Can I just add my little b...as well. Arriving at Sydney airport from Japan recently I have to say I felt quite ashamed. It was more to do with the bus shuttle and the driver "tossing" our cases which had been so carefully nurtured and then proceeding to abuse a poor pedestrian crossing the crosswalk and other drivers on the road (nearly getting out and having a fight with one). This was the first introduction other tourists on the bus had-I felt I had to reassure the German couple next to us that we were not all the same!!

Andrew, we disembarked around 0615 - maybe you struck a good day. I should stress though that once we actually got through the chaotic bottleneck, saw our first Customs officer and answered a couple of clarifying questions about our declarations, we shot through like a Bondi tram. I wish they'd confiscated our packet of Canadian maple syrup-flavoured coffee though - sorry, Canadian cousins, but it's horrible.

Neil, I can only hope you didn't buy this product and that it was a gift from a misguided friend


A/D

We had a bad experience today at the Sydney airport. We flew Virgin Blue from Hobart to Sydney. We then had 5 hours till our United flight to L.A. We had hoped to go into Sydney, but this didn't work because we had to claim our luggage at the domestic terminal, take a bus (and pay A$5 each for it) to go from the domestic terminal, and then wait nearly an hour for United to have any staff to check our luggage. We could have gone downstairs and put our bags in a locker, but at that point it didn't seem worth it, so we found a table in the snack bar with some good light and read our books till it was time to check in. After that we had to go through two more security checks before boardings.

judielie, if you had to fly United to LA, or anywhere, you lost out double. My sympathies.

AD, I admit to buying that funny coffee, but at the time I was distracted by trying to mentally reverse-engineer your estimable Meatloaf alla Santa Fe, and didn't realise what I was doing. Maybe you could save me further brainstrain and send me the recipe.

OK - you guys are scaring me. We arrive in just over two weeks on a flight from LA that arrives at 22:20. Is it just as busy at night as it is in the morning? The thought of waiting for a full 2 hours to clear customs is not appealing...

Recently had friends come in on a late evening flight ex LA...worked very well.Airport relatively quiet and efficient and a rapid trip to their hotel downtown.They got a good nights sleep and had no jet lag the next day.

This flight timing bears strong consideration compared to the "overnight" flights ex the USA west coast that get in around 0600.

Thanks john - that is a relief. We specifically picked this flight for its arrival time, as jet lag has always been a problem for me. Good to hear we made the right choice!

No, I wouldn't worry about arriving at that time. Sydney has a 2300-0600 curfew, and early/mid-morning is a very busy time.

As I mentioned, it would have taken very little organisation to sort out the confusion in the baggage claim area. The problem was that the crush of people made it very difficult to discern the line. Even so, it certainly wasn't a 2-hour process.

murphey, as John and Neil have said you will not have the traffic jam problem at that time. Relax, come and enjoy!

Murphey

which airlines are running these flights?
United?
What time do they leave LA? (west coast usa time)

Qantas QF0008 - leaves LA at 12:50 LA time and arrives 22:20 SYD time.

So if you awake at say 0800 on the day you leave and a flight time of say 13 hrs then you are looking at a 19 hour "day" by the time your head hits the pillow at your sydney hotel.

Well, for me a little longer since I originate out of Edmonton (which means I get up about 03:00 LA time), but, yes, that is about right if you are staying in LA.

I returned on Tuesday from Europe, arriving at Melbourne. Since my last trip, the international section seems to have been reorganized, and the Immigration, Luggage Collection and Customs procedures were all very quick and efficient. I was outsdie the terminal and on my way home in about 40 minutes after landing.

rNeil, Dave and Randy have put the house on the market. In clearing up my incredibly messy room for the realtor's open house I found the SW Meatloaf recipe. I will transcribe and send it off to you soon. We actually still have leftovers from your party in the freezer!

cheers

Andrew

Andrew, I'm surprised you had any leftovers. I can't have been doing my job very well - too busy talking, as is my wont.

So, will the flash new house be ready by the time you're ejected by the new owners of Chez Dave-'n-Randy?

Neil, I'm moving on Wednesday. If Dave and Randy's house sells at the open house tomorrow I'll get to host them for a year at my new digs and they can bring me designer chocolate from New mexico!

A/D