SYD Named 5th Most Luxurious Airport in the world

[SYD]

It’s not cheaper outside though.
The vast majority of the luxury boutiques in these airports are brands that don’t do discounts.

Getting them duty free is a discount over buying the same stock at a boutique in the CBD.
Could always claim TRS etc but why bother if the item you want is available at the Airport?

Not to mention the lines downtown!

There is a spot in hell reserved for CDG especially T1. Absolute dump of an airport than needs a bulldozer put through the place

Just after they bulldoze ORY. One of the worst airports I’ve ever flown in and out of (particularly bad departing)….

 

[Forg]

I did read a reference to the fact that SIN scored very poorly on the rating of having "luxury" 4-5 * hotels in the airport vicinity (there is only 1). Basically results skew to airports with lots of hotels close by, hence LHR, CDG and even SYD rate highly.

Because the concept of "luxury" in an airport is a bit fluffy, maybe one of the definitions they used was "not having angry looking defence-force personnel walking around with automatic weapons in the terminal"?

 

[RSVKanga]

not having angry looking defence-force personnel walking around with automatic weapons in the terminal

Sure about that? I reckon CDG is notorious for “angry looking defence-force personnel walking around with automatic weapons in the terminal” - yet still made the “luxury” list.

 

[Forg]

Sure about that? I reckon CDG is notorious for “angry looking defence-force personnel walking around with automatic weapons in the terminal” - yet still made the “luxury” list.

Maybe at CDG they have baguettes over the muzzles, bread on the bullets makes being shot way more luxurious!

 

[jase05]

Maybe at CDG they have baguettes over the muzzles, bread on the bullets makes being shot way more luxurious!

Maybe it’s the designer Chanel gun holsters or diamond studded cuffs

 

[Forg]

Maybe it’s the designer Chanel gun holsters or diamond studded cuffs

Ooooh, kinky cop services for F pax at CDG!

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

Sure about that? I reckon CDG is notorious for “angry looking defence-force personnel walking around with automatic weapons in the terminal” - yet still made the “luxury” list.

To be fair I've seen a lot of this in T1 at Melbourne lately as well...

 

[WilsonM]

Because the concept of "luxury" in an airport is a bit fluffy, maybe one of the definitions they used was "not having angry looking defence-force personnel walking around with automatic weapons in the terminal"?

I've also seen AFP patrolling through SYD, although I don't think they necessarily looked angry.

 

[p--and--t]

Because the concept of "luxury" in an airport is a bit fluffy, maybe one of the definitions they used was "not having angry looking defence-force personnel walking around with automatic weapons in the terminal"?

You haven't been to Zambia-Livingstone

 

[RSVKanga]

To be fair I've seen a lot of this in T1 at Melbourne lately as well..

The ADF patrols MEL T1? I think you mean AFP

 

[henrus]

The ADF patrols MEL T1? I think you mean AFP

In the people's republic of Victoria, anything is possible.

 

[fly2earth]

on the other hand the skyteam lounge sucks. sitll beats the qantas J lounge by a mile in terms of food options.

 

[fly2earth]

Except for a few isolated spots in SYD or LHR, they are far from luxury. E.g. the check-in area & security in SYD T1 is mediocre at best in visual please or functionality. LHR T3 transit security is awful from 'being a pleasant' experience viewpoint (visual please, feel of being in a good place). To me 'luxury' includes also the feel factor of the place, item or situation.

Sure, airports are pushing these retail luxury brands to the terminals. I do like the new outlook of the SYD T1 central area but that lasts for 1 minute only when walking through. Then it's the dullness of a rather bland terminal, again (unless you have access to a decent lounge).

Syd is definitely the one of the most luxurious airports cos I spend 90% of my time waiting outside the LV Prada section waiting for my plane...while getting confused/annoyed looks from the men in black staring from the other side of the window

 

[fly2earth]

~20yrs ago stuff like digital cameras & USB sticks were heaps cheaper in SIN airport than in cheap joints/stands in Sydney or duty-free. ~10yrs ago that was no longer true …

20 years ago in the HK airport they were selling "cheap soots!" "cheap soots!" and I grabbed one and asked "how cheap?" The only response I got was "cheap soots!" I then grabbed the cheap soots without paying cos I was at that time being chased by the underground mafia.

 

[henrus]

on the other hand the skyteam lounge sucks. sitll beats the qantas J lounge by a mile in terms of food options.

The Skyteam lounge is just an extension of the Plaza Premium lounge upstairs but branded as Skyteam with a tiny bit more food.

If I had to rate the lounges at Sydney T1 (noting the only one I haven't been to is SQ F). Curious to hear if others agree.

1. Qantas First Lounges (spa, great table service food and good views)
2. Singapore Airlines First Lounge (only one I haven't been to - basing this off numerous positive reviews/only other F lounge)
3. Emirates Lounge (best non first lounge in terms of food and drinks)
4. Singapore Airlines Business Lounge (good food selection plus a solid drinks selection)
5. The House (when the buffet is going they've got a good selections plus slightly better drinks then Air NZ)
6. Air New Zealand (almost put it at 5th as it's often got a solid food service prior to Air NZ flights)
7. SkyTeam (nicer than Qantas but only slightly due to more food and better newer space)
9. Qantas Business (needs a reno asap - need I say more - arrive at the wrong time and only hot food could be a soup)
8. Centurion (often really busy, food limited to a very average single main meal per entry and average drinks)
10. Plaza Premium (it's the old Amex space which is tiny, food is limited and average drinks)

 

[Forg]

Wow … the QF J lounge has plummeted since 2018, if the Skyteam lounge is now better than it! In 2018, Skyteam meant a red or a white (if you asked & waited), a VB, and maybe half a stale Jatz …

 

[jase05]

Wow … the QF J lounge has plummeted since 2018, if the Skyteam lounge is now better than it! In 2018, Skyteam meant a red or a white (if you asked & waited), a VB, and maybe half a stale Jatz …

New SkyTeam lounge opened a couple of years ago and IMO is a fair bit better than the QF J lounge. Food options aren’t the greatest but it’s a nice enough lounge

 

[clifford]

New SkyTeam lounge opened a couple of years ago and IMO is a fair bit better than the QF J lounge.

Can you please detail why you think that is?

Overall IMO the QF J lounge isn't that bad. I always give it a visit when flying ex SYD (after lunch in the F lounge), and sometimes don't return to F, if I can snag a nice window seat with power point.

I much prefer the self-service aspect to the variable waiter service in F.

But, YMMV.

 

[fly2earth]

The Skyteam lounge is just an extension of the Plaza Premium lounge upstairs but branded as Skyteam with a tiny bit more food.

If I had to rate the lounges at Sydney T1 (noting the only one I haven't been to is SQ F). Curious to hear if others agree.

1. Qantas First Lounges (spa, great table service food and good views)
2. Singapore Airlines First Lounge (only one I haven't been to - basing this off numerous positive reviews/only other F lounge)
3. Emirates Lounge (best non first lounge in terms of food and drinks)
4. Singapore Airlines Business Lounge (good food selection plus a solid drinks selection)
5. The House (when the buffet is going they've got a good selections plus slightly better drinks then Air NZ)
6. Air New Zealand (almost put it at 5th as it's often got a solid food service prior to Air NZ flights)
7. SkyTeam (nicer than Qantas but only slightly due to more food and better newer space)
9. Qantas Business (needs a reno asap - need I say more - arrive at the wrong time and only hot food could be a soup)
8. Centurion (often really busy, food limited to a very average single main meal per entry and average drinks)
10. Plaza Premium (it's the old Amex space which is tiny, food is limited and average drinks)

I agree that you agree that I agree that SkyTeam lounge sucks and beats the Qantas J lounge by a bit margin cos they have noodles also instead of 24/7 curry stew (glad that you also agree!) although it definitely puts Australia's national carrier to shame (I feel I was in the domestic lounge cos all they serve is curry or variations of curry which I can easily make myself at home). Emirates J lounge on the other hand felt as if it belongs to first class (at the same level as HK's Premium Plus lounge) easily justifiable that they charge $200 for entrance fees although being the cheapass that I am would rather upgrade and pay the $400 difference for business class to NZ so that I can have complimentary access to their lounge for free. What a steal!

 

[fly2earth]

On the other hand the SQ lounge in HK sucks (given the alternative is The Pier and Plaza Premium Plus). Only time in aviation history has SQ provided a substandard service (other than the time they charged me a $400 for being 3 minutes late to check in and marked me as no show because a cranky lady was arguing in the front and given it was the COVID era I was trying to social distance and a new strain has just started to spread around the world). Mind you this is COVID era so the airport was practically empty and the check in counters have more of a leeway on whether to check in passengers or not (in fact many were allowed to check in late I was told especially if they have important reasons to do so). Shame on you SQ!