Last Monday (15 August 2022), my partner arrived back at Melbourne after nine weeks away. We treated ourselves to business class and the final leg on SQ 227 was very pleasant.
However, the luggage collection and customs experience at Melbourne Airport certainly gave the impression we remain a "hick town".
Firstly, the automated immigration system worked fine.
Then we were directed to the relevant luggage carousel which was shared by our flight from Singapore and another earlier one from New Delhi. The luggage from both flights was delayed. The generic "welcome to Melbourne" announcements were painful, especially the references to a "slight delay" with the luggage. We were waiting a good half an hour before the first baggage from SQ 227 appeared.
Throughout this several people wearing yellow safety vests labelled "biosecurity" hovered around. Most appeared to be tertiary students doing casual work and others were dressed like Crocodile Dundee - a truly Australian image? There was little if any interaction with arriving passengers.
Then the congo line to go through customs clearance. It snaked around the entire luggage area. I reckon more than 1000 people could have been involved. The people were generally well behaved but as we neared the customs point a second line formed and there was some serious jostling to get on to it. I observed some racial tension as different groups seemed to be competing with each other to get into the second line.
There were two customs officers (or whatever they're called now) on duty and seemed to be doing a good job in the circumstances. I heard one mumble something about "staff shortages" but we got through without any issues.
Having arrived from Singapore, one could speculate about how the Singaporeans would organise such an experience. But, in all seriousness, I wondered if the Melbourne airport arrival experience could be enhanced as a truly Aussie welcome with staff dressed in Crocodile Dundee or Steve Irwin style?
The arrival area also needs a decent clean. Perhaps I was impacted by Singapore a few hours earlier but whilst I couldn't describe the Melbourne arrival area as dirty it certainly had every indication of a carefree "lick and a polish" approach.
Trust this is of interest - and posted in a correct/appropriate section of the forum.
Paul in Melbourne
However, the luggage collection and customs experience at Melbourne Airport certainly gave the impression we remain a "hick town".
Firstly, the automated immigration system worked fine.
Then we were directed to the relevant luggage carousel which was shared by our flight from Singapore and another earlier one from New Delhi. The luggage from both flights was delayed. The generic "welcome to Melbourne" announcements were painful, especially the references to a "slight delay" with the luggage. We were waiting a good half an hour before the first baggage from SQ 227 appeared.
Throughout this several people wearing yellow safety vests labelled "biosecurity" hovered around. Most appeared to be tertiary students doing casual work and others were dressed like Crocodile Dundee - a truly Australian image? There was little if any interaction with arriving passengers.
Then the congo line to go through customs clearance. It snaked around the entire luggage area. I reckon more than 1000 people could have been involved. The people were generally well behaved but as we neared the customs point a second line formed and there was some serious jostling to get on to it. I observed some racial tension as different groups seemed to be competing with each other to get into the second line.
There were two customs officers (or whatever they're called now) on duty and seemed to be doing a good job in the circumstances. I heard one mumble something about "staff shortages" but we got through without any issues.
Having arrived from Singapore, one could speculate about how the Singaporeans would organise such an experience. But, in all seriousness, I wondered if the Melbourne airport arrival experience could be enhanced as a truly Aussie welcome with staff dressed in Crocodile Dundee or Steve Irwin style?
The arrival area also needs a decent clean. Perhaps I was impacted by Singapore a few hours earlier but whilst I couldn't describe the Melbourne arrival area as dirty it certainly had every indication of a carefree "lick and a polish" approach.
Trust this is of interest - and posted in a correct/appropriate section of the forum.
Paul in Melbourne
