Sydney Airport

As an Australian Citizen returning home for a recent trip to Auckland I was appalled at Sydney International. Considering that the first people you meet are customs I am only left wondering why they would put rude and unfriendly people in such a position. The airport is badly run and the transfer through a long and drawn out affair being shouted at and pushed from pillar to post. I left the terminal stressed after a relaxing weekend away. Sydney Airport needs a good shake up.

Sydney International Airport is not the best logical airport. If you fly with a Star Alliance Partner the check in is at the end of the terminal. You then have to walk all the way to middle of the airport go through passport and than all the way back. The Boarding gates are small and uncomfortable. The company who manage the airport are only interested in making money by having lots of shops but really don't care about the basic infrastructure.

Sydney International Airport is not the best logical airport. If you fly with a Star Alliance Partner the check in is at the end of the terminal. You then have to walk all the way to middle of the airport go through passport and than all the way back. The Boarding gates are small and uncomfortable. The company who manage the airport are only interested in making money by having lots of shops but really don't care about the basic infrastructure.

After flying in from SFO the immigration process at SYD was great. As a frequent flyer I received an Express pass to speed up thru the immigration lines. The signs to the Airport Link was easy to find. If you are staying in Sydney for a week I would purchase the weekly pass which will allow you unlimited access to trains buses and ferries. As others have said the location of the train station at SYD is a long walk. Coming back to the international terminal for another flight was harder to navigate. The Air New Zealand check-in was all the way to the right side of the terminal but the immigration was in the middle of the terminal. Lots more walking. Luckily I had another Express pass. The terminal is definitely not user friendly. Coming back from my flight and having to transfer to the domestic terminal was a nightmare. Where's the free transfer? Instead like others have mentioned you have 3 options. I took the T-bus which costs $5.50 AUD. If I took train it would have cost $5.00 AUD. Last thing if you don't smoke get ready for the cigarette smell after you depart from the baggage claim in the international terminal.

After flying in from SFO the immigration process at SYD was great. As a frequent flyer I received an Express pass to speed up thru the immigration lines. The signs to the Airport Link was easy to find. If you are staying in Sydney for a week I would purchase the weekly pass which will allow you unlimited access to trains buses and ferries. As others have said the location of the train station at SYD is a long walk. Coming back to the international terminal for another flight was harder to navigate. The Air New Zealand check-in was all the way to the right side of the terminal but the immigration was in the middle of the terminal. Lots more walking. Luckily I had another Express pass. The terminal is definitely not user friendly. Coming back from my flight and having to transfer to the domestic terminal was a nightmare. Where's the free transfer? Instead like others have mentioned you have 3 options. I took the T-bus which costs $5.50 AUD. If I took train it would have cost $5.00 AUD. Last thing if you don't smoke get ready for the cigarette smell after you depart from the baggage claim in the international terminal.

Quite simply Sydney Domestic is operating well over capacity. As a regular user there are always delays in getting in and out on time. Just arrived from Brisbane at 10pm with a near empty airport and ground crew still couldn't get steps to the rear doors of our Virgin plane and still had to wait for baggage. Over 45 mins from landing to paying a fortune to go three train stops to Central. Sydney airport terminal is also a complete nightmare for cars.

Quite simply Sydney Domestic is operating well over capacity. As a regular user there are always delays in getting in and out on time. Just arrived from Brisbane at 10pm with a near empty airport and ground crew still couldn't get steps to the rear doors of our Virgin plane and still had to wait for baggage. Over 45 mins from landing to paying a fortune to go three train stops to Central. Sydney airport terminal is also a complete nightmare for cars.

Sydney airport gets worse every year. For example if you are flying with Thai or Star Alliance airline and you arrive by train the train arrives at the far left extreme of the airport and then you have to walk all the way to the extreme right of the airport to the Thai counters. After check in you have to walk back to almost to the extreme left for the immigration desks - once through them you have to walk all the way back to the far right of the airport to the Star Alliance lounges. I wonder if these poor airports actually know how offputting they are and how many travellers shun them.

Sydney airport gets worse every year. For example if you are flying with Thai or Star Alliance airline and you arrive by train the train arrives at the far left extreme of the airport and then you have to walk all the way to the extreme right of the airport to the Thai counters. After check in you have to walk back to almost to the extreme left for the immigration desks - once through them you have to walk all the way back to the far right of the airport to the Star Alliance lounges. I wonder if these poor airports actually know how offputting they are and how many travellers shun them.

Arrived from Honolulu got through immigration picked up luggage and passed through customs in 20 minutes. They didn't even x-ray any of my bags. How good was that?