SkyBus City Express · 30-45 min (airport T2 guide; traffic varies)
Where they are
One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
AVV7.8+0.8
MEL7.0
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
AVV6.4
MEL6.5+0.1
Food & retail
Best for
AVV
Jetstar travellers living west of Melbourne or in GeelongBali / domestic LCC trips that start closer to home than MELDrivers using the free first parking hour
Watch out for
AVV
No airline lounge or Priority Pass productInternational requires a walk from domestic check-inFront-of-airport roadworks can add access delay
Amenities and tips
AVV
SkyBus Avalon City ExpressFirst 60 minutes free parkingInternational Bali service (Jetstar)Route 18 Lara + MyBus Geelong
AVV · Melbourne’s low-cost second airport: easy SkyBus and free first-hour parking, Jetstar Bali international, and deliberately thin soft product with no Priority Pass or airline lounge.
MEL · Walkable four-terminal precinct with a useful SkyBus CBD link, but no passenger rail and a hard 1am–4am public-transport gap. T123 Hub changes T1–T3 kerbside from 6 October 2026.
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
AVV5.8
MEL6.8+1.0
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
AVV7.2+1.7
MEL5.5
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
AVV6.6+0.1
MEL6.5
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
AVV2.5
MEL7.0+4.5
SkyBus users heading to Southern Cross
MEL
Qantas or Virgin Australia domesticSkyBus to Southern CrossT2 lounge hopping if eligible24-hour international operations (airport itself)
Soft F&B vs Tullamarine
No published MCT, security waits, or official annual pax total on pages fetched
MEL
No airport train — rail project is not openSkyBus does not run 1:00am–4:00amT123 Hub from 6 Oct 2026: T1–T3 public pick-up/drop-off movesQantas domestic T1 vs international T2 splitNo public Wi-Fi in T1International arrivals queues
Compact LCC terminals
Check in domestic, then walk to international
Intl check-in opens three hours before departure. After check-in you leave the domestic terminal and walk to international security/passport control.
There is no Priority Pass or airline lounge here
Public international waiting area is not a VIP lounge. Jetstar Business Max does not list Avalon.
SkyBus is the sourced Melbourne path
Avalon City Express meets major flights from Bay 1 — Adult A$29 OW to Southern Cross / Werribee.
MEL
Free Wi-Fi (T2/T3/T4)Filtered water fountainsT2 lounge clusterT2 diningSkyBus + PTV (no rail)Family / accessible rooms
T123 Hub opens Tuesday 6 October 2026
Public T1/T2/T3 drop-off moves to T123 Level 3; private pick-up to Level 2 rear. Taxi and rideshare pick-up stay on the ground-level forecourt.
Do not count on a 1am–4am SkyBus
Official SkyBus City Express hours are 4:00am–1:00am, not 24/7.
Qantas domestic is T1; Qantas international is T2
Same airline, two terminals. Following the first Qantas sign is a common miss.
