Feasibiility for in town/remote check in for Australian Domestic and International services

[Quickstatus]

counter at Southern Cross station (bus terminal) with dedicated service straight to MEL on Skybus

But if already going to MEL, what is the point?
The only benefit would be if earlier check- in is possible, giving a bit more time in town.
But that raises the risk the passenger might misjudge their airport arrival - like some passengers missing the cruise ships after a shore day trip.

Rather than remote check in, a baggage forwarding service to the airport would be better.
This way the liability falls on the passenger to check in on time, rather than the airline
However in Australia, I dont think that would happen. The cost structure is too high for that to happen even with minimum wages.

 

[Forg]

Wonder what the take-up rate is for the Swiss railways one, an organisation which amuses me being (in one language) called FFS and putting FFS on all their trains?
We arrived in CH by air but left by train … if we’d have been flying out at night however, and given it only takes a couple of hours to get to any Swiss airport from anywhere in Switzerland, the time between accommodation checkout & flight-time would’ve definitely had me asking how much that service was rather than lugging an extra bag around all day.

 

[kookaburra75]

But if already going to MEL, what is the point?
The only benefit would be if earlier check- in is possible, giving a bit more time in town.
But that raises the risk the passenger might misjudge their airport arrival - like some passengers missing the cruise ships after a shore day trip.

Yes, all you need is an accident the the freeway and it all goes to custard. I've had that happen a couple of time in the past decade and it's not fun.

Being of a certain vintage I remember the Melbourne check in/bus on A Becket St. It wasn't really that convenient, just one less thing to worry about as back then HLO wasn't a thing.

While I was in WA in the 80s as most of the regional airports were well out of town, MMA/AWA allowed you to check-in in town and provided a bus to get you to the airport. In Kununurra the bus broke down more times I cared to remember. Be careful what you wish for.

 

[LionKing]

Rather than remote check in, a baggage forwarding service to the airport would be better.
This way the liability falls on the passenger to check in on time, rather than the airline
However in Australia, I dont think that would happen. The cost structure is too high for that to happen even with minimum wages.

I agree, and that's where I suggested a remote check in service with use of UberCourier technology.

Uber already partners with Qantas, so why not use the Qantas app to get an Uber driver to check your baggage at home, at least for domestic services?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I find it perplexing that there has been some - inadequate - acknowledgement of security issues in this thread, yet some contributors remain obsessed with the idea that the workers involved in such a service MUST work for minimum wage. This is self-defeating. Exploiting people provides both an incentive and a moral justification for corruption.

 

[LionKing]

Yes, all you need is an accident the the freeway and it all goes to custard. I've had that happen a couple of time in the past decade and it's not fun.

I would say traffic accidents happens every day. Maybe leave early with that in mind is helpful.

Even with rail transport, I can guarantee there's delays every day, either from signal failures, electrical failures, or simply just some kids on board with Matchetes will set you back 2 - 3 hours for your trip.

I find it perplexing that there has been some - inadequate - acknowledgement of security issues in this thread, yet some contributors remain obsessed with the idea that the workers involved in such a service MUST work for minimum wage. This is self-defeating. Exploiting people provides both an incentive and a moral justification for corruption.

I am sure having some sort of security seal or bag to avoid tempering will make this service secure.

 

[Quickstatus]

Uber already partners with Qantas, so why not use the Qantas app to get an Uber driver to check your baggage at home, at least for domestic services?

I dont see the point of "UberCourier " the baggage
Someone will have to physically accept the luggage at the other end, scan it on arrival
Duplicating transportation - separate passengers and baggage.
Additional cost which would not be insignificant despite "minimum wages" as though that is some sort of a benefit.
Greater traffic at the Airport terminal departure level.
It would be completely antitthetical to domestic baggage handling at checkin which is self check in

I can imagine the following
Baggage remotely 'checked in"
To make it cost efficient the courier company pick up other bags along the way.
You arrive at the airport and bags still on the way....
Who is then responsible if the bags are late.
But regardless of who is responsible, why create that issue in the first place.?

This is a nonstarter.

Maybe leave early with that in mind is helpful.

in that case just go with the baggage to the airport.
No need to complicate matters.

 

[Warragul]

I would say if we can hire working holiday visa people to run this service at minimum wage, I think that is feasible, and furthermore, I don't understand why airports don't have space for baggage storage when there are plenty of wasted space for large open space car parks at MEL, BNE etc.?

Why working holiday visa holders? Wouldn't locals want these apparent minimum wage jobs.
More money in carparks than baggage storage.

 

[HMcM]

While I would love the service it's something that I don't see happening. We just need to get a damn train out to the airport that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

 

[TheCollecter]

While I would love the service it's something that I don't see happening. We just need to get a damn train out to the airport that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Please define an arm and a leg in Brisbane this month it's $23.30 each way per pax. Last year in Sydney they charged me $20.29, but Sydney does depend on weekend vs weekday, etc (Brisbane may too, but I'm a noob). $25 from MEL CBD to Tulla would be fine... but by the time that actually open the line ???

 

[Forg]

I find it perplexing that there has been some - inadequate - acknowledgement of security issues in this thread, yet some contributors remain obsessed with the idea that the workers involved in such a service MUST work for minimum wage. This is self-defeating. Exploiting people provides both an incentive and a moral justification for corruption.

I think the issue is that to do that, you’d be needing to add employees & roles which don’t already exist; and the volumes may or may not be there to offer it at a price people will pay. Using existing services to make it affordable is where, even if you paid supplements, you’re getting minimum-wage attitudes from the people doing that work … so yeah, that’s a problem due to how that whole industry works.

 

[Quickstatus]

Last year in Sydney they charged me $20.29, but Sydney does depend on weekend vs weekday

Only for the non airport station access fee component

Current SYD airport station access fee is $18.61 (adults) and $16.64 (concession)
Train fare = station access fee + whatever the train fare is which is less on Friday, Sat, Sun and off peak other times (30%) off
Yes all of Friday is considered off peak travel

If people are not happy with transportation price, I cant imagine them paying extra for remote baggage check in

Of course, there might be demand if the service was free........But nothing is ever free.

 

[TheCollecter]

@LionKing - great thread, really got our emotions running (nothing wrong with an emotionally charged thread, btw)

Sorry if my earlier reply turned this into a MEL train rant - we could, as I often do, go on and on about it ad nauseum - and I will again and again

 

[HMcM]

Please define an arm and a leg in Brisbane this month it's $23.30 each way per pax. Last year in Sydney they charged me $20.29, but Sydney does depend on weekend vs weekday, etc (Brisbane may too, but I'm a noob). $25 from MEL CBD to Tulla would be fine... but by the time that actually open the line ???

Well at the moment I can get to the airport on PT for $2.85, normally it would be $5.70. About 75% of that distance is by train already. If it is going to cost $23.30 / person then I think most couples living central or north in Melbourne would choose an Uber over that.

 

[TheCollecter]

Well at the moment I can get to the airport on PT for $2.85, normally it would be $5.70. About 75% of that distance is by train already. If it is going to cost $23.30 / person then I think most couples living central or north in Melbourne would choose an Uber over that.

And I can get PT> 901 Frankston - Melbourne Airport bus for less than $5, but I can fly Melbourne to Darwin in the same time it takes!

Sadly, PT is not an option in my (red) neck of the woods

 

[Forg]

Well at the moment I can get to the airport on PT for $2.85, normally it would be $5.70. About 75% of that distance is by train already. If it is going to cost $23.30 / person then I think most couples living central or north in Melbourne would choose an Uber over that.

When I used to do interstate stuff for work projects, I used to use public transport to the airport for predictability … yeah it took 1.5hrs instead of 45-odd minutes, but taxis & Ubers are just too unreliable/unpredictable. And in Sydney you needed 5 people travelling in the same vehicle for public transport to cost more.

But … that’s also before I discovered “car service”. Totally rejigged the cost vs reliability equation.

Getting away from the airport is a tad different, as there’s not normally the same sort of deadline as a boarding-time imposes.

 

[HMcM]

And I can get PT> 901 Frankston - Melbourne Airport bus for less than $5, but I can fly Melbourne to Darwin in the same time it takes!

Sadly, PT is not an option in my (red) neck of the woods

SX->Broadie->Airport isn't too horrible if you get a quick bus connection. But if they were to run a relatively express train service it would definitely be better.

When I used to do interstate stuff for work projects, I used to use public transport to the airport for predictability … yeah it took 1.5hrs instead of 45-odd minutes, but taxis & Ubers are just too unreliable/unpredictable. And in Sydney you needed 5 people travelling in the same vehicle for public transport to cost more.

But … that’s also before I discovered “car service”. Totally rejigged the cost vs reliability equation.

Getting away from the airport is a tad different, as there’s not normally the same sort of deadline as a boarding-time imposes.

Thankfully when I travel for work they're paying for my Ubers to and from the airport and I leave enough time to not have to worry (I've not found them too unreliable).

As for Sydney I'm not sure where you're headed that an Uber from the airport would be $100 but definitely not CBD or central suburbs from my experience.

As for the car service I do need to look into that now I'm doing an increasing amount of travel for work.