Sydney Airport- A National Disgrace

pauly7 said:
Death match - Melbourne T4/3 (really just one now) v Sydney T2.

Both awful in very different ways.
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Completely disagree, SYD T2 is far inferior.

Check in - MEL
Gate areas - MEL
VA Lounge - MEL
Security - MEL (when is SYD going to upgrade the machines at T2 so you don't have to take all your laptops etc out...)
Shops - MEL
Food - Tie
Transport - Mixed bag, PT SYD, taxis/cars MEL
Transit to/from intl - MEL

Overall I much prefer T3/4...
 
So, well...
What do you know.
Lots of flights from and to SYD have been cancelled today, due to high winds.
Maybe moving to GSW (Greater Sydney Western Airport) is a good thing, as its away from the coast.
With regards to SYD and MEL airports, its always the weather (wind).
With regards to BNE, its the weather (thunderstorms).
===
Yes, since they combo (combined) MEL T3 and T4, its a horrid zoo.
You need to go through it once.
Dom sec screening, even if its the new fangled system where you don't have to take phones/laptops out, of your HLO), because of the sheer number of people being scanned, it can take a lot longer than before.
Prior to the mix T3 (right hand side near the VA lounge) was just a bottle neck system of flow in, then there was the other sec screening point, more towards T4, but still in T3 down the far end.
At least then, fewer people in each side, so 3 screening points now become 1.
On the inside of the combined T3 and T4, its a Westfield foodcourt crowded wow sort of place, lots of people, all croweded together.
Yeech.
Profitable for the airport and food concession holders, and vendo owners, but not good for time short travellers.
Need to factor in more time to pass dom sec screening too.
 
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Yeah I wouldn't like to have been landing at SYD in the sort of gusts that were going-on this morning!
I assume it's gusts that're the issue, a consistent side-wind wouldn't faze a pilot with enough experience to be let loose in a wide-body passenger jet?

I'll bet everyone pooh-poohing MEL is eating humble pie now!!
 
Forg said:
^ Yeah but having the better airport in a place you're never going makes no sense.
I mean who's ever going to Melbourne?!
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Me, for one. Originating at HBA, I have a choice or whatever airport I fly out of Int’l and then the ones I arrive back to and then transit onto HBA.

Given that compulsory choice, I avoid SYD like the plague. Depending on airline, Adelaide is my first choice, Melbourne my second and then Sydney if I really really can’t avoid it.

Terminal 4 at Melbourne is an abomination but fortunately I’ve never had to use it, even frequently flying Virgin. Perhaps some people get lost 🙂. Have never had to go there except to check it out soon after it was opened.
 
Flying (arr) into MEL T3 with VAd is not that bad.
Its more an onerous time taking waster, if you have to dep (flying out of) from MEL T3/T4.
Arr into MEL T2 is very good, in that you could walk to T1, which is better, might be more expensive flying QFd, but the airport experience in T1 is better than the "new" fangled combo T3/T4.
MEL T1 dom sec screening, is still that bottleneck system, so you have got about 4 lanes.
With MEL T4, tho you have more sec screening points, its the sheer number of people going through, that takes up the time.
ADL is great, but of course, no QFi flights, but to my lovely NZ, at least I have AirNZ several days a week.
ADL also easy to use, very compact airport, only a small number of DF stores too, (duty free).
 
Forg said:
Yeah I wouldn't like to have been landing at SYD in the sort of gusts that were going-on this morning!
I assume it's gusts that're the issue, a consistent side-wind wouldn't faze a pilot with enough experience to be let loose in a wide-body passenger jet?

I'll bet everyone pooh-poohing MEL is eating humble pie now!!
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OT, but arrived on QF8 this morning around 6:10 (possibly before stronger gusts) but we hit the tarmac at an awkward angle and quite a wobble as the second set of wheels hit the ground!
 
AustraliaPoochie said:
Lots of flights from and to SYD have been cancelled today, due to high winds.
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Indeed. Looking at SYD domestic departures, so far today 30 Qantas flights have been cancelled, 20 Virgin, 12 Jetstar, 4 Rex and 1 Pelican. Not a fun day for all involved.
AustraliaPoochie said:
With MEL T4, tho you have more sec screening points, its the sheer number of people going through, that takes up the time.
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I have to disagree. I find the new set up far more efficient. Not taking things out of bags a plus. Biggest benefit: lounge being airside. Usually it only takes me 7-10 minutes from kerbside to lounge, even with a quick stop at the VA check-in kiosks.

When it’s relatively busy, the lines are usually fast moving, but at most times they aren’t long at all. Whilst I think it should be permanent out of principle, I can understand why the VA Priority lane is only used during the morning peak. At other times, there is hardly a queue at all and you’d probably be quicker going through the normal lane anyway.
 
1,000 pardons for posting this here as it is a SYD thread but plenty references to MEL so guess it’s ok - I am staggered at all the negative posts by so many ‘sooky-sooky la-las’ re MEL.

All 4 Terminals under 1 roof - so there’s no train to MEL - that’s not MEL’s fault that’s the fault of successive useless gutless State Governments.

So you might have a bit of a trek T to T - just take a look down and see your gut might just benefit from that - I know mine does - ample F & B outlets in all Ts if you don’t have Lounge access - I am staggered by all the negative comments - maybe plenty of you need more going on in your lives so you actually discover something worth whinging about.

FTR I breezed through MEL last night for intl dep - just a pleasant to use a well designed smooth functioning airport - and I get to do it again in 2 weeks - I just cannot wait 👍
 
Cruiser Elite said:
1,000 pardons for posting this here as it is a SYD thread but plenty references to MEL so guess it’s ok - I am staggered at all the negative posts by so many ‘sooky-sooky la-las’ re MEL.
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Yeh agree, not sure what the hate over T4 is either - perhaps it doesn't feel that much like older style terminals, but if very much looks and feels like a typical European shopping centre cough airport terminal. If MEL is managing its real estate and costs such that it can afford to induce more carriers - such as Bonza - and generate more competition then that's a good thing.

Probably the biggest cause for complaint is international arrivals s##tshow around 8pm - both immigration (for passport holders who can't use smartgate) and customs/quarantine can be a complete mess but there's various reasons for that, not just the airport at fault.
 
Love MEL as my home airport, except international arrivals - this may not be the fault of the airport operator but the line to get out at times snakes around the baggage carousels and is an embarrassment for visitors - border force have 2 (sometimes 3) officers manually checking all declarations, for what could be 1000+ passengers if 3 or 4 planes have landed? No where else in the world have I seen this - why not have a green lane with no manual check, and the odd random check? This would match what happens around the world and make an actual 'flow' of people rather than the painful lining up...
 
Don’t you guys have a stock of express ‘ARRIVAL’ cards? I have like 50 I just kept - hell I have a JETSTAR one in my ticket wallet right now ready for return to MEL on Sat 14th - they get you straight out if a long line
 
You mean IPC (incoming pax card), OR you mean express path "arrival" cards.
I think those "premium" arrival cards are a meh these, what with Smartgate, and having HLO and nothing to declare.
By you waving around the "express" arrival card, you could only be drawing more attention to yourself, they might pick on you to ask you down a line to desk, where they might swab all your wordly possessions.
Sometimes, its best just to toe the line, and not be too wow "look at me"/DYKWIA.
They might ask you in their chat, "why are you in such a hurry".
===
CorporateFlyerMEL said:
Love MEL as my home airport, except international arrivals - this may not be the fault of the airport operator but the line to get out at times snakes around the baggage carousels and is an embarrassment for visitors - border force have 2 (sometimes 3) officers manually checking all declarations, for what could be 1000+ passengers if 3 or 4 planes have landed? No where else in the world have I seen this - why not have a green lane with no manual check, and the odd random check? This would match what happens around the world and make an actual 'flow' of people rather than the painful lining up...
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I think its covering all their bases by not having a specific green lane for (nothing to declare) at MEL T2.
They want to peruse all of what is written, before you are pointed with a nod or a grunt, that line/lane.
In the end, they still have to collect the IPC off you, and also the smartgate receipt, so they want to peruse it then.
If they have a green lane/line with nothing to declare, where do they collect the IPC and smartgate receipt off you then.
Taking AKL as an example, they xray all incoming bags, both HLO and plane hold, do you like it that way?
I think MEL T2 is still ok, better than BNE/SYD for d - in transfers/transits.
MEL T3/T4, I won't mention my abhoration for it again.
 
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CorporateFlyerMEL said:
Love MEL as my home airport, except international arrivals - this may not be the fault of the airport operator but the line to get out at times snakes around the baggage carousels and is an embarrassment for visitors - border force have 2 (sometimes 3) officers manually checking all declarations, for what could be 1000+ passengers if 3 or 4 planes have landed? No where else in the world have I seen this - why not have a green lane with no manual check, and the odd random check? This would match what happens around the world and make an actual 'flow' of people rather than the painful lining up...
Click to expand...
I think its covering all their bases by now having a specific green lane for nothing to declare.
They want to peruse all of what is written, before you are pointed with a nod or a grunt, that line/lane.
In the end, they still have to collect the IPC off you, and also the smartgate receipt, so they want to peruse it then.
If they have a green lane/line with nothing to declare, where do they collect the IPC and smartgate receipt off you then.
Taking AKL as an example, they xray all incoming bags, both HLO and plane hold, do you like it that way?
I think MEL T2 is still ok, better than BNE/SYD for d - in transfers/transits.
MEL T3/T4, I won't mention my abhoration for it again.
 
Cruiser Elite said:
Don’t you guys have a stock of express ‘ARRIVAL’ cards? I have like 50 I just kept - hell I have a JETSTAR one in my ticket wallet right now ready for return to MEL on Sat 14th - they get you straight out if a long line
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I'm just not match fit. 🤣 I keep on forgetting to move them from my "stash" to my travel wallet like I used pre-2020. Unfortunately SQ do not seem to hand them out any more for arrivals at least in economy (even for us w@@#ker Solitaire/PPS types), do they hand them out still for F pax?
 
dajop said:
I'm just not match fit. 🤣 I keep on forgetting to move them from my "stash" to my travel wallet like I used pre-2020. Unfortunately SQ do not seem to hand them out any more for arrivals at least in economy (even for us w@@#ker Solitaire/PPS types), do they hand them out still for F pax?
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MEL/SYD is not on the list for/of express immi for incoming pax in F/Suites/J, neither for incoming sec screening.
Outgoing, yes, you get premium int sec screening as an outgoing pax.
 

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