Biggest Airport Rip-Offs?

[NM]

... while SEA and JFK have "cell phone" parking lots where it's free to await your call from an incoming passenger.

And that is exactly what should be offered in Brisbane where there is lots of available space to make such a lot. People often use the Kingsford Smith Memorial for that purpose, but there's not a great deal of parking there and I have heard of parking inspectors (those employed by the parking company!) moving people along.

It would be great to have a display board there showing flight arrivals. They could even have a small cafe or pie/coffee van servicing such a parking lot for a little revenue. Then again, they would want to charge $8 a pie and $8 a coffee!

 

[equus]

People often use the Kingsford Smith Memorial for that purpose, but there's not a great deal of parking there and I have heard of parking inspectors (those employed by the parking company!) moving people along.

The easy way to avoid that (when you see them coming) is to get out of the car and actually visit the memorial. I have been a frequent visitor, and for a quick stretch of the legs, there is little the parking naz_s can then do. They used to be particularly active on those "parked" in the no standing areas (fair enough), but the car park has been reduced in size (and convenience) with all the road works, as it no longer has its access directly to the roundabout. All the "extra" no standing areas have been removed as well.

The up side is that it is also no longer on the "direct" access route to the domestic terminal, so demand has dropped off, and there is better availability for those that plan ahead to use it

 

[DrAndyC]

. They could even have a small cafe or pie/coffee van servicing such a parking lot for a little revenue. Then again, they would want to charge $8 a pie and $8 a coffee!

That said, I saw a coffee/small cake combo listed as a "special" at HBA ( i think) for $12 on my status run yesterday.... the only thing special about that is the inflated price!!

 

[NM]

The easy way to avoid that (when you see them coming) is to get out of the car and actually visit the memorial. I have been a frequent visitor, and for a quick stretch of the legs, there is little the parking naz_s can then do. They used to be particularly active on those "parked" in the no standing areas (fair enough), but the car park has been reduced in size (and convenience) with all the road works, as it no longer has its access directly to the roundabout. All the "extra" no standing areas have been removed as well.

And have a camera in your hand

 

[dajop]

I Thought most major US airport (or at least every major port which I have flown in/out of) has a cell phone lot?
Haha wonder when we will ever see these in Australia? Not if M.A.C has its ways.

I hope we will never see "cell phone lots" in Australia .... mobile phone car parks maybe. But MEL does have these - unofficially - if you know where to look. Gladstone Park Shopping Centre, the two aircraft viewing areas and several roadsides are all within an easy 5-10 min drive of the airport. For years many thought the Tulla Fwy was such a car park But I am glad they've cleaned up that dangerous nonsense. In any event you can also still get about 30 mins parking for $3 in the short term - 20 minutes parking plus 15 mins grace to leave the car park.

 

[anat0l]

I hope we will never see "cell phone lots" in Australia .... mobile phone car parks maybe. But MEL does have these - unofficially - if you know where to look. Gladstone Park Shopping Centre, the two aircraft viewing areas and several roadsides are all within an easy 5-10 min drive of the airport. For years many thought the Tulla Fwy was such a car park But I am glad they've cleaned up that dangerous nonsense. In any event you can also still get about 30 mins parking for $3 in the short term - 20 minutes parking plus 15 mins grace to leave the car park.

My mum takes a similar approach in BNE for pick-ups. She will wait at Toombul shopping centre, which is about 10 minutes away from the airport complex. With the roadworks there, the actual time is a bit more unpredictable.

A safer and easier bet would actually be the DFO complex (e.g. Novotel Airport, Woolworths etc.). I did this last time when picking up one of my folks from BNE I.

I'm supposing that no convenient equivalent exists in SYD (for any of the terminals). Oh wait, silly me, "no pickups are allowed at SYD T1"....

 

[Oneworldplus2]

My mum waits at the McDonalds, when l fly into Sydney T2 or T3 which is about 5 minutes away. Perfect place, you can get a coffee and read a paper for around $1.

 

[anat0l]

My mum waits at the McDonalds, when l fly into Sydney T2 or T3 which is about 5 minutes away. Perfect place, you can get a coffee and read a paper for around $1.

I think coffee costs more than a mere $1 even at Maccas, but I get your drift.

Is that the McDonalds near the terminal complex which is on the small road going towards the place that offers the Sydney Tarmac Tours? I'm no Sydneysider so road names escape me.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

It's on Ross Smith Drive. Runs parallel to Joyce Drive.

View attachment 929

 

[NM]

My mum takes a similar approach in BNE for pick-ups. She will wait at Toombul shopping centre, which is about 10 minutes away from the airport complex. With the roadworks there, the actual time is a bit more unpredictable.

A safer and easier bet would actually be the DFO complex (e.g. Novotel Airport, Woolworths etc.). I did this last time when picking up one of my folks from BNE I.

I'm supposing that no convenient equivalent exists in SYD (for any of the terminals). Oh wait, silly me, "no pickups are allowed at SYD T1"....

Such options could prove very expensive if Mrs NM was picking me up and the flight is delayed :shock:

 

[ethernet]

Canberra Airport Dishonesty.

Not a single signpost pointing to where you can catch $4.00 public buses.
They want to steer you to paying Deans Airport bus $9.00 or a taxi.

(From Virgin end, further-est away from QF, walk towards the buildings closest to the Caltex service Station. See a kids playground , then bus sign. Only good M-F during business hours only. But can save a $70 taxi fare, as at peak times, expresso to outer southside/Gordon/towards Tharwa/Cooma. Look up Brindabella Business Park from OpenDNS for a schedule.

Shortcut through the carpark is warmer, then angle past Caltex - or to Caltex if you have a mate topping up the petrol tank

Oh, and again dropoff but no pickup scam in place, except the curb is now 30 metres away from the terminal
.

 

[medhead]

Canberra Airport Dishonesty.

Oh, and again dropoff but no pickup scam in place, except the curb is now 30 metres away from the terminal
.

Last time I was in Canberra, I just wlaked over to the car park and jump in the car of the person picking me up. IIRC the first 15 minutes are free.

 

[JeniSkunk]

I think coffee costs more than a mere $1 even at Maccas, but I get your drift.

Is that the McDonalds near the terminal complex which is on the small road going towards the place that offers the Sydney Tarmac Tours? I'm no Sydneysider so road names escape me.

It's on Ross Smith Drive. Runs parallel to Joyce Drive.

View attachment 929

Looking at the location in Google Earth, I could find the place easilly enough.
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/8442/gesydmcdsjoycedrv.jpg

Though the Street View pics are out of date somewhat, showing a Krispy Kreme where the McD's is. The McDs looks to be next door to a Formule1 motel.
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3458/gesydmcdsrosssmithave.jpg

Jenifur Charne

 

[serfty]

Canberra Airport Dishonesty.

Not a single signpost pointing to where you can catch $4.00 public buses.
They want to steer you to paying Deans Airport bus $9.00 or a taxi.
...

Similar in MEL where there is a public transport bus stop but you need to look for it. (Skybus $16)

See here: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/tullamarine-transport-18524.html#post255552

 

[JohnK]

- Brisbane airtrain at $13 for city stations to/from airport
- Luggage trolleys
- Food and alcohol in most bars/cafes at airports although I was able to get a schooner of beer at SYD T2 for $5.80 the other day
- Short term car park at SYD T1
- Taxi fares from most airports

BTW, can you park, pick somene up who likely will have luggage, drive out in under 15 mins at T1?

Should not be a problem if they come out to the carpark with their luggage.

I Thought most major US airport (or at least every major port which I have flown in/out of) has a cell phone lot?
Haha wonder when we will ever see these in Australia? Not if M.A.C has its ways.

In Sydney there would be no problem waiting for an international arrival at Kogarah Golf Club or the Sailing Club.

 

[Happy Trails]

A bit OT I know, and I'm not looking to restart a debate, but for me it's the rip-off our time and dignity going through airport security.
Every time we have to queue to remove our belts or display our LAGs to the world (hemorrhoid ointment in my case ) I chalk up another small victory for Al Qaeda & OBL.
Don't get me wrong, I believe in sensible risk-based security, but most of what we have now is is entirely redundant.

 

[medhead]

A bit OT I know, and I'm not looking to restart a debate, but for me it's the rip-off our time and dignity going through airport security.
Every time we have to queue to remove our belts or display our LAGs to the world (hemorrhoid ointment in my case ) I chalk up another small victory for Al Qaeda & OBL.
Don't get me wrong, I believe in sensible risk-based security, but most of what we have now is is entirely redundant.

don't worry once they bring in the whole body x-ray you'll be able to ask them to check progress back there.

But I do agree that we (they) seem to have already lost to terrorists by compromising our values.

 

[Happy Trails]

don't worry once they bring in the whole body x-ray you'll be able to ask them to check progress back there.

I like to think I'm an optomist but there's a silver lining that hadn't occurred to me.

 

[Siegfried]

- Brisbane airtrain at $13 for city stations to/from airport

And the $5 per person that you get hit for on the Airtrain to go from Int to Dom. I know that its free if you have a BP for a connecting flight, but there has been several times when my routing has taken me out from Dom, and back into BNE Int - so no BP.

 

[equus]

but there has been several times when my routing has taken me out from Dom, and back into BNE Int - so no BP.

Try the bus. The drivers don't seem too concerned with checking out the BP, so I managed to just wave the incoming QF BP as I got on, and got transferred back to domestic to pick up the car.