Why I hate SYD

[harvyk]

You are entitled to disagree with me. I have transitted MEL a number of times as well and it is not as rosy as people think.

I disagree, I think MEL is a great airport to transit at, having to catch a bus \ train between terminals in SYD (or BNE) is a real PITA, so being able to walk from one terminal to the next really makes things nice and easy.

Also I've found MEL immi \ AQIS to often be far quicker (prior to Smart Gate), about the only thing I didn't really like with MEL is the placement of the QF J lounge, as I also like to see the planes.

 

[Stuser]

Mate, I wish I was.

I actually think that QF is taking the P! When I quizzed the lounge staff, they told me that the lounge used to have a view until the 380 arrived, and due to the nature of double decks / double entry and the layout of the terminal, the QF lounge was made a bit smaller and the view was taken away. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

If you ever fly internationally from MEL, try not to be shocked by the curtains....:evil:

(Just to clarify, this is the INTERNATIONAL J / business lounge I'm talking about)

I might be a bit slow but are you taking the P?!

 

[pauly7]

If you ever fly internationally from MEL, try not to be shocked by the curtains....:evil:

(Just to clarify, this is the INTERNATIONAL J / business lounge I'm talking about)

Ok I will prepare myself for an onslaught of offending curtains if I ever use that lounge. I hope I don't lose it and freak out or something...

NB: I am now taking the P

 

[Stuser]

Actually, now that I think about it, MEL J intnl is the perfect lounge for vampires and goths.

After all, sunlight is sooooooo over-rated....

Ok I will prepare myself for an onslaught of offending curtains if I ever use that lounge. I hope I don't lose it and freak out or something...

NB: I am now taking the P

 

[JohnK]

Just get the clothes collected from int, then use the transfer bus anyway.

Yes I could do that but better off to go with my original suggestion.

Then you'll see what we're all complaining about....

Is the transfer bus the only complaint about SYD?

In my opinion SYD airport has superior facilities to any other airport in Australia. Which airport even come close?

T1 is a very good terminal with the best QF First Class Lounge and International Business Lounge in Australia, much better variety of flights and connections, much better areas to sit in the terminal and relatively easy immigration customs processing. My mother was outside in <30 minutes after arriving on SQ on Saturday afternoon ~4:20pm with no status or new passport.

Which domestic terminal in Australia is even close to T3 in terms of features and facilities?

Perhaps airports in Australia are not up to world standards but that is a totally different issue.

 

[anat0l]

SYD airport doesn't deserve perhaps all the criticism leveled at it, but I still prefer MEL.

Functionally yes SYD has more connections etc. but that's only because as far as gateways into Australia go everyone just wants...SYD. That doesn't make SYD a better airport, that's just market forces. Mind you, MEL has to expand to have any chance of catching more connections and handling them more (just as) effectively.

In fact, almost any comparison between SYD and MEL is an apples and oranges affair purely because there is more traffic through SYD than through MEL.

• Due to its traffic and international posture (of the city, not the airport!), SYD is expected to be the premier Australian international gateway. MEL doesn't have the same expectation. All of this affects how you compare both airports.
• Both have decent sized QF F Lounges; I find MEL has a slight edge on service
• Both QF international J lounges are pretty bland - SYD the mailbox vs. MEL the bunker. The SYD T1 J lounge could use a freshen up (but yes I am aware that the MEL T2 J Lounge had just been renovated).
• SYD has the upperhand on more airside facilities than MEL, although SYD was pretty abysmal before the renovation. Hold on, they're still only slightly better than abysmal.
• SYD T3 is the only terminal in the major centres in Australia where QF has pretty much full control.
• Both MEL and SYD international suffer from the same baggage claim problem: the first bag takes an embarrassingly long time to appear. Both sets of customs facilities are mostly fine. Ditto passport control (mostly a real non-affair now).

In saying that, I still like MEL better than SYD:

• Interconnected terminals at MEL - definite plus over SYD! SYD transfer facilities are alright, but if you're rushing a connection it is so much easier just to deal with interconnected terminals.
• MEL always guarantees a short taxi to the runway. SYD international usually uses the main runway, which is fine, but a good handful of domestic flights use the third runway, i.e. add 10 minutes to gate-to-gate time right there.
• No stupid, idiotic curfew at MEL, and hope it stays that way unless the town planners totally stuff up, just like it happened in Sydney/Mascot. Probably not SYD airport's fault per se, more the result of idiotic town planning and a bunch of crackpot residents.

As for whether MEL or SYD is better than each other, I'd say the judgement is marginal at best. One being by far better than the other? Certainly not! (Notwithstanding my affirmed disgust at the SYD curfew.)

 

[docjames]

Agree with anat0l completely.


JohnK, it's the bag drop queue that annoys me in SYD, the wait for the bus is also a PITA when you can walk in MEL.

 

[drewbles]

I might be a bit slow here, but are you saying that the transfer bus is bad in some way, or are you merely saying that having to use the transfer bus full stop is a bad thing?

If so, I completely agree. MEL you can just walk a few minutes to intnl terminal indoors. What's with the having to catch a bus in SYD?

That said, once at the SYD intnl terminal, the QF lounge IS better, in that it has windows.... MEL is a cave. It's insane to have a business / QF lounge that has no windows! I avoided flying from MEL for ages because of this. Horrible.:evil:

And then I am given to understand that a major Japanese airport (I think in Tokyo) you have to travel for some hours on a bus between intnl and domestic airport! :evil::evil:

Having departed MEL and SYD plenty of times (And used it as a final point for return flights as well as transfers to other domestic flights), I'm going to say MEL is ahead of SYD. After a 13 odd hour flight to SYD, having to get bags and then wait for a bus, shuffle on, shuffle off, etc, it's just more work. Walking a few hundred meters is good, stretches the legs, and it's all undercover (and is a lot quicker than the SYD T1-T3 Transfer bus, even after the improvements).

I also like the F lounge at MEL better than SYD. It's smaller and more intimate, with a nice enough view. The staff seem more attentive as well, but that's probably something to do with the size and less number of pax in the lounge.

The MEL J lounge is, as you say, a cave. That said, the SYD J lounge still has awful beers on tap, so i'd take the MEL one any day

 

[notzac]

DOM to INT transfers at SYD have been pretty reasonable for me over the course of the last few years -- though I definitely wouldn't want to try it if I was pushing MCT again. On the other hand, I hatehatehate INT to DOM transfers at SYD, for fairly obvious reasons ... though serfty mentioned it's much better now?

What would be really nice to see is some form of rapid transit between all the SYD terminals that's free, quick and every few minutes. Oh look, there's a pig with wings!

I like MEL for all the reasons mentioned -- and the INT J QP dungeon really isn't so bad! Bright sunlight on the morning after should best be avoided anyway

...

• Both have decent sized QF F Lounges; I find MEL has a slight edge on service
• SYD T3 is the only terminal in the major centres in Australia where QF has pretty much full control.

...

A few comments -- my personal opinion of the MEL F Lounge is that it's superior for the simple reason that there are less flights with F and less MEL-based WPs .. last few times I've been through SYD the F lounge was about as relaxed as a circus! I also thought that QF operated the entirety of MEL T1, in much the same way as they do with SYD T3..?

SYD also has less dragon-like Customs folk in my experience.

 

[Stuser]

Hmm, better beer vs better view...? Tough one.

Guess I'll just have to enjoy the view from the plane...!

Am returning on this next trip in EK J, so looking forward to seeing how their AKL Lounge compares with QF one.

As for F Lounge, I can't afford it... will have to remain with the vampires.

Having departed MEL and SYD plenty of times (And used it as a final point for return flights as well as transfers to other domestic flights), I'm going to say MEL is ahead of SYD. After a 13 odd hour flight to SYD, having to get bags and then wait for a bus, shuffle on, shuffle off, etc, it's just more work. Walking a few hundred meters is good, stretches the legs, and it's all undercover (and is a lot quicker than the SYD T1-T3 Transfer bus, even after the improvements).

I also like the F lounge at MEL better than SYD. It's smaller and more intimate, with a nice enough view. The staff seem more attentive as well, but that's probably something to do with the size and less number of pax in the lounge.

The MEL J lounge is, as you say, a cave. That said, the SYD J lounge still has awful beers on tap, so i'd take the MEL one any day

 

[NM]

My issue with SYD QF International to Domestic transfer is the queuing and waiting. First there's the bag drop, which even access to the Business Class line can mean a long wait. Many times I have been stuck in the line even to get into the hall to be able to get to the end of the J line. Hopefully this has improved with the upgrade.

And even with no bags to re-check, there is only one security check-point with one x-ray machine. The morning peak generally means a good 15 mins or more to get through.

Then you have to wait for the bus. And its common for there to be more people waiting in the holding area than can fit onto one bus. The buses run every 10 mins at that time of the day.

At MEL I can make the same International to Domestic transfer without the queuing and waiting, and be in the Qantas Club lounge enjoying a coffee/scones etc much sooner.

 

[Voyages]

My issue with SYD QF International to Domestic transfer is the queuing and waiting. First there's the bag drop, which even access to the Business Class line can mean a long wait. Many times I have been stuck in the line even to get into the hall to be able to get to the end of the J line. Hopefully this has improved with the upgrade.

The upgrade has made a huge difference. The new transfer hall is clean, bright, spacious with several lanes. My partner and I got into SYD from SFO last week (at pretty much the same time with a few other INT flights) and it took us only a few minutes to do the transfer (including asking to be put on an earlier flight). The result being, we made the (earlier) flight, but our luggage didn't, lol. No complaint though.

 

[serfty]

My issue with SYD QF International to Domestic transfer is the queuing and waiting. First there's the bag drop, which even access to the Business Class line can mean a long wait. Many times I have been stuck in the line even to get into the hall to be able to get to the end of the J line. Hopefully this has improved with the upgrade.

And even with no bags to re-check, there is only one security check-point with one x-ray machine. The morning peak generally means a good 15 mins or more to get through. ...

Both those are now things of the past.

There is a separate building outside like a large check-in hall - probably bigger than what Qantas use in ADL. I guess it could queue 500 people and their bags. If carry-on only you stroll along, not going near the bag drop queues.

There are two WTMD set up now (with space for more); although only one was operating Sunday morning around 8:30am.

I don't rate SYD any better or worse than any other place; although I rarely transit at MEL.

In any case, I'm simply happy to be off/home again - it's all part of the travel experience.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK, it's the bag drop queue that annoys me in SYD, the wait for the bus is also a PITA when you can walk in MEL.

You mean the bag drop queue at International for a Domestic transfer?

Perhaps I am biased but I really do like SYD much better than any other Australian airport. Not saying it is even remotely perfect but much better than the others. Anyway to each their own....

 

[steptoe]

I transferred from International to domestic at SYD earlier this week, admittedly off peak, landed at 1O:45 on monday, carry-on only, and I was was in the QC by 11:25. Only holdup was quarantine queue and 5 minute wait for the bus. Did stop quickly for booze at duty free and at transfer check in to bring forward my flight to MEL. Enjoyed the bus trip around the tarmac including brief delay near the domestic where about 10 police vehicles including an armored car (did not know NSW police had one) were at a hangar entrance. Qantas staffer I asked about the police presence said it would be a money delivery from the Perth mint, usually 30 to 100 million.