MEL reportedly best airport in Australia

[dajop]

I'm sorry, but it's not public transport at all. It's private transport.

Pity the Vic Govt can't (or won't) step up. Too lucrative I imagine.

As opposed to the public transport to SYD (train not buses) that is public with a nice big surcharge for the private infrastructure builder. Same net effect

 

[fly2earth]

I think that's a pretty good assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of MEL. I'd add that the baggage claim is really slow compared with just about every other airport I've been to. And yes, there are buses, but that's nothing like having a dedicated train station or stations. On the other hand, parking is relatively cheap.

I actually think SIN ticks most of the boxes for me, even though having to clear security at the gate is a pain. And much as SYD is a dog's breakfast in so many ways, its proximity to the city, and ease of getting there by train, are big plusses (and its Virgin terminal is better than MEL).

Plus the fact that it's Sydney. Everything is better in Sydney. Even the air

SYD is the best. I can windowgaze in front of the LV store all day while waiting for my flight (security guard in store approves)

 

[aikman]

As opposed to the public transport to SYD (train not buses) that is public with a nice big surcharge for the private infrastructure builder. Same net effect

Yet it is still cheaper than Skybus

OOL is pretty good. Not many airports where you can walk to the beach during a transit.

 

[fly2earth]

Yet it is still cheaper than Skybus

SkyBus you pay for DoubleDecker tourist bus and free wifi (and toll fee). What does Sydney Train give that substantiates the Sydney Airport access fee (and anyone can take the Sydney Train even the gate-jumpers). Try doing that on a SkyBus

 

[SYD]

Yet it is still cheaper than Skybus

Especially the bus that drops me off on the corner and takes slightly longer than two trains a walk!

But back to the list. A lot of those (SYD included) are multi terminal and some better than others. LHR, CDG,…. Gees ORY is higher up than any in Oz! DOH - obviously people like catching buses between flights…

 

[dajop]

Yet it is still cheaper than Skybus

On a per km basis (to the CBD) it isn’t

But certainly it is for one way tickets by about $4 and for return tickets by about 70c .

 

[Randel]

Certainly no one with medical issues have voted on this.

My wife is on insulin pump and cgm - manufacturers say NOT to go through body scanners or metal detectors - yet she was treated with such contempt by the young and dumb employee at security last May.. it is very stressfull Thank god some more senior security person nearby heard what was going on.... Stepped in and sorted it out ..

Luckily this recent trip, she had 2 very good interactions due to the 'hidden disabilities' lanyard. But that was Syd and Per - not sure how Mel are handling these now.

 

[RooFlyer]

DOH - obviously people like catching buses between flights…

You are alluding to the distance between gates? I've never actually thought of that as an issue. I go from one Al Mourjan lounge to the other just to compare the a la carte .

If you want some ridiculously long walks, try IST. I had one I think a km, no travellators or train (or bus!)

 

[Randel]

I think ADL is Australia's best airport.

SYD, BNE and (I think PER) widely separated dom/international terminal buildings - an instant fail.
Hobart
Darwin was v good when it was new.

Yep agree - visit mum in Adelaide regularly and like the airport and Q pub....

Perth is strangely Qantas/Jetstar in T3/T4 on one side of the airfield - Virgin and all others at T1/T2 on the other side of the airport.

So ok if flying Qantas Domestic then International - same terminal.

Or Virgin side by side terminals


But sucks when I parked at Qantas terminal for departure then for reasons had to swap to Virgin for the return. Bloody terminal bus has to head out onto freeway/highway in peak hour to get to other terminal. Took me 50 minutes from stepping outside Virgin Terminal to drop off at Qantas terminal

At least Sydney the bloody bus just goes across the airport .....

 

[SYD]

You are alluding to the distance between gates? I've never actually thought of that as an issue. I go from one Al Mourjan lounge to the other just to compare the a la carte .

If you want some ridiculously long walks, try IST. I had one I think 1.2km, no travellators or train (or bus!)

No, the numerous bus transfers from arriving aircraft to terminal. Even after the extensions!

Pre Covid I think I had 1 in 10 air bridge arrivals. I’ll see what it’s like now in a few weeks but I’ve seen other recent complaints that they’re still busing in PAX…

 

[RooFlyer]

No, the numerous bus transfers from arriving aircraft to terminal.

Ah, yes. Strange that. But at least they do busses properly:

First arrivals


J arrivals

 

[encryptededdy]

A bit off-topic, but if we're just talking about the Skytrax ratings in general, Zurich has got to be one of my favourites. What amazing balconies for the lounges and a great (airside!!!) observation deck. Yeah sure the lounges aren't the best outside *A, but it's good to have something different for a change.

Doha is... fine, but there's certainly nothing special about it for me. Same with SIN (unless you immigrate and go to the Jewel). Actually just in general, the really big super-connector airports just aren't that enjoyable to be in for me.

 

[fly2earth]

Straightforward DOM <----> transfers. Straightforward DOM <----> DOM transfers on same airline
Straightforward layout. International - in the middle. Qantas ... all over there. Virgin .... over there. The others ... waaaaay over there.
Compact international check-in area
Convenient hotels to DOM and INT
Convenient parking and bus arrivals
Having no train is a big negative but skybus sorta fills the gap to some extent..

I think ADL is Australia's best airport.

SYD, BNE and (I think PER) widely separated dom/international terminal buildings - an instant fail.
Hobart
Darwin was v good when it was new.

What's so funny about Tasmania

 

[fly2earth]

Yep agree - visit mum in Adelaide regularly and like the airport and Q pub....

Perth is strangely Qantas/Jetstar in T3/T4 on one side of the airfield - Virgin and all others at T1/T2 on the other side of the airport.

So ok if flying Qantas Domestic then International - same terminal.

Or Virgin side by side terminals


But sucks when I parked at Qantas terminal for departure then for reasons had to swap to Virgin for the return. Bloody terminal bus has to head out onto freeway/highway in peak hour to get to other terminal. Took me 50 minutes from stepping outside Virgin Terminal to drop off at Qantas terminal

At least Sydney the bloody bus just goes across the airport .....

But for Sydney you have to go around the perimeter of the airport instead of driving right through it
Which also takes a while especially going from the international back to the domestic terminals which to me oftentimes feel like eternity

 

[Human]

If you want some ridiculously long walks, try IST. I had one I think a km, no travellators or train (or bus!)

I agree that IST is just too big. From memory (Sept 2023) it was at least a 20 min walk from the lounge to the gate, and maybe a little longer.

 

[anat0l]

There's no surprise that SIN has consistently taken out the award, year in, year out. I believe it is one of the few, if not maybe only, airport in the world which has been designed for humans to enjoy being at the airport.

Even if a bit kitsch in places, the aesthetics of the airport speaks to creating an enjoyable rather than utilitarian environment. Clear signage, accessible, effective movement between even the farthest gates, plenty of shops, food retail and other facilities, often at fairly reasonable prices, friendly and curteous customer service. Plus of course effective transport to and from the city centre.

I don't consider airline lounges in any of these assessments. I know Skytrax has separate awards for lounges, but I don't know if the survey feedback about lounges affects the airport rankings.

Probably the biggest bugbears about SIN are security at the gate for T1, T2 and T3 (some might argue this is an advantage); and the disconnectedness and transfers to/from T4.

Anyway, DOH beats them out this year... or the Qatari government has dropped a lot of money into Skytrax. Admittedly DOH does look quite elegant and sophisticated, but I'm not certain people would want to spend lots of time there. Then again, what would I know - my only experiences in DOH have been 95% in the lounges.

 

[moa999]

believe it is one of the few, if not maybe only, airport in the world which has been designed for humans to enjoy being at the airport.

Othe than the old LCCT and now T4, which are a bit of a pain.

MEL has it's good points but then you look at the QF Int J lounge and even the walk to the man Int concourse.

Hope some more money is spent airside on the QF Dom terminal.

 

[justinbrett]

I’m pretty sure there’s an identical thread for last year.

MEL is an oppressive concrete hellscape and the only thing it has going for it is the walkability between terminals. No thanks.

 

[fly2earth]

There's no surprise that SIN has consistently taken out the award, year in, year out. I believe it is one of the few, if not maybe only, airport in the world which has been designed for humans to enjoy being at the airport.

Even if a bit kitsch in places, the aesthetics of the airport speaks to creating an enjoyable rather than utilitarian environment. Clear signage, accessible, effective movement between even the farthest gates, plenty of shops, food retail and other facilities, often at fairly reasonable prices, friendly and curteous customer service. Plus of course effective transport to and from the city centre.

I don't consider airline lounges in any of these assessments. I know Skytrax has separate awards for lounges, but I don't know if the survey feedback about lounges affects the airport rankings.

Probably the biggest bugbears about SIN are security at the gate for T1, T2 and T3 (some might argue this is an advantage); and the disconnectedness and transfers to/from T4.

Anyway, DOH beats them out this year... or the Qatari government has dropped a lot of money into Skytrax. Admittedly DOH does look quite elegant and sophisticated, but I'm not certain people would want to spend lots of time there. Then again, what would I know - my only experiences in DOH have been 95% in the lounges.

Hong Kong too clean and spacious and great views of the tarmac on the wings however the food options not so budget-friendly but cheap to reasonable compared to airport standards.

 

[fly2earth]

There's no surprise that SIN has consistently taken out the award, year in, year out. I believe it is one of the few, if not maybe only, airport in the world which has been designed for humans to enjoy being at the airport.

Even if a bit kitsch in places, the aesthetics of the airport speaks to creating an enjoyable rather than utilitarian environment. Clear signage, accessible, effective movement between even the farthest gates, plenty of shops, food retail and other facilities, often at fairly reasonable prices, friendly and curteous customer service. Plus of course effective transport to and from the city centre.

I don't consider airline lounges in any of these assessments. I know Skytrax has separate awards for lounges, but I don't know if the survey feedback about lounges affects the airport rankings.

Probably the biggest bugbears about SIN are security at the gate for T1, T2 and T3 (some might argue this is an advantage); and the disconnectedness and transfers to/from T4.

Anyway, DOH beats them out this year... or the Qatari government has dropped a lot of money into Skytrax. Admittedly DOH does look quite elegant and sophisticated, but I'm not certain people would want to spend lots of time there. Then again, what would I know - my only experiences in DOH have been 95% in the lounges.

Only downside is the Singapore MRT. It could use a major upgrade. I felt I was stepping back in time right after stepping onto the Changi Airport MRT escalator into Singapore MRT territory.