lavandula

I found the following article in the Herald:

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...207-1ak90.html

On our last trip abroad we found the international airport glitzy and glamourous, and, well, wanting. We thought in a poor second to Singapore in terms of provision of services to children (no kids' zone / indoor playground, not much in the way of family food except for the Golden Arches, and only one ride-on toy (the kind where you drop a coin in the slot)). We also thought that a small supermarket would have been good. That would put it on the same level as Singapore or Frankfurt.

What do you think? Is it meeting your needs?

Lavandula

MaryD2

I don't think much of Sydney Airport but I don't see a lot of it 'cause I am in too much of a hurry to get to the Qantas Club Lounge which is wonderful, same applies to Singapore as well but it seems to me that it is not as good as it once was either apart from the fact that there is an easy to get to hotel there which offers 6 hour block purchases where you can sleep/wash and rest between flights and that is something that every airport should have in my opinion.

lavandula

Hi Mary,

I agree with you about the hotel wholeheartedly, that's pretty good. I don't belong to any of the club lounges and wonder if that would be helpful for families. I know there are plenty of people who don't enjoy sharing their travelling space with children and I can understand that. My argument though is that if you can keep families happy there'll be less of that crying or running around in spaces where they're not welcome. A kids' zone and a supermarket might feasibly help this along, and a supermarket might be handy for other travellers as well.

Lavandula

pat_woolford

I did see on ABC news tonight that Brisbane Airport rates no 1 in Australia and Sydney last, which doesn't surprise me much. Service at Sydney is atrocious.

MaryD2

They havn't used Melbourne International then Pat!

Peteralan

Pat, service by whom?

Libretto

I used to fly weekly to Sydney and hated it. Recent experiences flying out for an international connection show not much has changed for the better.The signage is almost non existent, the sight lines bad, parking so slim that taxi queues are horrendous and the connections between international and domestic make the whole airport a labyrinth.Last time I also noticed the cleanliness had dropped too. The toilets were a disgrace and the "food" court seemed dingy and dirty.

Sydney dropped the ball after the Olympics and has just given up.

pat_woolford

Bus drivers for one, Peter - from International over to domestic. I lived in Sydney for 40 years and I was confused as to the route this idiot took us, he could not find Terminal 3! And he was abusive when questioned by understandably agitated passengers.

MaryD2

Taxi drivers are the pits most of the time in Sydney. If you have to get one then try and get the Silver Taxis as they seem to provide a better service.
Lavendula, if you do a lot of travelling or you are going on a number of International One World flights then being a Qantas Club member is wonderful. You have somewhere to eat,drink and entertain yourself in comfortable chairs with free reading matter.
However the US partner lounges are pathetic to all other partner lounges 'cause you have to pay for food, pay for drinks and all you get is a lounge chair etc. Still they are better than sitting at the Gates waiting to board.
Sydney needs to lift its game at the International Terminal and for getting to and from International to Domestic for people other than those on Qantas ( Qantas passengers have free Qantas transfer )it most certainly needs a make over.

Peteralan

That's awful Pat. I go across from International to T2 every week and was not aware that the non QANTAS bus went to T3. In any case the driver should have known where it was surely. Agree that the system is not too flash and the biggest complaint I constantly hear is the $5.50 charge for the privelege.

MaryD2

The charge of $whatever is an insult, especially as most people are leaving the country and do not have small change on them as I didn't once when I was not flying Qantas and able to get the free transfer. Was not happy to have to go and exchange money just to pay for the fare and the fact that there was little signage to show you where to go.

northie

As a Melbourne dweller I will do anything (well nearly) rather than fly out of Sydney for international flights. Hate the fact that you have to be bused to the international airport