What are airports missing?

[clifford]

I'd trade all the stuff inside the airport for a cheap, modestly fast and reliable public transport to the airport.

eg. AMS. 20mins to city. Goes 4 times per hr. €5.

BKK - THB 45

LHR - GBP 3.50 (with Oyster)

SIN - SGD 2.00

and many more, but not in Australia.

 

[FirstClass]

Left luggage?


Actually laundry / drycleaning service at airport won't work since washing is in checked luggage which doesn't go airside...duh!

 

[Glider_]

I'm one of those few hanging onto the dying art of mailing postcards. I like to chew up airport time writing postcards, and you can usually find the cards themselves at the airport, but most of those shops don't sell stamps and 99% of the time there's no postbox to mail them from anyway. HKG a notable exception.

It really grinds my gears.



Otherwise, I'd appreciate cheaper airport parking and more real people serving at all of the various choke-points like check-in, security and customs. And I want a short-cut circumventing the Duty Free Ikea that is PER int arrivals!

 

[Pushka]

I gave up with postcards years ago when they arrived long after I had returned home.

 

[Glider_]

I gave up with postcards years ago when they arrived long after I had returned home.

Yeah, I only send one to my office colleagues on the first day of a trip, the rest are for far-flung family and friends so they're none the wiser. I think my Nana gets a real kick out of getting something handwritten.

 

[kevrosmith]

For those who haven't departed through SYD T1 lately, they've reconfigured the Duty Free and you can completely avoid it now There's a large walk way through which is not part of the store at all...




There's also a Post Office landside at T1, a medical centre, bank and travel agent. Many of the services provided are also there for staff at the airport, not just passengers, especially at a large airport. I've used the Telstra store at T3 in SYD a few times.

 

[dajop]

SIN used to have a barber, but it was landside in T2. It closed down a few years ago.

Not a barber as such, but hairdressing services Singapore style are available airside in T2 at the transpa. Although probably much cheaper to take the MRT 5 mins away to Expo and get your haircut at Changi Citi Point Shopping Centre.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Although probably much cheaper to take the MRT 5 mins away to Expo and get your haircut at Changi Citi Point Shopping Centre.

There's a cheap haircut place in Changi City Point, I think $10 or $12 for 10 mins. Quality not guaranteed.

 

[JohnK]

There's a cheap haircut place in Changi City Point, I think $10 or $12 for 10 mins. Quality not guaranteed.

There's a few of those in Thailand!

Got my usual ~AUD4 haircut in Thailand but this time in Kanchanaburi. She didn't have a #1.5 guard so I opted for the #2 guard with a bit of extra trimming with the scissors. Got back to hotel and the wife was not happy as the haircut was not even. I thought it was fine but may have had the beer goggles on at the time? What do you expect for a cheap haircut? Anyway was going to go and get another cheap haircut in Pattaya with the #1.5 guard to fix the first haircut but ran out of time.

Oh and next time I am in Kanchanaburi I am going to ask for my THB20 back.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

There's a few of those in Thailand!

Got my usual ~AUD4 haircut in Thailand but this time in Kanchanaburi. She didn't have a #1.5 guard so I opted for the #2 guard with a bit of extra trimming with the scissors. Got back to hotel and the wife was not happy as the haircut was not even. I thought it was fine but may have had the beer goggles on at the time? What do you expect for a cheap haircut? Anyway was going to go and get another cheap haircut in Pattaya with the #1.5 guard to fix the first haircut but ran out of time.

Oh and next time I am in Kanchanaburi I am going to ask for my THB20 back.

As my old granny used to say "the only thing separating a good haircut from a bad haircut is a week"!

 

[Franky]

There's a few of those in Thailand!

Got my usual ~AUD4 haircut in Thailand but this time in Kanchanaburi. She didn't have a #1.5 guard so I opted for the #2 guard with a bit of extra trimming with the scissors. Got back to hotel and the wife was not happy as the haircut was not even. I thought it was fine but may have had the beer goggles on at the time? What do you expect for a cheap haircut? Anyway was going to go and get another cheap haircut in Pattaya with the #1.5 guard to fix the first haircut but ran out of time.

Oh and next time I am in Kanchanaburi I am going to ask for my THB20 back.

ROR getting your 20 baht back...

 

[wandering_fred]

There are a few inexpensive barbershops around Colombo as well. Though the process was a whole lot cheaper near my friend's house in Gampaha train station = on the order of US$1.50

Probably as good as I would get for AU$15 in Perth

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Foreigner]

There are a few inexpensive barbershops around Colombo as well. Though the process was a whole lot cheaper near my friend's house in Gampaha train station = on the order of US$1.50

Probably as good as I would get for AU$15 in Perth

Happy wandering

Fred

Have you been to St. Jude's in Gampaha?

 

[wandering_fred]

Have you been to St. Jude's in Gampaha?

A couple of the local Catholic churches. Alas I don't pay much attention to the names. My friend's children went to the related schools.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[jxv]

I'd trade all the stuff inside the airport for a cheap, modestly fast and reliable public transport to the airport.

eg. AMS. 20mins to city. Goes 4 times per hr. €5.[/QOUTE]

AMS train is generally, but not always reliable: last year copper thieves removed supply cables in a tunnel overnight. We were offloaded at a smaller station, where replacement busses were (not) waiting. Had to catch a taxi, shared with another couple anxious to get to the airport. Funny thing: police were there fining taxi drivers for making illegal u-turns and parking in a bus-zone to pick up passenger

 

[pagingjoan]

There is a hair salon at DXB in the spa adjacent to the F Lounge.
Used to be available on a complimentary basis for QF F pax but that service is no longer offered, sadly.
Still available but at a cost. I haven't checked what it is but it's unlikely to be ultra-cheap, I would think.

 

[BD1959]

MrP slept at Frankfurt airport overnight once. To this day I have no idea why he did that.

Ahhh .... the old "I slept at the airport - honest!" alibi .... haven't used that since my 30s!!

Regards,

BD

 

[BAM1748]

There's a few of those in Thailand!

Got my usual ~AUD4 haircut in Thailand but this time in Kanchanaburi. She didn't have a #1.5 guard so I opted for the #2 guard with a bit of extra trimming with the scissors. Got back to hotel and the wife was not happy as the haircut was not even. I thought it was fine but may have had the beer goggles on at the time? What do you expect for a cheap haircut? Anyway was going to go and get another cheap haircut in Pattaya with the #1.5 guard to fix the first haircut but ran out of time.

Oh and next time I am in Kanchanaburi I am going to ask for my THB20 back.

It's only about a week between a bad cut and a good one.

 

[BD1959]

I think that different types of airports require different facilities - just as Lounges differ based on the airport type.

Domestic Airports probably have no need to long-stay rest areas, cinemas etc.

I do find it somewhat strange, however, that International Lounges are moving ever toward a Hotel-vibe (including spas etc) but don't tend to include a gym. If I had a layover long enough for a workout (mid-point on a Aus-Eur tend to be the sort of places where these occur for me) then I'd certainly also I had enough time to shower and change - which I try to do anyway - post work-out.

Regards,

BD

 

[dajop]

There are a few inexpensive barbershops around Colombo as well.

Now you've mentioned Colombo, what is missing at many airports - that CMB does have - is duty free white goods. Refrigerators, washing machines etc. As you come through arrivals all sorts of duty free white goods available.