Why I hate SYD

[markis10]

Apparently the hat did it :shock:

Why Sydney Airport sucks so much

Why Sydney Airport sucks so much

August 18, 2010

• Comments 95

Vietnamese conical hats.

It's because they broke my hat, basically.
If that hadn't happened I could probably have forgiven everything else – the hour-long wait in the plane on departure; the half-hour spent in the plane on my return, waiting for the aerobridge to work; the mounting minutes standing by the carousel hoping to see my bag; even the mind-numbing hour-long queue to make it through quarantine.
I could probably have put that all behind me if they hadn't broken my damn hat.......

 

[samh004]

He couldn't even show a photo of his supposedly ruined hat, come on?

And if anything, this is a customs beat up.

And what's the story with the complaint about ground staff? Last I heard they're not part of the upgrade. They're a different company aren't they?

The only point that made sense was he said there were more shops. Congrats... You've written a one line article. You're a journalist now.

 

[harvyk]

So what? The guy hates SYD because a hat was damaged going through an X-Ray machine, the same type of machines which are used at airports around the world.

I can think of many more things to complain about with SYD (such as the T1 to T2 \ T3 transfers being a PITA), but a piece of luggage being broken in transit (which technically it still was) is nothing new, and is not unique to SYD.

 

[JohnK]

You just have to love these stories.

And for those of you that hate SYD airport it is the best airport in Australia by far which does not really say much about the other airports.

 

[mannej]

Written by the Backpacker guy...

Has he not written questionable articles before?

To me the hat breaking seems to be one of those things that happens from time to time.

If it cost him $1.99 over in Vietnam, I dare say that it could be sourced over here without him having to go back over. Hardly priceless stuff.

I say so what (I would be of a different view if the hat had sentimental value, or couldn't be replaced...
:shock:

 

[FlyboyAl]

I just read the second comment about the person who went through "costumes" and have they treated him/her!!!
Interesting read, and my thoughts are get on with your life and let "costumes" do their job.

 

[NM]

I just read the second comment about the person who went through "costumes" and have they treated him/her!!!
Interesting read, and my thoughts are get on with your life and let "costumes" do their job.

Why is it that the thought of costumes and SYD airport conjures visions of a camel driving a tractor?

 

[Moody]

The hat episode was merely the last straw (pun intended) to a very poor experience arriving at a recently refurbished 1st-world airport. I would agree that half a billion dollars for some new shops is poorer value than any BER project, and he makes valid comparisons with other airports that deliver far better outcomes for passengers.

I have been lucky at Sydney not to encounter it on a really bad day, but I also use tricks like having carry-on only, using the Duty Free queue, trying to look less-scruffy than the average passenger, etc. The only other option to ease the pain would be to get an APEC card and I'm seriously contemplating getting another passport purely for this purpose.

What I am trying to understand is which part of the problem is down to MQG as opposed to the Government and the airlines.

 

[samh004]

And for those of you that hate SYD airport it is the best airport in Australia by far which does not really say much about the other airports.

I don’t think MEL is too bad, especially considering the lengthy walk from domestic to international and back

 

[straitman]

You just have to love these stories.

And for those of you that hate SYD airport it is the best airport in Australia by far which does not really say much about the other airports.

That's a joke right :?:

There are many reasons to hate SYD. It just appears that some peoples thresholds are a little lower than others. If they broke my umbrella then that would be different :!:

 

[notmensa]

Quote from the article:
"I don't like declaring things because it inevitably results in a long wait that ends with someone turning it over in their hands, nodding sagely and sending you on your way."

Wow. Can we say "randomly selected for extra screening" ??

 

[Hvr]

You just have to love these stories.

And for those of you that hate SYD airport it is the best airport in Australia by far which does not really say much about the other airports.

Got to disagree with you here John, MEL is much better. It would be near perfect if QF realised that there is more then one city in Australia.

 

[JohnK]

That's a joke right :?:

Why is it joke? I fly as much as anyone else and clearly the facilities offered at SYD airport are miles ahead of any airport in Australia. What is lacking in SYD? Lounges? Bars? Check-in facilities? Transport? Duty Free?

And yes Bill I have used each of the airports in Australia extensively and I look at it logically rather than having a biased view just because it is SYD involved.

Got to disagree with you here John, MEL is much better. It would be near perfect if QF realised that there is more then one city in Australia.

You are entitled to disagree with me. I have transitted MEL a number of times as well and it is not as rosy as people think.

The last time I was there end of June my golf clubs were the last to come out of a full 747 flight, walked around to domestic and the queues were horrendous. Took ages to check-in for domestic flight and the 3 queues for security were each at least 40 people deep.

At least SYD has a transfer desk which may well be busy most times but you do not have to check-in again.

In my opinion SYD is the best airport to come back into Australia.

And yes MEL may not be far behind but try doing the international/domestic and vv shuffle at PER or BNE. Not pleasant. And to be honest DRW and ADL do not have the traffic or the facilities to be even considered in the equation.

Domestic airports? Again SYD is streets ahead.

 

[tuapekastar]

At least SYD has a transfer desk which may well be busy most times but you do not have to check-in again.

In my opinion SYD is the best airport to come back into Australia.

And yes MEL may not be far behind but try doing the international/domestic and vv shuffle at PER or BNE. Not pleasant. And to be honest DRW and ADL do not have the traffic or the facilities to be even considered in the equation.

Domestic airports? Again SYD is streets ahead.

SYD may not be the worst, but it is not really too flash. I have never had to transit at MEL, but a 3 minute 'in-building' walk between terminals does seem rather more convenient and sensible than going up and down escalators and taking bus tours around the tarmac (or having to pay to transfer if QF is not part of your itinerary).

 

[kamchatsky]

Given I live in Sydney, SYD is fine for me as it is close to city. However if I have to do Domestic - International transfer in SYD, I would absolutely hate it.

 

[JohnK]

However if I have to do Domestic - International transfer in SYD, I would absolutely hate it.

I have a Domestic-International transfer in SYD in ~6 weeks and would be interested to see what all the fuss is about but I may pike out again and get someone to pick me up at domestic terminal and drop me off at international terminal.

And no it is not because I do not have faith in the transfer but I would want to bring back clothes from BNE that need washing and drop off my laptop as well before going away to Thailand for 10 days.

 

[serfty]

I did the SYD Int. to Dom transfer yesterd and it has been significantly improved.

 

[docjames]

I have a Domestic-International transfer in SYD in ~6 weeks and would be interested to see what all the fuss is about but I may pike out again and get someone to pick me up at domestic terminal and drop me off at international terminal.

And no it is not because I do not have faith in the transfer but I would want to bring back clothes from BNE that need washing and drop off my laptop as well before going away to Thailand for 10 days.

Just get the clothes collected from int, then use the transfer bus anyway.

Then you'll see what we're all complaining about....

 

[Stuser]

I might be a bit slow here, but are you saying that the transfer bus is bad in some way, or are you merely saying that having to use the transfer bus full stop is a bad thing?

If so, I completely agree. MEL you can just walk a few minutes to intnl terminal indoors. What's with the having to catch a bus in SYD?

That said, once at the SYD intnl terminal, the QF lounge IS better, in that it has windows.... MEL is a cave. It's insane to have a business / QF lounge that has no windows! I avoided flying from MEL for ages because of this. Horrible.:evil:

And then I am given to understand that a major Japanese airport (I think in Tokyo) you have to travel for some hours on a bus between intnl and domestic airport! :evil::evil:

Just get the clothes collected from int, then use the transfer bus anyway.

Then you'll see what we're all complaining about....

 

[pauly7]

That said, once at the SYD intnl terminal, the QF lounge IS better, in that it has windows.... MEL is a cave. It's insane to have a business / QF lounge that has no windows! I avoided flying from MEL for ages because of this. Horrible.:evil:

I might be a bit slow but are you taking the P?!