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

[docjames]

Has anyone used the AVV skybus yet?

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Has anyone used the AVV skybus yet?

Yes, a couple of months ago.

 

[Melburnian1]

Yes, a couple of months ago.

How many were on it? Were you travelling from Southern Cross railway station (bus bays) or from Avalon Airport? How long did you have to connect to the other mode?

I assume at Avalon if JunkStar is late in from ADL, HBA, OOL or SYD the bus waits. Is this correct?

 

[Strategic Aviation]

How many were on it? Were you travelling from Southern Cross railway station (bus bays) or from Avalon Airport? How long did you have to connect to the other mode?

From memory it (the AVV-Southern Cross service) was about half full. It took around 45 minutes.

I assume at Avalon if JunkStar is late in from ADL, HBA, OOL or SYD the bus waits. Is this correct?

The Avalon City Express timetable says "Our schedule meets every major flight arriving and departing Avalon Airport." and individual flight numbers are listed. Presumably they would wait for a late aircraft, within the constraints of the timetable dependencies.

My flight landed around 15 minutes early, presumably due to the complete absence of congestion in AVV.

 

[QF WP]

I received an email from Skybus and deleted it as have no plans to go to MEL until Feb, just remembered it had a discount code so will go and recover it...

 

[QF WP]

Here they are:

 

[QF WP]

Promo code time:

We’re celebrating the festive season at SkyBus and to help you on your Christmas journey we’re offering an additional 15% off our already reduced online fares!

Simply enter the promo code below when buying any Melbourne City Express or Avalon City Express fare online.

Promo code: CHRISTMAS15

Promo code expires 31 December 2017 at 11:59pm (AEDT).

SkyBus tickets are valid for three months from the date of purchase so you can buy now to take advantage of this offer and use later when you’re ready to travel.

 

[ethernet]

This whole public transport thing pis**s me off. It is just a greedy rip at peoples wallets - tourists are fair game - although I am content with .sg KUL and BKK, except say after midnight. If you get in while trains and buss's are running and can plan.
I figure that if the transport is more than one hour of minimum wage - they have failed.
Judging from when I take the skybus in MEL they are doing bloody well - no increase is justified - it was already too high.

Facts:
1) The airport information desk will not tell you about public transport options - funny about that - especially in Australia - I don't observe this B/S in other countries, except eastern block ones who have a taxi mafia cartel.
2) Signs to public transport in the airport are sparse on non-existent as are static boards
3) Often hiring a car is cheaper if you do it a week in advance.
4) Alternate airport parking sometimes works out
5) Limo prices can be competitive at times

Thankfully smartphone apps and internet alternatives are eating a little. .CN and .VN private minibuses are also biting into the action. It also does not help putting a bus stop 500m + away from the main terminal. This is intentional sabotage of public transport.

I notice many foreign backpackers sorts armed with a mobile phone and some app- and choosing public transport, even 1st timers.
I like car rentals, although avoiding tolls is getting difficult. GPS units are cheap enough, especially secondhand.
I found .sg trains packed and slowish. Avoid JB on the weekends.
BKK city now has a permanent traffic jam. Good luck with that one.

 

[QF WP]

Time for a discount email:

Time for a discount email

 

[opusman]

A whole $3 off. That's 8.1%. Such generosity.

 

[QF WP]

Better something than nothing and (for me at least) better than catching a taxi, Uber or the 901 Bus to Broadmeadows and the train into Southern Cross (really must try that at some stage).

 

[serfty]

at least you get Velocity points ...

 

[QF WP]

This is true and a bonus @serfty - and they are valid for 3 months, so there's very chance I'll get to MEL within that timeframe.

 

[Kremmen]

Better something than nothing and (for me at least) better than catching a taxi, Uber or the 401 Bus to Broadmeadows and the train into Southern Cross (really must try that at some stage).

901 bus.
It usually meshes pretty well with the train timetable. Also the 901 stops next to the station now, instead of over the other side of the road. I often catch it, since I live in suburbia and have to pay for a train anyhow. If I was coming home from the airport now, PTV says it'd take 1:36 on 901/trains vs 1:17 using Skybus/train. Skybus costs 440% extra to save me 20% of the time. (or 395% extra with the Feb discount)

Of course, for visitors who are catching Skybus just to the CBD and using the free shuttle service, the speed and convenience value calculation may be very different.

 

[opusman]

When Skybus was 20 minutes it was worth the premium. Now it's just an expensive joke. Train+901 is competitive on time and wins hands down on price.

 

[docjames]

Not sure $3 is enough to entice me to buy 3 months in advance without travel booked.

If travelling within a month (confirmed) then i’d probably go for it.

 

[Must...Fly!]

When Skybus was 20 minutes it was worth the premium. Now it's just an expensive joke. Train+901 is competitive on time and wins hands down on price.

I haven't realised it taking appreciably longer (well apart from once when there was horrendous traffic)

I would like to use the 901 + Broadmeadows service more. But I live in Docklands, it's really hard to treat it as a realistic alternative given how close Skybus gets me.

 

[serfty]

I use 901 when I can as with my 365 day MyKi pass it is zero $ at the cost of 15-40 minutes.

However there no chance I will hang around Broady station waiting for bus/train after dark.

The PTV app really helps.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

When Skybus was 20 minutes it was worth the premium. Now it's just an expensive joke. Train+901 is competitive on time and wins hands down on price.

I tend to agree that during periods of the day ( ie before 7am departing Southern Cross on a weekday) where the journey takes approx 20 minutes, Skybus is worth paying a small premium for. Needless to say $19 each way is not the premium that the service is worth.

One day, we might get the direct train link to MEL.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Of course, for visitors who are catching Skybus just to the CBD and using the free shuttle service, the speed and convenience value calculation may be very different.

It’s the connecting services which can really make the difference. The HK airport express isn’t necessarily ‘cheap’ either, but last time i was in hong kong during a huge trade fair I eventually managed to find a room in north point. The HK airport connecting bus service got me there for free and it was about a 20-25 minute journey. Huge saving on taking the express and taxi.