Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) Flights & Information

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), close to Australia’s largest city, is a major hub for flights to Australia, New Zealand and Oceania. It’s also a major hub for national airlines Qantas and Virgin Australia, with domestic flights from low-cost Jetstar and regional Rex, plus flights from dozens of international carriers serving Australia.

Sydney Airport is a little unusual in its layout, though, so read on for all the details and top tips for getting there and for connecting across its domestic and international terminals.

Sydney Airport’s domestic and international terminals

The key point to understand about Sydney Airport is that it’s split into domestic and international areas. These are on opposite sides of its main runway, have separate stops on the airport train and no way to walk between them.

I always, always doublecheck which terminal my flight is using – some domestic flights use the international terminal so it’s critical to confirm before heading out. Make sure to check again just before arriving in case there have been late changes to your gate.

Terminal 1 is the international terminal for all airlines including Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. A small number of domestic flights, mainly those with onward international connections at another airport, also use this terminal. In these cases, check-in times and ID requirements are likely to follow international guidelines.

Terminal 2 is the domestic terminal for all airlines that aren’t Qantas. Terminal 3 is the domestic terminal for most Qantas and all QantasLink flights, plus some Jetstar flights.

Getting between terminals

Before security, you can walk between Terminals 2 and 3 in the domestic area in about 5 to 10 minutes, but you’ll need to take some form of transportation to reach Terminal 1.

The easiest way is the free T-Bus shuttle operated by the airport. There’s a bus stop outside each terminal, and it takes about 10 minutes with buses running every 15 minutes from 05:30 am to 10:30 pm.

Outside those hours, you could take the airport train between the international and domestic stops (which runs from 05:00 am to midnight), but you’ll need to pay. You can also take a taxi or rideshare, although in my experience drivers get upset if your request this very short ride.

Connecting domestic to international at SYD

For domestic to international connections, what you need to do depends on whether you have checked luggage that has been tagged through to your final destination. Ask at your first check-in and verify the final airport on your bag tag.

If you’re arriving on a Qantas domestic flight at Terminal 3 connecting to an international flight from Terminal 1 – and if you either have no checked bag or if your checked bag has been checked through to your destination – Qantas offers an airside transfer from Gate 15.

For all other passengers, if your bag is checked through to your final destination, you won’t need to collect it. Head straight to the international terminal. For everyone else, including Qantas passengers who need to collect their bags at Sydney, head for the baggage carousels then transfer to the international terminal as above.

Connecting international to domestic at SYD

If you’re arriving in Australia on an international flight and connecting to a domestic flight, you’ll arrive at Terminal 1. Go through immigration and customs, collect your bag, re-check it and make your way to your onward domestic flight – most likely (but not always) in a different terminal.

Getting to and from SYD by public transit

After immigration, collecting your luggage and going through customs, you have a few options for getting into central Sydney. The easiest way is to use the train. Regular commuter trains on the T8 Airport & South Line (green on the map) serve the separate stations at the international and domestic terminals.

These whisk you to several stops in the central business district in around 15 to 25 minutes, and there are multiple connecting points for the rest of the network. Pay for your fare using the local Opal transit card, a contactless credit/debit card or your phone’s digital wallet.

Be aware that these are regular double-decker commuter trains with no specific luggage areas and with limited seats on the entry level. If I have more than one bag, I use a rideshare app instead. There are also a couple of bus routes, with the most useful for visitors likely to be the one to Bondi Junction.

How to get to and from SYD by car

Taxis are available at the terminal stands and are pretty reliable, although there are long lines at peak times so you might find it makes more sense to take the train closer to your destination and pick up a cab there.

Taxi drivers may well complain if your destination is close to the airport, so be prepared for an argument. Get help from the taxi rank marshal if you have issues. If arriving at peak times, consider prebooking a taxi.

There are also several shuttle companies that serve the airport. I’ve tried a few but wouldn’t recommend them – they’re not much cheaper than the rideshare apps and can be a bit of a hassle.

Sydney has several rideshare apps, including GoCatch (taxis only), InGoGO (taxis only), Ola, Shebah (for women drivers and passengers only) and Uber. All work pretty well and are generally my preferred way for getting into and around the city if I’m not using public transport.

Sydney Airport hotels

Central Sydney is so close to the airport that you don’t really need an airport hotel, but they’re available. With no free shuttles, the price of the train and walking not really being an option, I strongly recommend just staying in Sydney, but you do have options.

The Rydges hotel is directly across the street from the international terminal and the Aerotel is within the terminal. I’ve stayed at the Rydges often and found it decent.

Most of the other airport hotels are located to the north of the domestic terminal in the suburb of Mascot. There are no free shuttles. Instead, the Sydney Super Shuttle runs on a fairly regular basis, but it’s expensive for what it is.

Unfortunately, taxi drivers really dislike taking people on short rides to local hotels, so I’ll either just stay at the Rydges by the international terminal or pick a hotel close to Mascot station, the next stop on the train line into town from the domestic airport station. It’s still pricey to take the train, but it’s better than the shuttle.

Security lines and fast track at SYD

Security and passport control at Terminal 1 at SYD are both generally pretty swift, and the airport posts current wait times online. At Terminal 1, passengers in business and first class, as well as frequent flyers, may be eligible to use the Express Path fast-track. This is a little hidden between check-in counters C and D, but make sure to seek it out if you’re entitled to it.

At Terminal 2, business class passengers and frequent flyers with Virgin Australia with carry-on baggage only can speed through the special Premium Entry curbside lane. At Terminal 3, the security checkpoint near the Qantas priority check-in desks is often the quietest, in my experience.

Lounges at SYD

Sydney Airport has more than a dozen lounges across its 3 terminals. Terminal 1 is home to airline lounges from Air New Zealand, Emirates, Qantas and Singapore Airlines, plus the American Express Centurion Lounge for cardholders and the SkyTeam alliance lounge.

In Terminal 1, the independent Plaza Premium Lounge (near Gate 25) and The House lounge (near Gate 50) are both solid, while Plaza Premium also has an arrivals lounge on Level 1, Arrivals B. All three are part of the Priority Pass network, as are the Mach 2 restaurant before security and the Peroni Bar after security, where Priority Pass members get discounts.

Terminal 2 is home to the Virgin Australia and Rex airline lounges. Priority Pass members can use the Rex Lounge or the Fat Yak and Bistro Bar 2020 restaurants.

Terminal 3 has the Qantas Business Lounge and Qantas Club. Priority Pass members can visit Wok On Air or Luke’s Bistro & Bar, both of which are after security.