Public Transport to our airports - what's cheapest?

[kpc]

Sydney should do the same or better still make them free. It would get rid of a lot of road traffic. Otherwise I might transition to BrisbaneSwan!

We always catch the train to Mascot station and then bus to Syd domestc airport and vice versa...a bit of a PITA but saves >$30 for both of us each way! I would rather walk then pay this extortionate surcharge....I did use to walk from Mascot station to Domestic but had to head straight to the lounge showers as I was drenched in sweat!

 

[CMA222]

We always catch the train to Mascot station and then bus to Syd domestc airport and vice versa...a bit of a PITA but saves >$30 for both of us each way! I would rather walk then pay this extortionate surcharge....I did use to walk from Mascot station to Domestic but had to head straight to the lounge showers as I was drenched in sweat!

Same for me. A legitimate way to save on public transport fares, and with a Gold Opal it is almost free anyway - about $1.60 from Central to Domestic or International. if I recall correctly

But who is really paying for the cost of public transport in Qld at $0.50 ? And suggestions that it should be free . Someone is paying in the end with less fully equipped hospitals or schools or a higher State deficit used as justification when it is finally withdrawn.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

With the cost of the ticketing system and enforcement of 50c fares seems like it would actually be cheaper to just make them free

 

[p--and--t]

With the cost of the ticketing system and enforcement of 50c fares seems like it would actually be cheaper to just make them free

Our previous gov explained they can’t do fleet planning and schedule planning without patronage data. So kept 50c fare and large fine for not tapping on.

 

[p--and--t]

AFAIAA All public transport systems in AU run at a loss regardless of fare hikes.

In overall budget context with the need for gov to built and maintain wider and more roadways, intersections flyovers etc its cheaper overall to get more people to catch a train or bus.

 

[CaptJCool]

With the cost of the ticketing system and enforcement of 50c fares seems like it would actually be cheaper to just make them free

While cheaper if free for all
It makes it messy to then later ask
People to pay again.
Retaining a floor price reminds people there’s value in the service and no such thing as a “free lunch” and that someone must pay

 

[OZDUCK]

Our previous gov explained they can’t do fleet planning and schedule planning without patronage data. So kept 50c fare and large fine for not tapping on.

That is the same reason offered in W.A for the requirement to use an Easyrider card to get free travel during the various free riding periods that have previously occurred and the forthcoming one on 12/12 to 5/2.

 

[AIRwin]

I didn't see mention of the privately run Airtrain in the media statement.

Airtrain reverting to full fare:

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qld-politics/airtrain-fare-reverts-to-full-price-as-50c-tickets-remain-on-rest-of-network/news-story/e7f6b3a339c83a349fa09e4c4f529928?amp&nk=aee63aedf2fc9272484751bb6e9db705-1733133232

 

[henrus]

Airtrain reverting to full fare:

Fare enough...

Hopefully they bring back some form of discounted tickets otherwise it's back to Ubers for me!

 

[p--and--t]

Fare enough...

Hopefully they bring back some form of discounted tickets otherwise it's back to Ubers for me!

You can get a 50c public bus to DFO and a free shuttle to the terminal. It will however stretch your travel time by a good 45m or longer

 

[henrus]

You can get a 50c public bus to DFO and a free shuttle to the terminal. It will however stretch your travel time by a good 45m or longer

Well aware and I've done it before, sadly the last connection leaves Toombul at 5:35pm and it's a bit harder to time. It'd be great if BAC uploaded their shuttle schedule to google maps!

 

[Flyfrequently]

Not quite PT but a new  free initiative for Melbourne Airport transport to nearly the CBD or to pass the time with a long layover. Complimentary shuttle to DFO Melbourne Thursday-Monday

Complimentary DFO Tourist Shuttle Bus | DFO South Wharf

Our complimentary DFO Tourist Shuttle Bus connects tourists with multiple daily departures from Melbourne Airport to DFO Essendon, DFO South Wharf and return, 5 days a week – Thursday to Monday.

www.south-wharf.dfo.com.au

 

[p--and--t]

Not quite PT but a new  free initiative for Melbourne Airport transport to nearly the CBD or to pass the time with a long layover. Complimentary shuttle to DFO Melbourne Thursday-Monday

Complimentary DFO Tourist Shuttle Bus | DFO South Wharf

Our complimentary DFO Tourist Shuttle Bus connects tourists with multiple daily departures from Melbourne Airport to DFO Essendon, DFO South Wharf and return, 5 days a week – Thursday to Monday.

www.south-wharf.dfo.com.au

That wlll be handy with light luggage. Just walk across the bridge and catch the city circle to CBD hotel

 

[AIRwin]

That wlll be handy with light luggage. Just walk across the bridge and catch the city circle to CBD hotel

If timing is right for one of the 4 services during the day

 

[p--and--t]

If timing is right for one of the 4 services during the day

Agreed. If timing right, I’d use it going into town.

Not sure I’d use it going to airport unless I had heaps of tome to spare both ends.

All my trips to MEL are non-business nowadays.

 

[Himeno]

Public transport fares in Canberra increased by 3% this month. The first increase since Jan 2019.

 

[jpp42]

Used the route 20 bus in Rockhampton from Rosslyn Bay to the airport recently. Not so frequent a service and doesn't work for morning departures, but I was able to get a service arriving at 11.57am (running on time) for my departure on QF 1985 at 1:15pm. The 50-cent fares definitely seem to have increased the popularity of these buses.

 

[pangwen]

Had an unexpectedly cheap public transport experience to/from SYD on the weekend. Due to trackworks, the trains were replaced by buses on the T8. In addition to the "all stops" bus operated by a normal low floor bus, there were express services operated by coaches from Central to the Domestic and International terminals (separate routes for each terminal). Luggage goes in the storage area below, so it was a pretty comfortable ride.

No fares charged as the coaches had no validator, and the journey time was only about 5-6 minutes more than the train due to the light weekend traffic.

 

[SomeRando]

For travellers using OOL and slumming it on the 777 express service they have updated the readers on the bus to accept contactless payments. No need to carry a gocard just for that one trip.

Other buses haven't changed over but I assume they did this route first as it caused a lot of issues for tourists, especially if the airport shop was closed and there's nowhere else to buy a gocard at the airport.

 

[L2.]

Other buses haven't changed over but I assume they did this route first as it caused a lot of issues for tourists, especially if the airport shop was closed and there's nowhere else to buy a gocard at the airport.

They completed the rollout of contactless payment on all Gold Coast bus services two weeks ago:

Smart Ticketing takes over the Gold Coast!

translink.com.au

Although if you're needing to travel on a bus across the other side of the border (e.g. Tweed Heads), you'll find that the local bus services in regional NSW are stuck in the stone age and are still cash-only in 2025.