Getting to Sydney Airport Affordably

Hoju on 01/07/2018 - 21:26

ARGH.
I hope someone has some ingenious ideas.

I've always said kids aren't expensive, and in everyday life they don't cost much.
But go travelling and suddenly the costs add up.

We now have three of the little blighters and find ourselves looking at spending a fortune JUST TO GET TO Sydney airport, never mind onward from there.

2 adults, 2 children, 1 baby one way to Sydney International Airport
About 22km / 30 mins by car

Public transport - $62 if we drive to the nearest train, $77 if we weave our way there from our door
Uber XL (need that extra seat) - up to $87
Drive and park in long stay Wolli creek - $200 parking for 25 days
Shuttle bus - $80
Taxi - $$$$$

It pisses me off that even public transport is so expensive!

I've thought about driving our own car, dropping everyone off, then going off to tempe or botany or somewhere to park for the 4 weeks and get an uber myself. But there's always the risk of there being no car / a damaged one on our return, and to be fair I hate it when people take up all our street parking in the local area here…

Any thoughts and experiences would be much appreciated!

Find Me A Bargain

closed Comments

  • JUSTINO on 02/07/2018 - 12:43

    Just go carpool with anyone you know that is willing to help

  • josho9 on 02/07/2018 - 13:22
    +1

    UberXL with the flybuys points.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 02/07/2018 - 13:23
    +1

    Walk

  • MoonlapseVertigo on 02/07/2018 - 15:35

    i agree it's a total rip off. The opal card hack is looking promising for you - the wife might not let you do it though.

    I can only say that budgeting in the commute costs to and from the airport is an unfortunate part of your holiday expenses which you should factor into the planning. I'd suggest that's as important as shuttle from destination to hotels……waste of money yes, necessary though? I'd say yeah. especially for the kids.
    TBH i parked at 'Park on King' recently, cheap as all hell, got a shop-a-docket discount and worked a charm. 25 days might be a diff story

    https://www.parkonking.com.au/

    Best of luck

  • Haha Hihi Hoho on 02/07/2018 - 15:42
    +1

    drop your fam in the airport, then drive and park you car in Eastgarden Shopping Centre and take 400/ Taxi/ UBER from there?

  • May4th on 02/07/2018 - 15:47
    +1

    as above, catch train to mascot / wolli creek etc, uber from mascot to airport for $8 or so an bypass the airport station $18pp charge. win

  • billybrown on 02/07/2018 - 16:15

    Get your opal cards to 3.60 (or whatever the min tap on is). When you tap off at the airport, the opal will just go into negative (around -13$). And you can just throw it away.

    Doesn't work from airport to city, you need a minimum of $20 on there.

    • HighAndDry on 02/07/2018 - 16:30

      Don't use your own opal card. Buy a new one-off one that's not linked to your details.

    • ribenaboy on 04/07/2018 - 14:01

      nice hack

  • field1985 on 02/07/2018 - 18:20
    +1

    "I've always said kids aren't expensive".. until you have to house, transport, feed, school and clothe them. Then the costs quickly add up.

    • HighAndDry on 02/07/2018 - 18:25

      Well technically the kid itself isn't expensive, just the keeping it alive part.

  • T1OOO on 02/07/2018 - 18:25

    Errmmm wouldn’t the plane tickets for the trip dwarf what ur fretting out?

    Simple solution get a mate to drop u off.

    Otherwise Uber it.

    • kerfuffle on 02/07/2018 - 18:43

      Simple solution get a mate to drop u off.

      OP claims to not have any friends who can drop them off due to size of family

      • T1OOO on 02/07/2018 - 18:52

        The friend can drive his car.

        Drive to ops place. Driver the ops big car. He has one right ?
        Then drive back tonips house take his own car.

        I think op isn’t trying hard enough.

        • kerfuffle on 02/07/2018 - 18:53

          The OP says has a five seater car and a five member family; no big car

        • HighAndDry on 02/07/2018 - 19:22
          +3

          @kerfuffle: Honestly bad (family?) planning… haha.

        • T1OOO on 02/07/2018 - 21:49

          @HighAndDry:

          Squeeze in

  • ajlaird on 02/07/2018 - 18:55
    +1

    Last time I was in Sydney I walked into town from the airport. Good exercise and a chance to see some interesting parks or other things on the way if you have the time.

    • mattythecapybara on 02/07/2018 - 20:43
      +1

      I'm sure the kids won't mind.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/07/2018 - 18:30
      +1

      Yes, the industrial arse of Alexandria has so much more to offer than the Bondi-Bronte walk.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/07/2018 - 19:42

    https://www.carhood.com.au

    Reviews aren't all amazing, but could be worth a go. Might make some money!

  • darkchoc on 02/07/2018 - 19:55
    +4

    Drive and drop everyone to airport. Drive back to mascot station. Meet friend at mascot station, who drives car back for you. You take bus or walk to airport.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/07/2018 - 22:44
      +1

      This is honestly the best option I’ve seen here. OP doesn’t have friends though. Any volunteers?

  • Scot on 02/07/2018 - 20:01

    400 Bus route starts at Burwood near Westfield- Drop wife and Kids an park in free back street( or park somewhere on route) Kids under 4 are free Adults I thinks around $5 and kids over 4 1/2 price one way. Goes to domestic and intl. Terminals( bus route terminates at Bondi Junction) best deal around!

  • OfTheOverflow on 02/07/2018 - 21:03

    I walked back from Int. Airport to Wolli Creek last night, only took 15m but kid could get whiny especially with a handful of luggage each.

    • HighAndDry on 02/07/2018 - 21:04
      +2

      Teaching them financial responsibility, self-sustainability, and getting them healthy all at once? Amazing.

      • OfTheOverflow on 02/07/2018 - 23:02

        Haha, it's the all-in-one solution. Cancel the trip, this is the real deal.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/07/2018 - 22:45

    Considered Newcastle airport? Flights may be cheaper too.

    • retiredfeline on 02/07/2018 - 22:50
      +1

      OP says they are going to International hence O/S.

  • anglais on 03/07/2018 - 09:51

    Learned something new today with the Opal hack. Great thread, thanks OP.

  • ubcool on 03/07/2018 - 13:28

    Try airtasker someone might do it for $50.

  • derpdeder on 03/07/2018 - 13:59

    Train to Mascot, shuttle service from there (Sydney Super Shuttle @ $6 each or Redy2Go @ $17.50 per 4 people).

    Last time for me was 4 x $4.40 for the train ($17.60) plus $17.50 on Redy2Go from one of the hotels near the station, total $35.10.

    Just a warning - I really did not feel like doing this on the return journey but I had purchased return shuttle tickets.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2018 - 11:47

      Bus is free and direct. Don't use a shuttle.

  • tallmantim on 03/07/2018 - 14:46
    +2

    Have you seen "A series of unfortunate events"?

    Two children and a baby would be fine left alone.

    Head away with the missus and spend the money save from the children on Mai Tais.

  • scratchback on 03/07/2018 - 15:03

    no matter which way you choose, u won't save much or the save does not worth your extra effort. The best and the only way is to make a good friend that has a 7 seats wagon.
    Don't waste time on this but think of saving money on the other stuff.

  • Shwayne on 03/07/2018 - 15:17

    Ask a friend for a favour, return the favour in kind.

    Order an Uber, the cost is pretty insignificant.

  • salmon123 on 03/07/2018 - 16:22
    +3

    Collect a bunch of $2 sims … you can use each sim for a new sign up bonus on Uber/Taxify/Ola … change cars every ~7km (to max out your $20 sign up bonus). You might even get lucky and have the same driver for the each leg, since the XL cars are less common.

    If you work the system properly and get the right amount of referral credits, you might only need 2 sim cards and 1 taxi change.

    An alternate strategy might be to use 4 sim cards and take two cars, so you don't have to worry about waiting for 2 XL cars.

    • CI on 03/07/2018 - 17:00
      +1

      that is seriously not worth it. changing cars.. far out man thats next level. The mental energy involved and your personal time is surely worth more.

    • SnowDragon on 05/07/2018 - 15:01

      This is the true way to do it.
      Thanks for the laugh.

  • crazyboy on 03/07/2018 - 17:42

    Its rip off in Australia especially when you have to go to airport.

  • Dogs on 03/07/2018 - 19:15

    I feel for you the airports are a rip off. When we go overseas we drive to Sutherland there is unlimited parking opposite the police station and all around that area, catch the train to Rockdale and catch the 400 bus to the airport. Your car will be ok we have left our car there for weeks while overseas

  • jcsantos on 03/07/2018 - 20:09

    Drive your car , park it on a quiet street somewhere banksia then get an Uber ( minimum fare ) that’s if you dont care much about the car

    • mattythecapybara on 04/07/2018 - 14:44

      Yeah, but if you leave a car somewhere for 25 days the council/police might stick an abandonment sticker on it and tow it if you don't move it.

      Not saying it's likely, but it happened to me (the sticker, not the tow, and SA, not NSW), and I'm not sure of the exact rules here, and it's gonna depend on whether someone reports it ofc.

      • aragornelessar on 04/07/2018 - 19:29
        +1

        Funny story - I had a sticker stuck on my car once in NSW (as I was using the wife's car mostly) so it wasn't surprising. However when I called the council to let them know, it turned out it wasn't my car the sticker was on originally. Someone took it off another car and put it onto mine.

  • Inzo on 03/07/2018 - 20:22

    We did the shuttle bus last time, for both airport and cirq quay for cruises.

    Could have done train, much cheaper, but much more hassle also.

  • whirlpool_guy on 03/07/2018 - 20:51

    Plenty of airport transfer services on Gumtree. Won't hurt to get some quotes.

  • ExtraSalt on 04/07/2018 - 07:55

    Take the train to Mascot and it's a short walk

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 04/07/2018 - 09:04
      +1

      Just a tip for people not from Sydney. It's only 20 cents extra if you want to catch the 400 bus to the International Terminal after catching a train (after the $2 mode-of-transport transfer deduction). The walk is 45 minutes otherwise (domestic is closer).

      • illumination on 04/07/2018 - 14:03

        Wolli Creek is the station to walk to for International (~25 mins - still pretty far).

        If catching bus to International, Banksia should actually be quicker than Mascot, but that's without considering the time it'd take someone to get to Banksia instead of Mascot.

  • dundy on 04/07/2018 - 14:58

    Buy 2 x adult opal cards and 2 x child opal cards, minimum top up total would be $40.

    Tap on.

    Tap off at the airport. The cards will go into negative, but the gates will still open.

    So it would cost $40 + petrol to drive to the station.

    • kerfuffle on 04/07/2018 - 14:58
      +1

      The OP already did that; he's in Hawaii now …

      • dundy on 04/07/2018 - 15:00
        +1

        oh my god..

        • fozzie on 04/07/2018 - 20:39
          -2

          Thread should be closed. I think risking to be fined for a few buck isn’t worth it. If you are caught by guys that check tickets couldn’t get theoretically fined?

        • kerfuffle on 05/07/2018 - 08:38
          +1

          @fozzie: The thing is, they can't fine you on the train as technically you are traveling with a valid ticket i.e. you tapped on

        • retiredfeline on 05/07/2018 - 10:38
          +1

          @fozzie: You could claim that you were going to travel past the airport stations. Even if you get off at the airport stations you could claim you were going to top up from the trackside vending machine. The only way for them to stop this hack is to program the gates to disallow resulting negative balance.

        • HighAndDry on 05/07/2018 - 10:41

          @fozzie: Fined for what? On train you have a valid Opal card that you tapped on with. Getting out of the station you're tapping off and the station barriers let you out.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2018 - 11:44

      This is what I do. Except I make sure to top at the start of my trip so when I take the train back to the airport, I have only $1-3 remaining. Free trip, toss the opal.

      And going to the city I use the $3 option which takes 5 extra minutes. 400 -> Mascot -> City

  • TRAVELO on 04/07/2018 - 16:17

    Train to Mascot and then UberX to KFC Sydney Airport at 565 Ross Smith Avenue. $10.24

    • illumination on 04/07/2018 - 16:25

      But why to KFC? Why not straight to the airport?

      • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2018 - 11:46

        Probably avoids airport levy.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2018 - 11:45

      Or just catch the bus from mascot direct to the airport for no extra $$…

  • fozzie on 04/07/2018 - 20:37
    -1

    Another way would be to get off at banksia and then catch bus 400. To be honest if you are caught with low balance on opal cards you could be fined. Is it worth the risk?

    • Bitsurfr on 04/07/2018 - 20:48
      +3

      You clearly don't understand how the Opal system works. Go read up on it before posting rubbish.

    • illumination on 05/07/2018 - 02:58
      +1

      Another way would be to get off at banksia and then catch bus 400.

      Posted here

      To be honest if you are caught with low balance on opal cards you could be fined. Is it worth the risk?

      So what would the fine be for? Are you suggesting having a "low balance" is a reason you can be fined?

    • HighAndDry on 05/07/2018 - 10:42

      if you are caught with low balance on opal cards you could be fined.

      No you can't. Stop spreading FUD.

      • fozzie on 05/07/2018 - 16:59

        I didn’t know, opal system is stupid then as people can manipulate it to avoid fees.

  • fozzie on 04/07/2018 - 20:39

    Thread should be closed Op has left.

    • illumination on 05/07/2018 - 02:59

      You can always report it

  • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2018 - 11:42
    +1

    It's amazing that people still don't know you can get to the airport for $3 from any part of the city. (ON THE TRAIN and 1 bus stop)!

    It's like 5-10 minutes extra and you save $20 per person.

  • Draxxx on 05/07/2018 - 11:56

    nvm - OP left

  • Datz21 on 05/07/2018 - 17:32

    No

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