SYD Retail renovations Complete after over a Year

[serfty]

Was researching another question came across changes to the SYD airport web site.

New map: SYD T1 Departures

...

Here's the old map:

http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/SAC...R185934_SACL_T1 DirectoryBrochure 01JUL09.pdf

Also note the caption on today's map re the pier C "Customs and security":

Note: This entry closes 23/09/09

...

The implication is the renovations are nearly completed.

It's gunna be a Bl**dy long walk from Customs and Security for those passengers departing from pier C.

 

[samh004]

Looks like they've added a lot more space airside, not that most people here spend much time outside of lounges

 

[simongr]

It's gunna be a Bl**dy long walk from Customs and Security for those passengers departing from pier C.

What do you mean? Pier C is *A (pretty much) and they have their own customs and immigration don't they? There are two immigration sections on the map - one for each Pier?

 

[futaris]

They're getting rid of one of the entrances:

 

[simongr]

Does that not just refer to the TRS there?

 

[samh004]

Does that not just refer to the TRS there?

The arrow pointing to the TRS says that'll also be closing, but in October, as oppose to the customs and immigration point that closes in 6 days.

 

[simongr]

Just call me "Sim nice but dim"...

On a purely self interest point this is going to put extra pressure on the B pier C&I.

I wonder how much QF paid to screw over the *A pax. This will certainly deter some *A pax from flying with them....

 

[kamchatsky]

Great way for *A passengers to lose weight, including myself for NZ SYD-WLG during Xmas. Then VS SYD-HKG in Jan.

As for my better half, she would be complaining already by the time it get to customs from Checkin J. And she is much more fit than me

 

[kpc]

It's gunna be a Bl**dy long walk from Customs and Security for those passengers departing from pier C.

...esp if you need to go to TRS first which is near Gate B23 (as the TRS in Pier C is scheduled to close Oct 09), and then have to walk back to Pier C

 

[Mal]

I see Sydney has studied how Heathrow sets up their airports!

 

[anat0l]

I was going to say the same "sucked in" thing for *A carriers too

Of course, they might still have that tarmac bus leaving from Gate 26 or something. How very LHR T5-ish or FRA-ish

 

[adamonline]

This does look a little like SACL has said "screw the *A passengers" but there may be one positive. It seems like passengers can now get to lounges in the other pier from their departing flight. So in some limited circumstances this may be beneficial.

Also, it does appear there are a number of travelators to help passengers make the trip.

 

[serfty]

Those travelators were always there.

I do hope the 'secret' stair to the mezzanine and the QF lounges continue to be available.

 

[odysseus]

It seems the difference will be negligible. I'd say you'd just go through B, then straight on to the travelators which take you right to where C was before.

Centralising things will also help loads better than before. Assuming they're not getting rid of staff and make sufficient space, it should make things quicker.

 

[serfty]

It seems the difference will be negligible. I'd say you'd just go through B, then straight on to the travelators which take you right to where C was before. ...

Are you kidding!

This will add around 400 metres to the path required for someone using the J check-in simply to get the the base of the C pier. It's ~6 times the distance merely to get to the travelators.

Look at the following image. Check-in is at J for a pier C flight. The base of pier C is marked with the Blue Cross.

The current/old direct path is in RED, the new direct path is in BLACK:

Here a link to the original .Pdf

http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/SAC.../T1 International Departures_Map_17-09-09.pdf

 

[moa999]

and methinks the black path will get even longer once the grey under development area is completed.

 

[file51]

It's gunna be a Bl**dy long walk from Customs and Security for those passengers departing from pier C.

The walk will be longer (as the Duty Free area is open plan, so C gate passengers can walk through the store, instead of going right around and following the yellow brick road) what will be good is the increase in screening points and customs desks (one of my friends who works for customs says capacity and flow 'should' improve by at least 25-50%) This increase is based on the total security screening points and customs desks that are in place now.

Looking forward to seeing the finished product as airside was starting to get quite tired and looking shabby

 

[serfty]

... C gate passengers can walk through the store, instead of going right around ...

Ok, so that takes 100m off the walk.

It was pointed out on FT that *A PAX using the train will have to proceed from one end of the terminal to the other then back again then down again to Pier C.

It's still quite a log way, even with travelators as I found when taking JQi back to MEL in 2007. It was departing from Pier C but. I left the F/L to head to gate 54, some ¾ hour before scheduled departure. I arrived at the gate ~¼ hour later, only to find the flight was delayed ¾ hour - so I headed back to the F/L for ¼ hour before starting out again. This all took about an hour, ¾ of that walking - I was quite thankful of those travelators.

 

[file51]

Believe me, I am not saying by any means it is a small walk.

What is unclear is how many travelators (moving walkways) may be used as that will help somewhat.

Agree on the *A point coming off a train, that is going to suck big time.

All good for QF flyers though...

 

[anat0l]

Gotta feel sorry for C pier pax in a way - they have to walk a lot of dead space (or go through travelators) to get to their gates. And the open plan duty free shop. Although, as I said, they still might have that tarmac bus that leaves from gate 26 or whatever. Or maybe the *A will have a "buggy"/cart like thing they have going at some other airports (although due to egress requirements etc. that may not be an option).

Power to the oneworld advantage! :mrgreen: Just kidding..... Shouldn't really joke about it; position in an airport is one reason why the late version of Ansett was never going to take off (pun intended).


My big issue with SYD T1 apart from the stupid curfew is that it is boring. OK, AKL is boring too (at least they open 24 hours), but apart from a bit of 'natural' at pier C, SYD has no character to it. Alright, let's be honest, MEL T2 doesn't have much character either. PER doesn't. CNS doesn't. OOL barely! BNE isn't too bad (natural light, lots of glass....just an otherwise useless airport ). I hope that the new improvements will add some much needed character to what is supposed to be Australia's premier international gateway. Yep! A premier gateway in a 1st world country that operates with a 4th world regime of not opening 24 hours and charging an exorbitance for landing fees!