Arriving into MEL yesterday on 237 no gates available so we had remote deplaning - it took ground staff 25mins to position the stairs to allow door opening - then ALL pax crammed onto 1 bus to transfer to terminal - by the time last couple wheelchair pax were assisted downstairs bus was bursting at seams - pax had to de-bus and clear seats to allow wheelchair pax onboard then bus to terminal.
Terminal was just a zoo inside - queues 20-30 deep waiting for immig ticket terminals - straight through gates once ticket in hand.
By this time luggage was on carousel together with another Chinese flight so carousel chockers but all luggage there due to delay deplaning /. immig etc. Then the lines trying exit - 100mts long -
LUCKILY I still always carry an Express Path card from yesteryear which got me through in mins.
I called SQ MEL Station Mgmt this morn to make sure they had full story - they said they knew there was a short delay in stairs positioning but no idea it was 25mins - but they do now. MEL is currently so busy mid morn to midday lack of gate availability is common on most days for whichever carriers. SQ are not handing out Express Path Cards per se to pax but they have now asked SIN and other outstations to start printing
EXPRESS @ MEL on bottom right of your BP - see below.
I don't blame SQ for the delays as is totally fault of MEL Mgmt - but still there seemed to be a distinct scarcity of SQ staffed advising / directing / assisting pax once on ground.
*TIP* - If you are still in possession of Express Path cards from the good ol' days then tuck one in your ticket wallet just in case.
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