Newbie flying to Australia...

[gippaloo]

Hi all!

I just had a quick question if I could...

I am planning on flying out to Sydney Australia at the end of May, and I have never flown out of the country before..

Could you guys let me know who the best options would be for flights? I am flying from either LAX or Phoenix, whichever is cheaper...

Also, is customs pretty strict in Australia? Are there certain things I should not bring with me when I fly there? I will also need a visa with my passport correct?

ok that was more than one question lol but hopefully you guys can help me out

Thanks so much!

 

[HappyFingers]

Could you guys let me know who the best options would be for flights? I am flying from either LAX or Phoenix, whichever is cheaper...

V Australia is the cheapest Australian Airline, well the cheapest that i would fly with anyway, but surely you can get here cheaper with an American Airline ?

Also, is customs pretty strict in Australia? Are there certain things I should not bring with me when I fly there? I will also need a visa with my passport correct?

yes they are just as strict as American Customs, Dont bring in any food and if you do declare it, you cant get into trouble for anything you declare, even if it is illegal such as a flcik-knife, they will just take it off you and perhaps question you as to why you are traveling with a flick=knife so long as your answer isnt im planning on killing someone then you will be fine, you can bring in certain foods but why bother bringing food ?
ok that was more than one question lol but hopefully you guys can help me out

the Lovely People in this sub forum are well traveled and very informative so feel free to ask away, dont worry if we are a bit slow to answer its all the beer they been drinking

Thanks so much!

HappyFingers

 

[DizOz]

gippaloo

LAX is your best bet. All airlines to Australia fly direct from LAX to Sydney.

As for flights there is not much to choose from. I suggest if you want value for money V Australia (Virgin) is probably the best (Based on feedback on this site). I tend to fly Qantas but is more expensive.

Customs is very strict on anything like food or plants. You will find you will have your bags xrayed on the way into the country by quarantine.

Yes a ETA visa is required. See attached site of info.

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/australia/passport-visa

 

[Chesire]

Hello there
We will be in a similar situation soon! My family is planning on moving to Australia at the end of May or Beginning of June (assuming our visa is approved). We are also flying out of LAX (with a quick trip to DL before we leave!)
I have been looking into airlines a bit we are planning on flying with V Australia or another (New Zealand air I believe).

 

[HappyFingers]

Hello there
We will be in a similar situation soon! My family is planning on moving to Australia at the end of May or Beginning of June (assuming our visa is approved). We are also flying out of LAX (with a quick trip to DL before we leave!)
I have been looking into airlines a bit we are planning on flying with V Australia or another (New Zealand air I believe).

Have you ever traveled to Australia before ?
what state are you planning on moving to ?

wow thats a big step to just pack up and leave

 

[kylieh]

Just don't forget to declare - even if you're unsure you're better to declare just in case. If you have declared and it's not an allowed item they will take it off you, if you haven't declared they will take it off you and give you a fine. They are very strict on food items. It doesn't mean that it's not allowed, just some ingredients aren't permitted. A good idea is to keep all your food items, medicines, etc together, and have a list which may speed it up. For example on our last trip back they asked what food and medicines we had, we told them M&Ms and Peanut Butter Cups. Not a problem.

Where you collect your bags there are normally sniffer dogs as well. If you've ever seen the Australian version of Border Security (YouTube "Border Security Australia") you'll sometimes see them in action.

Official government sites: http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4348.asp
and the a lot more friendlier: http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/GuideForTravellers.pdf

 

[Sugarglider]

yep - I agree with the previous posters. I do not know of direct flight out of Phoenix so you will just make you change flights/do customs in LAX anyway - so if you can get yourself to LAX you'll be fine. Watch the dates and the airlines they frequently have sales cause the route is now very competitive.
I like the look of Air NZ - they have great service, good rep, decent fares and have now introduced those new seats - e.g. sky couch in economy. however (yes there is a catch) not a direct flight to Sydney - you have to change in Auckland. (that's the deal breaker for me). However I believe V Australia will be good value.
Remember what the previous posters wrote about customs - it is very strict here. If you are unsure declare it. And we all want to protect our environment from imported nasties!!

 

[shushh]

Don't worry too much! The officers look grim but are generally friendly...You'll have a great time in Sydney. I am not biased in anyway of course!

Just wanted to add that Delta and United usually also offer very competitive rates. The others have captured the essence of the other important points!

 

[Chesire]

Have you ever traveled to Australia before ?
what state are you planning on moving to ?

wow thats a big step to just pack up and leave

Nope! We have never been to Australia.
I was accepted at the University of Canberra to study Pharmacy so we are moving so I can attend school there. We are flying to Sydney for a few days and then taking a train (maybe ... still deciding this one) into Canberra.
I have no idea what part of Canberra we will be in

 

[Sugarglider]

Nope! We have never been to Australia.
I was accepted at the University of Canberra to study Pharmacy so we are moving so I can attend school there. We are flying to Sydney for a few days and then taking a train (maybe ... still deciding this one) into Canberra.
I have no idea what part of Canberra we will be in

Welcome to beautiful downtown Canberra!
Hmm - catching the train to canberra - that could be start of a whole new thread. let me start - NOOOOOOO! check your airfare - you may be able to add the connecting SYD - CBR flight for a relatively cheap price.

My other recommendations: Murray's Coach - does a pick up at the airport and 3 hours to canberra city or if there a couple of you - rent a car. The airport is right on the expressway to Canberra and you can drive all your luggage direct to whatever door you end up living behind. This will be the cheapest and easiest if paying for 4
Tripadvisor's Canberra thread can also help you.

 

[Chesire]

Welcome to beautiful downtown Canberra!
Hmm - catching the train to canberra - that could be start of a whole new thread. let me start - NOOOOOOO! check your airfare - you may be able to add the connecting SYD - CBR flight for a relatively cheap price.

My other recommendations: Murray's Coach - does a pick up at the airport and 3 hours to canberra city or if there a couple of you - rent a car. The airport is right on the expressway to Canberra and you can drive all your luggage direct to whatever door you end up living behind. This will be the cheapest and easiest if paying for 4
Tripadvisor's Canberra thread can also help you.

Thank You! I didn't know Tripadvisor had a Canberra thread, will have to check it out! We were only thinking about the train because we wanted to spend a few days in Sydney before we came to Canberra, I didn't know about any car services, thank you!

 

[austraveler]

Welcome to beautiful downtown Canberra!


My other recommendations: Murray's Coach - does a pick up at the airport and 3 hours to canberra city or if there a couple of you - rent a car. The airport is right on the expressway to Canberra and you can drive all your luggage direct to whatever door you end up living behind. This will be the cheapest and easiest if paying for 4
Tripadvisor's Canberra thread can also help you.

Don't forget that we drive on the left hand side of the road here. Even the most confident driver might struggle in Sydney traffic on the opposite side of the road....

 

[MouseFan Down Under]

I would still check Qantas - the flights from the States to here are much cheaper than the flights from here to the States! How does that work?!?!

And as per previous posters - just make sure you declare EVERYTHING! I usually make a LONG list of all the things I have and they look at me with astonishment!! They usually then just flag you through.

 

[HappyFingers]

I would still check Qantas - the flights from the States to here are much cheaper than the flights from here to the States! How does that work?!?!

easy

if they tried to rip the Americans off the same way they rip the Aussies off as do all retailers in this country, they wouldnt be able to fill the plane so they could fly it back to pick up the next load of overcharged Australians

so you see its quite simple really

 

[ViOnline]

I agree - Virgin probably will be best bet. But check on expedia and then go to each of airline websites listed in expedia results.

gippaloo

LAX is your best bet. All airlines to Australia fly direct from LAX to Sydney.

As for flights there is not much to choose from. I suggest if you want value for money V Australia (Virgin) is probably the best (Based on feedback on this site). I tend to fly Qantas but is more expensive.

Customs is very strict on anything like food or plants. You will find you will have your bags xrayed on the way into the country by quarantine.

Yes a ETA visa is required. See attached site of info.

 

[gippaloo]

Thanks so much for the advice and help everyone! I booked with Qantas

I have another question.

I was wondering if it would be smart to get one of the foreign currency cards that are offered on the net to carry my money around with me? I have a Bank of America debit card, but I am not sure if there are BoA branches in Australia, and also not sure of what the ATM fees would be to withdraw cash from them. I am also nervous about carrying around a large amount of cash with me...

Do you guys think that it would be smart to get one of the currency cards and just load all of my money onto one of those? Or should I just exchange my USD to AUD at the airport and carry the cash on me?

Thanks so much!

 

[Sugarglider]

well - I am assuming that your debit is either visa or mastercard brand so it will be accepted everywhere. There is a branch office of BoA in Australia in the capital cities but it is not a widely distributed network. Perhaps talk to them, BoA may have arrangements with an Australian bank.
Anyway - with internet banking you can still have access to your accounts.
My bank has a debit card which gives me free foreign ATM access and no exchange rate fees - but I have to withdraw at the prevailing exchange rate. Perhaps BoA has this type of deal too.
A travel card is a decent deal - safe, low fees and you can lock in the exchange rate.

 

[HappyFingers]

IMO do not exchange money at the airport

The rate is a rip off at airports

Load up a card before you go
Shop around and find the best rate

Lock in a good rate before the us dollar falls any further

 

[queenie82]

Should I scare you about the Quarantine at the airport

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGoD3oimVFc

In essence declare any food you have and know where it is in your bags. Even if it is just Ghiradelli chocolates, which there is no problem with, just declare it.
Be honest and just do what they ask.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Aside from loading up the card with a favourable exchange rate before you come (the airport exchanges are not good!), I would recommend that you have a little bit of cash with you so that if you need to buy something at the airport or when you are at the hotel, you don't have to run around trying to find an ATM.