Next fall, I'm traveling to Australia to study abroad by myself and I'm going from Boston to LAX to Sydney. I would really love it if someone could write to me and basically tell me if they've had to make this same trip and if they have any pointers, and I was also wondering if anyone knew of the procedures regarding customs and so forth. If anyone would be willing to give me some advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

You'll probably have to change terminals at LAX. There are plenty of signs and TV monitors to tell you where to go and you can ask any of the Gate Attendants or other airport personnel for directions if needed. There are shuttle busses that travel between terminals. If possible, when leaving Boston check your luggage all the way through to Sydney. If you are travelling on "code share airlines" (i.e. American for the Boston - LAX leg and Quantas for the LAX - Sydney leg you can get your boarding passes for both flights when you check in at the Boston Airport. If not, you may have to claim your luggage in LAX and re-check it when you check in for your LAX-Sydney flight - here again, the baggage claim areas will be well marked. You'll have to clear Customs and Immigration when you get to Australia. Everyone on your plane will be doing the same thing so just follow the crowds - you can't go wrong. Upon arrival in Sydney you go through Immigration first then claim your luggage before proceeding through customs. Have your passport handy and you'll get a customs form on the plane which you have to fill out and sign so it would be good to carry a pen with you. You will reverse the process when you come home.

Thank you very much for writing back to me - you have helped me tremendously! I have one more question for you that you might be able to answer. I read somewhere that when you go through customs, you need to have a list of all the items in your bag or what not. I also heard that when you ship stuff over internationally, you have to record what is in the package as well. Basically what I'm asking is how detailed do you have to be when it comes to reporting what you have in your luggage? Thank you again for your help.

You don't have to list everything that is in your luggage. When you arrive the Customs officer will asked what you have in your luggage and if you have anything declare - i.e. any new items you are bringing in for gifts, for sale, or that you do not intend to take back with you when you leave the country (these are subject to duty). You also have to declare any food items, drugs or agricultural products which you cannot bring into the country. If you have them in your luggage they will be confiscated. There will be a list of banned items at the entrance to the customs area. If you have any, just declare them and everything will be fine. If you are caught trying to smuggle in contraban you'll be in big trouble. If you are planning to travel with new or relatively new electronics, computers, cameras or jewelry that you will be bring back with you on your return you might want to register them with the US Customs office before you leave or at the very least bring copies of your receipts to prove you did not acquire them while you were out of the country - otherwise you might be assesed duty on those items when you return to the US.

If you are shipping thing into Australia you will have to provide your shipper with an itemized list (with values) of everything in the shippment packages. You will need a customs broker in Australia to clear the shippment through customs for you - provide them with an itemized list with values to help make the process easier.

<b>If</b> you are flying American and Qantas, you will not have to change terminals. I believe all the flights to Sydney on Qantas leave from terminal 4, AA's terminal. It will be just like connecting for a domestic flight. Arrive at gate A and depart from gate C or D or something like that, but same terminal. If you are flying other airline from BOS to LAX you will have to change terminals.

LAX is set up like a horseshoe. Terminal 1, 2 and 3 on one side, international terminal (most internationals) on the turn and followed by terminal 4, 5, 6 and 7. If you are connecting between neighboring terminals and if it's not raining, you could walk very comfortably, but let's say, you are connecting between terminal 1 and 4, the free shuttle bus would be the way to go. They run frequently around the airport. Just leave the terminal you arrived at and follow the signs for the free shuttle.

Here is a good map of LAX:

<b>http://www.lawa.org/lax/terminalMap.cfm</b>

Luggage should be checked all the way, no problem.

Also, don't forget, you need a visa for Australia!

Have a wonderful trip!

If you need a <i>tourist</i> visa, also called an electronic travel authority, to Australia, you can sign up for one online at http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

United and Air New Zealand have, at least until recently, arranged this for travelers. Qantas and AA does not but it's easy and less that $20 on that website. I point this out as a visa has been mentioned. However, since you said you were going to study, I would guess those in your schooling system may be arranging that student visa for you.

On customs - it's good not to try to be deceptive as you're asked questions or given forms. The main concern other than the obvious illegal things has to do with food products. Australia is rightly concerned about keeping out most kinds of fresh foods, as they have a very closed environment and pests (meaning insects and such, not tourists) slipping in could cause a lot of harm. It would be usually be ok to take commercially packaged goods, but not fresh fruit, meat and the like. Hope you have a blast.

Qantas departs from Tom Bradley terminal, not terminal 4. If you are on the 1pm flight leave plenty of connect time as the security lines are long at that time of day. Have a good trip.

heretoday,

AAFF is right (at least as of December). Most flights from LAX to Australia start at the Tom Bradley terminal, including at least one to SYD. But there are a few flights from T4 to Sydney, as I walked by the gates myself (though we were going to Melbourne, so not of any use to me)

<b>heretoday</b>,

I don't know where you get your info from, but here is my proof, straight from Qantas.com:

<i>Flight: QF 012
Operated by Qantas

Departure: Los Angeles Los Angeles Int'l
<b>Terminal 4</b>
Date: Wed 15 Sep 04
Time: 22: 30

Arrival: Sydney Kingsford Smith
Terminal 1
Date: Fri 17 Sep 04
Time: 06: 05


Meal: Yes
Stopover: -
Total duration: 14hr 35mn
Aircraft type: 747-400 - view aircraft / seat map





Flight: QF 108
Operated by Qantas

Departure: Los Angeles Los Angeles Int'l
<b>Terminal 4</b>
Date: Wed 15 Sep 04
Time: 23: 45


Arrival: Sydney Kingsford Smith
Terminal 1
Date: Fri 17 Sep 04
Time: 07: 20


Meal: Yes
Stopover: -
Total duration: 14hr 35mn
Aircraft type: 747-400 - view aircraft / seat map</i>

If you are flying United from BOS to SYD you should not have to change terminals in LAX.

IF you do have to change terminals, it is free to hop on one of the buses. But you will need the &quot;A&quot; BUS to go from one LAX terminal to another. The B and C buses go out to remote parking areas from the terminals and do not take passengers that only need to transfer from one terminal to another.

Regarding the terminal change: Most flights to SYDNEY now leave from Terminal 4. ALL other flights to Oz still leave from the international terminal.

Either way, it's not a big deal. We travel frequently to Australia and usually arrive on AA at Terminal 4, collect our bags and walk to the Intl Terminal. Takes all of 5 minutes to get from one to the other.

Qantas has abundant signage clearly showing which flights leave from T4 posted at the check in counters.

As for the visa, make sure you have the appropriate visa well in advance. Australia's visa process is usually straightforward but if you have any difficulty, it can get messy. Do not rely on the university or anyone else to arrange your visa. Understand which visa you need and make sure you get it yourself.

The website mentioned by Clifton is good for a tourist visa. For an overview of the different types of Aussie visas, see http://www.immi.gov.au/.

If you are shipping small items to Oz, you will have to fill out a customs declaration form at the time you send the package. It's a little form where you list what's in the package and the value of it. You don't have to get too specific, just a general description (clothing, CD's, shoes) will usually suffice. I'm not sure about larger packages - sounds like Sunnyboy's advice is pretty good though!

Going through customs in Sydney is exactly as Sunnyboy described. Before you land, the flight crew will give you a form to fill out that asks a few simple questions (name, nationality, passport number, purpose of visit.) Take a pen with you on the plane to fill this out. Once you land, you'll get off the plane and go through immigration where they will ask you for your passport &amp; customs form. Once you pass through, you collect your luggage and go through customs. You will be asked if you have any food, alcohol, etc. If you have any popcorn, trail mix, fruits or nuts, they will be taken away.

You'll be amazed at how easy it all is. Enjoy your time in Australia - it's a wonderful country! You might also want to read the Australia boards here on Fodors - they are very good with lots of detailed information from some real Aussie experts.

I haven't checked this board in a few weeks thinking no one would be kind enough to write back, but I just wanted to say thank you to all who are helping to ease my nerves for when I do go over. I am so very excited, and I appreciate all of the information, honestly. Thank you all very much.

Australia has strict laws prohibiting the import of weapons, firearms, and drugs and severe penalties are handed out for infractions. On arrival you will be presented with a customs declaration form. Sydney is a great place...do not worry about custom you must claim your language and little formalities . Best of luck.

ashleee, you're correct on import restrictions -

but so you know, this thread is 6 years old and a similar one was 11 years old. These trips have probably been taken long ago. I believe you must have done some sort of search that returned some pretty dated results.

<b>ashleee</b>,

You just pulled up a 6 year old thread. I believe the Op already had a wonderful time in Sydney.....

ashlee has topped about 6 really old threads today (one from 1999 fer cryin' out loud!).

She's been a busy little bee - but it looks like she needs a different hobby

The other post have been zapped - apparently she was advertising an OZ resort.

Thanks Janisj.

She jumped onto my trip report and wished me a good time when I came to Australia. I live here!and said I should to Byron Bay. Her langusge use was very strange.

I thought she was suspect and followed her here.

I was about to mention her to the Eds.

Thanks