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

[SYD]

Used this joke of a service again last night and instantly regretted. First bus full, huge queue of people, next bus 15 minutes away, that one was full too and turning people away. Cramped, uncomfortable and I think in future I should pick people out of the skybus queue and offer to pool UberX

F1 weekend! I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than head to MEL for this weekend, AFL Grand Final and Melbourne Cup. Probably ok for Moomba…

But yes, picking up at QF T1 can be hit and miss at the best of times. Spencer St to the airport is usually ok.

 

[RB001]

Trick is to head down to T4 Skybus stop although It is a long way from T1.

This has been my routine for a while now - good to stretch the legs, and can be done all undercover in Melbourne's variable weather.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

This has been my routine for a while now - good to stretch the legs, and can be done all undercover in Melbourne's variable weather.

May as well just keep walking and get the 901 bus to Broadmeadows. Skybus don't deserve the money

 

[serfty]

May as well just keep walking and get the 901 bus to Broadmeadows. Skybus don't deserve the money

I'll do the 901 bus when time and timing permits. (I'm not going through Broady when it's dark.)

 

[dajop]

I'll do the 901 bus when time and timing permits. (I'm not going through Broady when it's dark.)

Went through there the other day around 9:30pm. Didn’t feel too dodgy but understand the point. A few police hanging around.

In any event the 901 is more erratic after dark. Every 15 mins until 20:50 then 21:20 then 22:20 then every 30mins. The one hour gap makes the service less attractive after dark anyway.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Went through there the other day around 9:30pm. Didn’t feel too dodgy but understand the point. A few police hanging around.

In any event the 901 is more erratic after dark. Every 15 mins until 20:50 then 21:20 then 22:20 then every 30mins. The one hour gap makes the service less attractive after dark anyway.

There are PSO's there every evening.

I stepped off skybus Friday at Southern Cross to be greeted immediately by a screaming drug affected woman abusing everyone as they got off. Welcome to Melbourne

 

[DC3]

I occasionally visit Melbourne and always get a rental vehicle for convenience. Reading some of these posts, I think that I will never catch the bus to/from the airport.

 

[XWu]

Slightly off topic but I am amazed the amount of advice offering alternative to skybus for the MEL to CBD 25km trip, at about $25 one way (which I agree is too much, although Sydney’s main public access to the airport by train has also that ridiculous station levy) but I just found out the most outrageous charges for getting out of a major airport albeit regional one is at CNS, with shuttle bus at $22+, taxi at $25+ and Uber being played by some drivers to force a price surge, when the CBD is just 7km away. The SunBus public route which used to get into the airport is now no longer servicing the pax.

So having a mini existential crisis about how I can live with myself paying $22 for a very short trip on a bus out of CNS, when I also whinge so much about skybus rates!

 

[PERLHR]

I do chuckle sometimes in the UK where for example flights between Gatwick and Spain are often cheaper for a return journey than 3 days car parking. Never mind the cost of rail travel to and from LGW.

I guess no matter where you are...airport charges, getting to and from are far in excess of what is reasonable but what can you do.....there are only so many mates you ask for pick up and drop.off then they get "moody" cause they have not been asked on the trip...

 

[SYD]

Never mind the cost of rail travel to and from LGW.

Precovid, the regular Southern trains calling at LGW were significantly cheaper than the GEX.

Alas, the fares were enhanced but still a little cheaper than the GEX.

However, you can now use your Oyster Card or contactless payment card on either and get charged the relevant fare.

 

[clifford]

Precovid, the regular Southern trains calling at LGW were significantly cheaper than the GEX.

Alas, the fares were enhanced but still a little cheaper than the GEX.

However, you can now use your Oyster Card or contactless payment card on either and get charged the relevant fare.

The "secret" is to buy a ticket to East Croydon (possibly using your Oyster card) and then another to wherever you are going. It'll (usually) save you money, and you'll lose about 20 minutes in the process. If you're going to Heathrow, you can just jump onto the SL7 bus outside East Croydon (ECR) station and you will be taken directly to LHR for GBP 1.75. But, if you're in an extreme hurry in mightn't work out. But why would you be in an extreme hurry in the first place?

 

[PERLHR]

The "secret" is to buy a ticket to East Croydon (possibly using your Oyster card) and then another to wherever you are going. It'll (usually) save you money, and you'll lose about 20 minutes in the process. If you're going to Heathrow, you can just jump onto the SL7 bus outside East Croydon (ECR) station and you will be taken directly to LHR for GBP 1.75. But, if you're in an extreme hurry in mightn't work out. But why would you be in an extreme hurry in the first place?

Not forgetting that if you book in advance you can get and do often, Heathrow express to Paddington in relative comfort for as little as Five pounds! Amazing really.

 

[dajop]

The "secret" is to buy a ticket to East Croydon (possibly using your Oyster card) and then another to wherever you are going. It'll (usually) save you money, and you'll lose about 20 minutes in the process.

Not necessarily (losing 20 mins that is.). We did this trick when travelling to Earls Court (West Brompton on overground was closest to the hotel), and quickest way was changing at East Croydon. Didn’t take barely a minute to tap off and tap on with a different card, which meant the same train as if we hadn’t done so.

Even more Central last time I was going from LGW to Tottenham Court Road the quickest at the specific time I reached the station involved changing at East Croydon. Although I was on Eurail pass so didn’t have to worry about tickets I still could have done this without missing the connection.

 

[jrfsp]

Not forgetting that if you book in advance you can get and do often, Heathrow express to Paddington in relative comfort for as little as Five pounds! Amazing really.

I think it’s 10 now