Hot off the press from news.com.au.
Jeez mate, what do you expect, they have to find the money to pay the obscene bonuses enjoyed by McBank exec's.
Aint Australia grand, flog our airports to a dodgy bank for 5 billion. Bank borrows eight billion creating a massive debt that didn't exist, then uses artificial debt servicing as an excuse to funnel vast sums of money into offshore tax havens thus avoiding the inconvenience of paying tax. Guv'mint gets a nice pile of cash, off the books, to squander on whatever, without adding to the deficit, and who pays?? poor old taxpayer. Bad deal I reckon, it would have been cheaper to borrow the money if they needed cash rather than give McBank a massive profit centre.
Our wonderfully inept bureaucrats gift a dodgy bank a monopoly cash cow with no oversight or control
and people wonder why our airports are crap, it aint the fault of the tenants or users people, they have to make a buck as well. Bugger the people of Australia.
OPINION. Dom Knight is a writer, broadcaster and co-founder of The Chaser. Continue the conversation on Twitter @domknight
I COULDN’T believe it when I saw an iPhone charger retailing for $62.95 this week. Until I discovered it was on sale at Sydney Airport. Travel through our transport showpiece, and you’ll probably feel like you’re trapped in a queuing hell where everyone’s hassling you to buy expensive scotch — and after a while, you’ll probably buy it to drink on the spot.
Sydney Airport’s about to appoint a new chief executive — which seems like the perfect time to make a few suggestions to improve the customer experience from woeful to tolerable.
Because maybe we’d all spend more money at the airport if we, the customers, felt appreciated instead of exploited?
THE TAXI QUEUE
Have you ever queued for a cab at the international terminal? While you slowly navigate through Disneyland-style snaking barriers to be paired up with your driver, you’ll spy a line of literally hundreds of cabs stretching off in the distance, as far as you can see.
But you can’t just walk up to one. You have to wait, because they haven’t built a big enough interchange for the two enormous queues to meet. So instead, demand and supply are left to stare wistfully at one another.
And if that experience wasn’t frustrating enough, the airport somehow has the right to charge you an extra $4.25 on top of your fare. Why does that particular patch of road warrant a surcharge that’s applied nowhere else in Sydney? I assume it’s a monopoly thing — it’s certainly not going towards a terrific cab rank.
THE TRAIN RIP OFF
This one’s more on Transport for NSW — but the airport train is a breathtaking rip off. They’ll charge you a $13.80 “station access fee” on top of the train fare, making it cheaper to take a cab from the city for two or more passengers in a city that desperately needs to get cars off the road.
Airport lines around the world often have steep fees — but that’s when there’s a special express train, not a regular suburban train travelling ten minutes from the city. The airport trains don’t even have luggage racks — they’re a nightmare with a big suitcase.
THE PARKING RIP OFF
Holy hell, it’s expensive to park at the airport. At the international terminal, it starts at $9 for half an hour — barely enough time to see your loved one to customs and back, given how far you park from the terminal. An hour costs $18.50, and it goes up to $60.50 for the day — comparable to a discount flight to Melbourne.
You can pre-book parking for cheaper rates, but then you need to accurately estimate how long you need, which doesn’t account for delays — and if you over-estimate, of course you’ll still pay. Or, if you’re literally made of money, why not use valet? It starts at $45 (for two hours).
Parking at Sydney Airport will make you appreciate the bargain rates for the train and taxis.
DUTY FREE
Sure, the airport prices sometimes seem lower because they’re not charging you GST, but you’re almost always paying the full RRP before they take off that 10%.
But it’s on the items with higher taxes where you often really feel the pinch. Bollinger Special Cuvée champagne is currently $69 at the airport’s Heinemann duty-free outlet — or $61 at Dan Murphy’s, despite the GST and the excise!
Oh, and remember that phone charger?
Oh, and remember that phone charger?Source:imgur
THE LONG AND WINDING RETAIL ROAD
There used to be multiple entry points, so you could take to the nearest entrance and end up near your gate — but now everyone has to trudge along the one complex path through that massive retail area where sales assistants hassle you to try perfume samples when you’re rushing to the gate.
I’ve never been to any other international airport that herds its passengers through the middle of a department store. Personally, I’m always so irritated by these forced detours that I resist buying from airport retailers even if I need something.
In other major airports, like Singapore or Hong Kong, they’re constantly looking for ways to make the trip from check in to gate quicker, installing little trains and travelators. Whereas Sydney Airport’s architects clearly have extensive experience in labyrinth design. Every redesign seems to make it more complicated.
The Sydney International Airport's duty free store might be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, but we don’t appreciate being forced to walk through it.
The Sydney International Airport's duty free store might be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, but we don’t appreciate being forced to walk through it.Source:Supplied
FOREIGN EXCHANGE FEES
I always withdraw from ATMs at the destination, because I don’t trust the cash rates at those “convenient” counters dotted throughout the terminal — here’s a detailed analysis of how to beat the fees. But imagine an alternative universe where those who like to deal in cash could walk away from those counters feeling like they hadn’t been scammed!
EXORBITANTLY PRICED FOOD AND DRINK
Very few people plan to eat at the airport, where mediocre food at exorbitant prices is the norm. Some fast food chains keep their airport prices consistent, but everyone else seems to think that airports magically warrant higher prices. Just on Sunday I was astonished to find one of those FNG bars, which costs between $4 and $4.50 at my local cafes, for an astounding $8.90 at a cafe in the Qantas domestic terminal. No delicious snack for me.
It’s almost enough to make you consider shelling out $895 to join the Qantas Club. But don’t calculate how much you’ll pay per visit — it’s a lot even if you travel weekly.
IS THE AIRPORT FOR CUSTOMERS, RETAILERS OR SHAREHOLDERS?
Sydney Airport is the first experience visitors have of our city. So it’s the perfect preparation for a place that has crummy infrastructure, and wants to charge you a fortune to use it. It’s lucky we have amazing beaches, wildlife and food to keep the visitors coming, because we certainly haven’t made any other aspect of the experience of arriving here pleasant.
Whereas if you live here, your overseas trip may well take you through one of the world’s great efficient, modern airports, where they respect your time, don’t rip you off or force you into a department store, and generally try to deliver a great experience.
And, oh, how you’ll notice the difference when you get back to ours.
Jeez mate, what do you expect, they have to find the money to pay the obscene bonuses enjoyed by McBank exec's.
Aint Australia grand, flog our airports to a dodgy bank for 5 billion. Bank borrows eight billion creating a massive debt that didn't exist, then uses artificial debt servicing as an excuse to funnel vast sums of money into offshore tax havens thus avoiding the inconvenience of paying tax. Guv'mint gets a nice pile of cash, off the books, to squander on whatever, without adding to the deficit, and who pays?? poor old taxpayer. Bad deal I reckon, it would have been cheaper to borrow the money if they needed cash rather than give McBank a massive profit centre.
Our wonderfully inept bureaucrats gift a dodgy bank a monopoly cash cow with no oversight or control
and people wonder why our airports are crap, it aint the fault of the tenants or users people, they have to make a buck as well. Bugger the people of Australia.
OPINION. Dom Knight is a writer, broadcaster and co-founder of The Chaser. Continue the conversation on Twitter @domknight
I COULDN’T believe it when I saw an iPhone charger retailing for $62.95 this week. Until I discovered it was on sale at Sydney Airport. Travel through our transport showpiece, and you’ll probably feel like you’re trapped in a queuing hell where everyone’s hassling you to buy expensive scotch — and after a while, you’ll probably buy it to drink on the spot.
Sydney Airport’s about to appoint a new chief executive — which seems like the perfect time to make a few suggestions to improve the customer experience from woeful to tolerable.
Because maybe we’d all spend more money at the airport if we, the customers, felt appreciated instead of exploited?
THE TAXI QUEUE
Have you ever queued for a cab at the international terminal? While you slowly navigate through Disneyland-style snaking barriers to be paired up with your driver, you’ll spy a line of literally hundreds of cabs stretching off in the distance, as far as you can see.
But you can’t just walk up to one. You have to wait, because they haven’t built a big enough interchange for the two enormous queues to meet. So instead, demand and supply are left to stare wistfully at one another.
And if that experience wasn’t frustrating enough, the airport somehow has the right to charge you an extra $4.25 on top of your fare. Why does that particular patch of road warrant a surcharge that’s applied nowhere else in Sydney? I assume it’s a monopoly thing — it’s certainly not going towards a terrific cab rank.
THE TRAIN RIP OFF
This one’s more on Transport for NSW — but the airport train is a breathtaking rip off. They’ll charge you a $13.80 “station access fee” on top of the train fare, making it cheaper to take a cab from the city for two or more passengers in a city that desperately needs to get cars off the road.
Airport lines around the world often have steep fees — but that’s when there’s a special express train, not a regular suburban train travelling ten minutes from the city. The airport trains don’t even have luggage racks — they’re a nightmare with a big suitcase.
THE PARKING RIP OFF
Holy hell, it’s expensive to park at the airport. At the international terminal, it starts at $9 for half an hour — barely enough time to see your loved one to customs and back, given how far you park from the terminal. An hour costs $18.50, and it goes up to $60.50 for the day — comparable to a discount flight to Melbourne.
You can pre-book parking for cheaper rates, but then you need to accurately estimate how long you need, which doesn’t account for delays — and if you over-estimate, of course you’ll still pay. Or, if you’re literally made of money, why not use valet? It starts at $45 (for two hours).
Parking at Sydney Airport will make you appreciate the bargain rates for the train and taxis.
DUTY FREE
Sure, the airport prices sometimes seem lower because they’re not charging you GST, but you’re almost always paying the full RRP before they take off that 10%.
But it’s on the items with higher taxes where you often really feel the pinch. Bollinger Special Cuvée champagne is currently $69 at the airport’s Heinemann duty-free outlet — or $61 at Dan Murphy’s, despite the GST and the excise!
Oh, and remember that phone charger?
Oh, and remember that phone charger?Source:imgur
THE LONG AND WINDING RETAIL ROAD
There used to be multiple entry points, so you could take to the nearest entrance and end up near your gate — but now everyone has to trudge along the one complex path through that massive retail area where sales assistants hassle you to try perfume samples when you’re rushing to the gate.
I’ve never been to any other international airport that herds its passengers through the middle of a department store. Personally, I’m always so irritated by these forced detours that I resist buying from airport retailers even if I need something.
In other major airports, like Singapore or Hong Kong, they’re constantly looking for ways to make the trip from check in to gate quicker, installing little trains and travelators. Whereas Sydney Airport’s architects clearly have extensive experience in labyrinth design. Every redesign seems to make it more complicated.
The Sydney International Airport's duty free store might be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, but we don’t appreciate being forced to walk through it.
The Sydney International Airport's duty free store might be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, but we don’t appreciate being forced to walk through it.Source:Supplied
FOREIGN EXCHANGE FEES
I always withdraw from ATMs at the destination, because I don’t trust the cash rates at those “convenient” counters dotted throughout the terminal — here’s a detailed analysis of how to beat the fees. But imagine an alternative universe where those who like to deal in cash could walk away from those counters feeling like they hadn’t been scammed!
EXORBITANTLY PRICED FOOD AND DRINK
Very few people plan to eat at the airport, where mediocre food at exorbitant prices is the norm. Some fast food chains keep their airport prices consistent, but everyone else seems to think that airports magically warrant higher prices. Just on Sunday I was astonished to find one of those FNG bars, which costs between $4 and $4.50 at my local cafes, for an astounding $8.90 at a cafe in the Qantas domestic terminal. No delicious snack for me.
It’s almost enough to make you consider shelling out $895 to join the Qantas Club. But don’t calculate how much you’ll pay per visit — it’s a lot even if you travel weekly.
IS THE AIRPORT FOR CUSTOMERS, RETAILERS OR SHAREHOLDERS?
Sydney Airport is the first experience visitors have of our city. So it’s the perfect preparation for a place that has crummy infrastructure, and wants to charge you a fortune to use it. It’s lucky we have amazing beaches, wildlife and food to keep the visitors coming, because we certainly haven’t made any other aspect of the experience of arriving here pleasant.
Whereas if you live here, your overseas trip may well take you through one of the world’s great efficient, modern airports, where they respect your time, don’t rip you off or force you into a department store, and generally try to deliver a great experience.
And, oh, how you’ll notice the difference when you get back to ours.