An Islamic preacher who flew from Perth to Sydney under a false name last year was merely trying to avoid publicity, a court has heard.

Junaid Thorne, 26, is appealing against his nine-month prison sentence.

He and a co-accused, 19-year-old Mostafa Shiddiquzzaman — who was handed four months in custody for the offence — are currently on bail, pending the outcome of their appeal.

Barrister Wayne Flynn told the NSW District Court on Wednesday the sentences should have been comparable to a third offender, Omer Issak, who was dealt with by a magistrate in Western Australia.

"[Issak] was put under a supervision order, that is, he wasn't sentenced to any term of imprisonment," Mr Flynn said.

"When the police approached Mr Thorne, there were admissions made. He entered pleas of guilty at the earliest opportunity."

The court heard Thorne had been the subject of unwarranted publicity.

He has been interviewed by the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and was deported from Saudi Arabia for protesting against the detention of his brother.

Judge Andrew Scotting said there had been massive attention on airport security since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

"I think the public expect a fair degree of openness and honesty when travelling domestically," he said.

Appearing for the Director of Public Prosecutions, solicitor Imad Abdul-Karim questioned the argument about avoiding publicity.

"How is it that travelling under their own name would attract publicity?" he asked.

Mr Abdul-Karim said privacy legislation prevented flight lists from being passed on to anyone.

The court was told the offending by Thorne and Shiddiquzzaman was different to that of Issak, because it involved the booking and payment of the flight, not merely the travel.

Judge Scotting will hand down his decision tomorrow.