Sydney International Airport

[JohnK]

Try the connection in SYD sometime. It is considerably further to the SYD transfer desk than between baggage pickup and drop again in Melbourne. Between 50 and 100% further :!:

Why not try tha Int-Dom connection in MEL once again so I can miss another connection. Naybe I got off at another MEL international airport but the walk from Int-Dom was a lot more than ~100 metres unless I missed the signs. By the way the signs at MEL airport are horrible and I do not understand why Mal or kpc are not offering any feedback here due to what we went through a couple of years ago on the F lounge run which happens to also be a public transport system.

The%

 

[Mal]

By the way the signs at MEL airport are horrible and I do not understand why Mal or kpc are not offering any back here due to what we went through a couple of years ago on the F lounge run.

Having done a DOM-INT connection at MEL in Dec, I believe the process is easy. But Qantas check-in does leave a lot to be desired - it is poorly signposted and not easy to work out where to go to (for premium pax). The airport after Customs is small, but reasonable. Took me a few mins to remember where the F lounge was and some wandering. Again, it wasn't signposted properly.

I would still connect in MEL over SYD if the fares (and status credits) were equal or on par. SYD airport is slowly improving, but it still has quite a way to go before it becomes one of my favourite airports in Australia.

I do prefer the Qantas F lounge in SYD due to it's increased size and passenger flow. Being the only pax in MEL F lounge was a little concerning

 

[serfty]

Why not try tha Int-Dom connection in MEL once again so I can miss another connection. Naybe I got off at another MEL international airport but the walk from Int-Dom was a lot more than ~100 metres unless I missed the signs. By the way the signs at MEL airport are horrible ...

Maybe the signs are horrible, experience improves one's awareness.

Now, from MEL international arrivals hall; it is maybe 40 meters to the travelator to take you up to T1 departures and then maybe another 50 meters to the bag drop. (In fact I use it often as the Skybus drops off at T3 and it's quicker to get through to x-ray by walking through the internationals arrivals hall and up to QF domestic departures rather than waiting until the bus gets to T1.

As far as SYD dom/int connections go, I consider myself an expert having done more than 50 over the years.

The worst experience I had getting through immigration/customs was actually in MEL recently when it took 65 minutes get into the arrivals hall.

It was last year on the final Sunday evening of the Olympics and my flight from AKL landed an hour late, just behind behind five VLA's from various Asian origins.

(My express card saved my ~¾ hour)

 

[JohnK]

Now, from MEL international arrivals hall; it is maybe 40 meters to the travelator to take you up to T1 departures and then maybe another 50 meters to the bag drop. (In fact I use it often as the Skybus drops off at T3 and it's quicker to get through to x-ray by walking through the internationals arrivals hall and up to QF domestic departures rather than waiting until the bus gets to T1.

I did not realise there was a bag drop in MEL. It is very easy to miss the signs. The walk from Int arrivals to Dom check-in is a longish walk when carrying 3 bags.

I am not defending SYD Int-Dom connections but I still believe overall SYD airport is by far the best airport in Australia and the only reason I would use other airports for connections is to increase SCs and FF points.

 

[oz_mark]

Having done the INT-DOM thing at MEL, SYD, BNE and DRW, I would say DRW is the easiest

But if we leave that aside, then MEL is quite good to. As for the signs in MEL, I am not sure there are any signs other than T1 is that way ---> I might try to remember to look next time I am there.

As for Public transport in some respects JetBus is better than Skybus, such as they take you straight to your hotel without the need for a Southern Cross transfer!

Way back in the dim dark distant past, PER also had a service something like Skybus, but the numbers didn't add up.

 

[anat0l]

IMHO signposting for all airports in AU are satisfactory, but only for run of the mill passengers. I'm not qualified enough yet to use premium check-in, but I can't find signs to that effect anyway. For example, I couldn't find any signs or sight the First class check-in for QF at MEL so save me. Of course, I never really had a good look, but if that was my first time to use the premium check-in and I didn't know and had to search for it, that wouldn't be a great experience. Perhaps they should include something in the WP qualification letter telling you where the First class counters are in the airports...

Mind you, I didn't know squat about the AKL premium check-in for QF either until I couldn't find a monitor in the check-in ranks that said "Business" - when I lined up for one labelled "Economy", they said "what are you doing here - why not use the premium check-in" and showed me to the timber lined room. Again, no sign at all, and yes although I walked right past it, it is easy to miss because unless you were curious you wouldn't think twice that it was QF premium check-in.

My parents think I'm mad going through SYD from overseas. They reckon that as the nation's largest international terminal and seeing all the Border Security footage on TV, they reckon it's one of the worst places to clear customs - especially if you aren't caucasian - apart from all of that there are extra taxes levied to go through the port. Personally speaking, there aren't any good flights (for SCs, timetable or quality) that go through BNE, BNE takes almost as long to process through arrivals as SYD, and the customs officers at BNE are worse than naz_s (notwithstanding you can get your share of them at SYD too but BNE is almost guaranteed).

I think the choice is pretty easy.

I wouldn't like to transfer terminals at PER; the transfer time is pretty long between terminals. MEL and ADL get my vote for being in the same building, but then again, unlike JohnK, I haven't tried walking the distance with 40kg of luggage in tow. BNE is as coughbersome as PER, but at least the transfer time is shorter and there are more modes of transport than PER.

I also like MEL since the Hilton is just across the road from the terminal. This makes it extremely ideal for overnighting if one needs to catch an early flight the next morning. Yes, SYD and BNE both have accommodations near the airport (well, BNE has a Formula 1.... yeesh....), but they all require shuttle transport.

 

[serfty]

I did not realise there was a bag drop in MEL. It is very easy to miss the signs. The walk from Int arrivals to Dom check-in is a longish walk when carrying 3 bags. ...

... or indeed pushing the trolley with 3 bags loaded onto it. ...

Note, it's still further to reach the bag drop with a SYD int - dom transfer than in MEL.

Of course, if your domestic flight is not with Qantas or oneworld, it's a whole new ball game when comparing MEL and SYD and PER and ADL and BNE and CNS and DRW with each other

 

[dajop]

I did not realise there was a bag drop in MEL. It is very easy to miss the signs. The walk from Int arrivals to Dom check-in is a longish walk when carrying 3 bags.

You must have missed the signs, it would have to be one of the shortest walks in any airport, straight up the travellator, which is about 30m from arrival exit point (or nearby elevator) and then another 50m to luggage drop from the top of the travellator. It's a shorter walk to there than to catch a taxi. Or as some have pointed out to the luggage drop area at SYD intl.

And usually I am out and in a cab within 25mins of door opening at MEL, except if QF ground handling is involved (eg QF, NZ, etc). On the times I have been on airline that QF ground handling is involved then it often takes longer (the worst being a recent arrival on NZ, where we arrived 10 mins earlier than QF30 yet it was pretty blatant that QF30 was given priority over us as it took 38mins from door open to first bag ).

I admit it was the same story when I arrived in SYD last Friday from Singapore, but I did note that due to backlog at immigration (which I avoided due to APEC card), the staff had to remove bags from carousel as it was becoming jammed - with most pax stuck in the queue at immigration. So without APEC or express cards it would have been considerable longer.

I am not defending SYD Int-Dom connections but I still believe overall SYD airport is by far the best airport in Australia and the only reason I would use other airports for connections is to increase SCs and FF points.

Isn't the airport that is by far the best the one that is closest to your home, that means no or minimal connections. For me MEL is the best, for you SYD for someone in Brisbane it would have to BNE.

Also in objectively looking at an airport you have to look at fitness for purpose. SYD is a hub airport with some intl (primarily NZ) and domestic connections - but domestic connections being by far the most common. It is also our "world" airport. On the intl connections - you need to look at parameters such as facilities (airside) which it does seem to be OK, but could (and will) improve. For domestic connections (inbound anyway) it is pretty ordinary by world standards as many can attest. One that does score negative points with me for SYD is the lack of an on-airport hotel. The Hilton is very convenient at MEL, as are the Regal at HKG, CP & transit hotels at SIN, Pan Pacific at KUL, Novotel at BKK, etc. The hotels at SYD are not so convenient (although at least the stamford and Formula One are walkable distance), and have poor frequency of shuttle pickups (at least compared to US hotels).

At the other MEL, ADL & PER are primarily domestic hubs and international "end of the line" airports (with very few intl->intl connections) so airside facilities not as important.

 

[Dave Noble]

I did not realise there was a bag drop in MEL. It is very easy to miss the signs. The walk from Int arrivals to Dom check-in is a longish walk when carrying 3 bags.
.

It has to be one of the shortest walks there is for connection in Oz. walk to travellator... wait till it reaches the top and then straight into the main domestic check in area. 3 Bags sit easily on a trolley

Dave

 

[notzac]

IMHO signposting for all airports in AU are satisfactory, but only for run of the mill passengers. I'm not qualified enough yet to use premium check-in, but I can't find signs to that effect anyway. For example, I couldn't find any signs or sight the First class check-in for QF at MEL so save me. Of course, I never really had a good look, but if that was my first time to use the premium check-in and I didn't know and had to search for it, that wouldn't be a great experience. Perhaps they should include something in the WP qualification letter telling you where the First class counters are in the airports...

It's over in the corner sort-of-between the desks QF use for their premium class check in and the economy check in. Probably easier to see from the kerb outside. Here are some pics (not mine, I googled them):

FlyerTalk Photo Albums :: Qantas First Check in: MEL & SYD

 

[simongr]

Hmm - heated debate or what!

My experience of SYD is fairly large and MEL is a single instance so here are some opinions.

- I prefer the SYD F lounge - it feels lighter and airier -and I love the swooping curves that are so prominent (I also have a preferred seat in the dining area )

- DOM-INT transfer at MEL was ok apart from not having a J BP for a J seat and then going through the rigmarole of trying to prove I was allowed two bags for hand luggage

- SYD and MEL have the same curse of having to negotiate DF but I found MEL a little more intrusive some how

- I found it very hard to find the F lounge in MEL - I seemed to go round and round a few times and there seemed to be no simple straight line to the lounge

- SYD is a hideous building site at the moment airside and not a great impression for departing pax (their last image is one of a total mess)

- SYD has improved greatly in the immigration and quaratine process for premium pax - I am now out very quickly and cerb to lounge takes about 10 mins (flying CX/QF/BA)

Overall though SYD and MEL are barely a shadow of HKG but at least SACL don't force you to walk the length of the terminal and back to get to the F lounge like they do at LHR T5...

 

[JohnK]

... or indeed pushing the trolley with 3 bags loaded onto it. ...

That is if you can even find a trolley. I would rather wait for my luggage then go searching for a trolley. Are the trolleys in MEL like SYD where you pay $3 or $4 surcharge to Macquarie Bank for the privilege of using the trolleys.

- I found it very hard to find the F lounge in MEL - I seemed to go round and round a few times and there seemed to be no simple straight line to the lounge

It took me around 15 minutes to find the entrance to the MEL domestic lounge once. The signs were pointing around the corner and I kept going around in circles. I had to actually go down the stairs first and then look for the entrance to the domestic lounge. Very poor signs.

 

[Dave Noble]

That is if you can even find a trolley. I would rather wait for my luggage then go searching for a trolley. Are the trolleys in MEL like SYD where you pay $3 or $4 surcharge to Macquarie Bank for the privilege of using the trolleys.

There is no fee for trolleys at either SYD or MEL in the International Arrivals baggage hall; I have never had any difficulty finding trolleys in Int Arrivals; normally a huge collection of them easily seen on entry into the baggage reclaim hall

Dave

 

[serfty]

... Here are some pics (not mine, I googled them):

FlyerTalk Photo Albums :: Qantas First Check in: MEL & SYD

Hmmm ... interesting pictures, I'm sure the photographer is a nice person ...

 

[Mal]

Hmmm ... interesting pictures, I'm sure the photographer is a nice person ...

Yeah I noticed that, but decided not to comment. Must go through his other albums to see if anything interesting turns up!

 

[anat0l]

Well, here's one for the books.

Came back today on JQ20 leaving KIX last night arriving at OOL this morning and onto SYD. Sched arrival in SYD was 1055.

We were on time touching down into SYD, but once we got to SYD (after traversing down the 3rd runway - not a big deal when landing)...

• We had to wait around 10 minutes or so near T1 before a gate could be availed to us. Apparently there was a backlog of gates, whatever that's supposed to mean.
• We then had to wait almost a further 10 minutes or so for the ground staff to actually hook up the gate, i.e. we had a gate allocated, but there was no one at the aerobridge to greet the aircraft. So here we all are standing for close to 10 minutes waiting to disembark. When we finally disembarked, we passed a motley crew of ground staff lining part of the aerobridge amounting to no less than about ten men.
• The ground staff had fixed the barrier tapes incorrectly such that the initial diversion of traffic was back towards the departure levels instead of towards baggage reclaim and customs (lower level). At first I thought there were special provisions being put in place, but we didn't go through the departures door, instead doing a U-turn and back down the aerobridge towards the channel to the lower level for arrivals. Had any of us thought about going through that departures door - irrespective of whether that was possible - that would have certainly been branded a breach in procedures.

This show of incompetence cost the entire plane close to 25 minutes. Now whether that incompetence is a result of SYD T1 airport, JQ and/or QF is beyond me (i.e. facilities is probably SYD, but ground staff would be JQ/QF/whoever the aforementioned pay to do a ground staffing job).

According to Flight Stats, the plane has been branded as arriving on time but I'm not sure what they mean when they say "arrived on time", and the detailed log looks like either SYD or JQ/QF are cooking the books on this one.

Of course, there was then the zoo at customs, but with that many flights at the time of the day it was, that was expected. The actual time for my inspection (I had items to declare) wasn't long itself, so that was a blessing. Finally exited into landside at just over 1200h.

 

[dajop]

We had to wait around 10 minutes or so near T1 before a gate could be availed to us. Apparently there was a backlog of gates, whatever that's supposed to mean.

These problems don't only occur at SYD. At MEL with the expansion works going on, the gates can be pretty full during peak times. I think the LCC's probably suffer more than most though.

Just prior to new years, I was waiting in the NZ lounge for the 11:30am flight to AKL, and noticed AirAsia landing. Some time passed, we boarded and pushed back (probably 30 mins elapsed by then). As we were taxi-ing I looked out the window and noticed Air Asia just pulling into the gate we vacated ......... I guess that's the lot of the LCC, should they arrive early.