Sydney Airport- A National Disgrace

[justinbrett]

That wasn't made clear to the OP.

IME the T-bus is heavily plugged throughout the terminal, the QF transfer facility is the thing that's hard to find (if you don't know where to look).

I think even at the front door of the QF facility there is a sign directing people to the T-bus (as some pax won't be eligible)

In terms of catching a flight if you are tight for time, the train is obviously faster, but without a complete transcript of what was said, it's hard to know how this was spun. There is no commercial arrangement between the airlines/airport and the Airportlink, so not unsurprising it wasn't offered free. For the record I think Sydney Airport should do a deal with the trains for inter terminal transfers.

On QF's side, it's unclear why they just didn't operate their buses landside until the screening equipment was fixed. I guess we don't know how long it was down for - it might have only been 30 minutes. The fact pax where being offered the option of waiting rather than outright closing the facility, suggests it was a short time.

 

[RooFlyer]

The train is $6.65 but is not funded by Sydney Airport, as they provide the free T-bus to transfer between terminals.

There are many valid things to rant about when it comes to Sydney Airport, the train is not one of them.

Certainly agree with the second point. OTOH, according to AirportLink's web site it's $8.60 between airport stations and you pay it because they are a separate commercial entity to SYD's owners, and invested to build the line. I think they are pretty care-less about what SYD does for airline customers separately.

The biggest complaint I have about Sydney Airport is the weather, making arrival/departure so unreliable but unfortunately I can't blame the owners for that! But the domestic-international terminal separation comes a close second.

 

[justinbrett]

I agree with the second point. According to AirportLink's web site it's $8.60 between airport stations and you pay it because they are a separate commercial entity to SYD's owners, and invested to build the line. I think they are pretty care-less about what SYD does for airline customers.

The biggest complaint I have about Sydney Airport is the weather, making arrival/departure so unreliable but unfortunately I can't blame the owners for that! But the domestic-international terminal separation comes a close second.

It's $8.60 if you buy a paper ticket, but using your credit card it's $6.65 (same rate as opal).

 

[bussyboy]

Did OP fly Y? I'd have been angry too dealing with that after such a long flight.

 

[Cossie]

We got into Sydney international late one night and stayed at Rydges. Next morning we tried to get the external free bus to domestic as the bag drop and security for a domestic transfer that uses the airside bus was it’s usual zoo like state.
We were not allowed on the free external bus.
So, we caught the train and paid. not happy, but what can you do.

 

[SYD]

But the domestic-international terminal separation comes a close second.

I’d like to know who thought it was a good idea to have physical separation of Int and Dom terminals? MEL dodged a bullet, I assume SYD was legacy / geographical constraints but BNE, ADL and PER were just dumb. At least ADL fixed the error of their ways and PER is trying. WSY will only fix part of the problem in greater SYD….

 

[jase05]

I’d like to know who thought it was a good idea to have physical separation of Int and Dom terminals? MEL dodged a bullet, I assume SYD was legacy / geographical constraints but BNE, ADL and PER were just dumb. At least ADL fixed the error of their ways and PER is trying. WSY will only fix part of the problem in greater SYD….

I really like the ADL set up but we have so few international flights that we don’t need anything more.

 

[SYD]

I really like the ADL set up but we have so few international flights that we don’t need anything more.

The old ADL Int “terminal” was truly a disgrace. But the new one (and CBR) are very good models for smaller ports.

Oh, I should have included CNS I my earlier list. Why?

 

[jrfsp]

I’d like to know who thought it was a good idea to have physical separation of Int and Dom terminals? MEL dodged a bullet, I assume SYD was legacy / geographical constraints but BNE, ADL and PER were just dumb. At least ADL fixed the error of their ways and PER is trying. WSY will only fix part of the problem in greater SYD….

When PER T1(and ATC tower) were built in the 80s it was actually a good job it was built on the other side to the existing terminal, otherwise if built on the same side there wouldn't have been enough room for future expansion

BNE came around a decade later, not sure the reason for the location chosen. But it has allowed for expansion over time, which may not have been so easy if it was co located next to DOM

 

[randompunter]

We got into Sydney international late one night and stayed at Rydges. Next morning we tried to get the external free bus to domestic as the bag drop and security for a domestic transfer that uses the airside bus was it’s usual zoo like state.
We were not allowed on the free external bus.
So, we caught the train and paid. not happy, but what can you do.

I am curious how/why you were denied a ride on the T-bus? Seems wrong to me, we've always just hopped on with no questions asked.

 

[jrfsp]

Oh, I should have included CNS I my earlier list. Why?

Come on CNS transfer is a 5-minute walk and was never built with domestic transfer in mind.

The intl terminal was built on the idea of mass inbound Asian tourism, which now has dropped off and CNS is left with an oversized intl terminal for its needs.

 

[SYD]

Come on CNS transfer is a 5-minute walk and was never built with domestic transfer in mind.

The intl terminal was built on the idea of mass inbound Asian tourism, which now has dropped off and CNS is left with an oversized intl terminal for its needs.

Exactly. Lack of master planning. Something like ADL or CBR would serve CNS very well - especially for those who like a pre departure lounge.

 

[mrsterryn]

Why do people catch the train when the bus is all on the same level and right outside the respective doors ?

 

[jase05]

The old ADL Int “terminal” was truly a disgrace. But the new one (and CBR) are very good models for smaller ports.

Oh, I should have included CNS I my earlier list. Why?

I just wished they kept the ramp in use for departure drop offs.

 

[randompunter]

Come on CNS transfer is a 5-minute walk and was never built with domestic transfer in mind.

The intl terminal was built on the idea of mass inbound Asian tourism, which now has dropped off and CNS is left with an oversized intl terminal for its needs.

and no lounges since Covid or was that since CX left?? Departing CNS internationally is sad these days, I don't want to ride an SQ 737-8 for 6+ hours to SIN or JQ to NRT/KIX. Although the inner AVGeek in me might consider a PX F70 to POM then a 767 to HKG

Edit - forgot the terrible VA HND option, no thank you.

 

[jrfsp]

Exactly. Lack of master planning. Something like ADL or CBR would serve CNS very well - especially for those who like a pre departure lounge.

Sure it would now - not in the 1990s /2000s when CNS was a lot busier seeing 747s from CX, QF A330s to SIN, Australian airlines 767 base etc

 

[Quickstatus]

So Sing Govt should built Changi in a foreign country

Would be great if Changi was replicated in SYD
Then we can have a 24/7 no curfew airport

Well if they make all available resources apparent

Its not as though there are some transport resources which are underutilised.

Major airports are always going to be congested. A non congested airport usually comes its own set of issues.
Changi is expanding... so much for it being in the wrong place...
My son just returned from Scandia. KKN airport only has 2 flights going in and out. No congestion there, but....

 

[luckypierre]

The old ADL Int “terminal” was truly a disgrace. But the new one (and CBR) are very good models for smaller ports.

Oh, I should have included CNS I my earlier list. Why?

Yes the original ADL International tin shed terminal was a shocker, from memory Townsville got the identical (or near identical) terminal building as well. ADL has improved markedly since leasing out the airport early 90 s

 

[Quickstatus]

I’d like to know who thought it was a good idea to have physical separation of Int and Dom terminals?

I think its was because the existing 2 runways atthe time (1960s) crossing one another was one issue. effectively dividing the airport into 4 quadrants. That meant an expansion could only be in one of 2 places - NE or NW
They put it NW as there was more land there

I think the expansion of T3 to include a Int terminal for QF north of T3 has always been in the minds of QF.
Joyce has made such a proposal but the airport is not keen to entrench a dominant player.

 

[justinbrett]

BNE came around a decade later, not sure the reason for the location chosen. But it has allowed for expansion over time, which may not have been so easy if it was co located next to DOM

Because the current international terminal is in the footprint of the old Eagle Farm airport. They built the domestic first (in time for Expo) and the international terminal came later, in the mid 90s.

The current freight terminal is effectively the old airport, one of the taxiways is the old runway.

I'd suggest the reason for the split was to get it done in time for Expo - they only made it by 6 weeks or so.

Brisbane's terminals are pretty close together, there's only an 800m gap between the two aprons. It is actually walkable, about 1.9Km from the VA part of the domestic terminal to the international.

Of course now, they are planning for T3 which will go in between the runways.