It's Time To Address The Elephant.........oops !!.....The Kangaroo in the Room.

[dk4]

From the reports of yesterday apparently 3 of the 8 lanes at security at T2 were closed, normally pre-covid there would have been 8 out of 8 lanes of security open but even then it sometimes couldn't cope with the volume of passengers.

Plus the two Premium Security Lanes at T2 Kerbside Lounge access, are still M.I.A.

...judging by others comments and media articles from Manchester and other airports round the world.

Depends on the rules of "close contact" isolation - whole shifts of staff could possibly end up out of action at the same time!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Agreed, apart from the TSA staff are usually foul, barking at people like guard dogs. I told one to stop shouting at another passenger once, there was no need. I know they have a coughpy job and are probably paid peanuts but wow the attitude on a lot of them!

I'm gonna have to disagree with you there. Yes, at certain busy airports like Newark or Los Angeles, many of them can be quite curt but again they are dealing with a lot of travellers some of whom last flown during the Ronald Reagan administration. Them barking at passengers whilst impolite does get the crowd moving though. We don't encounter nabobs fumbling with their suitcase when the TSA agent chrips: leave everything in your bag and proceed. Do I found this impoliteness a bit jarring? Absolutely, but after a while you get used to it, especially if it means not having to sit in line for more than 5 minutes to clear security.

I've also encountered some friendly TSA and CBP officers too. For instance, when I was clearing US immigration at a virtually empty Montreal airport a few years ago, the GlobalEntry machines were down and I had to speak with an agent. The agent was friendly and was wondering why I was travelling to the US and then on to the UK. I explained that I study at the University of York, and we engaged in some back and forth banter. Quite pleasant if you ask me. Similarly, when moving back from the UK, I had to connect at O'Hare airport in Chicago and re-clear TSA security (since you must clear immigration and re-check your bags when entering the US). As I was moving back, I decided to pack two large Tesco bags full of a variety of chocolates you could only get in the UK like Kitkat Ruby Cocoa and Double Deckers. The two female agents staffing the TSA checkpoint were surprised when they saw these bags of chocolates come flying past them in the conveyor. It was fun explaining how chocolates flavours and brands are different around the world. I think one of the agents was interested in that Ruby cocoa Kitkat given its colour and the fact that they aren't sold State Side.

-RooFlyer88

 

[kangarooflyer88]

From the reports of yesterday apparently 3 of the 8 lanes at security at T2 were closed, normally pre-covid there would have been 8 out of 8 lanes of security open but even then it sometimes couldn't cope with the volume of passengers.

From what I saw of the T3 Qantas domestic part of SYD yesterday in comments here there also was not the full complement of security lanes open there either.

Looks to be a systematic structural/achitectural problem then Covid-19 close contact rules and previous Covid-19 layoffs of security staff and inability to hire quickly enough for a return of large volumes of pax to the skies.

Not just in SYD either, judging by others comments and media articles from Manchester and other airports round the world.

Seems pretty amateurish though considering the airlines would be able to predict an hour by hour breakdown of planned aircraft departures and total passenger numbers in their booking system so it should really just be a process of giving these numbers to the security contractors for the next few days and adjusting the size of the workforce to meet demand.

What I can't understand about Sydney airport (aside from the appalling security) is why on earth the terminals aren't connected airside as other airports have done. Why can't I walk between terminals 2 and 3 or 2 to 1? This would greatly improve the queueing situation for most since we can simply clear security at whichever terminal has the quickest security and make our way to the terminal we need to. This would also have the added benefit of making it easy to access the QF lounges whilst travelling on JQ. In particular, I recall using this feature of LAX to bypass long security lanes at TSA Pre-Check by clearing security at TBIT, visiting the Star Alliance lounge, then schlepping over to T7 where my UA flight was taking off.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Why can't I walk between terminals 2 and 3 or 2 to 1?

On the latter, it's because T1 is on the opposite side of the airfield.

 

[andye]

As I was moving back, I decided to pack two large Tesco bags full of a variety of chocolates you could only get in the UK like Kitkat Ruby Cocoa and Double Deckers....

Double deckers (along with Wispas and Dairy Milk Buttons) are one of the things we get asked by the UK-born nurses to bring back from trips

 

[Seat0B]

In fairness, though, Australian airport security isn't that great compared to the rest of the world. I love visiting the US or even Canada where you don't have to take anything out of your bags or pockets, you just walk through the nude-o-scan and that's it. Why airports like Sydney, which might I remind should be the flagship airport of Australia given the populace it serves and the number of flights taking off each day, is still stuck in November 2003 in security technology is beyond me. Relatedly, one thing I don't see as rigorously enforced at some airports when travelling on QF is that priority security lane. What's the point of getting Gold status if any Tom, Dick and Harry can ends up using it because no one is checking their boarding pass/membership card?

Regardless, let's see how well this blame the customer strategy will work for them. Maybe they're banking that people won't care given they've been locked in their pens for years and QF is the only game in town. Then again, I wait with keen interest to see what the ACCC makes of the QF travel credit scandal.

-RooFlyer88

Yes and it's even worse than you think @kangarooflyer88 - because here in Canberra we now have those super duper scanners, which are actually much better and faster for people like me with a double knee replacement. No taking off shoes or belts here. Also, no taking out ipads or emptying pockets. However, the security at Canberra is consistently inconsistent about whether you have to take out laptops - sometimes you do and sometimes you don't at the whim of the security guard.

And then, once they have us all lulled into this expectation, then they yell at us (security guards) or blame us (Qantas CEO) if we have to dare to ask the security staff whether or not we have to take off shoes and take out lap tops. Honestly, it's just galling.

 

[dk4]

This would also have the added benefit of making it easy to access the QF lounges whilst travelling on JQ.

The answer is in the question! Qantas deliberately does everything possible to make it difficult for its frequent flyers using Jetstar to access a lounge. (e.g. in MEL they moved JQ from T1 to T4, in SYD they closed the T2 QP, at OOL they close the lounge between QF flights...) PLUS I believe there is a heritage listed building in SYD between T2 & T3, which makes constructing anything in that area difficult.

 

[Seat0B]

From the reports of yesterday apparently 3 of the 8 lanes at security at T2 were closed, normally pre-covid there would have been 8 out of 8 lanes of security open but even then it sometimes couldn't cope with the volume of passengers.

From what I saw of the T3 Qantas domestic part of SYD yesterday in comments here there also was not the full complement of security lanes open there either.

Looks to be a systematic structural/achitectural problem then Covid-19 close contact rules and previous Covid-19 layoffs of security staff and inability to hire quickly enough for a return of large volumes of pax to the skies.

Not just in SYD either, judging by others comments and media articles from Manchester and other airports round the world.

Seems pretty amateurish though considering the airlines would be able to predict an hour by hour breakdown of planned aircraft departures and total passenger numbers in their booking system so it should really just be a process of giving these numbers to the security contractors for the next few days and adjusting the size of the workforce to meet demand.

Yep, basic operations management and logistics skills would see this managed a WHOLE LOT better.

 

[Seat0B]

What I can't understand about Sydney airport (aside from the appalling security) is why on earth the terminals aren't connected airside as other airports have done. Why can't I walk between terminals 2 and 3 or 2 to 1?

This would need major works as it would have to be via a tunnel or something under the runway as the international terminal is on one side of the runways and taxiways, and the domestic terminals are on the other, and they would not want pax out on the airfield operational areas. Although at principle level, I agree with you.

Sydney Airport is in dire need of some capital expenditure to bring it up to its claimed flagship status.

 

[aikman]

I can't wait to find out what Ms Tully and Mr Joyce will blame us for next.

Is there any other large company out there so blatant about hating its own customers?

 

[drron]

The Commonwealth Department of Works was headquartered in Melbourne in the 60s and 70s. Tullamarine and the SYD International Terminal were planned at the same time. The Plan was for Tullamarine to open before Sydney so the Queen would open it.
But Tullamarine fell behind schedule and Sydney was a little ahead of schedule so the Queen opened SYD instead. It was the plan for MEL to become Australia's premier airport.

 

[Mattg]

Is there any other large company out there so blatant about hating its own customers?

Perhaps Centrelink?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yep, waiting 2 hours on hold with Centrelink/aka ServicesAustralia, just to get info to them about my mum's super payment info.
2 hours, ...
Edit:
To add,
kangarooflyer88 said:
Why can't I walk between terminals 2 and 3 or 2 to 1?
yes, it can be done, if they tunnel under the runway, like what we have at WLG airport, called Coutts Road, walked it a while back.
If they wanted to, they could dig under from T2 to T1 and put in a light rail system, after all they do have the freeway ($$$ toll) under the taxi way at SYD for cars and trucks now, aka M5 linking to M1.
But will cost a tonne of $, no one wants to spend that sum, without getting any paid returns, so of course, it will never get done.
But where there is $ to be made, if someone with millions wanted to, and SACL approved, it could be done
All the M runnels around Sydney must be a least 12km long, and 6 m wide for cars and trucks.

 

[Ewing]

Yes and it's even worse than you think @kangarooflyer88However, the security at Canberra is consistently inconsistent about whether you have to take out laptops - sometimes you do and sometimes you don't at the whim of the security guard.

I had to take my iPad and laptop out in Canberra recently.

Then in Adelaide last week the screeners barking "take your laptops out".. and then getting snarky when people in the right lane take it out. I doubt the irregular traveller realises that lane has different screening tech.

Airports and airlines can't complain about passengers not knowing how to travel when even the security screeners can't be consistent.

 

[Lynda2475]

Depends on the rules of "close contact" isolation - whole shifts of staff could possibly end up out of action at the same time!

Not a valid excuse in SYD as simply working a shift with a positive coworker doesnt put you in iso.

 

[jakeseven7]

I had to take my iPad and laptop out in Canberra recently.

Then in Adelaide last week the screeners barking "take your laptops out".. and then getting snarky when people in the right lane take it out. I doubt the irregular traveller realises that lane has different screening tech.

Airports and airlines can't complain about passengers not knowing how to travel when even the security screeners can't be consistent.

The Adelaide security crew feel like long lost descendants of the TSA that’s for sure. It’s quite a weird bunch of people there!

 

[jase05]

The Adelaide security crew feel like long lost descendants of the TSA that’s for sure. It’s quite a weird bunch of people there!

I know a couple of them really well and they are very good at their job but they do admit there are a couple of cowboys amongst the group and that most of the bizarre procedures are directives from management who are notoriously difficult to deal with.

 

[TheInsider]

All this talk about trying to get to SYD international by building tunnels or walkways. They just simply not need to charge for that stupid train.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For SYD, you still have to clear immi incoming and customs, to get to the dom terminal, and vv from the dom terminal to the int one, which adds time.
So it would be complicated to do immi and sec secreening at the dom terminal, so your ride from SYDd to SYDi can be on the secure side, to save time.
As of now, even if the service between the 2 was free, its the time taken/time consumed that is the problem.
SIN Changi on the past immi side, for the driverless train, its easy, as security is at every gate, where as SYD int and dom is a one point only, and every pax flight into and out of Changi is classed as int.
KUL is half way, ie, the int side you have to get the driverless train from the dom terminal.
For SYD, there would need to be a specific authority to issue "free" terminal transfers, as its not in the airport's line of responsibility to provide "free" transfers.
If ever a "free" transfer train service could/would occur, it would need to a mid jointed TransportNSW sort of authority, ie, show your BP and get a "free" one use one way transfer opal touch card.
As of now, what with TransportNSW making money for every int - dom train transfer, and vv, they would not ever change.
$4.99 train transfer, $2.56 is fare, $2.43 is the gate fee.
Bus transfer, is just $2.24.

 

[Quickstatus]

Why can't I walk between terminals 2 and 3 or 2 to 1?

Assume this is referring to SYD.

From a business perspective it does not make sense. QF would not want to make it easy for its pax to transfer to VA or JQ.

Between 2/3 and 1. It’s a long way. It would ideally require an underground train much like in DEN - they are happy making $$$ and pocketing it OS tax minimised rather than burying it in the ground