What travellers really want at airports

[Awesom Andy]

Get WP and use an express card. It always works perfectly then!

Although don't try the same in SYD, since the express line can be just as long as the normal line sometimes.

 

[mel-world]

Get WP and use an express card. It always works perfectly then!

Oh, No it does not.

On a recent Saturday morning in MEL, it was quicker to go through the normal queue than the so called 'express lanes'.
With so many crew, APEC Card, other various IDs and express card holders and with only two agents on the desks, the wait was longer than ever.
We do need the Smartgates as per arrivals - that works fine.

Malaysia, for one, has done away with forms for either arrivals or departures. Certainly speeds up the operation. Is Australia one of the few countries requiring a separate form for arrivals and departures?

The other thing I would like is an airport where priority luggage occasionally comes out first. This happens all over the world (to me anyway) - I guess it has a lot to do with how it is loaded and it is more problematic if you have transferred mid-journey.

 

[Mal]

It was not that long ago it was off the shelf at international airports in Australia thanks to Singapore, this seems to have changed.

Profit margin is likely not good enough... IMHO.

 

[Nizar]

Get WP and use an express card. It always works perfectly then!

Beg to differ.
Never been WP (I actually didn't know you get an express card as a WP ?) but have had the express card on more than a few occasions when flying J, and it only makes it marginally better.

Still only 1/4 to 1/3 full those outbound immigration desks. They don't put more staff in there just because you have an express card lol.

 

[Nizar]

Oh, No it does not.

On a recent Saturday morning in MEL, it was quicker to go through the normal queue than the so called 'express lanes'.
With so many crew, APEC Card, other various IDs and express card holders and with only two agents on the desks, the wait was longer than ever.
We do need the Smartgates as per arrivals - that works fine.

+1 and I agree wholly

 

[JohnK]

This! How many times you forgot to print some ticket / document / pass?

I forget tickets/documents regularly knowing I can get them printed in most lounges but I have needed to show ticket/boarding pass a couple of times in the past few weeks.

Got to SYD domestic check-in for flight to BNE and then SIN. I was asked for proof of exit out of SIN. It was a Qantas booking but I did not have the documents nor did I remember the reference number. Called QF customer service and they would not give me the details over the phone for the check-in person. This is the first time I have encountered this with QF customer service. Eventually the check-in person manage to find the itinerary and I was on my way.

It would be nice to have these facilities available but I can understand in Australia they would cost an arm and leg.

 

[funnymummy]

a hairdresser/barber (Stefan are you listening!!) shop in an Australian terminal would be my number one

 

[seanpodge]

Definitely free wifi. Given the rapidly approaching universal proliferation of smart phones and tablets, I'd say it's pretty much mandatory if an airport wants to consider itself a modern, top class facility. Also should include enough plugs to charge such devices.

Given I'm sometimes prone to travelling without lounge access (the horror! THE HORROR!!!), I'd also like to see more shower facilities or even some reasonable change rooms rather than hoping you don't drop your bag/pants/T-Shirt on a less than hygienic floor in the cubical.

The movies in the airport wouldn't interest me much (especially if wi-fi is available), but a secure sleeping area (even if it was a pod) would be great.

I'd also love an outdoor viewing area of the runway. Best way to do it would be to have it in combination with a bar! (as long as they still let the young ones in to have a sober look too!).

Has anybody seen this happen in MEL, ever ?

Nup. If anyone knows why they built all those spare booths......

 

[Mal]

How about charge points with universal adapters... Now that would be appreciated by tourists from every country...

 

[browski]

1. I'd like to drop off / collect people at the airport without being harrassed by people in coloured clothing, pretending they have any authority to tell me to move on. I've found my newly arrived pretend "Authorised person's" hat has trumped their own pretend clothing.

2. I'd like airports to display "Boarding" and "Final Call" notices upon their monitors when they are actually Boarding.

3. I'd like Aircrew to stay the hell out of the APEC line.

4. I'd like baggage handlers to unload my priority tagged bags within the first 50 bags.

5. I'd like the entire customs department to be removed so that we can exit the airport more quickly. The arrival of more food, drugs and coughography into societies is an insignificant consequence compared to my time being wasted by a 17 year old moron walking around with a puppy dog.