SYD IMMIGRATION DELAYS Hello, I have a flight this Wednesday on VA1 from SYD to LAX at 9:50am.

SYD IMMIGRATION DELAYS

Hello, I have a flight this Wednesday on VA1 from SYD to LAX at 9:50am. There is a scheduled strike for that morning from 7am to 9am as outlined in the recently published article. Anyone have had experience this past week with OUTGOING processing, especially from SYD airport and even during those strike periods? I will be flying Business and so I will have an Express card. The airline recommends showing up 3 hours prior to departure. And so even if I checked in at 6:50am, would there be no processing occuring at 7am to 9am? Or is it just reduced to a few stations open? I wouldn't mind going early if it was an evening departure as I could relax and enjoy refreshments at the lounge. However, given my morning flight, I'd like to make my visit at the airport at short as possible. Normally, I show up 90 minutes before departure and with express path, I've always gotten through with ease. I was really looking forward to this flight but after seeing that strike schedule, Im getting anxious about it!

I had a similar issue in July when they were on stike. I showed up to the airport 3 hours prior however as I was lining up in immigration they were about to shut the doors. This came without no warning so its best to give yourself plenty of time. Luckily I just made it through. I felt sorry for the people who were asked to stand back not far from me as the automatic roller doors came down.

Thank you for sharing your experience! I'd rather go through immigration before strike versus after strike but that would only leave me a 10 minute window with check in opening at 6:50am. I'm going to call Virgin again and see if they will open check in earlier than that. Otherwise, if officials did stop working, that would be a very stressful rush to the gate at 9am for a 9:50 departure but Im assuming the flight crew would be in the same situation so we'd all be rushing to the plane together! 

Not quite what you want but I landed at 9.30am after a 7-9am strike and didn't notice anything different.

That said would show up a little earlier than usual.

Ive had the same experience as well. I arrived at 6:30am last week when there was supposedly a strike at 7am, but after I got my bag and went through quarantine, it was well after 7am and everything was moving along. Perhaps its not definite but at the discretion and a sudden decision to stop working!