First time flyer going to Australia. What do we need to know?

[snozzlemaid]

Ds is 20 and is off to Sydney with a friend to meet a couple of other friends who have been working out there.
He has never flown before (and neither have I) so would be great to hear anyone's tips or essential things we might not be aware of
He has insurance and we know he needs a visa.
What's the best way to pay for things there? I'm guessing some cash and his debit card. Is a prepaid card a good idea?
His friend, who has booked the flights, has flown before and sounds like an organiser so I'm hoping he'll tell ds all he needs to know.
Stop off is Hong Kong so I suppose they'll need currency for there as well.

Google "before you fly" and the name of whichever airline he is flying with for tips. Make sure he packs his toiletries in the bag he checks in, if he has small (under 100ml) bottles having them already together in a clear plastic bag (use a sandwich bag) ready to put through the scanner will save him scrabbling around at security. If he is buying duty free in the UK it may get taken off him in Hong Kong due to the rules around liquids so he would be best buying anything after security in Hong Kong. People aren't very patient with clueless travellers in busy airports, if he is the type to get anxious make sure he has more time than you think he needs to get through the airport and remind him to keep a close eye on the departure board in Hong Kong if he is just transmitting as not all airports/areas make announcements. Remind him to answer any questions from security staff willingly and politely, don't get pissed off if chosen for random body scans or explosive/drug testing - as a young male it is quite likely - and for goodness sake don't make stupid jokes!!!!

Transiting not transmitting!!! Missed your question about money, yes some Australian dollars and his debit card. The cash point (and anywhere he uses the card) will ask him to select "cheque" or "savings" when he withdraws cash, check with his bank which he should use and don't forget to let the bank know he will be overseas to minimise the risk of the card being swallowed or rejected. Also ask his bank which ATMs are the best to use to minimise fees. Most places take cards here but it's not uncommon to have a minimum spend. Some cheaper restaurants are cash only (but often BYO wine which saves a lot 😁). Hope he has a fab time. I'm in Sydney if you have any further questions.

For a UK bank card he needs to select ‘Credit’ at ATMs and chip/pin machines.

Australia is VERY, VERY particular about bringing in food. If your son has any food on him (even from the plane) he must declare it on his customs card. Better to declare and be told it’s ok, than not declare and have a massive fine.

My late 70s Mum comes over every year and she manages just fine - the worst thing is the boredom on the flight as it’s so long.

Thank you all. Very helpful.
I'm just glad he's going with a friend who is used to all of this.

They are really hot on being over 18 to drink, so if he wants to go to a pub he must bring ID with him or they won't let him even enter!

Make sure he notifies his bank / credit card company of his travel plans so they don't try to block his card when he tries to use it overseas.

Don't take any food into Aus. It's not worth the hassle. And definitely no mud on his shoes or any of his gear. Also be aware that taking more than 19 cigarettes into HK is not allowed. If he's white, he probably won't be stopped but again it's not with the risk. HK officials can be very strict and by the book. (I used to live in HK).

Be prepared for jetlag.

Thanks. Can I ask why the no mud thing?

Can I ask why the no mud thing?

Because it can bring disease etc into Australia. They're very strict about things like this. Same logic as for no fruit etc.

www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/ente/brin/can-i-bring-it-back/can-i-bring-it-back-contamination/can-i-bring-soil-mud-or-clay-back

Aah. I see.

He should take all essential / valuable / irreplaceable items (medication, passport, visa, cash, wallet, specs/ lenses, phone, charger, keys, camera, iPad etc etc) in his hand luggage, plus a change of clothing.

That way, if his hold bag is delayed or lost, he will have all the stuff he needs for the first couple of days with him.

24 hours in economy is a bloody long time, so dress for comfort, not style. Take a book to read. Dehydration can be an issue so drink plenty of water and go easy on the booze. Move around the aircraft to keep circulation going.

Enjoy the trip!

Buy lounge access at his stopover if he isn't traveling business class. Well worth it.

Use monzo or similar for fee free foreign transactions and easy to top up via phone.

Have fun. Australia is a fantastic country.

dont sunbathe in australia. take in no food.

never board a plane with an empty stomach or a full bladder. take a book. nothing valuable or fragile in hold luggage. hand luggage rules are liquids, gels and pastes.

city sense needed in sydney just like at home.

Having been there before around your child’s age:

Do not take any good or water through customs. Even dry packaged food in your suitcase is a big no no.

Take a spare change of clothes and shoes in your carry on in case suitcase is delayed or missing.

Take photocopies of any documents.

Take travel sickness pills just in case.

Slip on / off shoes make it easier and quicker through security.

Lighterweight fluffy socks for the flight itself as comfier.

I’ve been to Oz twice as my daughter did a year at Uni in Tasmania, so I went over with her then went back to collect her (any excuse)
Your DS will love it, my DD did. LOVED Sydney.

Just reiterating what everyone else has said.
Take NO FOOD in. Of any kind. If its not in the luggage then you dont have to worry when you tick the boxes on the card.
Dirt and mud is a big no-no and I have seen a teenager taken aside because of mud on his converses. Pop them in the washer before he goes!
If he takes a lot of medication then go into the something to declare and explain, they will be fine (and usually the queue is shorter) My daughter did this and they mentioned her bag which had a wooden clasp and checked it out (wood is another item thats questionable)

Anything else will be fine. Debit card usage is great in Oz, contactless is up to $99 limit so it is used widely.

Flights are long but because of that there is more food and drink on them and also more films. I always buy an extra legroom seat on long haul, and chill out.

It maybe too late if flights are booked but the biggest tip is to book a flight that lands in Australia in the evening - it massively helps with jet lag

Here is my advice for the flight:

It's a long way so you need to be prepared for that - that long on a plane can be deadly dull and uncomfortable.

Things to buy in advance

• Get a J-Pillow www.jpillow.com/ *Noise cancelling head phones - if you can afford it the Bose ones are brilliant and highly recommended but they are expensive. Worth it though if you have the budget.
• Get an Evian mini water spray. Flying is very drying and this is great - it's very cooling and refreshing. (If he is worried about looking a bit girlie spraying his face at his seat, he can go to the loo.) www.superdrug.com/Evian/Evian-Facial-Spray-50ml/p/286407
• A good sized bag for handluggage - as someone has said, pack a toothbrush, mini toothpaste, a change of underwear and socks, a clean t-shirt, sunglasses and if he is going somewhere sunny his swimgear - so if checked luggage is delayed he is all set.
• Take a small cloth bag (like those re-usable material free grocery bags shops sometimes give away) to put stuff in to have down by your feat by your seat - saves getting up every 5 minutes. If he has an aisle seat you can do without this.
• Once airside, buy a large bottle of water to take onto the plane
• Portable phone charger battery and if he is taking a laptop, a laptop charger.
• A cable/charger storage bag is useful. *Cable ties are useful to keep everything tidy. I like Nite Ize Gear Tie Belt System which they sell on amazon.

Entertainment prep

It does sometimes happen that the inflight entertainment fails or doesnt have anything you are interested in so pre-prep by

• Downloading some films, short documentaries and so on he is interested in before he goes. Check they have downloaded properly and are stored onto the device rather than only accessible on the cloud. *Same for music - download some new albums and make sure on the device.
• Same for games - even if you aren't normally a game player there are a lot of games that you can play with no internet access including word games. *Podcasts are also a good way of time filling - even if they wouldn't normally be your thing - there is normally something somewhere of interest. *If he doesn''t like flying there are a few good hypnosis/relaxation downloads - the Anna Rowe ones are good. *A good book *A couple of magazines but you can get these at the airport.

Travel clothes
Loose comfortable clothes - cotton or natural fibers
A couple of layers for the variable temperature on the plane including a snuggly jumper
Shoes that are easy to take on and off - avoid tight fitting shoes as feet can swell.

On arrival

Depending on where he is landing some airports have the e-visa scanner system so you can just scan your evisa and away you go rather than having to queue for passport control.

Thanks for all the great advice. He's off in a few days and I think he's got everything sorted.
One more question...
On his flight to Australia it's the same flight number all the way with a stopover in Shanghai. Will his hold luggage stay on the plane at this point?
Coming home he has a change of flight at Hong Kong. So I'm assuming he will have to collect his luggage and get it booked on next flight.
This is one of those times I feel like I have failed as a parent by not preparing him in life for travelling. Wish I'd had the money to travel abroad with him so this wouldn't have been so daunting.

No, he won't need to collect his luggage. We are in Oz and fly to Europe twice a year. Sometimes it is the same Flight number with a stop over during which time they clean the plane. You need to take all your stuff with you even if you will go back to the same set.

Checked in luggage travel to final destination even if you change flight midway unless they tell you differently.

He will need a pen to fill the custom card.

www.homeaffairs.gov.au/EnteringorleavingAustralia/Documents/english-ipc-sample.pdf

One last thing, it is winter here and quite cold in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne. It is be warmer up north in queensland but if he is staying in the South, pack a warm jacket and a couple of jumpers.

Thank you so much King.
So even with the change of flight at Hong Kong his bags will be transferred and won't need to be collected and rebooked in.
He is on Sertraline so I'm guessing he'll need to declare those on the form you've linked?
He's staying in Sydney so I'll make sure he has something warm to wear.

You only need to declare medication that could be illegal or restricted in Australia, so steroid or opiates, so not sure about this one. Just in case, have a copy of prescription or a label on the packet . I never declare the every day medication such as asthma, paracetamol and so on. Maybe someone will be able to give you a better answer on this point.
He certainly is allowed to have them, not sure if he has to declare them. It says if in doubt tick yes.
Like everybody said, make sure you leave all food taken as snacks in the plane, especially fresh fruit.

HK isn’t fussy about number of liquids as long as they’re in the clear bag but they can be odd about aerosols sometimes so liquid deodorant in carry on is safest. If he’s a smoker they WILL find and confiscate his lighters in hold or carry on so don’t even bother taking them as it can cause delays. At HK he needs to find “international transfers” and then the “foreign” desk. These can be quite small or tricky to find so good to make friends with fellow travellers on the first plane :)

No need to declare ADs but take the box and if worried his GP can write a letter certifying them for around £10

Thanks he has the box and a copy of his prescription.
Great help from everyone. Thank you.

The very very last thing, internet is crap in Australia and very expensive. Most hotels charge you for the connection - first time I came hotel charged 27$/day), so a very easy thing is to buy an australian sim card and put it in the phone.
There is a Vodafone shop right in the arrival terminal. You just need a passport to buy a prepaid for a month. This is what all my guests do. You are not locked in a contract. Have a look at the plans www.vodafone.com.au/prepaid/plans
Internet is free in library, shopping malls, some streets (the Corso in Manly, manly beach)

In the same way, if he is staying in Sydney for a while, he will need an OPAL card www.opal.com.au to access buses and trains and ferries. you buy it at a newsagent.

He will have a great time!

Is he with 3 in the UK? He can use his UK plan for free in Aus if he is. (Any possibly Hong Kong too).

Only downside is it's with Vodafone, so not great coverage outside the major cities if he's planning to travel around. Would still be worth it though, much more expensive over there.