Hi we arrive Terminal 1 from San Francisco on United. Our flight lands at 6.45 am. We are bringing carry on and traveling business

We have booked on separate ticket to depart T1 for Fiji departing on Jetstar 8.55 am economy and will check our bags.

I know it’s tight connection and now I am worried it is too tight. If all goes to plan. Inbound flight not delayed etc do you think we can make it?

Any advice on Terminal 1 is very welcome and thanks to all who reply

I think you need to check in for your flight to Fiji three hours before departure for international flights. Seems you will not make this deadline, even counting on arrival in Sydney on time. Do you mean you'll be able to check your bags through to Fiji from SF? If not, you need to allow time to pass through customs, collect your luggage, then progress to next flight.

Its way way too tight for my mind! Di

Thanks your reply Di. We will do carry on for United into Sydney but then have to check our bags for the Fiji Jetstar flight as they don’t meet the carry on 7kg limit. We are in the same terminal and an international transfer so hopefully that will help. I know we still have to do customs on arriving and security and check in on for the next flight.

Firstly, make sure you have a visa for Australia or you won't even leave sfo
Secondly, I think you can make it, the good part is that you only have carry on so you will be ahead of the hoards arriving as there are heaps of planes all coming in at this time.
Thirdly, go upstairs to the jetstar checkin, get in the queue but get one of you to find a staff member and tell them your cutting it fine, they will move you to the front if they agree with you. Incidentally I was there on Sunday and virgin Australia were calling out passengers to Nadi to go immediately to the front of the queue
Good luck

Cheers Geordie!! Thanks for the heads up. We will definitely do that. We are lucky enough to be business on the United flight into Sydney with carry on. We plan on doing the 3 minute mile dash to the smart gates and using our UK passport and then onto customs. We have our E651 visitor done ready for our June visit. I didn’t realize Jetstar was upstairs so that great information. Appreciate your help

I think the difficult part here is that, even if you are able to check in for your Fiji flight before you depart for Australia, you will still need to exit the secure area of Terminal 1 and go to the check-in to check your bags. You will no longer be a simple transit passenger (you also need the appropriate Australia visa for that). That's why @Geordie is telling you to "go upstairs". It's because you have to leave the transfer area and start the check-in process from scratch (or at least drop your bag if you are already checked in). If you can't check in for your flight before you leave the U.S., I'm not at all confident you'll make it. I don't know if Jetstar has an express bag drop-off, but given their policies, I really doubt they will allow you to gate-check your bag, so it really does mean going and standing in the long line. I'm wondering if you could just buy a 3kg "top-off" for your luggage if it doesn't exceed 10kg, and then you could carry it on.

It is going to be a tight squeeze but as Doug says check in before you leave ago and then you only need to do a bag drop.
A better alternative would be to book virgin @ 10.30am assuming you can cancel your jetstar booking.
Low cost carriers don't do sob stories so no show means new tickets which will not be cheap

ago = sfo

Low cost carriers like Virgin and Jetstar are EXTREMELY vigilant on check in cut offs. I'd recommend contacting them with your flight details to confirm that you'll be able to make your connection. Or,for peace of mind, do the flight change suggested above.

Thanks everyone ���� Sorry for late reply. I didn’t realize you only get two replies a day!
Going to have to rethink and see how’s best to salvage the situation. If we cancel Jetstar we loose our money. So we may have to make a try for it but have back up plan at the ready. We do have our Australian visa sorted as we have a week in Sydney booked after Fiji. I will look at the carry on upgrade also to see if we can boost our allowance.

Do you know if we can stay in the transit lounge at Sydney as landing and departing from same terminal as I am sure I read that they have own immigration and customs area. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply as I have been googling the heck out of this and we rang Sydney Airport and Jetstar and couldn’t get a definitive answer

Thanks for all your replies. I think we are going to struggle I contacted Jetstar today and they said it is do-able but we are pushing it. We cannot cancel our flight as its non-refundable, I may increase our baggage limit but seeing as we have to check in anyway I might as well leave it. I looked at Blacklane and they have a fast track system where they meet you at the flight arrival gate and escort you through immigration, customs and onto the front of the queue with jet star. It doesn't come cheap $500 for the four of us. Expensive lesson learned, do research before purchase!! We have done this type of connection before but at US airports and made it so we will have to take our chances.

I would like to thank you all for your replies. If anyone has used the Blacklane service for international connections it would be great to hear how it went before I make another expensive mistake

Even domestically in Australia traveling on Jetstar means picking up your luggage - they do not transfer luggage.
Have you paid for your luggage with your ticket ? Otherwise it's much more expensive . Doug 's suggestion of the 3 kgs extra payment is a good one .
Do your Jetstar airfares cost more than $500 ? If not you might be better off cutting your losses and cancelling .
Havent heard of Blacklane but hope someone can help.

just searched Blacklane - seem to be a limousine company . I assume you've looked up what they offer .

Sydney, N.S.W. (Sydney Intl)

SFO SYD
United Airlines - UA 863
5/25 11:00 PM - 5/27 6:55 AMSYD NAN
Jetstar - JQ 119
5/27 8:55 AM - 5/27 2:55 PM

• Connection Service (SYD)

• Hi Northie, I got this off the Blacklane website. they also do offer a car service. There are also other companies that operate in Sydney such as Fast Track airport assistance and Airport Assist by MUrgency so Im looking into all of them the flights are more than the $500 for this service

• this is Blacklanes service below
  
• Staying in the airport between flights? Book our Connection Service for a seamless in between.
  • Agent pickup at arrival gate.
  • Expedite immigration and customs.
  • Recheck your luggage, if necessary.
  • Take you to a lounge or waiting area.
  • Escort you to your departure gate.
  
  $500.00
  Add

>>Sorry for late reply. I didn’t realize you only get two replies a day! <<

Just an FYI: That is only when one is brand new. Now that you have 5+ posts you don't have that limitation . . .