SYDNEY AIRPORT  Passenger Reviews and Customer Opinions

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  22 February 2010 by Terry Stokes   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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Things have improved. For those who use this airport for international departures will hopefully find that the combined customs area has improved processing times. No queuing. The New shops and walkways have meant that it takes longer to get to gates 51 and above but this is nothing compared to other airports. The new smartgates for epassport holders from Australia and New Zealand certainly makes things quicker as well.

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  13 February 2010 by Eric Simpson   (UK)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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Just arrived from Dubai on A380 and in transit to Auckland. Passengers were greeted at the transfer security are by Godzilla herself shouting instructions in the most aggressive tone possible. Welcome to Australia? I think not. Fortunately I have been through Sydney before, arriving, departing and in transit and I have previously found officials approachable and welcoming. Pity some officials don't realise that they are representing their city and country. First impressions last.

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  31 January 2010 by Kevin Tunnicliffe   (UK)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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The thing which spoils this airport is the outrageous drop off charges in the car park. Many people comment that this spoils their experience. Many changes since my last visit in August 09. The upgrading of the International terminal is still ongoing and I look forward to seeing the finished product in the future. Immigration on arrival was swift and pleasant, bags were on the belt in ten minutes. Shame the incompetent car hire people made us wait 45 minutes to get our car. We were first in line and I feel for the poor souls behind us!

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  30 January 2010 by J Lee   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  1/5

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Every time you go through Sydney airport Intl terminal to pick up passengers, it makes your blood boil. Macquarie have turned the car park into a a narrow maze to maximise car park spots, and have the nerve to charge every person that arrives through the car park. There is no dedicated pick up spot. This makes the car park a total mess to negotiate especially during the peak hours. In addition, if one tries to leave the car park within the '3 mins' to avoid paying the 'car park tax', this is virtually impossible as you have to battle it out with tens of other drivers waiting in line who are trying to do exactly the same thing. It is so frustrating. Sydney Airport has been a total rip off since it was privatised. Unfortunately, the Domestic Terminal pick up points is just as bad.

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  30 January 2010 by Oscar Thach   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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Huge crowds, disorganised, very long lines at customs - with many counters left closed and area very small (whole room was full). AQIS even worse than before - bottleneck entrance with no-one organising and leading crowds - complete chaos; somebody will get hurt one day. Picked up by father, paid ludicrous $21 for parking (1 hour). Should really have a free pick- up zone but it seems that they would rather line their pockets than provide good services. Have not seen any improvements since I was here last - not sure what they're spending that $500 million on. Makes me ashamed and embarrassed to be a Sydney-sider, a total disgrace.

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  14 January 2010 by R Bellamy   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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Picked my son up last week when he came back from Brisbane. Had a small meal at McDonalds near the long term car park and waited for him to land and ring then proceeded to the 10 min pick up bay area opposite the arrivals door. Excellent idea and no charge if you are in an out in 10 mins. I do agree with a lot of comments on cleanliness and organisation at this terminal. It could be so much better for a major international airport. The parking fees are over the top. They should have first 3 hours free like shopping centres then a fee per hour after that. This would ensure traffic movement and give people a greater sense of relaxation rather than panic at having to 'move on' to avoid the push or a fine.

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  8 January 2010 by Carla Moore   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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Why has the arrival pick-up outside T2 been removed? Had a nightmare trying to pick up my daughter flying with Virgin from Melbourne this morning; she was very rudely told to move on by Security who said it was now a "Federal Offence" to stop and pick up. Since when? Finally managed to get her after a dangerous manoeuvre. Airport is trying to force us to park and pay a huge amount for fifteen minutes. Not happy.

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  29 December 2009 by M Thomson   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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The transfer facilities from Qantas domestic to international are inadequate. On a recent trip I was dismayed at how inefficient the process was. As noted previously, the queues are long and the waiting area for the shuttle bus is unappealing, disorganised and cramped. One bus comes along every 15 or 20 minutes, although there were at least two bus loads of people waiting at any one time. The result is scores of people left waiting as the bus drives away without them, knowing they will have to push and shove to the front of the queue if they are not to miss the next one. If you need to transfer, avoid SYD at all costs as it's not worth the headache. My transfer from T3 to T5 at LHR was far less stressful, even though I had less transit time than in SYD. Qantas should be ashamed.

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  21 November 2009 by A Ong   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  1/5

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Terrible airport. High prices, compulsory pay for parking, disorganised, dirty and inefficient. Oh and did I say disorganised? I am embarrassed to be a Sydney-sider and to be associated with this airport which I unfortunately have to put up with for all international flights.

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  19 November 2009 by M Dorrell   (New Zealand)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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A dire experience in every way. If you have to make transfers from Qantas Domestic to International or vice versa it is simply appalling and to be avoided if at all possible - go to Melbourne if you can! Horrendous chaotic queues for transfer - I already had my onward boarding pass but there was no facility for me to bypass the lines. Cramped hot little area with few seats where you waited for the shuttle bus - many people didn't get on it and I'm sure that many miss their connections. Woeful state of affairs. Also arriving internationally very long slow lines for both Immigration and then Customs - staff pleasant enough but state of chaos. I cannot believe that things could not be improved particularly connections between the 2 terminals.

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  8 November 2009 by Z Johnson   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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Transfered from a Pacific Blue flight from Christchurch to a Virgin Blue flight to Perth at SYD. Customs was rocket like in the AU/NZ queue and quarantine chose not to screen us. The virgin transfer desk and transfer bus was very efficient and very little queuing time. If you want a quick transfer, fly Virgin and its associated partners. Qantas's terminal transfer service is hopeless in comparison.

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  26 October 2009 by Robert Kunz   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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Arrived into Sydney from LAX. We had a connecting flight to Melbourne. We cleared customs and baggage claim fairly easily and were directed to the domestic transfer gate - a joke! We stood there for over an hour and a half while only 4 people processed hundreds of pax. Then they put all these people into a small crowded room to wait again for buses. One bus per group of 35-40 at a time. The design of this airport borders farcical. Domestic on one side and International on the other. I was really disappointed at how slow and disorganized this major hub really is. I think after finally arriving in Melbourne 6 hours later, that in future I would give this airport a big miss. Try booking flights directly to and from Melbourne in the future to save time.

SYDNEY AIRPORT customer review :  15 October 2009 by Philip Loveder   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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I can't imagine anybody transiting through Sydney Kingsford Smith from another Australian capital city could possibly give a favourable review of this airport. My preferred airline (Qantas) uses the 'hub-and-spoke' model of airline movement and tries to schedule as many flights out of Australia through Sydney as possible. This is a pain for passengers from say Adelaide which is ill served by this airline internationally. The last 3 connections for me through Sydney were fraught. On a recent trip to Shanghai, we had a legal transfer time of 55 minutes - crazy - but we made it (just) but our luggage didn't. Arrived a few days later and one item was clearly tampered with. Similar experience from Queenstown (NZ) where one bag made it, the other later and the locks partly cut with pliers. And then another incident with lost luggage to Noumea (which travelled Sydney- Brisbane - Port Vila- Sydney- Noumea) before arriving 4 days late. Some advice. Sydney needs to invest in a free and regular light rail shuttle between international/domestic terminals. The infrequent shuttle bus just doesn't cut it, and baggage handling needs to be improved markedly.

SYDNEY AIRPORT review : 13 October 2009 : by Neil Ramsay

Customer Rating :  3/5

Early morning arrival meant lots of pax but immigration handled the crowds well. Baggage arrived in a reasonable time but they allow bags to pile up on the belt, sometimes three deep which makes it difficult (even dangerous) to try and retrieve them. Contrary to my previous experience a few months ago, customs/aqis seemed to have reverted to their previous mode of operation ie. chaotic queues, which were long and disorganised. Took us longer to get thru this inspection than to deplane, go thru immigration and collect bags. And we eventually were 'shoved' out the door with no inspection at all. Our ride was again forced to pay the exorbitant parking fee due to a non existent pick up facility at T1.

SYDNEY AIRPORT review : 29 September 2009 : by Brian McDonald

Customer Rating :  3/5

Overall, the airport is fine. The customs people here are helpful compared to other airports. But why do they build an excellent rail link to the city, then charge a ludicrous price to use it. Even London, which is regarded as one of the world's most expensive cities is only AUD $8.00 from Heathrow to the city and travels nearly triple the distance.

SYDNEY AIRPORT review : 24 September 2009 : by Philip Reindler

Customer Rating :  1/5

On arrival, tried to use SmartGate electronic system for Australian / NZ electronic passport holders but this did not work (no explanation) so ended up having to join the queue again. Biosecurity was a mess with a long queue and insufficient staff to process passengers. Signage is very poor and confusing! My friend tried to pick me up from departures area but had to take off to avoid approaching security guard and AU$130 fine. I cannot believe there is no pick up area for arriving passengers. Ended up meeting my friend in the hideously expensive car park. This airport is a disgrace.

SYDNEY AIRPORT review : 5 September 2009 : by Kevin Tunnicliffe

Customer Rating :  5/5

I am a great fan of Sydney airport. Each time I use it the experience is excellent. Arrived 06-30 and was in our rental car and away within an hour. That included baggage collection from the carousel. The only criticism is with the parking for people who come to pick up their family and friends. It is expensive and inconvenient. The airport systems and officials are as good as any in the world. When we left Sydney the experience was smooth too.

SYDNEY AIRPORT review : 5 September 2009 : by Bill Atkins

Customer Rating :  3/5

I am always surprised by the downtrodden look of this airport. International baggage claim is tatty and disorganized - no-one to move bags around on the belt so other bags can come out. Also people manning the arrival bag screening are generally unfriendly and unhelpful - if they can make you lift your bag into the belt, they will. Taxi situation rather poor - always a wait, even if only a few people arriving.

SYDNEY AIRPORT review : 17 August 2009 : by Chris Churchill

Customer Rating :  0/5

Some comments here seem to contradict the fare for a domestic to international transfer by train. The fare is $5 one way per person for a "120 second journey" (interestingly not advertised as 2 minutes!). The fare on the website of City Rail advises the fare is $14.60 which, as noted, is a little steep.

SYDNEY AIRPORT review : 17 August 2009 : by A Flounders

Customer Rating :  3/5

Fast processing - I think it is under construction, as once you move through the gates there is only a krispy kreme donut shop and two cafes which are horrendously overpriced ($7.5 AUD for a tiny sandwich). The domestic airport is in better shape with shops and a fully loaded food court!

SYDNEY AIRPORT review : 14 August 2009 : by S Collins

Customer Rating :  2/5

Sydney Airport has gone downhill in recent years - not only do they force you to park to pick up passengers, but they fine you if you pick someone up curbside. I arrived on an A380 flight on a Sunday morning - immigration was painfully slow, as it always is there. Getting your bags is a task - at least in other airports they have people at the bottom of the ramp organising bags so they are not on top of one another. At Sydney it is free for all (so don't pack anything possibly breakable). Then comes Customs - that is an experience. Lines of people everywhere directing you nowhere - no people to guide you, no signage. Sydney Airport will probably blame the renovations but the airport is an embarassment.

SYDNEY AIRPORT review : 29 June 2009 : by Neil Ramsay

Customer Rating :  4/5

Early morning departure was a breeze. We were the only ones checking in for our SQ flight and we then got through emigration and security without any hold up. The current building work has limited the number of places opened for breakfast landside but those airside were a reasonable substitute. But food is still an expensive commodity at Sydney Airport. Arrival back early morning a few days later on a full A380 with other aircraft and surprisingly got through immigration (both foreign and Australian desks) with minimal delay. Baggage was available not long after and AQIS/Customs seem to have finally got their act together and have people organising the queues for quarantine inspection to minimise delays. From touchdown to car park, 40 minutes. Used pre paid long term car park which is a bargain in comparison to exorbitant hourly rates.