Practical tips
- If you are flying to Sydney from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport—Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport
SYD(also known as Mascot Airport). It is the largest and busiest airport operating in Australia and is also the oldest commercial airport in the world. The airport comprises three terminals: Terminal 1 for all international flights, Terminal 2 for domestic flights (Virgin, Jetstar, Rex and Qantas with flight numbers QF1600 up), and Terminal 3 for Qantas flights (flight numbers QF0400-1599). Both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 are in close proximity to one another, and a complimentary shuttle bus service, T-Bus, runs between Terminal 1 and T2 and T3. Additionally, if you are transferring between domestic or international flights with either Qantas or Virgin, you may be eligible for the Seamless Transfer service from your designated airline.
There are multiple transport options to choose from when arriving at Sydney Airport, including trains, buses, shuttles, and taxis. The airport is only 8km from the Central Business District (CBD), making it relatively close to the city compared to other major airports. A short, 25-minute taxi ride to the CBD will cost about 45-55 AUD.
If you prefer ridesharing options to taxis, you can request an Uber, Ola, Didi or Bolt from all terminals within Sydney Airport. Simply send the request after exiting the terminal and follow the green signs to the Priority Pick-up zone where you can wait for your driver. There is free WiFi at the airport for you to access your apps without having a sim card.
Plans are now in place to construct a second airport to serve Sydney’s ever-growing population - Western Sydney AirportWSAis currently under construction and is set to open in 2026. The airport will be located in Badgerys Creek, around 50km from the Sydney CBD.
SYD located 8 km (5 miles) south of the Sydney central business district, in the suburb of Mascot (hence the colloquial name Mascot Airport), next to Botany Bay. It takes about 25 minutes to drive from the airport to the city center in light traffic.
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Bamboo Airways, Batik Air, Cebu Pacific, Jetstar, Scoot, VietJet Air, Avianca, and WestJet.
Flights to Sydney
from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Sydney. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Sydney, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. Direct flights to Sydney
SYDare just 10 hours long if you are departing from HonoluluHNL. The popular route from West Coast (Los AngelesLAX, San FranciscoSFO, VancouverYVR) to SydneySYDtakes around 16 hours. When opting for a non-stop flight, American travelers can only choose from a limited range of flight operators: Air Canada, American Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Australia, United Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines. - Sydney is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Sydney with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Sydney from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, ANA, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
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What is the best time to book flights to Sydney?
The best time to book flights to Sydney is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Sydney flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Airfare prices for Sydney flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales.
Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats.
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays including holidays in Australia. If you must travel during peak times, book your flight well in advance.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Sydney less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Sydney, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. This is the “Prime Booking Window.” After some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 a.m.) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand—most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Flights to Sydney from Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Sydney — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. There is only a handful of direct flights from Europe to Sydney, all of them operated by Qantas and departing from London Heathrow
LHRor RomeFCO(more than 22 hours long flights). - Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Sydney include ANA, British Airways, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Finnair, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, Qantas, Thai Airways, and United Airlines,.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Sydney from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
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The cheapest time to fly to Sydney
The cheapest time to fly to Sydney is during the winter months of June to August. This is the low season in Sydney with fewer tourist crowds, as the colder temperatures keep most travelers away. Due to decreased demand for flights, airlines offer significant discounts and promotions on airfares. Flying to Sydney between June and August can save you at least 20% compared to the high season.
To get decent weather conditions and still avoid crowds of tourists and high airfares, book your flight for the shoulder seasons: September and November (spring) and between February and April (autumn). It is just before people start traveling for their holidays.
Remember that since Sydney is located in the Southern Hemisphere – seasons are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Prearrange your Australian tourist visa
Most travelers flying to Sydney from overseas are required to obtain an Australian visa. It needs to be arranged in advance unless you are a citizen of New Zealand (who can obtain a visa on arrival).
The type of tourist visa to apply for would depend on your passport and the length of your intended stay:
- Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Available to citizens of certain countries. Allows multiple visits to Australia, each visit can last up to 3 months within a 1-year period. There is an application service charge of A$20.
- eVisitor. Free visa available for passport holders from most European countries. Allows multiple visits to Australia, each visit can last up to 3 months within a 1-year period.
- Visitor Visa. Open to all nationalities. When applying you may be granted a stay of 3, 6 or 12 months. Cost: A$150.
- Transit Visa. Free visa that will let you transit through Australia for up to 72 hours.
You can apply online, or on paper, by visiting an Australian embassy. Even if most applications are resolved in a few weeks, it is recommended to submit your application at least 2 months before your flight to Sydney.
The 80-hour rule for Qantas seat selection
Did you know that Qantas reserves certain desirable seats for their elite frequent flyers? These “good” seats are usually at the front of the plane and you may not see them as available during the booking process (they are usually greyed out).
The good news, there is a simple solution to gain access to those seats as the restrictions are lifted precisely 80 hours before the departure. So, if you want to snap up the best seat on your flight to Sydney, log in to Qantas Manage Booking 80 hours before departure, check for previously unavailable seats, and change your seat selection.
Virgin Australia has an unofficial rule similar to Qantas – where any seats previously reserved for frequent flyers are released to all passengers 48 hours before departure (when online check-in opens).
Extra checked bag for an infant
Flying to Sydney with children? Virgin Australia aims to become the first choice for family travelers. It has the most generous policy regarding infant luggage allowances – a 23kg checked bag, and 3 infant items are allowed, free of charge.
This policy applies to the airline’s domestic and international short-haul and long-haul flights.
Use regional airports to visit Central Australia
There are no major airports that service Australia’s epic heartland. So, if you wish to visit, you’ll have to take a domestic flight to a regional airport.
Alice Springs Airport ASP is the best choice for the never-ending desert landscapes of Red Centre, Ayers Rock Airport AYG is the gateway for Uluru, and Mount Isa Airport ISA is serving western Queensland.
Avoid Australia’s public holidays
Prices skyrocket during holidays in Australia – adjust your travel dates to avoid expensive tickets. Airlines start to raise their flight prices to Sydney for the Australian summer – December to February – when travelers from across the country and around the world flock to the city for the end-of-year holidays.
Hotel and apartment rates also soar during the Australian school vacations: April (Easter school holidays), July (Winter school holidays), September/October and December (Summer school holidays).
If you plan to visit Sydney during these popular holidays, book your flight at least 2-3 months before departure to avoid high fares.
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Qantas, Virgin, and Jetstar).
When it comes to Twitter there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@Qantasairways”). The social media team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Qantas Explorer Pass: discounted domestic fares in Australia
Are you planning to visit more destinations after arriving in Sydney? The Qantas Explorer Pass can be an excellent way to save some money. With this pass, you can book multiple domestic flights in Australia or New Zealand at discounted rates – great for hopping between some of the region’s most iconic cities, beaches, and landscapes.
The Qantas Explorer Pass allows travelers to create their personalized itinerary with multiple stopovers, choosing from over 30 destinations, including major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as well as Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. However, the pass is only available for domestic flights within Australia or New Zealand – you can’t use it to fly internationally between the two countries.
To access the Qantas Explorer Pass, you must be traveling from overseas to Australia or New Zealand with Qantas. Use the airline website to book your international flight to Sydney, and choose the multi-city option to get access to Explorer Pas cheaper fares.
Qantas Customer Support via SMS
Qantas recently introduced a convenient SMS service as a part of its customer support. SMS-es appear to be replied to much quicker than calls, live chat messages, e-mails, or even social media DMs.
To text Qantas via SMS, use 0477 QANTAS or 0477 726 827. The SMS service is available to customers within Australia only.
Domestic flights from Sydney
Most domestic routes in Australia are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, and Canberra from Mascot Airport, you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Rex Airlines, and Bonza.
This is often the best transportation method, providing speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Local airlines often offer multiple daily flights to key destinations, providing flexibility in scheduling and competitive pricing. They also serve smaller regional airports, enabling access to a wider range of Australian destinations.
Flights to Sydney
from major hubs in Asia
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Sydney look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Sydney will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Australia and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
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Flights to Sydney dataset
