Is 'bussing' common?

[RooFlyer]

I could be mistaken here but isn’t bussing to the terminal preferred over the jetbridge approach? After all you’re dropped off right at immigration, you don’t have that mile long walk in the terminal

Its a cough shoot whether you are dropped off close to immigration.

Main downsides are the wait for the bus, the unholy circuitous route the bus often needs to take around the terminal, the need to go down stairs (or up, if boarding) and, for premium pax, the horror of being mixed with the great unwashed whY pax.

Of course at DOH, they do J and F busses classily; I've posted pics before so just a link here (scroll down).

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Bus gate is very common at syd early am, especially flights to and from nz. Syd intl I've had more flights to or from remote stand than to or from a regular gate. Gate 26 socks.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Stairway to Hell?

Not to be confused with the highway to hell (also known as an arrival into Terminal 1 of Toronto's Pearson Airport). It is also not to be confused with the stairway to HEL either, which I am told can be a very effective way to harvest status credits flying AY.

Very common around the world. I have had buses at LHR, FRA, STR, MEL all just in the last 12 months.

Edit: and SYD.

Having been to a number of airports, I would say it is a fairly rare occurrence, although it does seem more common at European airports like AMS than airports in the US.

Its a cough shoot whether you are dropped off close to immigration.

Fair enough. It really depends on the layout of the airport. However, I have been to some airports where you are dumped directly at immigration which isn't a bad perk.

Main downsides are the wait for the bus, the unholy circuitous route the bus often needs to take around the terminal, the need to go down stairs (or up, if boarding) and, for premium pax, the horror of being mixed with the great unwashed whY pax.

Agree with those downsides although I will point out that some would being given an airside tour of the airport as a positive thing, particularly if you've got some exotic birds parked there, such as the Antonov An-124 at Toronto.

Of course at DOH, they do J and F busses classily; I've posted pics before so just a link here (scroll down).

Which is nice (I guess), although from your report there was no indication of whether there was an onboard bar for guests. Nothing like having a glass of Dom on your way to the terminal.

 

[Forg]

^ I think I’d be impressed & well-entertained if I were in F or J and got to enjoy a bar on the bus … it’d more than make-up for the existence of the bus.