How Australia's airports are failing flyers

[Skyring]

The departures drop off area can be an absolute scramble at peak hours. As a taxi driver it was hard not to direct negative thoughts to those people who were clearly waiting, taking up valuable space, interrupting the flow, adding to the congestion. It doesn't take much to push that strip into gridlock, when you pull in behind someone expecting them to move on before you are done dropping off, and instead they are still there, you have to back up to get room to pull out and there isn't always room to back up, and other cars have to stop to give you room and the whole thing just gets worse as more and more vehicles inexorably arrive.

It's an act of selfishness to pick up at the departures area. Likewise all those people "hovering" on corners or on the roundabout, or blocking the entrance to the rentals garage. Safety and consideration aren't high on people's minds when there's a dollar to be saved.

The airport should designate a "cellphone" lot for people to wait - at no charge - for the call from their passenger. Then pick up at the arrivals zone, which is generally used as a parking area for police and other official vehicles avoiding the parking fee. Rigidly enforce a two minute wait time - if you aren't obviously loading your vehicle you get moved on and fined for repeats.

 

[anat0l]

I think we are seeing more of these kinds of reports which are essentially having absolutely no effect.

I suppose it is the media's job to bag its own country, which amongst other things includes the airports. Notwithstanding the lack of free speech, I assume bad press about SIN, HKG and so on in the equivalent local rags is almost unheard of.

 

[Mardi]

The departures drop off area can be an absolute scramble at peak hours. As a taxi driver it was hard not to direct negative thoughts to those people who were clearly waiting, taking up valuable space, interrupting the flow, adding to the congestion. It doesn't take much to push that strip into gridlock, when you pull in behind someone expecting them to move on before you are done dropping off, and instead they are still there, you have to back up to get room to pull out and there isn't always room to back up, and other cars have to stop to give you room and the whole thing just gets worse as more and more vehicles inexorably arrive.

It's an act of selfishness to pick up at the departures area. Likewise all those people "hovering" on corners or on the roundabout, or blocking the entrance to the rentals garage. Safety and consideration aren't high on people's minds when there's a dollar to be saved.

The airport should designate a "cellphone" lot for people to wait - at no charge - for the call from their passenger. Then pick up at the arrivals zone, which is generally used as a parking area for police and other official vehicles avoiding the parking fee. Rigidly enforce a two minute wait time - if you aren't obviously loading your vehicle you get moved on and fined for repeats.

Luckily I only ever pick husband up on a Sunday morning after he's been to Sydney for the footy. It's pretty quiet at that time.

 

[JohnK]

The only thing wrong with Australia's airports are the greedy corporations trying to run them.

SYD First tax and duty free is the only duty free store I have encountered that has a surcharge for using credit cards. Not to mention overpriced goods.

Parking is a joke especially in SYD. You get 20 minutes free but if you stay 21 minutes the first 20 minutes is no longer free.

And why are trains so expensive? Nearly $20 for a one-way trip.

How did the governments privatise airports so cheaply?