SkyBus gone up again [Up to $24.60 one way]

[simmomelb]

Currently $18.71 one way on Agoda or $31.33 for a return.
The only place I buy them

https://www.agoda.com/en-au/activities/detail?activityId=1041853&cid=1915008&tag=80db9259-194d-4315-91f9-1580c019e379&msclkid=167b14f6ecd816658f127371c984e325&cityId=10372#activity-nav-tabs-panel-1

If travelling as a party of 2 or more, I just grab Didi which works out similar (2 pax) or cheaper (3 pax) to the CBD, and direct to door.

 

[Sprucegoose]

and to add insult to injury was forced to accept the surge pricing with uber…which was >$100

When you see that, go out and come back in. Do it at least five times. Nine times out of ten, it should come down.

 

[Melburnian1]

At these prices the least they can do is make it a 24 hour service.

Yes, the 0100 to 0400 hours gap is odd when MEL boasts it's a 'curfew free' airport, and if travelling internationally, most of us like to turn up at check-in counters three hours prior. If my international flight is at 0700, I don't want to be forced to arrive at the airport at 0130 hours.

 

[jpp42]

if travelling internationally, most of us like to turn up at check-in counters three hours prior.

Three hours is the earliest you can check-in, I find when I arrive that early I'm just in a huge queue. Arriving 2 hours before departure is more the sweet spot. Melbourne doesn't have long immigration or security queues to worry about most times. The earliest Skybus arrival at ~4:30am should be fine for a 7am departure. I do agree there are some flights in the 5-6am departure timeframe where you are going to have some trouble using Skybus.

The main reason that Skybus wouldn't be popular at those wee hours is that there's no public transport running from Southern Cross for the passengers to connect to/from. While it might suit a few tourists departing from city hotels in walking distance, there's no way they'll be filling those buses. People who unfortunately booked those ungodly early flights, will majority be getting a drop-off or taxi anyway for that reason.

 

[elanshin]

Yes, the 0100 to 0400 hours gap is odd when MEL boasts it's a 'curfew free' airport, and if travelling internationally, most of us like to turn up at check-in counters three hours prior. If my international flight is at 0700, I don't want to be forced to arrive at the airport at 0130 hours.

There are quite a few 24h Int'l airports that have a transport black hole overnight. SIN and HND are just some major ones near us.

This is why i have stayed at airports (including MEL) overnight.

 

[Sprucegoose]

There are quite a few 24h Int'l airports that have a transport black hole overnight. SIN and HND are just some major ones near us.

This is why i have stayed at airports (including MEL) overnight.

The additional costs are absorbed when you factor in the taxi/Uber and the time commuting to city accommodation. I recently stayed at the Crowne Plaza in SIN and thought their set-up was nearly flawless.

 

[aikman]

The main reason that Skybus wouldn't be popular at those wee hours is that there's no public transport running from Southern Cross for the passengers to connect to/from

My flight was due to arrive on Saturday 12.10am. Trains run 24 hours on weekends so I would have been able to connect to my suburban destination. However I just couldn't guarantee that I'd be out of customs by 1am so I wasn't able rely on Skybus.

 

[PERLHR]

Currently $18.71 one way on Agoda or $31.33 for a return.
The only place I buy them

https://www.agoda.com/en-au/activities/detail?activityId=1041853&cid=1915008&tag=80db9259-194d-4315-91f9-1580c019e379&msclkid=167b14f6ecd816658f127371c984e325&cityId=10372#activity-nav-tabs-panel-1

If travelling as a party of 2 or more, I just grab Didi which works out similar (2 pax) or cheaper (3 pax) to the CBD, and direct to door.

Is this still valid? When I tried via the link for March it said not available. Have I tried to early?

 

[Harrison_133]

Not price related, but the Skybus is now dropping off in front of T4 instead of T3.

 

[serfty]

Not price related, but the Skybus is now dropping off in front of T4 instead of T3.

I suspect it is temporary given the works going on in front of t3.

 

[RB001]

I suspect it is temporary given the works going on in front of t3.

Indeed.

 

[SYD]

Indeed.
View attachment 432434

It was T3 last week (for T2/3/4) but yep, there’s a LOT of works going on outside T3/T2.

 

[Rich]

I never knew about the DFO bus. It's not exactly frequent, but it's nice to keep in the back of my mind.

 

[simmomelb]

Keep in mind if you are a group of 2 or more and travelling to the CBD (or near CBD) as your last stop, it may be cheaper to get a Didi than Sky Bus, and direct to door.

I can usually travel from CBD or South Yarra - Tullamarine for ~$50 each way, which for 2 people or more is cheaper than Sly Bus + Myki and direct to the final destination.

 

[SYD]

Keep in mind if you are a group of 2 or more and travelling to the CBD (or near CBD) as your last stop, it may be cheaper to get a Didi than Sky Bus, and direct to door.

I can usually travel from CBD or South Yarra - Tullamarine for ~$50 each way, which for 2 people or more is cheaper than Sly Bus + Myki and direct to the final destination.

I did that comparison a couple of weeks ago. Already bought return SB with NRMA discount.

DiDi was in the range of $70 - $90 to/from (with promo discount and not necessarily peak times). I was really hoping it would be cheaper but, yes I’m sure there are times when it is.

 

[simmomelb]

I did that comparison a couple of weeks ago. Already bought return SB with NRMA discount.

DiDi was in the range of $70 - $90 to/from (with promo discount and not necessarily peak times). I was really hoping it would be cheaper but, yes I’m sure there are times when it is.

I usually get Didi from South Yarra, on the opposite side of the city (even further) for $50 - $55 to Tullamarine (even had it down to $39 on one occasion).

Just like Uber though, you never know, with surge pricing, until the time.

Don't forget to scroll down to 'Travel' for better long-distance pricing, which is never at the top of the options.

I mean, look what it is right now, at 4:10 pm...

 

[SYD]

I usually get Didi from South Yarra, on the opposite side of the city (even further) for $50 - $55 to Tullamarine (even had it down to $39 on one occasion).

Just like Uber though, you never know, with surge pricing, until the time.

Don't forget to scroll down to 'Travel' for better long-distance pricing, which is never at the top of the options.

I mean, look what it is right now, at 4:10 pm...

Yeah, I routinely get Didi to/from home and SYD now. Usually significantly cheaper than Uber and cheaper than the train (which is doable but a bit of PITA).

Like I said, I was hoping (even expecting) it to be better but not to be that trip. If we were regularly doing MEL runs, we might have a SB one way up our sleeve and take rideshare if better value.

 

[Balorfi]

With regard to Hobart, we live 20 mins the other side of the airport. There is a local bus which connects the Southern Beaches area, Sorell and Midway Point to Hobart city. All pass the airport turn off, but none stop there. The nearest stop is 2kms further down the road at the Cambridge Park/Kennedy Drive bus stops. No taxis, even though they are supposed to, will make a bypass to pick you up from Cambridge, because "they are always too busy". In reality, the drivers would prefer the more lucrative fares directly to and from the airport from Hobart or further afield. We tried to get taxis a few times (we could park privately in Kennedy Drive), but nearly missed our plane twice. We gave up on that idea.
I've written to the relevant Government department about having that local bus, stop at the airport, but have been fobbed off with lame excuses about why it isn't done. (One of the excuses was that no-one has ever asked for it to stop there.) That bus, apart from during the peak hour, is never full.

 

[travelislife]

With regard to Hobart, we live 20 mins the other side of the airport. There is a local bus which connects the Southern Beaches area, Sorell and Midway Point to Hobart city. All pass the airport turn off, but none stop there. The nearest stop is 2kms further down the road at the Cambridge Park/Kennedy Drive bus stops. No taxis, even though they are supposed to, will make a bypass to pick you up from Cambridge, because "they are always too busy". In reality, the drivers would prefer the more lucrative fares directly to and from the airport from Hobart or further afield. We tried to get taxis a few times (we could park privately in Kennedy Drive), but nearly missed our plane twice. We gave up on that idea.
I've written to the relevant Government department about having that local bus, stop at the airport, but have been fobbed off with lame excuses about why it isn't done. (One of the excuses was that no-one has ever asked for it to stop there.) That bus, apart from during the peak hour, is never full.

Australia is poorly served on this stuff. In Europe heaps of local buses and routes stop in at the airport. It's the downside of privatised airports, as guarantee the airport will charge the government a fee to drop passengers off there.

 

[PERLHR]

Competition is the key but say at MEL point to point with bags is really what people want. I think Skybus works reasonably well. Quickish and convenient but I see it's prices have risen again. Now a competitive company doing the same run would make a big difference.