SYD T1 LCC Gate 26

[Mrmaxwell]

Today I had the pleasure of boarding QF81 via gate 26E at SYD...full flight to boot and enjoy the bus with no AC, carrying your bags up the stairs and try not to feel sorry for the elderly PAX.

Why would QF allow full international flights to depart from these cough gates when Air Asia, Scoot and Cebu Pacific have no problem getting allocated a real departure gate!

 

[mannej]

There is enough anecdotal evidence on here and the other Facebook groups to suggest that a number of full service carriers are using the remote gates at SYD, SQ pops to mind.

With this in mind is it an airline issue or an airport issue?

 

[Mrmaxwell]

There is enough anecdotal evidence on here and the other Facebook groups to suggest that a number of full service carriers are using the remote gates at SYD, SQ pops to mind.
.
With this in mind is it an airline issue or an airport issue?

There were two more QF A330s and a SQ 777.

Surely QF at its hub airport has some standing to get decent gates for full flights?

I've been lucky until now and never boarded via this gate.

Why would LCC airlines including JQ get to use proper gates yet QF have 3 A330s lined up there?

 

[serfty]

Maybe airlines have contracts with the airport to provide a minimum number of airbridge gates (at any one/specific time).

Qantas' operations may be exceeding their minimum at times when no other airbridges are available.

 

[NZflygirl]

There is enough anecdotal evidence on here and the other Facebook groups to suggest that a number of full service carriers are using the remote gates at SYD, SQ pops to mind.

With this in mind is it an airline issue or an airport issue?

More of an airport issue I think.

I view airport buses as part and parcel of travel these days.

 

[Sdtravel]

I agree it could be an airport issue. Perhaps the previous flight using the stand was delayed causing a remote stand to have to be used.
Last year in LAX a flight I was on had to use a remote stand because the flight on the stand next to its allocated gate was delayed meaning the A380 couldn't fit in its allocated stand.

 

[jpk]

QF156, the 8pm AKL-MEL often seems to be using a bus at AKL of late, and the experience is not pleasant. Have wondered if it's cost cutting...

 

[TheInsider]

This isn't ab airline issue. This is an airport issue, and not much Qantas or other airlines can do about it. Complain to SACL is the best option.
Same stuff happens in MEL T2 as well.

 

[yohy?!]

Likely because qantas shifted majority of their int departures to the same period a couple of years back

 

[oz_mark]

Have wondered if it's cost cutting...

Yes, but more likely on the part of the airport in not providing sufficient infrastructure.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I understand the underlying issue is the total failure of SACL not being able to provide for Sydney's airline traffic growth and preferring to build new shopping areas to actual hard terminal facilities that would benefit PAX instead of SACL's bottom line.

QF surely have a good relationship with SACL being their biggest customer, and surely when sold out international flights are scheduled something could be done to ensure a proper gate. If Cebu Pacific can get a real gate with only 5 flights per week then surely little old QF can.

I pay the same govt and SACL movement fees regardless of what gate (facilities) I use...why should I pay the same when I have to ensure such a terrible boarding experience, being stuffed into a hot bus for 20mins, then getting wet while climbing the stairs with my (and my mothers) cabin bags.

I really couldn't believe QF staff having to help/carry old people up the stairs from their wheelchairs - disgusting.

 

[VHOEJ]

It is a SACL issue - welcome to Australia!

SACL are very quick to promote all of these new services but the airport can't handle them. They don't care if passengers have to use a bus to get to and from the terminal - they keep spruking that they are 'improving the journey'. It is poor for all airlines and is very third rate.

SACL's priorities are parking and shopping..........instead of gates. If they don't physically have room for more gates, then the only solution is a second airport, which they are opposing.

 

[ajw373]

This isn't ab airline issue. This is an airport issue, and not much Qantas or other airlines can do about it. Complain to SACL is the best option.
Same stuff happens in MEL T2 as well.

Indeed one of my worst arrivals into Aust ever was in Mel. Plane was late leaving SIN due to tech issues (blown tyre that needed changing), go a remote stand. Buses come over and drop us off next to the rubbish bins, but no one inside to turn lights on and open the doors. Was a wonderful 5 minutes standing outside next to the bins waiting for someone to come, was wondering what all the international visitors thought of it all.

Then once they opened the doors the escalators were not turned on so some people start to walk up them. Only problem was when the first person got near the top the weight of people on them was so much they started to roll backwards. You could well imagine the scrum of people at the bottom who fell over. Luckily only a few people fell before the natural balance of the escalator stopped it rolling back and someone from the airport arrived to stop more getting on and to turn them on.

It was a Qantas flight, and apart from the initial delay the negative arrival experience had nothing to do with them and the initial delay, blown tyre, well you know what happens from time to time so can hardly blame Qantas for that.

 

[ajw373]

I understand the underlying issue is the total failure of SACL not being able to provide for Sydney's airline traffic growth and preferring to build new shopping areas to actual hard terminal facilities that would benefit PAX instead of SACL's bottom line.

QF surely have a good relationship with SACL being their biggest customer, and surely when sold out international flights are scheduled something could be done to ensure a proper gate. If Cebu Pacific can get a real gate with only 5 flights per week then surely little old QF can.

I pay the same govt and SACL movement fees regardless of what gate (facilities) I use...why should I pay the same when I have to ensure such a terrible boarding experience, being stuffed into a hot bus for 20mins, then getting wet while climbing the stairs with my (and my mothers) cabin bags.

I really couldn't believe QF staff having to help/carry old people up the stairs from their wheelchairs - disgusting.

Can you name any airports that do not have remote stands? From my experience it is not a common occurrence in Sydney, on Qantas in particular. Last time for me in fact was on an Australian Airlines charter from coughet back in 2004.

 

[mannej]

Out of interest, why don't you provide the feedback to both QF and SACL?

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Can you name any airports that do not have remote stands?

Airports all over have remote stands...I am used to being dumped on the tarmac when flying LCC's and even arriving at LHR T5 over Xmas on BA Club Europe!!

From my experience it is not a common occurrence in Sydney, on Qantas in particular

Exactly my reason for this thread, In over 100 departures from T1 on QF I have never been lucky enough to use Gate 26!!

Out of interest, why don't you provide the feedback to both QF and SACL?

Please: I am still waiting for a reply from QF for 2 seperate complaints from 2016!! If they won't reply to a complaint why should I provide feedback?

 

[ajw373]

Airports all over have remote stands...I am used to being dumped on the tarmac when flying LCC's and even arriving at LHR T5 over Xmas on BA Club Europe!!

Exactly my reason for this thread, In over 100 departures from T1 on QF I have never been lucky enough to use Gate 26!!

So to summarise, a one off/rare occurrence for reasons unknown. And an occurrence that is neither unique to Qantas or to Sydney airport. Yet you want blood from Qantas and others want blood from SACL?

 

[Mrmaxwell]

So to summarise, a one off/rare occurrence for reasons unknown. And an occurrence that is neither unique to Qantas or to Sydney airport. Yet you want blood from Qantas and others want blood from SACL?

Who said anything about wanting blood? Your words not mine.

My point as per my original post was to ask why this would happen when flying QF when it hasn't happened before to me personally. Seeing as though there were two other QF A330s in the same gate location I wasn't the only PAX who was going to be seriously inconvenienced that day.

As LCC's have come to define the differences between full cost carrier and low cost carrier one of those features has been lack of aerobridge.

QF better not let SACL put their international flights there on a regular basis.