Saving a few dollars getting to Syd airport...

[stryker]

Agree, matter of principal in not paying another "fee" that keeps Macquarie Bankers to the lifestyle they expect the rest of us to pay for.

But isn't this simongr you are speaking of? Certainly sounds like it.

As for me, I always walk from Int'l to Wolli Creek whenever I arrive in the early morning (which is quite often). I find it's a great way to walk off the excesses of the flight, and save $11 or so at the same time. And it's only a 20 minute walk mainly along the banks of the creek. Very pleasant indeed!

 

[simongr]

But isn't this simongr you are speaking of? Certainly sounds like it.

Is that meant to be a dig? I wasn't quite sure as the sentence was pretty much a non-sequitur. I don't work for Macquarrie or any bank so I earn no fees from travelling on the Airport line.

 

[Hvr]

Perhaps we could all try this when we return to the airport after our Sydney do in October?

Be interesting to see how much luggage some people bring.

 

[Flashback]

Perhaps we could all try this when we return to the airport after our Sydney do in October?

Be interesting to see how much luggage some people bring.

Given that it will be 3-4 people a taxi, it's cheaper to taxi

 

[borsa]

There have been a couple of times when one has been able to (in theory) get to Sydney Airport, for $5. Right up to the terminal as well ... not from suburban Sydney though, only from Avalon or the Gold Coast.....

For just a moment, I thought you meant Avalon in Sydney where I live. Now that would be a bargain - much better than $130 for a taxi.

 

[Grooba]

Yep $130ish for me to SYD also, luckily it's something I can expense back when I miss the train.

 

[adrian]

I caught the rain from Green Square to Int a couple of weeks back. Ticket was around $15. I can't imagine it would have been much more expensive in a taxi from Green Square. $15 for a couple of kms, and a few minutes on a dirty, smelly train....

Make the London tube seem a bargain. In Mardid and Barcelona, I think the airport train fares are the regular 1 EUR, + a 1 EUR airport suplement. And the trains are a lot cleaner.

 

[Warks]

Well as I'm flying Jetstar today (to OOL so no choice here!) I thought I'd keep in the scrooge spirit and try the walk from Mascot. From home it's $17 to Domestic, to Mascot it's $7.40. Got there in plenty of time - I like the signs in Mascot station telling you there's "no access" to the airport from here. I guess that's good for people with "a little knowledge" who see Mascot and jump off expecting to be in the terminal.

It was all of an 18 minute walk from the train to T2. O'Riordan St is a noisy, fume-laden wind tunnel (if that's possible) and it's quite an unpleasant walk. Good exercise but that's it. The worst bit is picking your way towards T2 once you've crossed Botany Rd. Paths just run out and you are forced to cross at a fairly busy spot on the T3 side. Probably should have crossed the road earlier near DHL.

Anyway I saved $10 but I think on my return trip I'll just cough up the cash to get home a bit earlier. One thing that sucked was the ticket barrier at Mascot - captured my ticket as it was one way. So now I've got no tax invoice for expenses. I guess I could have flashed it at the gate and he might have let me through. At Domestic the barriers don't capture the tickets even though they are one way. Must understand the need for travellers to hang onto their tickets for expenses purposes.

So there you have it an AFF road test done in "real time".

 

[dragonman]

An alternative strategy is to park off Wentworth Avenue near one of the 400 bus stops. The 400 takes about 10 minutes from there and costs about $2.50.

 

[moa999]

It was all of an 18 minute walk from the train to T2. O'Riordan St is a noisy, fume-laden wind tunnel (if that's possible)

One thing that sucked was the ticket barrier at Mascot - captured my ticket as it was one way. So now I've got no tax invoice for expenses. I guess I could have flashed it at the gate and he might have let me through. At Domestic the barriers don't capture the tickets even though they are one way.

You could have waited for a 400 bus which trundles down ORiordan (for an extra $2 or so)

I think all of CityRail barriers do this. Always thought it was wierd as well given the ticket firmly states it is your Tax Invoice.

 

[Warks]

You could have waited for a 400 bus which trundles down ORiordan (for an extra $2 or so)

I think all of CityRail barriers do this. Always thought it was wierd as well given the ticket firmly states it is your Tax Invoice.

I could have waited for the bus but it wouldn't have been a proper "road test". I hate buses at the best of times so will avoid where possible.

Yes you're right about them capturing tickets elsewhere but I'm certain the airport ones don't as I've used single tickets there many times and I only ever go through the barrier. I've submitted the ticket with my expenses many times so these two stations must be the only places where you do get a single (one way) ticket back.

Too bad if you are travelling around elsewhere in Sydney via barriers.

 

[kpc]

Anyway I saved $10 but I think on my return trip I'll just cough up the cash to get home a bit earlier. One thing that sucked was the ticket barrier at Mascot - captured my ticket as it was one way. So now I've got no tax invoice for expenses. I guess I could have flashed it at the gate and he might have let me through. At Domestic the barriers don't capture the tickets even though they are one way. Must understand the need for travellers to hang onto their tickets for expenses purposes.

Good on you for trying it! If you could claim travel as a work expense or tax deduction, I wouldn't bother to walk from Mascot station as there is practically no saving after the tax deduction. If you want to keep the ticket after going through Mascot station, you need to go through the manned turnstile.

Yes you're right about them capturing tickets elsewhere but I'm certain the airport ones don't as I've used single tickets there many times and I only ever go through the barrier.

That's correct!

 

[kpc]

Further to my post above, I decided to walk from Wolli Creek station to Syd International airport (T1) last week prior to my JQ flight to Mel.

Apparently, you can do a similar thing from Wolli Creek to Syd International (T1)...but I personally won't do it as it's rare that I don't have a bit of luggage when I travel OS.

Bicycle Path - Sydney International Airport to Wolli Creek Railway Station at Bikely.com
It costs me $15.80 from my home train station to the International terminal station but only $4 to Wolli Creek. As it was an overcast day, and I only had minimal carryon lugggage, I took up the challenge again.

The walk is about 1.6km, and was quite a pleasant walk, parts of it along the water edge; there is only 1 major road to cross (Princess Highway) but there are pedestrian lights to make it easy (just have to wait a bit). It was a much more pleasant walk then the walk from Mascot station to the domestic terminals, and I would only advise AGAINST it if it was raining, a hot day or you had a lot of luggage to carry / wheel. I saw a lot of airport employees along the way.

BTW, the walk was a leisurely 25 minutes, and you enter the airport via the multistorey car park, which also has a handy bathroom if you need to freshen up. Of course, I much preferred the QF F lounge. Did the same on the return, so the 2 of us saved 4x$11.80 = $47.20 enough for a nice meal at a local restaurant but more importantly satisfied with the knowledge that we didn't get ripped off by the Sydney airport group, and that was our exercise done for the week

Again.....not for everyone but a "FYI" for those that might want to save a few dollars

 

[Must...Fly!]

Very interesting thread. I'm heading to SYD for the first time in years in January, so I might take the walk from International to Wolli Creek to avoid the exorbitant SACL fees.

Is it a sealed path all the way? I will have my suitcase to wheel along with me.

 

[kpc]

Very interesting thread. I'm heading to SYD for the first time in years in January, so I might take the walk from International to Wolli Creek to avoid the exorbitant SACL fees.

Is it a sealed path all the way? I will have my suitcase to wheel along with me.

It is mostly sealed esp. if you avoid taking the 'short cut" we took across the grassy park:mrgreen:....the weather is the key; if it is raining or a hot day, forget it!! Otherwise, as mentioned, it is not an unpleasant walk. PS: the first time, make sure you bring a printout of the above linked map....there are absolutely no signs to the station or the airport, presumably as it is not an intended path for the visitors / tourists.

 

[Must...Fly!]

It is mostly sealed esp. if you avoid taking the 'short cut" we took across the grassy park:mrgreen:....the weather is the key; if it is raining or a hot day, forget it!! Otherwise, as mentioned, it is not an unpleasant walk. PS: the first time, make sure you bring a printout of the above linked map....there are absolutely no signs to the station or the airport, presumably as it is not an intended path for the visitors / tourists.

Thanks for the info and I will bring a print out along!

I don't land til 5pm and once through customs etc, should be well cool enough be then.

 

[medhead]

Good on you for trying it! If you could claim travel as a work expense or tax deduction, I wouldn't bother to walk from Mascot station as there is practically no saving after the tax deduction.

I'm really late replying but That's not exactly correct. The train to domestic is say $15 and the tax deduction will return 46.5% of that, about $7, net cost $8 Going to mascot from central is about $5.80 plus $2 for the bus, say $8. You still get the tax deduction on that amount, a maximum of about $3.60. Net cost $4.40.

Anyone not interested in catching buses, it is also possible to prepurchase tickets for airport to city these cost $13.40 instead and $15 at the gate. Having the ticket has also been the difference between getting a train immediately or joining a line to buy a ticket.

 

[serfty]

...
Anyone not interested in catching buses, it is also possible to prepurchase tickets for airport to city these cost $13.40 instead and $15 at the gate. Having the ticket has also been the difference between getting a train immediately or joining a line to buy a ticket.

That $13.40 has a GST component of $1.22 so take take the input credit out to get $12.18.

The company tax rate id 30% so there's by deducting that $12.18 a company would save $3.65 in income tax.

So with the nett cost of that $13.40 for a company would be $8.53.

 

[moa999]

[OT]
And a proposal for light rail to the Dom airport.
Combined with a buyout of the Airport RailLink to reduce the gate fee.

Proposed light rail would link inner west with airport

 

[Martin J Cowling]

I did it once. I never have much luggage so not an issue. The station isnt too far from the IBIS. I would not do it again for the couple of dollars saved.
The 400 to rockdale is the better way to go if you are desperate to save those dollars.
Ideally, running a fixed interval train every few minutes, reducing the gate fee significantly, making the connections less of a hassle at Central and having baggage carts in the station waiting would make it a more popular link