SkyBus gone up again [Now $23.90 one way]

[JohnK]

Bus was already there - I boarded and waited. The driver was looking at his watch regularly, then three minutes before scheduled departure he took off. If I'd have missed by being two minutes early I would have been <rather annoyed>.

Some T-Bus drivers do this in Brisbane from DFO. Some of my connections are very tight and them leaving ~3 minutes means I would have to wait 20 minutes for next one.

Not the end of the world but not desirable either as it adds to the trip time.

 

[gizzard]

Some T-Bus drivers do this in Brisbane from DFO. Some of my connections are very tight and them leaving ~3 minutes means I would have to wait 20 minutes for next one.

I've only used this method a few times and twice they have left early. Once we pulled in on the connecting bus and as we parked the one to the airport pulled out. I found out it had left 3 minutes early. The connections are tight but that, presumably, is to avoid hanging around. If it all ran on time then it would make the trip a very smooth one.

 

[JohnK]

I've only used this method a few times and twice they have left early. Once we pulled in on the connecting bus and as we parked the one to the airport pulled out. I found out it had left 3 minutes early. The connections are tight but that, presumably, is to avoid hanging around. If it all ran on time then it would make the trip a very smooth one.

A lot of the times the bus I am arriving on from Toombul has worked out I am going to airport and stops parallel at the first bus stop where the T-Bus is parked and drops me off then goes the 100 metres or so to the designated bus stop.

I know one of the drivers on T-Bus routes and I am going to make that complaint to him about buses leaving early.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Just came back from KCH so this all sounds very Malaysian to me. Buses there seems to love leaving 3 - 10 mins early too.

 

[opusman]

Caught the 12:12 from Flinders St today and was in the QF terminal at 1:06 - pretty efficient when it all works.

 

[pangwen]

Thinking about taking this option on an upcoming weekend. Is an 8 minute transfer window sufficient for train->901 bus going to the airport (thinking of taking the train arriving at Broadmeadows at 1444, leaving on the 901 departing at 1452)? I'm a little hesitant due to the half hourly bus frequency, but I'm also not keen on the 28 minute wait if I catch the earlier train.

 

[opusman]

Thinking about taking this option on an upcoming weekend. Is an 8 minute transfer window sufficient for train->901 bus going to the airport (thinking of taking the train arriving at Broadmeadows at 1444, leaving on the 901 departing at 1452)? I'm a little hesitant due to the half hourly bus frequency, but I'm also not keen on the 28 minute wait if I catch the earlier train.

As long as everything is on time it's fine, it's only a 2 minute walk from the platform to the bus stop. Danger is if the bus leaves early (which they often can) or obviously if the train is late.

 

[gizzard]

As long as everything is on time it's fine, it's only a 2 minute walk from the platform to the bus stop. Danger is if the bus leaves early (which they often can) or obviously if the train is late.

As opusman indicates, you should be fine but be prepared to miss it. If you have the time and if, as you wrote, you would have a 28 minute wait on an earlier bus then I think I'd take the risk as they are timetabled for every 30 minutes anyway. You might want to check that wait time with the earlier bus as I think you might find that it's 18 minutes and not 28.

 

[pangwen]

As long as everything is on time it's fine, it's only a 2 minute walk from the platform to the bus stop. Danger is if the bus leaves early (which they often can) or obviously if the train is late.

Thanks opusman and gizzard , I might take the risk - I can afford to miss the bus and still make the plane reasonably comfortably.

 

[defurax]

Looks like too many people are trying to buy Skybus tickets this morning!

Bandwidth Limit Exceeded

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Edit: It's back online now

 

[smit0847]

As much as I hate the Skybus, when travelling an non-peak times it can be extremely efficient. When I arrives at SX station last Tuesday at 10:30am there was a bus waiting, it left 4 minutes later, and with zero traffic exactly 17 minutes later I was in the VA lounge ordering a coffee. It's horrid at 5pm on a Friday but there are times when its very stress free.

 

[benjy]

I'm one of the rare advocates of the Skybus, I've used it every weekend this month, and will be using it again this weekend; Taxis/ubers are too expensive for me and I don't fancy spending 90+minutes on Public Transport.

 

[CPMaverick]

The Skybus works fine for me. I usually fly VA which is the first stop for the bus and the first pick up point (so you are pretty much guaranteed a seat). I go straight to buy my ticket after the flight and then grab my bag which is usually just coming out of the carousel after that.

For one person it is much cheaper than a taxi, assuming you can get to Southern Cross cheaply (I take the free tram). It is cheaper than driving and parking.

MEL should have a train there, and it probably should be cheaper, but I have had much worse!

 

[Buzzard]

For one, or two, I find SkyBus an efficient and cost effective way to get in and out of the CBD. Always buy my/our ticket on line to speed up the process.

 

[defurax]

Just bought a return ticket on the Arlanda Express train between ARN (Stockholm) and the city centre for a whooping AUD88! :shock: Now that makes the Skybus (and even the Heathrow Express) look cheap!

 

[gizzard]

Just bought a return ticket on the Arlanda Express train between ARN (Stockholm) and the city centre for a whooping AUD88! :shock: Now that makes the Skybus (and even the Heathrow Express) look cheap!

True, but the difference is that there are plenty of other options that are much cheaper and don't involve changing transport. Skybus is a bit like the Sydney Airport train, Brisbane train and the Arlanda Express train (etc), the quickest, most convenient but most expensive option.

 

[Jurahn]

Just bought a return ticket on the Arlanda Express train between ARN (Stockholm) and the city centre for a whooping AUD88! :shock: Now that makes the Skybus (and even the Heathrow Express) look cheap!

Ah, but Skybus doesn't run at 200km/h . We have to do the same thing next year for our trip to Sweden. Still, I'm happy to pay it for the speed and convenience.

 

[defurax]

Ah, but Skybus doesn't run at 200km/h . We have to do the same thing next year for our trip to Sweden. Still, I'm happy to pay it for the speed and convenience.

I guess that "we" means you'll be travelling with someone, in that case you will pay SEK150/person oneway. That is actually my biggest frustration with Arlanda Express, they are charging double when travelling alone (with the only difference that the ticket is flexible).

Sorry for going way OT...

 

[Jurahn]

I guess that "we" means you'll be travelling with someone, in that case you will pay SEK150/person oneway. That is actually my biggest frustration with Arlanda Express, they are charging double when travelling alone (with the only difference that the ticket is flexible).

We may be paying the same as you, depends on what's happening with their fares. The current "2 for 300" etc is their summer offer, which doesn't usually start unti mid-June or later (we arrive at the beginning of June) and was supposed to end on 31 August, but it appears they may have extended it - looks like it's still only applicable for travel Thurs-Sun but as you said, those travelling alone miss out on the discount!

 

[gizzard]

I bought my first Skybus 10 trip ticket since January.

The bad news is that it now costs $150. Up yet another $10. I remember when it was $110.

The good news is that Amex is still accepted without surcharge and that it's now valid for 18 months not 12.