Ok, so why does everyone continue to bag Qantas?

[Yada Yada]

OTOH the walk from MEL international to MEL domestic is a whole lot more useful than the b*s in SYD or the train in BNE.

And in PER the whole transfer is even worse.

Yes, I imagine that transiting through SYD is a pain. However for those of us who live there, it's no problem!

In fact, the separation of int/dom is quite good in that traffic is spread out between the three terminals, making it a bit easier for us to get in/out.

 

[freqbugsmasher]

From Kiwi Flyer
CNS and MEL are okay. SYD, BNE and PER - yuk.

As a Perth resident, I wouldn't know but try getting from either A/P if you happen to be delayed or arrive on a late flight.

I swear PER (pop 1.5 mill) taxi's stop after 11pm, but in KGI (pop 35,000) there's never a problem, apart from when the swim through known as Diggers is on.

Go figure

 

[Yada Yada]

CNS and MEL are okay. SYD, BNE and PER - yuk.

Everyone should find this amusing.

From: The Border Mail - Sydney airport in the top 10

SYDNEY Airport has been voted in the world’s top 10 airports in a survey of business-class travellers.

The airport ranked eighth in the international airport category of the 2006 Business Travel Awards, conducted by respected travel magazine Conde Nast in the US and UK.

“Sydney airport regularly features in the top 10 airports in the world in both customer surveys and magazine reader awards,” Sydney Airport Corporation chief Russell Balding said.

Sydney airport’s highest score was for its location, which is close to the CBD, followed by security.

Singapore’s Changi was the runaway winner from Hong Kong International.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

SYD in the top 10! Was the survey conducted in the SYD QP by any chance?

 

[simongr]

As a business travellre the proximity to the city is great. I dont understand why Changi rates so highly - for me it just looks very 70s and the shopping experience wasnt stellar. I did like the little chap that took my bags and disappeared to check them in for me (at the business class check in).

The downfall fo Sydney for me is the immigration process that is discussed ad nauseam elsewhere. Apart from that though (and the baggage handling) its no too bad, oh I suppose the poor F (lack of real) lounge for oneworlders.

So its great except for immigration, baggage handling, f lounge and I suppose the massive queue for cabs isnt great. Is this like Monthy Python's "What have the romans done for us segment in reverse?"

 

[garyjohn951]

Simon, you forgot to mention the great advantages of the bus transfer between terminals, the tight conditions, the stampede, the refusal to move forward, the bags landing on your feet, the swaying of the bus as it corners, yes the advantage of Sydney over Melbourne is of course this wonderful service, at least at changi there is no bus.................

 

[maninblack]

SYD looms larger in peoples minds than it is in reality. It's not in the worlds top 30 for aircraft movements and is 28th in passenger numbers. Therefore people see it as relatively calm and organised, compared with some larger airports. Truth is though that it is big but not huge. Personally I think that the international terminal is very ordinary and pretty cluttered.

Sydney has about 280,000 aircraft movements per year (19.8% international) and 29M passengers. Melbourne has 180,000 (14% international) movements and over 21M passengers. Even though Sydney is only about 1.5 times the size in terms of overall traffic it is much more busy on international.

 

[straitman]

Sydney has about 280,000 aircraft movements per year (19.8% international) and 29M passengers. Melbourne has 180,000 (14% international) movements and over 21M passengers. Even though Sydney is only about 1.5 times the size in terms of traffic it seems 3 times as busy.

....and ten times more chaotic :!:

 

[NM]

SYD in the top 10! Was the survey conducted in the SYD QP by any chance?

Probably conducted in places like USA and Europe where the people all think they want to go to Sydney, but most have never been.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

As a business travellre the proximity to the city is great. I dont understand why Changi rates so highly - for me it just looks very 70s and the shopping experience wasnt stellar. I did like the little chap that took my bags and disappeared to check them in for me (at the business class check in).

To me SIN is so much better than SYD in almost every respect.

SIN has several great lounges, so does SYD (but only QF dom and NZ int IMHO).
SIN has curbside valet service in F. SYD has ???
SIN has better duty free (quality, range and sometimes price), SYD forces everyone (except those who know about the escape stairs) to walk through the middle of the duty free shop.
SIN immigration is open 24/7 even while there are no flights (great when you can come back to the lounge after hitting the city for a night out and rest for your early flight out, saving a hotel stay in the process), SYD closes with the curfew.
SIN and SYD both close to city and easily accessible.
SIN has free and easy transfer between terminals, SYD has slow bus or train (which you have to pay for the privilege of using).
SIN has lots of free internet terminals, tvs, a movie theatre, foot massagers, supermarkets, etc. SYD has some horrible chairs.
SIN has minimum connection of 45 minutes, and you know your bags will make it even if arriving flight is late.
SIN immigration never takes more than 5 minutes even at rush hour, SYD takes anywhere from 5 minutes to well over an hour.
SIN priority-tagged bags always arrive first, SYD they might arrive first if you are lucky.
SIN bags get safely stored if you don't collect them straight away (eg do some shopping, meet up with friends, etc). SYD bags may get opened and your camel head used as a toy.
SIN bags always arrive within 10 minutes, SYD lucky if bags start appearing on the belt after 20 minutes.

and so on

In terms of decor, yeah T1 is showing its age a bit (even though SIN is not that old). T3 is supposed to be fabulous - can't wait for it to open. The colour schemes, layouts, etc in all the terminals are designed to subtly make people shop more.

 

[simongr]

SIN has lots of free internet terminals, tvs, a movie theatre, foot massagers, supermarkets, etc. SYD has some horrible chairs.
SIN priority-tagged bags always arrive first, SYD they might arrive first if you are lucky.
SIN bags get safely stored if you don't collect them straight away (eg do some shopping, meet up with friends, etc). SYD bags may get opened and your camel head used as a toy.
SIN bags always arrive within 10 minutes, SYD lucky if bags start appearing on the belt after 20 minutes.

and so on

In terms of decor, yeah T1 is showing its age a bit (even though SIN is not that old). T3 is supposed to be fabulous - can't wait for it to open. The colour schemes, layouts, etc in all the terminals are designed to subtly make people shop more.

Just on the movies at SIN - is that T1 where I went through? I thought I explored a bit - but didnt see that or anything else that impressive - mind you I was exhausted.

Dont start me on "priority baggage" in australia - grrr

I dont like SYD that much to be honest (except when I land I know I am home ) just havent found a good airport yet - i used to like LHR T1 (BA flights to mainland europe - before duty free in the EU was stopped). So far LAX, LHR, JFK, SIN have all been a little less than impressive to me - mind you they are all a step up from PFO and MIM

 

[munitalP]

SIN is a good airport as far as I'm concerned. Check in is good, Qantas 1st class lounge is good (although I have been told business is better), the bar on the roof is good, the jewller near the QP is a rip off, the travelators travel too fast (after 15 or so Carlsbergs at the lounge) - I guess all in all, SIN is OK. LHR sucks - thats all I will say on that matter. Frankfurt is messy, too many smoking areas interfering with my health, Arlanda, now theres a cool airport (-23 last time I was there), buy your own elk skin on the way out, functional BA lounge, good view... GRZ, converted aircraft hanger... AKL, nice, WEL, sucks, LAX sucks, SYD - well, us southerners all know the best thing out of Sydney is runway 3....

 

[JohnK]

I am trying to work out what relevance SYD airport has to do with everyone continuing to bag Qantas.

Chalk up another vote for SYD airport while were at it. We all have different opinions about everything. The setup at SYD is very good. Separate domestic and international terminals and easy access from most places especially using M5 East.

People who consider the transfer from domestic to international a hassle, then don't schedule tight connections. Not everyone cares about lounge access or having to walk through duty free. It is not like you are obliged to buy anything anyway. It is friendly and it is spacious. I can easily find a place to sit and have a drink whether seeing people off or waiting for someone to arrive.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

People who consider the transfer from domestic to international a hassle, then don't schedule tight connections.

Sometimes don't have a choice. There is a limit to how early in the day can get to SYD from AKL, and also how late in the day can leave SYD for AKL. QF schedule is hardly optimised for travellers to/from NZ and so connections can be tricky.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Just on the movies at SIN - is that T1 where I went through? I thought I explored a bit - but didnt see that or anything else that impressive - mind you I was exhausted.

T2 - ie not the same terminal used by QF, but you can take the train or walk airside between the terminals.

munitalP - by WEL I presume you mean Wellington (airport code WLG)? I prefer WLG to AKL - easier to get to/from the city. Easy transfer between international and domestic. Very nice lounges (both NZ and QF). If you are flying on a prop flight you can still visit the lounge without going through security (these are at the jet gates only).

 

[thadocta]

Probably conducted in places like USA and Europe where the people all think they want to go to Sydney, but most have never been.

But their bags HAVE!

Dave

 

[JohnK]

Sometimes don't have a choice. There is a limit to how early in the day can get to SYD from AKL, and also how late in the day can leave SYD for AKL. QF schedule is hardly optimised for travellers to/from NZ and so connections can be tricky.

I don't understand how bad scheduling from specific airlines would result in negative votes for an airport.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I don't understand how bad scheduling from specific airlines would result in negative votes for an airport.

It doesn't - not cause and effect.

SYD transfers are not always as simple as at other airports. If all connections were long (say 3 hours) and you didn't mind wasting time in queues, then it wouldn't matter. However that is not the case. I much prefer transferring somewhere like SIN or BKK or HKG or ... where it is easy.

 

[JohnK]

I much prefer transferring somewhere like SIN or BKK or HKG or ... where it is easy.

Still does not explain why SYD airport does not deserve to be in the top 10 because of transfer facilities and tight connections. To each his own.

SYD in the top 10! Was the survey conducted in the SYD QP by any chance?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Still does not explain why SYD airport does not deserve to be in the top 10 because of transfer facilities and tight connections. To each his own.

Since I transfer a lot (rarely have just one flight), my own preference is weighted towards ease of transfer. SYD is not an easy airport to transfer at, so doesn't rate as highly personally than plenty of other airports. Of course there are other factors important to me also.

Other people will have their own preferences.