SkyBus gone up again [Up to $23.90 one way]

[coles525]

Bus 901 made tonights Ch 9 Melb. News.

 

[defurax]

I dislike the double deckers with intensity - most PAX have to head upstairs with only a few seats downstairs (which is basically a few big luggage racks).

I also dislike the double decker...but mostly because the ceiling is too low, I bang my head every single time walking toward the stairs at the back, one day I will learn...

 

[Blackswan]

I gave this a go today (Good Friday). Only had to wait for 5 minutes at MEL, and it connected almost seamlessly with the train.

Even with the lack of waiting, I'm not sure I'd do this all the time. If I was travelling outside of peak times, I'd probably just stump up for the Skybus fare. It's just quicker and easier.

 

[travelislife]

The thing is the PT option should be the skybus! It's ludicrous this gravy train has been given to a private company to milk.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

SkyBus gone up again

The thing is the PT option should be the skybus! It's ludicrous this gravy train has been given to a private company to milk.

This!

Totally agree!

The double decker skybus is very underwhelming, the legroom is worse in these buses then the "banana" or " bendy" buses they have.

At $19 a ride, Skybus is becoming more and more a talking point for both local and tourists alike.

 

[Buzzard]

The thing is the PT option should be the skybus! It's ludicrous this gravy train has been given to a private company to milk.

Same as the airport train stations in SYD

 

[CaptJCool]

At least in Sydney one can take the PT Bus to green square station or walk there past QF world HQ

 

[travelislife]

I don't agree with the Sydney station surcharge either. I have got the normal PT buses in Sydney and they work pretty well. Have even got them for free before when getting on with just a $50 note and the driver waving me on!

 

[G00r]

I don't agree with the Sydney station surcharge either. I have got the normal PT buses in Sydney and they work pretty well. Have even got them for free before when getting on with just a $50 note and the driver waving me on!

I used to keep bags of 50 x $1 coins for passengers like you (most of whom used to do it often to get free rides).. Emptying the bag and taking out a couple of bux for the fare and handing out two handfuls of coins was a great deterrent

 

[travelislife]

Haha. I didn't do it on purpose! I legitimately didn't know how the system worked and thought there would be a machine I could buy a ticket from. I actually went to get off the bus but he kindly told me to jump on!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

About $50 for a cab straight to HSW is the way to go for us (as a family). Even the Skybus has the downside of what to do at Southern Cross......struggle with luggage onto a 96 tram and then walk across the bridge and down to HSW??? Bugger that.

On the plus side (I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but I'm sure it probably has), the tram free zone is superb. I cannot congratulate the forward thinkers enough for that (especially as we accidentally left our Myki's at home last trip). Now they just have to get a tram/train to the airport and ditch the Skybus fiasco, to truly become an undisputed welcoming city.

 

[whatmeworry]

About $50 for a cab straight to HSW is the way to go for us (as a family). Even the Skybus has the downside of what to do at Southern Cross......struggle with luggage onto a 96 tram and then walk across the bridge and down to HSW??? Bugger that.

On the plus side (I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but I'm sure it probably has), the tram free zone is superb. I cannot congratulate the forward thinkers enough for that (especially as we accidentally left our Myki's at home last trip). Now they just have to get a tram/train to the airport and ditch the Skybus fiasco, to truly become an undisputed welcoming city.

Just waiting for Malcolm Turnbull to cough up the cash for the direct train link.

 

[marki]

Just waiting for Malcolm Turnbull to cough up the cash for the direct train link.

Greatly needed then all screening can be done in the city including check in

 

[Melburnian1]

swanning_it, it does not operate 24 hours a day and may be very slow - there's no certainty that you will be the first to be dropped off - but SkyBus has an hotel transfer set of smallish (bigger than a Toyota Coaster though) buses to convey you to and from hotels in the Melbourne CBD and close by.

I gather that it's also fairly inflexible coming back to Southern Cross station. Despite your reservations about using the tram (not just 96 - there are three routes within a reasonable distance of Hilton South Wharf) many of us travel with a backpack or wheelie suitcase and do just that worldwide. I know you may find that hard to believe.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Greatly needed then all screening can be done in the city including check in

Let's not get too ahead of ourselves!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

swanning_it, it does not operate 24 hours a day and may be very slow - there's no certainty that you will be the first to be dropped off - but SkyBus has an hotel transfer set of smallish (bigger than a Toyota Coaster though) buses to convey you to and from hotels in the Melbourne CBD and close by.

I gather that it's also fairly inflexible coming back to Southern Cross station. Despite your reservations about using the tram (not just 96 - there are three routes within a reasonable distance of Hilton South Wharf) many of us travel with a backpack or wheelie suitcase and do just that worldwide. I know you may find that hard to believe.

Thanks for the tip, I didn't realise there were hotel drop-offs as well. Is it included in the same fare?

The reality is though, for two adults and 1 child (my usual entourage these days) the $25 saving (or thereabouts) of a return Skybus over a return taxi is just not worth the added hassle. On my recent trip, we had 4 suitcases (one additional bought in MEL to pack all the additional shoes bought at DFO :shock, 4 pieces of hand luggage and a stuffed sheep dog. Had we struggled down to the tram and then onto a Skybus with that load, it would have resembled Wirth Bros circus hitting town once again!

 

[straitman]

Thanks for the tip, I didn't realise there were hotel drop-offs as well. Is it included in the same fare?

The reality is though, for two adults and 1 child (my usual entourage these days) the $25 saving (or thereabouts) of a return Skybus over a return taxi is just not worth the added hassle. On my recent trip, we had 4 suitcases (one additional bought in MEL to pack all the additional shoes bought at DFO :shock, 4 pieces of hand luggage and a stuffed sheep dog. Had we struggled down to the tram and then onto a Skybus with that load, it would have resembled Wirth Bros circus hitting town once again!

There is no extra charge but the hours are quite limited.

I find it OK when heading to the hotel but they require a quite early pickup when heading to the airport.

SkyBus Free Hotel Transfer Service

 

[Buzzard]

DFO :shock, 4 pieces of hand luggage and a stuffed sheep dog.

If the sheep dog was stuffed why didn't you just bin it

 

[straitman]

If the sheep dog was stuffed why didn't you just bin it

Family pet :?:

 

[serfty]

There is no extra charge but the hours are quite limited....

They are not as bad as they used to be - in the early day it was basically a daylight service.

Current hours are:

• Monday to Friday06:00 – 22:30
• Saturday & Sunday06:00 – 19:00