Sydney Airport- A National Disgrace

[yachty]

Don’t you guys have a stock of express ‘ARRIVAL’ cards? I have like 50 I just kept - hell I have a JETSTAR one in my ticket wallet right now ready for return to MEL on Sat 14th - they get you straight out if a long line

They don't work anymore do they? I haven't been given one or seen a lane to use one in years now.

 

[gphamor]

Nah, Changi is poorly-placed in the nasty tropical sweat of Singapore. That’s a terrible decision that should never have been made,

But the airport is fantastic...

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

They don't work anymore do they? I haven't been given one or seen a lane to use one in years now.

+1. Haven't seen them or the infrastructure for them since pre-Covid at either MEL or SYD.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I arrived into SYD from LAX last week. The Border Force procedure was fine and it all went downhill from there. Lining up for domestic transfer we were told the security screening equipment wasn’t working and we could either wait and QF would rebook us if we missed our flight or take the train.
We decided to take a gamble on the train. On arriving at the lifts we found out of two, only one was working causing a massive queue. I also noticed the up escalator was also not working. We then paid our $8 each to go the one stop, by comparison I paid $4 for the whole day on the SEATAC train.

The SAC Website states “one of Australia’s most important pieces of infrastructure”. How about treating it that way.

I suggest the management go to Singapore to see how an airport should be run.

So Sing Govt should built Changi in a foreign country?

Orchard Road

 

[GoldenTouchdown]

Definitely agree that MEL is probably worse... In addition to the rubbish and general unpleasantness of the arrivals area, I don't understand why the airport can't/doesn't do anything about the taxi hawkers all over the place. Makes it feel very seedy.

Agreed, those touts are especially prevalent in Int. arrivals, what a terrible first impression for tourists. MEL T2 is absolutely disgusting, all that’s missing are the black lights

Well barely acceptable. The rail line to T3 and T4 terminates about 1km from the airport and it is then either a long walk over a freeway or a shuttle bus. The main Perth train line to the international terminal(s) has been completed recently, but as is the norm, is now a year ahead of the second terminal and runway which were supposed to be well under way by now, with no start in sight.

At least PER and BNE have them, better than the current MEL sitch. Miss the 24 hour Skybus services, when will they be back?!

I honestly don’t get the hate for PER. Yes T3/4 is not shiny and new, but apart from the tedious landslide T1-T3/4 transfers, I’ve found the airport to be fairly pleasant to pass through most of the time, granted I mostly avoid the FIFO peak times. The new train service since last year has been very convenient for quick transfers to the CBD. MEL just constantly feels like a zoo of chaos, especially at JQ/VA T3/4.

In truth, they shouldn't have joined MEL T3 and T4.
Separately, MEL airport T3 and T4 were manageable to use, in and out.
But with them now conjoined, that zone is now like a big huge giant Scentre Westfields.

It’s not even a Westfield, more like a knockoff DFO, I guess they got the inspiration from the seemingly roaring trade nowadays from nearby Essendon DFO during the design of T4 and recent reconfiguration and just saw dollar signs . Though I do appreciate the airport having a Lego store

 

[Must...Fly!]

Miss the 24 hour Skybus services, when will they be back?!

Good question. I have a bit of anxiety getting the last flight of the day PER-MEL now in case I get stuck having to pay for a taxi/uber home. Not the end of the world but still. Hours were recently extended to 4am-1am and more frequency added, I think a return to full 24x7 is very possible.

I actually prefer Skybus to the BNE train.

As for T3/T4 discussion again, while they individually may have been manageable the security screening situation in T3 was just rubbish. It's far better now, IMO.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

express path "arrival" cards.……………I think those "premium" arrival cards are a meh these,…………………By you waving around the "express" arrival card, you could only be drawing more attention to yourself, they might pick on you to ask you down a line to desk, where they might swab all your wordly possessions.…………………………Sometimes, its best just to toe the line, and not be too wow "look at me"/DYKWIA.……………………They might ask you in their chat, "why are you in such a hurry".

The world is full of experts

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Unfortunately SQ do not seem to hand them out any more for arrivals at least in economy (even for us w@@#ker Solitaire/PPS types), do they hand them out still for F pax?

Nope I have not seen any from SQ post Covid either

They don't work anymore do they? I haven't been given one or seen a lane to use one in years now.

+1. Haven't seen them or the infrastructure for them since pre-Covid at either MEL or SYD.

There is a very famous old Chinese saying - 'Trust not what the ear hears - trust only what the eye sees' - so don't take my word for it go check it out - there is a dude manning the barriers right where you exit baggage terminal - he drops barrier to let Crew jump the lines - it is here you hand over your Express Path card if lines are too long.

I am pretty sure VN gave me an Express Path card when I arrived back in couple months back but not 100% sure on that.

Clearly with the SS Terminals for immig now they are useless there but still priceless when exit lines are snaking way back forever

 

[Lynda2475]

I was given an express arrival card coming back from NOU in April, of course no where to use it once back at SYD.

 

[MissJacksx]

I was given an express arrival card in Melbourne on Friday, from Hong Kong in, and could not see a lane, but asked an official and she just let me cut to the front of the line

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I was given an express arrival card in Melbourne on Friday, from Hong Kong in, and could not see a lane, but asked an official and she just let me cut to the front of the line

That was line to exit baggage collection hall?

 

[MissJacksx]

That was line to exit baggage collection hall?

Yep

 

[Cruiser Elite]

There ya go - as I posted above priceless if you have stash in your drawer

 

[GoldenTouchdown]

Good question. I have a bit of anxiety getting the last flight of the day PER-MEL now in case I get stuck having to pay for a taxi/uber home.

Know the feeling, have had some close calls last year barely making the second last or last Skybus service heading into town when flying those late afternoon PER-MEL flights.

I actually prefer Skybus to the BNE train.

Really? I remember at launch the service was only two hourly and fare not much different from the AirTrain which is more frequent. The on street stops would be rather convenient though if nearby in the catchment areas I guess, combined with good flight timings.

As for T3/T4 discussion again, while they individually may have been manageable the security screening situation in T3 was just rubbish. It's far better now, IMO.

Agreed, especially with the new CT scanners, I often carry multiple computing devices which are such a pain to take out when being screened with older technologies. When will MEL T1 get with the times?!

With the current security arrangements, the VA lounge entrance ought to be switched around with the secret exit that you now have to walk past to be able to get to the lounge entrance. Perhaps this would be done in a future major refresh.

This reminds me of an annoying pet peeve of mine in PER, at the T4 QF J lounge with the seemingly permanent closure of the secret exit near the bar area that provided a quick walk to T3 gates. The need to loop around back through the lounge past reception and through the T4 crowds in the terminal is annoyingly unnecessary.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Really? I remember at launch the service was only two hourly and fare not much different from the AirTrain which is more frequent. The on street stops would be rather convenient though if nearby in the catchment areas I guess, combined with good flight timings.

Sorry was specifically comparing AirTrain BNE vs Skybus MEL.

 

[GoldenTouchdown]

Sorry was specifically comparing AirTrain BNE vs Skybus MEL.

Ah, in that case the service availability of the AirTrain definitely could be better than the school night timing of the last trains.

 

[Quickstatus]

When will MEL T1 get with the times

The old school body metal detectors at MEL T1 does not require me to take my belt off but the SYD T3 3d body scanners do.

 

[mannej]

Related but not related. T2 was fun yesterday morning. Fire alarm system was going off for an extended period. No one batted an eyelid and by the way airport staff/security carried it it almost seems as if this is a regular occurrence.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Or the fact that the same pair of shoes being worn, some airport x rays (Aust dom sec screening), will pling it, and have to take shoes off and walk through with socks on, oh, the indignity, ... and other other airports, no, doesn't sound at all.
ADL - MEL - SYD... few months ago, MEL - SYD was all linked, so I didn't have to go through MEL T4 sec screening
ADL, pling, please take shoes off, so there I go through, with just socks.
Then coming back VAd MEL - ADL, T4, no pling.

 

[Warragul]

Arrived at SYD 0700 yesterday ( Friday), gate unavailable thinking here we go. Disembarked at 0730, collected bags and in the QF club domestic at 0830, pretty good really. Was travelling J class so the priority bag tags seemed to have worked.