Sydney Airport

This airport layout is attractive, offering a diverse retail scene that keeps you entertained for hours. Border control are fast and efficiently managed, making the transition from check-in to the gate feel effortless. It’s the perfect place to relax and explore, ensuring you start your trip on a high note.

Sydney Airport is efficient, modern, and well-organized. The terminals are clean, with plenty of dining and shopping options, and staff are generally friendly and helpful. Security and customs can get busy during peak hours, but overall, the airport runs smoothly. Great transport connections to the city via train and taxis make travel convenient. A solid international hub for Australia.

A really nice experience at the Sydney airport. There are many shops to see and many eateries, such as a sushi shop and a Lanzhou restaurant. I did a lot of plane spotting here at the airport. Security was quick and easy. As was check in. The boarding experience was also really great. There were also a lot of shops such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Overall a great experience at Sydney airport.

Sydney Airport is one of the better airports that i have been to. It is well organised and clean. It can get very busy at times and the lines can get long. There are a lot of luxury stores as well as restaurants, and other shops.

A nice airport. Directions are clear and the immigration officers are friendly. It's connected with city central in T8. Pls note that T1 is for international flights, T2 and T3 are for domestic flights.

This airport layout is attractive, offering a diverse retail scene that keeps you entertained for hours. Border control are fast and efficiently managed, making the transition from check-in to the gate feel effortless. Once you get past all that, there are multiple restaurants and stores near the gates to keep yourself occupied before boarding you r flight

Easy to get around this airport with plenty of assistance checking and signage is clear. Domestic side of travel is where I was and felt at ease when walking around. I had the pleasure if settling in the gold lounge where I charged my phone, had a feed and rest before getting on the flight to Perth. Only worry I had was the fact that I had a swollen foot and ankle due to a fall halfway through my stay in Sydney. I aim to get it checked when I get home.

Good to be back. Always fly here every year for work holidays. My all time favorite Airports in the world. E-gates convenient check-in eticket booths etc.

Smooth and painless so no complaints about the experience at this airport. Will be back here to fly out in a couple days. Hoping for the same experience!

Overall I like the Sydney International Airport. The traffic coming and going is horrible so watch out! You'll want that extra time when you're on your way in. Also of note, the security does not care about your status as a world traveler, they'll treat you like a drunken incoherent pirate, just like all the other Aussies.

Lelanded! I was pretty excited to see what Australia had to offer. AMBIANCE: Welcome to Down Under! It was a nice welcoming. I remember seeing many stores from food, souvenirs, technology, and cosmetics. It was relatively clean and had a good flow. PARKING: Structured parking. It felt pretty accessible as once I got picked up, we walked to the parking structure. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Great! Helpful people. I was looking for places such as the exit and such and they responded with a positive attitude. TL;DR OVERALL: 4 Stars. Great! Airports are all about first impressions and this left a great one! I have a lot of admiration for this country and look forward to visiting soon. Tips: * They don't mark your passport with an Australia stamp (sadness)

A decent 3.5 stars. As far as international airports, Sydney's airport is on the small side, lacks many of the amenities you may expect, and while properly labeled, things may be oddly located (like having to go out of the airport with all your luggage and walk over, cross streets, etc. to get to the taxi and Uber pickup locations. The ambience and decor of the airport is... ok. If this is your entry point to the country, you won't come out overly impressed. It's not bad and the place is mostly clean and everything. It's just relatively small as far as international airports go and there isn't much that sets it apart. The staff is thankfully very kind and helpful. Though you'll notice most places are closed outside of the narrow business hours which again, very odd for an international airport. Lastly, having to exit the airport and walk over a not insignificant distance just to get to the designated taxi, Uber, and general pickup locations is terrible planning.

Ridiculous transfer system from domestic to international terminal. I will avoid it like the plague from now.

This is the most organized airport I have ever been traveled through. Customs: if your nationality qualifies for passport scan, then scan your passport, get a ticket, go through a picture taking machine that speaks your native language, walk to an officer to whom you give your arrival card +ticket, and the whole process was done in 10 mins. Instruction signs are along the way and are super easy to follow. Currency exchange: not needed, as almost all places accept cards, if you don't mind about 1-2% surcharges. Departure: there is a e-board where you can check where your check-in (ticketing) kiosk is, based on your flight number. Super helpful. Subway+ buses: just use your credit card to tap on and off. Super easy. Public transportation goes everywhere.

I connected once through this airport. My main recollection was it was a clean and airy airport and it's positioned with an awesome and handsome view of downtown Sydney. As you might expect, Qantas rules big time here. I watched long haul carriers land incessantly in front of a skyline view on a sunny day and it quickly passed the time away. My time here was relatively short but quite memorable.

They make it as painless as humanly possible to get through on the domestic side. Their workers are friendly and professional. They put the customers at ease. Very helpful and efficient.

"Too many chefs in the kitchen" mentality. The bathrooms could be cleaner. The staff doesn't listen. So my situation was repeated to 6 different appointed airport crew/TSA/guards who were going back and forth about what's going on and what to do next.

We left Miami on 11/15 & arrived in Sydney on 11/17. Long,crowded, noisy flight business class would be $20,000 RT from lax. The airport was clean, felt new, I'd bring refurbished & everything was well marked. We followed the lines from the plane, through a huge duty free shop, to scan our passport, get out luggage & get in a taxi. There were no waits, it was easy.

My experience is only for the international terminal. There are plenty of signage to get you where you need to go. There were plenty of food options before and after going through security screening. The duty-free shops were well organized and the selection was good. Getting through passport check with the Australian Border Force was pretty easy especially if you have an ePassport where you can use one of the SmartGates. It was super easy to take the train into the Central Business District area via the T8 train line as there's a train station connected to the terminal.

This airport is very tourist friendly. Follow the signs and you will be on your way. Staff is delightful and are all willing to help you if you get confused on where to go, especially if you have a connecting flight. Lots of shops and places to grab some grub. You can also get to the trains directly from the airport which is very convenient. I suggest taking a train to your closest destination as it will be a lot cheaper than an Uber!

Compared to other major airports in Australia, Sydney Airport is more disappointing with appearance and staff compared to their counterparts. I have always had issues with luggage arrivals, the check-in process, and transferring from one terminal to another. The stores within the terminals, along with available eateries, are not convenient for the average traveler. I hope new changes are in the works to correct these deficiencies in the nesr future.

This is a huge and modern airport. I felt like I was in a high end shopping mall when I was there. It gave me a very similar feeling of the airport in Paris. The only thing I did not like about it was that I had to go through security for transit once I got off an international fight. I had 6 hours of layover, and I had enough time to go through security as well as walking around all the shops. When I get to the gate, the staff is friendly, and able to print out a new boarding pass for me. I enjoyed my time here.

Large, modern and well maintained, the Sydney airport offers first tier, designer shopping and modern amenities.

What a mess! If you're on an international flight in 2022 transferring to a domestic flight, good luck if you have less than 3 hours! In less three hours, you'll be running crazy and fretting all the way! And probably sweating too as you walk miles to go through customs, transfer bag, security line , hope on a bus and a potential another walk to gate!

I LOVE that the train takes you to and from the airport. The train is also super easy to use and is very quick! My experience at this airport wasn't bad. From landed to departing, I was surprised how quickly everything went. I found the security process to be quite easy compared to what I am used back in the U.S. (mainland airports are the worst). Like most international airports, there's free wifi and plenty of shops to look around if you are killing time before your flight. They have duty free, retail and of course food! Since we were flying a budget airline (JetStar) we knew we had to pick up something to eat for our long flight. They had plenty of options from sit down restaurants to quick bites like McDonalds.

Clean and easy to move around. Folks were really friendly. Boarding seemed to be pretty streamlined. Customs like most places was kind of a shit show, but when is it not? If your American visiting with a blue passport don't try and go through the self scan... It won't work.. But no one tells you that until after you have waited in line.

Cool airport. Remodeled and trendy. Lots of eats and shopping. Taxiing to the gate was quick. Lots of public transportation. I'm a fan.

Sydney Airport has a dual personality. I flied in from Melbourne to the Domestic Terminal and found the vibe laid back and quiet. I flied out to Vancouver from the International Terminal and it was a complete chaos. People everywhere, lines everywhere and I was stressed! The best thing about SYD is the ease of travelling to and from CBD. There is this Airport Link that can get you anywhere in Sydney. I was staying near the Central Station so it was 15-20 minute train ride. Just make sure to give yourself plenty of time when departing for your International Flights. There is this huge area of Duty Free shopping so you might have time to browse or just taste some of the liquors available.

It's an airport! Let's be honest who really likes to hang out and chill in an airport anyway lol! It was nice, customs was a pain because the lines were way toooo long. Once we passed customs we couldn't find our stuff at baggage claim, luckily a kind staff member showed us to our luggages which was set aside due to that LONG customs line. Omg Australians are so nice!

I'm not particularly happy after this airport presided over my most recent travel nightmare, but more generally it has some issues. The upside is that the trains to the city are here and are very efficient. Unlike many cities, you can get on a train to the airport and get right to the main attraction pretty quickly; it's something like half an hour to get to the Sydney Opera House. The train does have a huge extra airport fare, which you can try to work around, but that defeats the convenience. The airport also offers great views landing over Botany Bay. The problems I've encountered are that the international terminal was completely impractical; you had to arrive, get a ticket and present your passport, then get your luggage, then go through customs, and then if you had a domestic connection, walk somewhere else, check your luggage in again, go through security again, take a needlessly slow bus to another terminal, and then wait. Leaving anything less than two hours for such a connection is optimistic, but I there certainly were tons of people trying just that the last time I was there. Another problem with the Sydney airport is that it's vulnerable to weather, and I've seen them close due to high winds, which seems ludicrous to me. Generally, domestic flights, which I've done a few of, go much better than international ones.

Flying into Sydney was smooth, the Airport wasn't as big as I thought it would be. They are doing construction in some areas of the Airport. It was not as busy as the Airports in the US, baggage claim was almost empty and going through Customs was a breeze, no lines. Friendly and helpful concierge. Hopefully it's like this when we leave.

'Ello chaps! Sydney's Kingsford Smith International Airport is Sydney's only major airport, primarily serviced by Virgin Australia and Qantas, as well as many international airlines. It's well located, just a short drive or train ride from downtown Sydney and the marquee attractions. For tourists, it's best to get an Opal card which is good for all modes of public transportation including trade, buses, etc. KNOW AHEAD OF TIME - There is a $19 airport usage fee on top of the fare, so it's best to get an Opal Card with $35-$50 to start, depending on how long you're staying in the city and how often you're using the public transportation. The ambiance of the airport is quite inviting and volunteers located throughout are very helpful. There are large windows to see airport activity and planes and there is a large amount of retail stores, food choices, and seating. Overall Sydney Airport gets 4 out of 5 stars. It's fairly top notch.

Be careful if you have hip replacements they don't have technology Melbourne airport uses , you will be hauled out and asked to spread arms and legs then a device will be run over you beeping the whole time, not sure of its purpose very embarrassing

This airport is crazy huge. Make sure you know if you're flying from the domestic or int'l departures terminal. They are far far apart from one another. One requires photo ID as part of the check in security process, the other does not - this was super weird to experience as an American where photo IDs are carefully scrutinized everywhere you go. They do have a large number of retail duty free shops in the int'l terminal so if you need souvenirs there is no shortage of them here. The downside is that you have to walk through the large duty-free area to get to the gate area. This is pretty typical at most airports servicing int'l flights but I find it highly irritating. This airport has vendors throughout all the way to the gates so you will not be left wanting at any time whilst here. You can bring your water onboard here - what a relief to my usually overwatered stomach that usually has to endure me drinking all remaining water before going through security.

I've never gotten out of an airport so fast! Checked my passport, got my bag, went though customs (with TWO yes' checked) in less than 20 minutes. Good timing coming from Fiji I guess. Everyone except immigration was pleasant too. "I'm here on the working holiday visa" "I know" *how dude?? how?*

Stepping off my plane all bleary eyed... good signage and easy customs routine (well at least for me). Returning a week later, good open spaces, again good signage and a wide selection of shopping, food and beverage choices both before and after customs/security. Folks were very helpful and the airport was really clean. Loved the ease of traveling to & from the airport by the city trains.

Lots of new and exciting upgrades going on and good wi-fi. Huge, modern, bright airport, loads of shiny shops and restaurants. Huge, wear comfortable shoes. Plenty of willing helpful people for those of us who struggle to comprehend! It was a great experience M

I usually have the general slow experience expected of TSA agents but Sydney decided to be special and add an extra dimension of self-righteous to its already impalpable services. The issue came while going through customs. My bag was flagged for a water bottle, so yes that was my fault. The TSA agent responsible for getting to flagged bags (Syed) was intentionally dragging his feet to getting to customers. The guy before me, he didn't know the policy on batteries, so he had to refer to someone else. My guy, that's TSA 101. Why aren't they hiring more educated agents? Then after him, he took his sweet ass time getting to my bag. You can tell he relished in making people wait and potentially missing their flight. While handling my bag, he moved at super human speed to even open it. And by "super human" I mean I've never seen someone open a bag so fucking slow. Honestly, you kind of have to respect him a little on this power move. AND THE ENTIRE TIME he wouldn't shut up about how I wouldn't be here if I didn't messed up *eyeroll*. That somehow I should be thankful for him. Yes Syed, you're god's blessing to Earth; being a TSA agent is your calling. I had a few choice words for him but at this point you're at his mercy and my flight was beginning to board. At first I was being polite and letting him know my flight was boarding and I'd appreciate it if we could move at a quicker pace. He stops, stares at me, and reminds me that it's my fault for him having to check it in the first place. Still, I continue to eat his shit because duh my flight is boarding. Also, why is there only 1 person handling this multitude of bags? He tells me to go back passed the detectors to get my bag. Suspicious but whatever. I attempt and the TSA at the detector is like "bro wtf". I tell him I was told to and he's like "aight". I take like two steps out and I don't see my bag anywhere. I go back in, and this Eastern European geriatric agent stops me and says I need to be scanned again. THE FUCK? YOU JUST SAW ME STEP OUT FOR A SECOND. What do you think, I picked up a gun in that second? AND WHERE IS MY BAG? At this point I'm like fine and I tell her to hurriedly scan me, so I can look for it and of course, Syed disappears. And right now, I am freaking out. Some other managerial agent comes by and he's helpful and he looks to the other side and like 10 min later, he finds it. Good. I take my bag and run off. I'm 5 minutes into the airport jogging and I realize MY BAG IS EMPTY! I run back and nobody can find my belongings NOR SYED! 10 min pass and I'm full on freaking out. Either I miss my flight or lose my stuff. Some other TSA agent is told to help me and this idiot wants to go to the opposite end to start there. I tell him I came through this area and like Syed, he stops, stares at me, and goes "do you want my help because I don't have to help you". I was fucking stunned. This self-righteous piece of shit thinks his incompetent butthurt feelings are more important than me missing my belongings and flight. The managerial agent from before flags us down and found my stuff. Can we just hire more guys like him. You know, with an actual work ethic? I grab my shit and I have to sprint because at this point, it's either there or not. I'd say a good half mile jog and I make it. And guess what? My flight was delayed. That's a story for another review because of that delay, I missed my connecting flight.

I have no choice but Sydney for a flight to SFO. I simply have never had a great experience in this airport when I'm flying home to California. I went through security when I left the Gold Coast. In Sydney, I went to Gate 15 to be transported to the International destination. Please keep in mind that I just got off the plane from the Gold Coast and never left the building. I was asked the same questions in Sydney as I answered in Gold Coast. Why are you here? What kind of work do you do? Where is home? I get through that, get on the bus, and get transported to the International Terminal. I walk to Gate 8, and I am blocked from entering. Told to sit and wait. Um. Ok. I counted 22 "security" personnel standing around, talking to each other. The aircraft had been sitting there for at 45 minutes. Finally, they call people needing assistance and then want to argue with the little old guy because he wants to go with his wife in who is in a wheel chair. Then mum with three kids is allowed but dad is questioned because he wants to help his wife. Sigh. Finally, they call gold and platinum, etc, and I walk up to one of the nine lanes they have set up. And the same darn questions again!!!! I have flown out of Melbourne several times and never experience this level of absurd treatment. We were almost an hour late taking off because these patsies are insuring their importance. The last time I flew out of Sydney, they delayed our flight for 5 hours to await some Supposed person of royalty and his entourage. And we were not aloud to sit in the waiting area until this group was on the plane. Sigh. I won't be flying out of Sydney again.

Not a bad airport when coming to Sydney the train station nearby is a great add on to the airport. We used the train instead of using the shuttle to our hotel. The airport is quite big and open and easily navigated with plenty of shopping and food places to keep you busy while waiting for your flight.

First time in Sydney Australia in like ever. Decided to come on holiday to Sydney to celebrate my birthday and to run Sydney's premiere city marathon. It is pretty cool to book this travel to Sydney and party. The Kingsford Smith Sydney international airport is one of Australia's busiest airports. It handles air traffic domestically as well as international traffic as well. It's one of the main hubs for international air traffic coming from Honolulu, USA as well as other destinations. I flew here from aforementioned city on the Jetstar Airlines and am amazed at how large the Sydney International airport is really. After a 9 1/2 hour flight, I was glad to have landed here. The process of getting out to ground transportation from the arrival gate was expected. I was impressed at how seamless the Australian borders and customs process was. I thought there was going to be a question and answer queue before leaving the controlled secured area, but that wasn't the case. It was basically, scan your passport, get your photo taken, and that was it. After grabbing luggage at the bag claim, you were free to grab your options of taxi or variations of Uber and hotel shuttle, whichever you need. I was impressed with pretty much how I can get in and out of the airport and customs within 15 minutes. That's usually unheard of in other ports of entry outside the USA. Thanks Australia! You are amazing! Best bet is to have your passport ready and smile. You're most likely on holiday when you're here, so it is a happy time. I know it is for me. First travel to Sydney Australia in September 2018 and it is awesome! The Kingsford Smith Sydney international airport is as immaculate and brand new as I have ever seen. The overall experience here at the Kingsford Smith Sydney international airport was as good as you can get. Best in and out experience ever. It was definitely fast and unexpected. Since this airport boasts a domestic and international terminal, this airport is decidedly large and they're proud of it. I know they keep everything immaculate, as it should be. They have a parking garage in the international terminal, but best bet is to get dropped off by Uber for fast service in and out of the airport. You will need to go to the green priority zone for Uber pick ups from the international terminal. I know that much when I had to get an Uber into the city. It's about AU $40, which isn't bad. The airport code for this one is SYD. Many merchants here at Kingsford Smith Sydney international airport accept major credit cards, including the airlines. While you can buy a flight at the airport, prices can be crazy when buying last minute! For the most part though, I know I will indulge myself in the duty free store when I return to the USA. While the airport experience was fun and got to step foot on Australian soil for the first time ever, it was good to get out of the USA - even for just a little bit. Many flights arrive here and depart regionally daily. Your choice of airlines vary greatly here and it is a natural transfer point to anywhere in New Zealand too. I'll be honest though, the toilets here are clean and maintained beautifully. Got in and out without issues. One of the cleanest ones ever for an airport and that's the truth! No matter where you travel in Australia, you're likely to come through Sydney and Kingsford Smith Sydney International airport, since it can be the cheapest route for travelers to Australia. It's nice that there is also world currency exchanges in the baggage claim areas after you hit customs and border control. It's one of the last places you can exchange money before you have to go to a local bank in the city or wherever you are going. Safe travels! 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Fly more! Support local! A+

This is basically a combined version of my previous reviews of the Domestic Airport Terminal 2 and International Terminal at Sydney Airport. Traveled to Australia a couple months ago for the first time. I flew into Sydney and also took a side trip to Hobart so I traveled through the International Terminal and both domestic terminals as I took flights on Qantas and Virgin Australia. Australia is a country that requires a visa to enter if you are an US citizen. Though the process to get one is easy by getting a ETA which can be done online. Upon arriving into Sydney at the International Terminal, go to a ePassport Self Service kiosk. Try to go to the first ones you see, rather than going to ones further down the arrivals hall. This saved me a lot of time. I found the customs process to be the most intuitive that I have come across and one of the quickest as I think it was only about a half hour to go through everything including collecting my luggage. I do like how close the airport is to Sydney CBD which is about a 15 minute ride into the city via Airport Link. Being so close means it isn't as costly to take a taxi here if you need one. Taking Airport Link to and from the airport is a bit expensive for such a short ride though as there is a $13.40 station access fee added on to the base fare for taking a train to and from the International Airport Station. Given the fee, it may make more sense to arrange for an airport shuttle which cost about the same as a train ride. Making a connection between the two domestic terminals and International Terminal can be a bit of a burden. While Qantas and Virgin Australia offer their passengers a shuttle service to connect between the Domestic and International terminals, this isn't offered to all passengers. Hence you need to pay to take the Airport Link, a T-Bus or a taxi to the other terminal. As for comparing the International Terminal with the domestic terminals, I have to say the domestic terminals are better. They have a more laid back feel like you are travelling through a smaller airport, while the International Terminal is your typical big city airport. I found the check-in process to be quite easy compared to what I am used into in the US. the security screening process is efficient and moves quickly. It is basically the same process as in the US, except you don't need to take off your shoes. Interestingly, my passport and ticket wasn't reviewed at security. Though when I got to the flight gate for my flight to LAX, it was checked before I could enter the departure area. Finally, there is the food. The airport food prices at Sydney Airport are inflated as you would expect. Though it is the location of the food options that is the biggest issue here. In Terminal 2, there is a large food court post-security. But in the International Terminal, the food court is located before security with limited options after customs. Most of the retail in this terminal after customs is set aside for duty-free shops. As a whole, I like Sydney Airport though I prefer the domestic terminals to the International Terminal. What makes the airport great is the location close to Sydney CBD as well as how efficient the airport runs.

this airport is actually two separate airports. The international terminal and the domestic. They are about 5 minutes apart via the train. If you are flying Qantas they will provide a shuttle between terminals. Great thing about airports in Australia is security (for domestic flights). It's quick, they don't bother asking for boarding pass or IDs. Most painless security I've experienced. Also when you arrive internationally, the immigration process is pretty straight forward. I was out of the terminal in probably 15 minutes. Make sure you use one of the ePassport terminals to make the process easier. Qantas has some great lounges in the domestic and international terminals. The only thing I found really inconvenient is the pick up area in domestic. You have to walk pretty far to get to it... and when you think you are done walking, keep walking!

There is place who is selling Sim Card and WiFi equipments rental. It is call SIM PLANET Please do not go there. They over charge costumers and rent WiFi equipment broken in 48 hours. And this equipment only have two hours long battery. Their website post phone number is fake number. And email services not working. There is Vodafone shop. Please just go there to get SIM card Airport authorities shall rent their space to quality company who is not cheating tourists when they just arrive. Give Australia bad impression at beginning.

I traveled through Sydney airport 4 years ago, but I spent very little time there; only transferring gates within the same terminal. That didn't really qualify as reviewable in my book. But on my recent work trip to Oz, I traveled through SYD several times, got to know it quite well, and saw all three terminals: Terminal 1 (International); Terminal 2 (Domestic except Quantus), and Terminal 3 (by elimination...Quantus domestic) My overall impression was of a very large, distributed, and reasonably-efficient airport, but there was nothing setting it above all the rest. Like most airports, some terminals and concourses were nicer than others. The international terminal was by far the nicest - it felt fairly new and had the most upscale shops and restaurants. Terminals 2 and 3 were about the same; both pretty standard. Getting around SYD was the worst aspect. For instance: terminal 2 and 3 were very close to each other, but were separated by a large parking lot. To get from one to the other (as I had to on one visit), the only choice was to drag my bags through this parking lot, or go all away around it via a long, narrow sidewalk. Neither provided easy passage for pedestrians, especially those with bags. You'd think the airport would provide a special terminal-to-terminal passageway or skyway, but noooo. Even more ridiculous was transferring between International and domestic terminals. In this case I had to buy a bus ticket (AU$ 6) for the 5-minute trip. How many airports do you know that CHARGE YOU to change terminals? On the plus side, Sydney airport, like most major airports in Australia, had luggage storage service in every terminal. It wasn't free, but storing my extra duffle bag here for my side trip to tropical Cairns was a great option for me. I wish American airports offered this. Dan's Airport checklist: -- Free Wi-Fi: Yes; through a web-based questionnaire (4) -- Logistics and getting around: below avg (2) -- Shops and amenities (3.5) -- Beauty and art: (3)

Food: N/A Service: 5/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Decor & Style: 4/5 Efficient, clean bathrooms, and they had tennis on while waiting at the gate. I don't know how else to rate airports but just based on efficiency and cleanliness and Sydney delivered both! 5/5

Flying to Sydney was my first big international flight without my parents, and the experience wasn't too bad. Having this airport as the main hub for all carriers and as well in and out of the continent, it was busy with tons of people from everywhere. I found that my experience departing more favorable than arriving. When arriving through the international terminal, you'll be greeted with lines and lines at immigration, but if you're a USA citizen, you can bypass the lines and scan your passport at the ePassport kiosk and go straight to the shorter lines, whew! Not sure what other countries do the ePassport scanning, but it definitely is a lifesaver. After that everything was a breeze since you pick up your luggage at the carousal and you exit into the crowded arrivals waiting area. Despite the construction and remodeling of the airport, our departing was decent. Luckily our Qantas attendant at check-in recommended we stay outside the security gate if we wanted to eat or hangout because it would be bare inside and she was right. Even though the food court was crowded, it wasn't hard to find a table and grab a bite to eat. I don't expect airport food to wow me, and this airport had enough cuisines and fast food places to satisfy any hunger. And if you forgot to buy a little gift for someone, there are plenty of gift shops and stores around to go shopping. If you're heading to the airport, make sure to give enough cushion of time because it can get very traffic especially if you're coming from the suburbs. And yep, there's free WiFi! Can't wait to visit again and see this airport once it's fully remodeled, so much potential but still a lot of work to be done.

The International side of the Sydney airport is pretty nice. It has all of the designer stores and my gate wasn't a far walk. I'm sitting at the bar having a nice glass of wine before my flight. I would give it 5 stars but they have limited choice for eatery and they're doing construction.

Sydney should be ashamed by how long lines take and the cost of parking. The drive up to departures is an absolute nightmare. They keep you moving so you can't really pull up near your airline counter. This is understandable due to the possible sheer amount of cars backing up. Once inside, it's just craziness with everyone rushing and not knowing which direction they are heading.

Love the free WiFi, that works great!! You have to take a train from the domestic to international terminal which costs $1 each way, but easy to maneuver on your own.

If you consider driving to the airport, don't! Take the train, an Uber or a taxi!!!! Signage is appalling if it is there, and fees are prohibitive. We had a nice person from Wilson parking direct us on how to get from the staff parking (yes, how DID we end up there?) to the public parking. It looked like that was his permanent role. Inside the terminals are overdue an upgrade, facilities are dated and damaged, signage is again very confusing. Lots of signs, but obviously not put there to direct a visitor with little knowledge of the place. It makes, dare I say, a lot of US airports look good. Come on Australia, you can do much better that this!

As far as airports go, this is a pretty nice airport. I have been delayed here twice and it definitely isn't the worst airport to be stuck in! Getting through customs is actually pretty easy as you can scan your passport at the kiosks instead of waiting in the long customs line. You get a little printout that you can hand to the customs agent. The other thing I really LOVE about this airport is the fact that they have a train station right inside the airport which is very convenient to get to and from the city. The train will take you basically anywhere in Sydney including the main Bondi Junction bus station. The trains run about every 15 minutes or so. If you are heading to Bondi Beach it will cost you about $16 AUD and which is much cheaper than a taxi or Uber (can range from $40-$60 if there is surge pricing). As with pretty much all international airports, there are heaps of duty free shops. The food court also has a good range to choose from. I know this sounds weird but I actually got airport sushi and it was good (only got the avocado roll because I didn't want to chance it on a 15 hour flight). The best part is the roll was only $3.50 AUD. The other sushi rolls did look fresh and weren't too pricey ($2.50 for 2 pieces and up). Another HUGE plus is unlimited free wifi. If you are traveling outside of the country and don't have a SIM card this can save you, I know it saved me. Being stuck here for 2 extra hours wasn't so crappy since I had free wifi. All things considered I didn't mind my flight being delayed out of Sydney Airport.

Sydney was our first stop in Australia and it didn't disappoint. The airport has an international and domestic side. We were coming from New Zealand upon our arrival and went to declare some packaged nuts, lol. The customs guy gave us the ok and was very friendly. The airport is big with tons of shops, restaurants and other regular things in an airport. We went straight to the information desk and received assistance on the best way to get to our hotel in the city center. We opted to take the shuttle bus instead of the train since it was slightly cheaper and it dropped you off right in front of hotel. I love big cities because there's usually a variety of ways you can travel based on your preference and budget. The airport was the same in terms of overpriced food, lol. We flew out this airport into Cairns with no issues. The process was organized. I noticed the seating areas at some of the gates were very limited. On the day we were leaving, the weather was rainy and there were a lot of delays that caused some last minute gate changes. Announcements were made but they were hard to hear so always check those monitors or ask the staff directly to avoid any missed flights.

Quick but just ok. Flying to New Zealand. Quantas service desk and agents are terrible. At least the ones we encountered. The airport itself is good. Would suggest to take uber to airport if you are 2 people. The opal card top up is 20 AUD minimum so definately not worth it if you have tobtop up 2 cards whereas uber is about 35 AUD off peak.

Domestic Qantas exit: Great setup Clean Taxis nice and close Flow of this place is a joy Enjoyable departure

Pretty good international airport that was pretty efficient with Air Canada. Lines moved quickly and lounge options available. The Star Alliance Lounge is the Air New Zealand Lounge. The retail stores are massive and it feels like you are actually in an upscale mall.

Great airport. The design is fresh and it is a very clean terminal. Really like the overall customer experience. Often travel can be a stressful experience with waiting, overworked gate agents, ... not at all the experience here. They make travel to/from Australia a breeze.