... But remember, it’s not the best airport ever!
Sydney’s a nice place, although I personally prefer Melbourne as a city – with the wonderful green and yellow trams moving around on the tracks in the street! But, in Sydney, you have the harbour with the bridge, the opera ... Read review
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Advantages: The fuel stop on the way to Sydney is great Disadvantages: but Sydney airport's a bit miserable to say the least...
...in the street! But, in Sydney, you have the harbour with the bridge, the opera house and other things.
Welcome to Sydney...
You will get off the aircraft via an air bridge, and then you will of course move in to the air-conditioned airport. You follow everyone to passport control or the baggage claim as no-one seems to know the way except the guy with the leather briefcase.
So we all follow him, and he ... ...the airport...
Sydney, which has the airport code SYD, is usually quite clean and there are certainly plenty of bins dotted around the facility, as well as vending machines and several public telephones. The toilets? There are a few, but I recommend you just ‘hold it in.’
You may have to wait for your baggage to come, but when it does you’ll be free to leave. Of course, before collecting your luggage ... more
*Part two in tour of the five world continents.
I have checked out both Europe and Asia, and now I’m on my way to Australia. My memory is incredibly pathetic, so I can only remember about the airport in Sydney. But I will also tell you about Narita Airport in Tokyo – one to check out on the way.
You probably have the image of excellent airports in Australia, but after the collapse of Ansett, one of the main Australian airlines, they’re all a bit half empty, or so I am lead to believe. And I’m sure your mind is thinking of a complete dump in Tokyo. We’ll see…
Why’s Sydney the best...
No, I never said it was! The thing is, the same as English people are pompous about everything English, you also seem to enjoy boasting about excellent things in any other English-speaking country, and that (if you’ve seen my profile) really gets on my nerves.
Sydney is actually a very boring airport, just check-in desks, fake airport carpets and just basically a miniature version of Heathrow. Very miserable indeed. It’s pretty empty and it just has loads of walls with nothing else, and I am really bored of places like this.
Australia’s Best...
Sydney is, however, in my opinion the best airport in Australia. It is not excellent and I would much rather be stuck in somewhere such as Narita in Tokyo which you will be hearing more about later. But now, I must tell you all about Sydney Airport…
SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Sydney International Airport has been there for a while, but the management are clearly trying to keep it modern, a task at which sometimes they fail and sometimes, well sometimes we congratulate them. But remember, it’s not the best airport ever!
Sydney’s a nice place, although I personally prefer Melbourne as a city – with the wonderful green and yellow trams moving around on the tracks in the street! But, in Sydney, you have the harbour with the bridge, the opera house and other things.
Welcome to Sydney...
You will get off the aircraft via an air bridge, and then you will of course move in to the air-conditioned airport. You follow everyone to passport control or the baggage claim as no-one seems to know the way except the guy with the leather briefcase.
So we all follow him, and he gets it wrong. Everyone turns round, and at last we are able to find passport control, no mean feat at Sydney airport and a pretty touch task to carry out at places such as Heathrow, too. Well, you got there eventually, thank God.
How you could have arrived...
Qantas have several services to Sydney and Melbourne from London Heathrow, and I believe there are some from Manchester (will check). These flights, however, stop to refuel in airports along the way, such as Singapore, Narita and to New Zealand in LA!
I believe there is one daily service to Sydney by Qantas and also another by British Airways, code shared with Air France and Iberia. For more information on Australian flights, then you could check out BBC Ceefax page 444, the flight arrivals for LHR T4.
The aircraft used on these routes are jumbo-jet 747-400s, which I believe to be quite new. Qantas and British Airways are both reorganising their cabins to offer four class configuration: Economy, Economy Plus, Business and First Class/ Club World.
More about the airport...
Sydney, which has the airport code SYD, is usually quite clean and there are certainly plenty of bins dotted around the facility, as well as vending machines and several public telephones. The toilets? There are a few, but I recommend you just ‘hold it in.’
You may have to wait for your baggage to come, but when it does you’ll be free to leave. Of course, before collecting your luggage you will have passed through the low-ceilinged passport control area, where they seem to have problems with every passenger.
Back to England...
Yes, your time is up. You’ve explored Sydney on your wonderful holiday but now you’re back at the airport checking in. You’ve returned the rental car to one of the numerous desks and now your standing in a queue at check-in waiting for your turn.
At Sydney, you will experience especially long queues because it is pretty overcrowded and people are everywhere! But you will eventually check in and be free to roam around between the shops, making the occasional purchase from a reliable vendor.
So you now need to go to security control. Compared to some airports I’ve been to, I reckon they’re pretty laid back at security, or at least they were until September 11 came along and suddenly they must have decided to be much more secure about it all.
Once your through, you could go and find your gate, something you should leave around half an hour for at Sydney (mega-maze). Or, you could do some shopping. Well, I was with my wife. So guess what? We went shopping. ‘It’s lovely, Rachel…’
Shopping...
I must say, Sydney airport is hardly a shopping centre, but there are a few places to keep you amused, or should I say awake, and you might (big emphasis on MIGHT) find something interesting that will remind you of your holiday. But forget the airport.
So you’ve been shopping and now it’s time to find your gate among the many there are in such a wonderful numerical order. Well, after much trying, you eventually find your gate, and you sit in a holding pen for many an hour and get increasingly bored. ‘Fun!’
On Board...
The visit’s finished and you’re sitting in a 747. But expect to wait at least half an hour. You see, the chef ate all of the food. No, not really, it’s just that there seem to be lotes and lots and lots of delays at Sydney. But the chances are that you’ll recover time.
You see, on long trips, the wind can either push you forward or push you back, therefore slowing you down or speeding you up. And you could arrive anything up to one hour earlier than scheduled because of this! It’s really quite strange, but useful.
TOKYO NARITA AIRPORT
You’ve stopped to refuel. But, because it’s illegal to refuel an aircraft whilst it’s full of people, you’re all ordered to get off, something which you do. The children keep asking how long left, and you’re really fed up. But take a look round Narita Airport. It’s great!
You can keep the kid’s amused by watching films on the video walls at the airport, and of course they will be in English, or perhaps BBC World Service is more appealing? That is also available as well as cartoons and some of the latest films on the market!
Welcome to Narita...
This airport is maintained in spotless condition, with staff everywhere keeping it clean. There are plenty of smoking areas for the chiminese (I mean Chinese) and the Japanese, as they seem to smoke a lot for some reason or another. It’s very interesting, isn’t it?
It is very new and modern, and if you get a chance, take a ride on the airport’s own railway! If your lucky, your flight may be delayed a good few hours and you’ll be sent to a hotel. I’d better be careful though – the ceilings are low and I don’t want to hit myself!
Back the next day...
You’ve had an excellent night’s sleep in the hotel and you return to the airport, to check in. Check-in is organised and everyone knows what they are doing. The staff can speak excellent English and will gladly point you in the right direction if you ask.
It’s through passport control, where everyone is seemingly over-friendly, and then across the ‘land-escalators’ as my children call them, which will take you straight to your gate. And there is one thing. Take a look at the bins – each with three sections.
Shopping...
There are plenty of places to buy at Narita, there certainly isn’t a shortage! Most sell electrical goods. If you’re going to buy electrical goods though, it’s best to stick to battery-operated things such as cameras and things like that – the power voltage!
And watch it! Some people in the shops know you are not familiar with their currency and will con you in to spending to much and take the money for themselves, so do watch these guys – they are very dangerous! But the goods are top-quality.
Summary...
If you’re going on holiday to Australia, then don’t bother! Get off the plane in Tokyo and stay there in stead – after all, the airport’s much nicer. Although, maybe there are some interesting things to be seen in Sydney? I’ll leave the exploring to you...
!!!Latest Dan*E News!!! My wife is due soon, so there should be a mini Dan*E or Mrs Dan*E here very soon!
Advantages: Clean & friendly Disadvantages: not much
For tourist looking for Lanolin cream this Austraian Speciality, look no further than the duty freee shop after passport control, there is a variety of brands and prices are quite reasonable as well.
For fans of Jurlique and Bloom the two well known skincare brand from Australia. My advice is buy at the airport. Not only is it cheaper and tax free and the selection is just as good as any department store. For Jurlique, I recommend the Rose had cream ... ...abot 1/3 of UK price.
For regular traveler, I recommend one of their floral water "Travel Blend" it is a blend of Lemon, Bergarmot and Grapefruit and it is very refreshing!
Also for fashion lovers, there is a good selection within the duty free for sunglasses, Australian fashion desingers wear including Akira Ishirogawa, Lisa Ho, Bettina Liano, and many more.
You will also find our beloved WHSmith in Sydney Airport as well.
The current favourable ...
Erzulie 03.06.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Sydney, Australia (SYD)
This is ont thing i do not expect in a place where thigns are usualy quite expensive the ability to acces the internet for free.
I was shoked and took advantage of this hi tech system which was very fast. The airport itslef is very big and busy, but it never seemed that way. It was not over crowded.
The shops were very good and food was of a good selection.
I traveled out of and into the international terminal, and the quantus terminal. I also ... ...domestic terminal. I therefore know that the airport is of a high standard throughout. There are two train stops, one for domestic and one for international. This i found was the easiest way to get into the city at A$10.40 it equates to just over £4.
Nice Airport in a great lively city. ...
MagicMeeks 18.10.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Sydney, Australia (SYD)
Advantages: easy to navigate, clean and spacious Disadvantages: none to think of
A very quick airport to navigate around with pleanty of helpful staff. The airport is clean and tidy and is very well appointed. After a long flight in, it was good that everything was well appointed. Cheap to get into the centre of Sydney by either local taxi or the hotel shuttle buses. Both are waiting at the departure exit doors. Upon leaving the check in time was so quick with 30 plus agents ready to book you in. Only downside is if you are a ...
kinderscout2001 25.10.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Sydney, Australia (SYD)
