SkyBus gone up again [Now $23.90 one way]

[opusman]

I notice SkyBus has gone up again, to $18 one way and $30 return.

Still cheaper than a taxi I guess!

 

[JessicaTam]

I notice SkyBus has gone up again, to $18 one way and $30 return.

Still cheaper than a taxi I guess!

Wasn't it only a few months ago it went up from $16/$26?

Edit: The train to Broady, and then the 901 keeps getting better!

 

[Ewing]

Bugger I guess?

I honestly couldn't have told you how much it was before - I stopped looking when they started accepting PayPass

 

[whatmeworry]

Public transport even cheaper!

 

[deejo77]

We did the bus/train combo in November - worked perfectly - whole weekend in melbourne on public transport including airport transfers was less then $25 - Broadmeadows a little iffy but ok

 

[Intra]

The SkyBus is still cheaper than the Sydney AirportLink & Brisbane's AirTrain on a return trip... Only just...
Funny though, taking a look at the website and prices have been like this since February 1 2012 - Are we missing something here?!?

And for the life of me right now I can't find my old scanned SkyBus ticket from my first and only trip to MEL thus far back in 2011; When you want it, of course you can't find it! <_<

 

[aikman]

Wow. $18 per person for a 20 min bus ride. I can only imagine how much profits are going into someone's pockets.

 

[serfty]

I used to go though 3 or 4 10x tickets a year at $100 then $110. Then it went to $120 and last year was $130. I was cosideing getting another 10x ticket when I went though on the 31st (assuming a new year rise) as I caught the 478 bus. In the end my flight was late and I skipped it.

Now the 10x is to $140.

 

[Ewing]

The SkyBus is still cheaper than the Sydney AirportLink & Brisbane's AirTrain on a return trip... Only just...

The train from my place to the airport is about $16. Taxi is about $28.

It's a no brainer, especially as there's a taxi rank directly outside the front of my apartment building

 

[JohnK]

I think ConXion in Brisbane is now $20 for one way trip. When I first started commuting Coachtrans was $12.

 

[samh004]

When I first started commuting Skytrans was $12.

Where does Skytrans fly to for $12!

 

[clarkkent]

I think ConXion in Brisbane is now $20 for one way trip. When I first started commuting Coachtrans was $12.

Interesting move pricing it higher than the train, sure there's no competition after 10pm but during the day? I guess they're banking on the hotel delivery being the selling point. I see from their price list that Roma St is still $15, but "selected stops" is $20.

 

[JessicaTam]

Wow. $18 per person for a 20 min bus ride. I can only imagine how much profits are going into someone's pockets.

Hmmm, that's nearly $1/minute. A $79 red-e-deal flight MEL-ADL works out cheaper (gate to gate).

 

[dajop]

Wow. $18 per person for a 20 min bus ride. I can only imagine how much profits are going into someone's pockets.

Trying to do a little math on this, but I have no idea how much it costs to maintain or fuel a bus.

But on a single bus, can make some assumptions:
- 15 passengers per trip = $270 per trip.
- fuel, say for 25km journey, say at 40 l/100km is 10 litres, or around $15
- driver, say costs $100/hr, that's $50 for 30 mins.
- maintenance, I don't know make it $2/km - that's $50

So that's about $155 per trip. Assume utilisation of bus for 12 hrs a day, that's 24 trips a day ... so that's $3700/day, or $1.4 m per year per bus to cover admin expenses, depreciation and capital cost. Sounds like there's a little bit of profit in there for them.

Worth comparing to greyhound, who for a 10 hr journey from Melbourne, eg. to Adelaide, charge $94 full fare (and offer discounts on this as well).

 

[ethernet]

This whole public transport thing pis**s me off. It is just a greedy rip at peoples wallets - tourists are fair game - although I am content with .sg KUL and BKK, except say after midnight. If you get in while trains and buss's are running and can plan.
I figure that if the transport is more than one hour of minimum wage - they have failed.
Judging from when I take the skybus in MEL they are doing bloody well - no increase is justified - it was already too high.

Facts:
1) The airport information desk will not tell you about public transport options - funny about that - especially in Australia - I don't observe this B/S in other countries, except eastern block ones who have a taxi mafia cartel.
2) Signs to public transport in the airport are sparse on non-existent as are static boards
3) Often hiring a car is cheaper if you do it a week in advance.
4) Alternate airport parking sometimes works out
5) Limo prices can be competitive at times

Thankfully smartphone apps and internet alternatives are eating a little. .CN and .VN private minibuses are also biting into the action. It also does not help putting a bus stop 500m + away from the main terminal. This is intentional sabotage of public transport.

 

[JessicaTam]

<snip>
Thankfully smartphone apps and internet alternatives are eating a little. .CN and .VN private minibuses are also biting into the action. It also does not help putting a bus stop 500m + away from the main terminal. This is intentional sabotage of public transport.

FWIW The bus stop is now quite convenient to the QF terminal end of MEL.

 

[wombatpatties]

Public transport even cheaper!

Can you tell me where and what buses go to the airport from Spencer St Station, I have always gotten the skybus, but if there's a cheaper way??

 

[JessicaTam]

Can you tell me where and what buses go to the airport from Spencer St Station, I have always gotten the skybus, but if there's a cheaper way??

Catch the train to Broadmeadows, then the 901 bus from there. Allow an hour all up.

Or the 479 which goes from Moonee Ponds station to Sunbury station via MEL although it is not nearly as frequent

 

[RickyT84]

Can you tell me where and what buses go to the airport from Spencer St Station, I have always gotten the skybus, but if there's a cheaper way??

There is no direct public bus from Southern Cross Station (nee Spencer Street) to Melbourne Airport. The best (and probably) easiest public transport option is to take the train to Broadmeadows station and change to a 901 bus to the airport. The other option is to take the train to Essendon station and change to a 478/479 bus, which is less frequent than the 901.

 

[wombatpatties]

Catch the train to Broadmeadows, then the 901 bus from there. Allow an hour all up.

Or the 479 which goes from Moonee Ponds station to Sunbury station via MEL although it is not nearly as frequent

Thanks for the info, will investigate that, have a good evening