Cheap flights to
Sydney (SYD)
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Flights to Sydney (SYD) overview
Going searches for the best fares and sends members deals bookable 1-12 months in advance. Going members save approximately 37% compared to normal flight prices to Sydney (SYD).
Cheapest Going deal
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Average Going deal price roundtrip
Best month to fly
Going found the most deals with travel dates in March.
Worst month to fly
Going found the least deals with travel dates in July.
Top tips for finding a cheap flight to Sydney (SYD)
Book flights during the Goldilocks Window
The cost of an airline ticket may change from minute to minute, but we’ve found there is something of a sweet spot before every flight when you’re most likely to get a good deal. We call it the Goldilocks Window, and it’s 1-3 months before a domestic flight and 2-8 months before an international one. This is the target you should be aiming for to click that buy button.
Now, if you’re planning a trip during the high season or a major holiday, or if your flight dates are fixed in stone, we recommend adding a few months to the numbers listed above. It’s also important to keep in mind that airlines typically jack up airfare as a departure date gets closer, especially 21, 14, and 7 days before a flight, so be sure to book before then if at all possible.
Consider using the Greek Islands Trick
We can all sing the praises of a nonstop flight, even if it’s a long one, since it removes some of the headaches of an itinerary with a layover or three. But if you aren’t finding a ticket in your price range, we suggest trying a little hack we call the Greek Islands Trick—and it works for places around the globe, not just Greece.
The idea of this trick is that you find the cheapest fare you can that gets you close to where you want to be and then use a separate transit method for the final leg of the journey. In the case of Sydney, that could mean finding a fare from LAX to Melbourne for $850 roundtrip and combining it with a super cheap fare from Melbourne to Sydney for around $50. This kind of two-part itinerary could save you $100-200 or more, so even if it requires a little more attention to detail on your part, it could be worth it.
Check out fares departing from multiple airports
Anyone who lives in a city with several major airports nearby probably already does this to a certain extent, but comparing flights from multiple departure airports is a good idea no matter where you live. We see killer deals departing from airports all over the US, big and small, and you never know where a cheap fare will pop up. Sometimes, there are fares so low that even if you have to book another roundtrip flight to get there, you’ll still save money.
Folks in Atlanta or New York City may be spoiled for choice with such big and busy airports, but if you’re trying to fly to Sydney, all those options may still not be enough. Instead of booking a flight from Atlanta to Sydney for $1,525 or more roundtrip, you could find fares from LAX to Sydney for around $750 roundtrip. Adding a roundtrip flight from Atlanta to LAX might only mean another $150, which is the kind of math most of us love to see.
Plan to fly when fares are lower
Plan to fly when fares are lower This sounds like an obvious point, right? It sort of is, and it sort of isn’t. It’s impossible to know when a mistake fare or a fare sale will pop up, so you can’t exactly plan for those things in advance. But we can learn from ticket price fluctuations in the past, which tell us that flying during peak season is almost always going to be more expensive. This is why so many frequent travelers love the shoulder seasons when fares are cheaper, and the weather is usually still good.
But not everyone can be as flexible about their travel planning—school breaks happen when they happen, not when we want them to. If you can’t avoid the high season, there are still some things you can do to save a little bit on airfare. Thanksgiving is kind of a weird cheap week to fly internationally since so many people are traveling domestically. Summer fares tend to be cheapest during the first two weeks of June and the last two weeks of August. And, no matter when you fly, you can try to schedule flights on the days when it’s usually cheaper to fly (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays) instead of the days when it’s usually more expensive (Fridays and Sundays).
Sign up for fare alerts
You don’t have to spend all day staring at the computer to snag a great deal on a flight. Just sign up for airfare alerts for whatever itinerary you’re looking at, and then you’ll get an email notification when the price of that ticket drops. If you’re considering multiple itineraries, you’ll need to set up multiple alerts. Or you can simply join Going and let us put our cheap fare bloodhounds to work for you.
Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) is the biggest and busiest airport in Australia, a hub for Qantas and Virgin Australia, a focus city for Air New Zealand, and an operating base for Jetstar and Rex Airlines. Including all of these, there are 51 airlines that serve Sydney. The majority of flights are operated by Qantas, followed by Jetstar. There are 98 airports around the world with nonstop service to Sydney, including five in the US: Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Honolulu, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Frequently asked questions about flying to Sydney (SYD)
What is the airport code for Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport?
The airport code for Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is SYD.
When is high season in Sydney?
Sydney’s high season is in summer, but since Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, that means summer is roughly December through February. The high temperature is generally around 80F, though it can sometimes soar over 100F, making this the best time of year for hanging out on the city’s famous beaches.
The seasons may be the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere’s, but the holiday calendar remains the same. The Christmas and New Year’s holidays around Australia, including in Sydney, are especially busy with crowds of both locals and visitors. Plan and book well in advance if you’re going to be in Sydney over the December holidays. Australia Day, one of the country’s national holidays, also falls in the summer. It’s on January 26th, and the festivities in Sydney include boat races in the harbor, a concert, and a big outdoor barbecue.
When is the best time to visit Sydney?
While there’s nothing quite like celebrating Christmas or New Year’s in the middle of summer, the shoulder seasons of spring (September-November) and fall (March-May) are some of the best times to be in Sydney. Temperatures don’t fluctuate too much throughout the year, so even the shoulder seasons are generally warm—you can expect highs in the upper 60sF to upper 70sF. You may want to bring a light rain jacket, though, as the early fall usually brings periodic showers.
Sydney’s popular shoulder season events include Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (usually in February or March) and the Vivid Sydney festival (from May-June) with its harbor light shows and concerts.
Does Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport have its own on-site hotel?
There is one hotel inside the Kingsford Smith Airport: Aerotel. It’s in T1, the international terminal, just off the arrivals hall. Guests can book one of the hotel’s 15 rooms overnight or for just a few hours to sleep or shower between flights. There’s a grab-and-go food counter in the hotel’s lounge, plus a coffee bar. Room rates start at $99.
What lounges are available at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport?
Sydney’s airport has more than a dozen lounges. The majority are in the international terminal, T1, but there are a couple of lounges in each of the other two terminals as well.
Terminal 1
- Air New Zealand Lounge (open 6am-9pm): This lounge is on level 3 near gate 59. Amenities include free snacks, beverages, and WiFi. There are also shower facilities available. Access is free for Air New Zealand’s Airpoints Elite, Gold, Elite Partner, and Koru members and BusinessPremier passengers on Air New Zealand flights.
- Emirates Lounge (open 4-8:20am and 5:10-9:15pm): The lounge is on level 1 near gate 58. Amenities include free hot meals, cold buffet options, a self-serve beverages station, WiFi, and shower facilities. Access is free for Emirates first and business class passengers, Emirates Skywards Platinum or Gold members, Qantas first and business class passengers, Emirates iO members, and members of Qantas’ Gold, Platinum, Platinum One, or Chairman’s Lounge programs. Day passes for Emirates ticketholders start at $125.
- Qantas First Class and Qantas Business Lounges (open 5am until last Qantas departure): Both of the Qantas lounges in T1 are on level 3 across from gates 4 and 5. Amenities include free snacks, beverages, WiFi, and shower facilities. There’s also a family zone if you’re traveling with children. Access is free for Qantas passengers flying Business or First Class, or with Sapphire or Emerald status, as well as Qantas Club members and eligible passengers flying any oneworld airline.
- SilverKris Lounge (open 5:30am-6pm): Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris Lounge is on level 3 close to gate 59. Amenities include free snacks, WiFi, and shower facilities. Access is free for first and business class passengers flying Singapore Airlines or other Star Alliance airlines.
- Centurion Lounge (open 6am-10pm: The Centurion Lounge is on level 1 just past security. Amenities include free meals, premium beverages, and WiFi. There are shower facilities and dedicated work spaces. Unlimited access is free for American Express Centurion, Platinum, Business Platinum, and Corporate Platinum cardholders. Some other American Express card holders can access Centurion Lounges twice per year.
- The House (open 5am-10pm): The House is on level 1 just before gate 50. Amenities include free morning and afternoon meal options, some premium beverages, WiFi, and shower facilities. Guests are permitted three hours in the lounge before a flight. Prices start at about $50 for adults.
- Skyteam Lounge (open 5:15am-1:30pm and 6-10pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday; 5:15am-1:30pm and 6-930pm Wednesday and Saturday): This lounge is on level 1 next to gate 24. Amenities include free meals, premium beverages, WiFi, and shower facilities. There are also dedicated workspaces. Access is free for first or business-class passengers or Elite Plus Frequent Flyers traveling with China Airlines, Delta, Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines, and XiamenAir.
- Plaza Premium Departures Lounge (open 7:30am-8pm): The Plaza Premium lounge is on level 2 near gates 25 and 26. Amenities include free hot and cold dishes, beverages, and WiFi. Prices start at around $41 for a two-hour pass.
- Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge (open 6am-6pm): The Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge is located inside the Aerotel on level 1, just after customs. Amenities include free hot and cold buffet foods, assorted beverages, WiFi, and shower facilities. Prices start at around $27 for a two-hour pass.
Terminal 2
- Virgin Australia (open from one hour prior to the first Virgin Australia departure until the last departure): Virgin’s lounge in T2 is just after security. Amenities include free food, beverages, and WiFi. Access is free for business class passengers on Virgin Australia, travelers with Velocity Platinum or Velocity Gold status, and Virgin Australia Lounge members.
- Rex Lounge (open 5:30am-7pm Sunday-Friday, 5:30am-5pm Saturday): The Rex Lounge is near gate G2. Amenities include free snacks, assorted beverages, and WiFi. Membership for Rex lounges is about $214 per year. Rex Saver fare passengers can access the lounge for around $21 for a two-hour pass, and those with Flex or Rex Flyer Anytime Reward fares pay around $11. Rex business class fares get a two-hour pass included for free, and Priority Pass members can also access the lounge for free.
Terminal 3
- Qantas Business Lounge (open one hour prior to every Qantas flight until last Qantas departure): Qantas’ business lounge is on the departures level of T3 across from gates 4 and 5. Amenities include free snacks, beverages, WiFi, and shower facilities. Access is free for Platinum and Platinum One Frequent Flyers with tickets on Qantas, Emirates, Jetstar, or oneworld partner flights.
- Qantas Club Lounge (open 5am-7pm): This lounge is also on the departures level across from gates 4 and 5. Amenities include free snacks, beverages, WiFi, and shower facilities. Access is free for Platinum, Platinum One, and Gold Frequent Flyers with tickets on Qantas, Emirates, Jetstar, or oneworld partner flights; Qantas Club members flying with Qantas, Emirates, or Jetstar; or passengers flying Qantas or Jetstar who have a Qantas Club Annual Guest card.
What are the rules for traveling with pets to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport?
Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry outlines the rules for bringing a pet in from outside the country, and the specifics vary based on the type of animal and where you’re coming from—and the rules are usually very strict. Travelers from the US and other “group 3” countries, where rabies is either nonexistent or under control, should carefully read the steps involved in bringing a dog with you to Australia. It’s important to note that even if you have all the necessary health documents for the dog, there’s a mandatory quarantine period of 10-30 days, depending on where you arrive.
Don’t forget to also check with your airline about their rules for flying with pets.
At the Sydney Airport, you’ll find animal relief areas at the following locations:
- Terminal 1: Post-security on arrivals level
- Terminal 2: Arrivals level near baggage carousel 2
How far is Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport to Sydney?
The Sydney airport is about 7.5 miles from Sydney’s Central Business District, a trip of 20-30 minutes by car in light traffic. It’s located in the town of Mascot, which is why one of the airport’s nicknames is Mascot Airport.
What are the transportation options for getting from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport to Sydney?
- By taxi or rideshare: There is a taxi queue outside each of the airport’s three terminals. There isn’t a flat rate from the airport into central Sydney, but you can expect a fare of about AUD $45-55 for the trip, along with any road or bridge tolls incurred. Rideshare services by Uber and Ola are also available from each terminal. Fares for these trips can vary widely by the time, distance, traffic, demand, and even size of the vehicle, but an average fare estimate starts at around AUD $50.
- By public transportation: The Airport Link train connects the Sydney airport with the city in 15-30 minutes, depending on where you’re going, and there are stops at both the international and domestic portions of the terminals. The one-way fare is around AUD $20, which includes the AUD $17 airport station access fee.
How long is the flight to Sydney?
From the US, any flight to Sydney is going to be a long one. The shortest nonstop flight from the US to Sydney departs from Honolulu and takes a little less than 10.5 hours. The longest direct flight leaves from Dallas and lands in Sydney 17 hours later. Nonstop flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco are in the middle, at 15.25 and 15 hours respectively. Of course, if your itinerary isn’t a direct flight, any layovers will extend your travel day by several hours.
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* Prices are per person and include all taxes & fees in USD. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing, however, prices are not guaranteed, as airline pricing can change by the minute. Average Going fares are based on average prices of deals found by Going.