Sydney Airport

Sydney Airport is shameful a complete shambles. Unfortunately had to transit through Sydney on our way to New Zealand and I can honestly say I have never come across such incompetence in ground staff. Surly unhelpful transfer desk staff. Incompetent check in staff. Disorganised inadequate signage throughout the terminal. The whole experience was unpleasant. Our return experience did not fair much better. 30 minutes in that airport is 30 minutes too long.

Term 1. As usual Sydney airport on arrival abysmal. LON used to hold that title now a dream run. On arrival Sunday 11th Jan shameful and can't believe as bad as 3 years ago. Not clear where passport machines were and queues waiting not knowing what to do. Try to join a green line to get through customs it was a complete shambles. No one offering any advise how to join a line. People moving like sheep and half in the wrong line. Staff should have made the start of one green line to fan out and same for a red line. Staff hopeless standing around shouting not moving people into the start of lines which were from baggage carousels. Does anyone read these probably not and yes $4 for trolley first time this happened on our trip. Thank goodness for great job by airline baggage staff first class and raining too.

The arrival experience at SYD was slightly better than departure. Arriving Sydney from BKK holding a British passport made my life better with the new e-channel introduced (first time using) it was fast and just a few clicks and let you go. After clearing immigration and collecting my bags head to the customs with nothing to declare it was really a hassle-free experience. Departing from SYD to HKG with a 'fast track pass' which really didn't mean a thing. Staff at the immigration queue just direct passengers without that fast pass going to the fast pass area which I needed to follow behind those 'normal' passenger. I think they really should review on such policy. Immigration officers are friendly and the gate area is really congested. It was all packed with pax on Korean Air Cathay Jetstar Qantas which was difficult for me to get a seat nearby the gate area! Airport management should really look into this problem.

We had allowed 2 hours between connecting flights. A very long walk into immigration. Immigration very slow and uninterested. My express although worked in New Zealand never seems to work in Sydney. Our luggage took 1 hour to unload then a long queue through customs. Next although our luggage was booked straight through had to wait another half an hour to put our luggage on the next plane. Then had to wait for a bus to take us to the other terminal. Arrived just in time for boarding. We always leave us plenty time at all airports but this was very stressful for us. Surely they can be a better system for transit customers. We have travelled extensively and twice now we have had a bad experience in Sydney.

The airport showers at the departure hall were not very clean in fact the floor tiles were dark and grimy. Imagine stepping on them with your bare feet. The hot shower worked well though and shower gel was provided through a dispenser attached to the wall. Shopping was disappointing (not many shops) compared to Asian airports such as Singapore's Changi Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok or Korea's Incheon. Clearing customs was quite fast though the "Express Card" was a bit confusing. Upon arrival there was a sign that pointed Aus or NZ or Singapore's biometric passport holders to the lanes that led to auto custom clearance machines. But when you reached the machines the signs omitted "Singapore" that made you wonder if Singapore passports were accepted.

I clearly am remarkably lucky! I use SYD T1 about 10 times a year. I am rarely delayed to any real extent. Passport and Security control are relatively swift and professional. Every airport on the planet now is also a shopping mall so why comment on it? Prices in bars and food outlets are higher than elsewhere. Show me and airport where they are not. There is enough seating and quiet places to wait and in general walking distances aren't great. It's not perfect but it works for me.

Flew in to Sydney from Alice Springs - incoming experience was fine rapid luggage delivery clean and smart Qantas terminal.

Bad and getting worse. Sydney needs some serious attention in both arrivals and departures. Arrivals has the extra need to go through quarantine. Staff in the main friendly and courteous and duty free is plentiful. A the airport campus is limited geographically expansion is not possible. Sydney needs a second airport ASAP.

How sad I feel about this experience at my home airport. Firstly at taxi drop off the trolleys cost $4. Departure is otherwise uneventful but duty free prices are high. When will retailers finally catch on that we can all check international shopping prices on our smart phones? It is Arrival that always seems to let me down. Travelling with young children precludes me from using the automated immigration system but the two biggest delays are baggage retrieval and getting through customs. There is simply not the space for customs to do their job properly and they funnel us all through one of two queues which we were on for over 30 minutes.

Recently was in transit in Sydney for 4 hours. Not an enjoyable experience. It was at night and the lighting was so bright it felt uncomfortable and definitely not relaxing. Was hoping to spend some time in a bar but the only bar I found was in the middle and in full glare of the lights. And even though the airport was busy there was no one there. They could hardly have done a worse job! Nearly all shops are all full of expensive stuff that nobody wants with grumpy shop attendants (probably because the rents are really high and no one buys anything). Adds to overall negative vibe of the place. You expect to pay a bit extra at airports but "normal" items such as drinks and chips are outrageously expensive. Best not visit this airport at all.