As per subject, this was the cheapest and most convenient way to get to the airport.
Has the government and the evil private monopoly that runs the airport train stations finally closed it?
Looking online it appears that Airport———>Central (for example) minimum required in opal card is $35
What about Central———> Airport?
Above comment is true unfortunately. Also note:
"I want people to beat the system," Gladys Berejiklian said. "I want people to find the savings because they are there to be had," she said.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/transport-minister-backs…
…what a hypocrite.
They would be then travelling for free from Wednesday, having spent just $30 a week on transport.
Another non-issue for the frothing idiots to get angry about: transport that isn't free.
There's a delicate balance between turning a barely opinionated description of an ordinary situation into an attack on some hypothetical "frothing idiots", and appearing to be a frothing idiot yourself for pulling the attack out of seemingly nowhere and against seemingly nobody.
Gerry Harvey
Harvey Norman?
Gerry Harvey of Harvey Norman pushed for the introduction of GST on low value personal imports that previously did not reach the $1000 barrier. The Government got around the cost of imposing the GST themselves, the compliance costs of which would have dwarfed the GST income, by encouraging foreign businesses with a turnover of A$75,000 or more to act as foreign tax agents for Australia. Most medium to large companies have complied, but of course there is no way the Government can force foreign companies to do so. If you import an item under $1000 from one of those companies, including shipping, you will not pay GST on import.
What's in it for the foreign companies who charge GST? Do they keep some of the money for themselves?
Why would they spend the effort to adjust their sale systems specifically for Australian buyers, and make payments to the Australian government?
@crentist: We will never truly know if most, any, or all of the foreign companies who now charge it actually give anything to the ATO or just pocket it.
There would be zero repurcussions if they just kept it, so I'd guess that ones like aliexpress and banggood who are already devoid of morals are indeed doing so.
What about Central———> Airport?
They have Opal top up machines located inside the barriers should you try the trick and tap off with insufficient funds.
If that doesnt work for you. You can try:
Option 1: Catch a bus
Option 2: Walk it to Mascot
Option 3: Alight and tap out at Mascot, then tap in with a different card and continue your trip to the Airport. You should save ~$5.
oh wow, did not know this.
This should be a post of its own.
Wait, but how?
Airport station access fee is less from Mascot, $6.57 (+ train fare)
Awesome, thanks for this tip!
Option 4: This only applies outside of station staffed hours (5am - 11:30pm for both Airport Stations). If you can arrive prior to the staffed hours, the ticket gates are open and you simply do not touch off. You will be charged the default fare, which for an adult is around ~$8. Useful if you have those cheap 6am flights!
According to Professor Rodney Sims the privatisation of ports has "severely damaged" the Australian economy - so everyone has been harmed by airport privatisation as well as the airport's users.
Can't be everyone, whoever lobbied for privatisation must have benefited.
Worked for me returning from central to airport. They are working on the system to prevent people from touching off with a negative balance.
Minimum Opal recharge in the city at a station is $20, other retailers might allow less.
If you're exiting the airport and don't have a card then minimum top up is $35. Otherwise i think the threshold for an existing card is just $20.
I buy an extra Opal card if i know I'm going to return to Sydney at some stage to bypass the $35 top up, as I'm never in Sydney for an extended period.
It's been closed since January