Sydney Airport

Arriving at the airport, nothing too fancy before customs to be honest. Just overpriced items as usual near the food court as well as the below-average check in counters (outdated tech). Customs and security were alright. Now, once you go into the duty free zone, it's like a whole different world. If you were placed in the duty free zone with no knowledge of where you are, you'd immediately think it was a shopping centre and not an airport. Seriously, some of the items in the "duty free" shops are just outright more expensive than you get from outside retailers. Also, terminal seating has these armrests between each seat. Can SYD just change it to no arm rests for particular areas? Food was very average for it's pricing at an average of AUD$10. Airport staff are excellent though, they're very professional. Free WiFi is pretty good.

Sydney is the worst airport I have used. All food options are outside the security yet nobody tells you before you go through. Once inside nothing is open before 6am and unless you want a McDonalds or snacks forget it. Staff didn't seem bothered either. Get me to Singapore Changi ASAP please.

It had been 5 years since I used Sydney for international and I'm pretty sure it's gotten worse. Arrival was no problem and I even got my baggage 20 minutes after deplaning, compared to the hour-long waits in the past (but this was probably unusually fast given that I typically wait 30 minutes for baggage at the domestic terminal). Departing was much worse. Long queues at check in and security - the staff are efficient, if unfriendly, it's just that the passenger numbers greatly exceed the capacity. Then airside is a warren of narrow spaces and it took ages just to find some truly awful cafes and some crowded seating and toilets. I've got no good advice to give - the airport works, it's just slow and unpleasant. Allow plenty of time and use Melbourne if you're connecting. Sydney's international terminal is a great example of why you shouldn't privatise a monopoly.

Departure was bearable (as I can sit in the lounge), however the whole place is just geared to selling you overpriced designer goods. All food options are of the 'fast' variety. Would you like chips with your new Gucci handbag? The early morning arrival back home was a shambles - a similar experience to every other time I arrive in Sydney. Baggage took forever to arrive (what takes less than 10 minutes at Singapore, takes Sydney staff 45 minutes). Well over an hour to get through. Embarrassing.

I was transitting in Sydney from Auckland to Hong Kong. My flight was delayed and I had just 1 hour for the transit which was tight. When the flight arrived from AKL it took a long time for the passengers to deplane. The plane parked far away from the terminal and the transfer bus was driven very slowly. In the terminal the signage is unclear and I could not find the transit desk - because time was short I did not have time to collect my second boarding pass at the transit counter. The security check for transit had a long line and the check was slow. When I arrived at the boarding gate it was about 10 minutes before departure. The staff at the boarding gate were shouting at me about my boarding pass - I explained everything and they helped me to check in. I was warned my luggage may not go with the flight but surprisingly it made it. Did not find the attitude of staff that professional and the transit service was stressful.

It took 10 minutes from the plane door to the airport car park at 7 am last week. The arrivals hall appeared packed but the automatic gates were working well and we didn't have to wait for luggage. The staff were efficient. Still the international airport as a whole is a national disgrace. The only, and never ending, renovations being undertaken are only to the shopping areas. The gate lounges are woefully inadequate for larger planes and the arrivals section feels cheap and cramped. the arrival drop off traffic always seems to be chaotic. Not the best welcome to the country.

Over 45 minute queue to enter the airport rental car entrance (@ 9 am on a Sunday morning). Lane signage was almost non existent until the very last moment making it necessary to circle the airport and get in line over 1/2 mile before the first rental car exit lane sign. The Airport is dirty and poorly organized funneling every departing international passenger through a single doorway into two mammoth snaking queues to automated passport scanners that do not recognize changes in men's facial hair, requiring yet another queue for additional screening.

Currently stuck on plane after recent international trip because aerobridge does not work. Arrived 2 weeks ago on last trip. Exiting the international terminal through quarantine was a 40 minute shambles - bags all over floor near carousels. No organisation of quarantine lines. This airport is an international embarassment and a disgrace.

Well things certainly looked better than in the past. The surrounds were cleaner the usual but it was Sunday morning and there were several flights in from Tokyo. There must have been 40 people waiting for nearly an hour for their skis to be off loaded. Meanwhile, all manner of staff moved backwards and forwards looking on with interest at the gathering crowd. A note in the toilets suggest a particular number be called if there was a need for attention. I wondered whether is should call to let whomever know that most of the toilet seats were in need of urgent repair and cleaning as they hang to one side with screws missing. Can we do better? Surely we can.

As a Sydneysider, I am extremely embarrassed and ashamed of this airport. By far the people working at the international airport are the rudest and most unfriendly airport staff I have ever come across. Once when I was departing Sydney Airport using the new self service gates where you scan your passport, I was quite slow as I was unfamiliar with using it. When I asked for their help, instead of being helpful, they were utterly rude speaking to me in a condescending tone as if I didn't understand English. Also, Sydney Airport is known to be one of the most outdated international airports in the world and this doesn't help when there are ongoing renovations being undertaken, with signs not put in place clearly and dirty floors. This airport is truly an embarrassment for Sydney, a complete disgrace with rude and arrogant airport staff.