as I sit here tonight trying to shake off the jet lag, I thought what the
hell lets give the low down on traveling from the US to Aussie land and
back...starting point being DFW ... very somber and to the point at security
check point...shoes off, lap top out of bag, cell phones and digital cameras
in tray....you pass and if they select you, your selected to get poofed for
traces of matter in a chamber ... no one smiles. its all business....
Bags are sent thru to Sydney...no personal search for international flight
to OZ if you arrive by AA which shares the hub with Qantas.....but they do
re-ticket you for Aussie flight...passport in hand and ticket which they
tear up and reissue a new boarding pass....flight at 12:30 at night to
Oz.....we arrive at 6 Aussie time into Sydney and deport to immigration and
customs....the late Steve Irwin and his 2 beagles in an on board video warns
against anyone coming into Oz with any food, raw fruit,spread like cheese or
mayo or a skinned chicken which they show....Steve warns you they will find
anything you might smuggle into OZ....this point you must of filled out an
immigration card to enter OZ on the jet.....ask if your caring any food,
been on a farm, illicit drugs....must state what your intention is for
entering OZ.....holiday ( vacation) or other selections as work visa and
such.....you must have this card filled out...dog comes by and sniffs each
and everyone...not beagles but lab....get you passport stamped.....leave the
area but you again must pass x-ray luggage as well as carryon to exit
international to domestic flights...
domestic flights seems who cares....x ray carry on....get on the jet and
go....arrive Surfers Paradise
Leave Gold Coast on Jet Star, really could care less but you get the once
over again.....arrive in Sydney from terminal 1 to 2 international...they
x-ray your carry on baggage.....typical inspection.......we walk a long
corridor to jet hub....we really don't notice cloth blinds along the
corridor...then we are all of a sudden faced with 40 gun laden marshals
waiting to do all but a strip search ....every carry on bag is
searched.....everyone is patted down as well scanned by a metal
detector......they are full force and no smiles...women searched by female
marshal...on leaving flight you must have filled out another immigration
card with basically the same questions as the Aussie card asks but for USA
admission....you get the once over from the imagration officer and allowed
to enter.....
Checked luggage is screened.....women's luggage the most....they will search
your make up, all of it....they are interested in your nail polish
mostly...both coming and going the nail polish gets lower and lower in
volume.....even if packed in easy to reach roll out make up packaging, they
will search your make up....if your mirror is in the way, they don't care if
they break it.....ladies pack your make up in easy to reach
packaging....leave at top of luggage for quick access....all in all, be
patient, the lines are not that long in all instances....you get thru in
less than 10 minute waits....
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