. :)
If you want to spend the day wandering around Sydney you could leave your luggage in storage.
https://www.airwise.com/airports/australia/sydney/luggagePublicTransport to/from airport.
https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/using-public-transport…WTF would you do in Sydney airport for 13hrs?????? Seriously, just leave the airport and go to the city for the day. It's only 15min away
There are a bunch of hotels near the airport. If I were you I'd book one. Freshen up after a long flight would be nice. Plus just married so put the bed to use :)
i need more information, you are marrying a girl in texas? so you have met before right. Just hoping there is no catfish situation going on :) or if there is i need Neve and max in on this
Make sure her visas are in order for Australia (wedding could complicate that)
Everyone always has to clear customs when arriving in Australia
The paid lounge access at the airport normally has a time limit 2-3hours or so.
I’d check into hotel, that flight from DFW is brutal, the ibis/f1 is pretty cheap.I don't understand, why are you connecting through Sydney?
I booked return SYD-DFW before booking the honeymoon. Return flights are also much cheaper than separate 1-way flights (eg SYD-DFW-???-SYD)
Since you can’t check in for Scoot more than 3h in advance your hands may be tied.
Would you really rather stay at the airport rather than have a nice meal by the harbour? Going through the hassle of customs would be worth it I think. I'm sure you new wife would prefer it too.