Saving a few dollars getting to Syd airport...

[erkpod]

How discriminatory against single travellers... Anyway how would Opal recognise a travelling group? I suppose this is the same as what gwilli1 was asking.

Under Opal, there is a $2.50 travel cap on Sundays for everyone if you are using an Opal card. So if you are not in a family group & travelling on a Sunday, Opal would be better than the current arrangements.


Only adult Opal cards are available right now. But this is a good result for the single traveller.

 

[erkpod]

After my last post , i decided to make a few calls ..firstly to Opal , then to Transport NSW , then to Airport link ......outcome.... Opal referred me to Transport NSW , Transport NSW referred me to Airport Link & then Airport Link back to Opal ....hilarious !

They all said that pricing had yet to be determined for the airport stations . I mentioned to them all that this kicks off in less then 24 hours and you don't know pricing .... I could just feel the " oh well" , shrug of the shoulders and blame game happening . So i guess we are still in the dark

I can't say that I'm surprised. I'll be watching a couple of different forums over the next couple of days - I am sure someone will report back.

 

[erkpod]

Well, it's happened. Someone tried a trip from Central to Domestic today using Opal & the one way off peak fare was $15.90. There was a $0.99 discount (I'm not sure why) shown.

Tomorrow is the official activation date for the rest of the suburban network including the airport line.

 

[kpc]

Well, it's happened. Someone tried a trip from Central to Domestic today using Opal & the one way off peak fare was $15.90. There was a $0.99 discount (I'm not sure why) shown.

Tomorrow is the official activation date for the rest of the suburban network including the airport line.

I have to get to the domestic airport tomorrow; I have an opal card...should I just get off at Mascot and catch the 400 bus? This is my preferred option if not raining

 

[erkpod]

I have to get to the domestic airport tomorrow; I have an opal card...should I just get off at Mascot and catch the 400 bus? This is my preferred option if not raining

Opal card or not, I think it depends on how much you value your time. I am not confident in the gate fee being removed tomorrow in line with the Opal activation.

 

[kpc]

I tried this for the first time early onSaturday morning (my flight landed at 6:35am) and this strategy works well. Justa few updates as the bus stop seems to have moved.
The new bus stop number for the SMS arrival details is:2020113 (those with a smartphone other than a blackberry, probably should justdownload tripview for live updates).
New directions between the bus stop and Mascot station: Getoff at the first stop after the QF domestic terminal (outside Anytime Fitnessgym) walk back in the direction the bus has come from for 70m to the junction -turn right and walk down the hill 50m to the station (you will be able to seeit from the junction).
Train from Mascot to Central was $3.80.

Verdict:
If you have plenty of time on your hands, are cost consciousor were planning on doing it on a weekday when the busses and trains are on amore frequent schedule then it is a great strategy.
As most of my trips to Sydney are a Friday night red-eye(arrival 6:30am Saturday morning) down and Sunday night back I think that Imight save the time and stick to the overpriced train from the airport or acab. I had to wait about 15 minutes for the bus and then just missed the train (becauseI went the wrong way - oops!) so spent 14 minutes waiting for that too. (Admittedlydue to my own failings) It took me almost 90 minutes to get from the boardinggate to Chippendale (bus+train+walk) - which at that time of the morning can bedone by cab in 20 minutes for $22 or so.

Just a little heads up. As mentioned by TripleB in post #70, the 400 towards the terminals (direction Burwood) now stops at Coward St nr Bourke Rd, Mascot (Stop 2020114) rather than at the stop near the HI. A trip plan on 131500.com.au with the train option unchecked will give you the details including a map of the 3 minute walk from the station to stop 2020114.

I have to get to the domestic airport tomorrow; I have an opal card...should I just get off at Mascot and catch the 400 bus? This is my preferred option if not raining

Wish I paid more attention to this! Got off at Mascot station (only $2.89 from my home station using Opal) this pm, and walked to where I usually catch the 400 bus to the domestic terminal to find it was no longer there!! Couldn't be bothered looking for the new bus stop or walking back to Mascot station so I marched on to the domestic on foot...all up took me 20mins....but as it was a humid day, I can now report that the Virgin lounge showers are not too bad.... Must go and find out exactly where the 400 bus stop is now!....edit: just checked google maps.... the 400 now stops at COWARD St, near Bourke Rd, in both directions and is CLOSER to Mascot train station than before...oh well, the exercise did me no harm

 

[cove]

Kpc I am very good at sweating so the idea of a 20 minute walk in a high humidity place like Sydney often is would not thrill me. When the search party would finally get to me they would find some wet clothes and maybe a wet ID in a wet credit card wallet. No thank you....now is my driver outside waiting really works a treat.
In Melbourne on a dry day I will walk either way to the footy or take the free tram as no one seems to pay.
Good thinking looking for the showers at your lounge in Sydney but I worry about getting a super dose of tinea in public showers.

 

[kpc]

But cove, you are forgetting it only cost me $2.89 to get from home to Syd airport....and as the starter of this thread, I need to practice what I preach. ..my preference is of course to catch the 400 bus to walking....but as you know I'm a poorly paid public servant and need to save money by any means!! PS. I know how to treat tinea but the Virgin lounge shower room was spotless until I used it

 

[cove]

$2.89 sounds pretty good as that is close to the price of going to an In-N-Out in Los Angeles for a cholesterol injection.

 

[Fantic125]

I'll be doing my usual ADL-SYD commute tomorrow so I'll use my Opal card from Domestic to Artarmon and see what the cost is.

 

[ashill]

The Gate Pass information is now posted on the Opal web site. Your guess was right. The daily cap and travel rewards don't apply to the gate pass. $12.60 will be deducted from your Opal account on top of the fare you owe (which may be zero if you've reached the reward or daily cap). There is no equivalent of the current weekly gate pass, and not even the free 60 minute transfer applies; I might have used the 60 minute transfer to meet family at the airport.

There's a rather hilarious FAQ on the Opal website which basically says the airport link company will screw you in every possible way.

https://www.opal.com.au/en/fare-information/airport_station_access_fee/

 

[Fifa]

Here's a link to the Mascot bus stop map:
New bus stops for Route 400 and 410 at Mascot. — Transport - State Transit

 

[kpc]

The Gate Pass information is now posted on the Opal web site. Your guess was right. The daily cap and travel rewards don't apply to the gate pass. $12.60 will be deducted from your Opal account on top of the fare you owe (which may be zero if you've reached the reward or daily cap). There is no equivalent of the current weekly gate pass, and not even the free 60 minute transfer applies; I might have used the 60 minute transfer to meet family at the airport.

There's a rather hilarious FAQ on the Opal website which basically says the airport link company will screw you in every possible way.

https://www.opal.com.au/en/fare-information/airport_station_access_fee/

Saved $12.60 yesterday then by getting off at Mascot and walking to Domestic

 

[cove]

Well done kpc! Do we have to walk to dinners across town?

 

[medhead]

Will be interesting to see the mascot to domestic price with opal.

 

[moa999]

I suspect in peak it will be $3.30 (discount Opal Zone 1) plus $12.60.... Ie. Like weekly airport users you are better off staying with paper until people at Transport NSW can actually thonk

 

[Fantic125]

Cost me $12.60 today to go from Domestic to Artarmon. Paper ticket was costing $17.60.

Will see if Friday is any different.

 

[kpc]

Cost me $12.60 today to go from Domestic to Artarmon. Paper ticket was costing $17.60.

Will see if Friday is any different.

Interesting as $12.60 would be the airport gate fee, meaning the actual train trip was free?

 

[moa999]

Were you already at weekly cap?

 

[erkpod]

Interesting as $12.60 would be the airport gate fee, meaning the actual train trip was free?

It would not take much on a previous trip today to hit the $2.50 Sunday cap. Either that or the weekly reward as already suggested.