"no real hold ups"
K Joseph (Australia)
I travel through Sydney on a frequent basis, find it better than Brisbane (and certainly far, far better than overseas airports). In the four times I have arrived at international in the last year, have been from airplane door to taxi door within 30 minutes. Likewise, have had no real hold ups with international departures. However, I benefit from having an e-passport, and suspect it is a longer wait for foreign passport holders. At Domestic (Qantas T3) have also had no problems, even at peak times I can make it from railway station to Qantas Club in less than 15 minutes. On the negative (or at least the moderately annoying) side, when departing international you have to wind your way through overpriced Duty Free shops, and it can be a fair walk to the gate. Taxis can also be a bit slow during peak periods at Domestic.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | October 2015 |
Type Of Traveller | Solo Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | yes |
"miserable experience throughout"
T Dang (Australia)
Endless queues for both departure and arrival. A miserable experience throughout. Getting through departure security and immigration in the morning took 45 mins. Upon arrival, more queues no matter what channel you wanted to use, whether it be the smartgate or with immigration officer. Some smartgate machines were not in service. Totally useless. Avoid Sydney airport if you can, the airport does not have the capacity to manage passenger movements efficiently. The customer experience is woeful.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | September 2015 |
Type Of Traveller | Solo Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"the same chaotic scenes"
Charles Nathan (Australia)
I traveled through this airport at least three time a year, and also very often, to welcome and send off friends from abroad. And on almost every occasion, whether upon arrival or departure, I am greeted by the same chaotic scenes and more expensive paraphernalia. I would rate this as follows:- (1) Very expensive parking. (2) Confusing lane markings, whether parking or exiting. (3) More infrastructure being constructed amidst the limited area. (4) Rude and unhelpful custom and immigration staff. (5) Limited signage/instruction in departure hall, attributing to confusion for foreign travelers who have limited ability in the English language. (6) Very expensive food sold at the food courts, with the exception of fastfoods. (7) Roads leading to the airport are extremely congested. With inclement weather and a weekend, there can be excessive delays. God help you if you are in a hurry to catch a flight. Trains are expensive and not as convenient as it is made out to be. Buses are also hemmed in by the traffic congestion. (8) Toilets are not well maintained. All in all, I believe this is brought about by the monopoly enjoyed by Sydney Airports. Perhaps it is time that the second airport be built, before it deteriorates further behind our neighbouring countries, who possess some of the finest airports in the world.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | September 2015 |
Type Of Traveller | Solo Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"could find no reason to complain"
Kevin Tunnicliffe (United Kingdom)
You can only report what you find and on our most recent visit could find no reason to complain. We disembarked the plane and our journey to immigration helped by the moving walkways. Immigration a breeze, new automated channels assisted by friendly and efficient staff meant we were into the baggage hall within ten minutes of landing. Baggage came onto carousel within a few minutes and we were on our way within 20 minutes after disembarking. Could not fault the system or the courtesy. A similar experience departing, automated channels again were a breeze and security was efficient, only delays being caused by passengers who still don't realise they need to get liquids and laptops out and empty their pockets ready for screening. Security staff were pleasant and, in my view, more patient with the idiots than I would have been. Only downside, common in many airports, is the maze created airside to force you through rows of so called duty free outlets which at this airport are anything but a bargain.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | October 2015 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | N/A |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | yes |
"female toilets were disgusting"
Liza Hicks (Australia)
In the domestic terminal the female toilets close to Gate 56 were disgusting - bins were overflowing, the handbasins were a disgrace and the general cleaning of the cubicle areas was dirty. The walls in the toilets were stained and marked, the edges of the floors had scum marks where they were mopped but not cleaned. This problem needs to be addressed.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | October 2015 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | yes |
"one of the most unfriendly places"
J Blackie (Australia)
Sydney Airport is one of the most unfriendly places I've visited. Where are the signs? Whatever you do, don't ask for directions or you will get your head bitten off. As an Australian, I was embarrassed by the behaviour of the staff. At one stage I witnessed an elderly lady being yelled at by an angry female staff member, because she wasn't sure what to do or where to go. This poor lady was shaking and close to tears. I hope never to have to visit there again.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | September 2015 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
"Immigration for non Australian passport holders is extremely slow"
Vincent Chi (Australia)
Immigration for non Australian passport holders is extremely slow. Sydney Airport doesn't seem to have enough people doing the assessment.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | September 2015 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | yes |
"all in all an efficient airport"
Tom Neyrinck (Belgium)
Not sure why so many posts are that harsh on SYD airport. International arrivals always processed in a speedy way, for both customs and luggage. Much better than any US airport. Departures well signed, quick safety checks, and yes, indeed, quite a shopping mall thereafter but those not interested can simply ignore it. The airport does look a bit dated, true, and certainly not the looks of LHR T5, Changi, Hong Kong. Longer walking distances also fuel the design of the airport building, but all in all an efficient airport.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | September 2015 |
Type Of Traveller | Business |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | yes |
Sydney Airport customer review
S Cheng (Australia)
I have been able to avoid Sydney airport for years, as I prefer to fly through MEL or BNE to avoid Sydney airport entirely. I have had an easier time in Dhaka International Airport. It is the most expensive airport in the world with the worst services in the world.
Experience At Airport | Arrival and Departure |
Date Visit | August 2015 |
Type Of Traveller | Solo Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Airport Shopping | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |
Sydney Airport customer review
2 reviews Andrew Jerome (Australia)
This is definitely one of the most unpleasant airports in the civilised world. It seems like they are always doing some form of renovating, with loud banging and barriers. The food courts have an unpleasant ambience to them, and there is nothing visually pleasing. The absolute worst thing is the cost of parking and transportation. Just to take a one way ticket from the airport to anywhere costs about $17 one way, and almost $6 just to transfer to the Domestic Airport by train. For a country like Australia, this airport is very poor compared to overseas airports.
Experience At Airport | Departure Only |
Date Visit | August 2015 |
Type Of Traveller | Couple Leisure |
Queuing Times | 12345 |
Terminal Cleanliness | 12345 |
Terminal Seating | 12345 |
Terminal Signs | 12345 |
Food Beverages | 12345 |
Wifi Connectivity | 12345 |
Airport Staff | 12345 |
Recommended | no |