Unlike the LAX experience, I had a great experience with the counter staff during the check-in…read moreprocess at MEL. The employee was very friendly, helpful, and went beyond the call of duty with checking if my additional container could be checked vs carried onto the plane. I was extremely pleased with her conduct and demeanor during a busy morning crowd.

Quite spacious, not crowded and helpful staff. That was early in the morning, so might be different…read moreat other times.

Our experience on Virgin Australia was a flight from Hobart to Melbourne. I'd call it a good…read moreexperience, although I think we did some circling as this flight should have been a shorter hop. Leg room was a little tight, service was pleasant, and we appreciated the warm quiche snack. I'd rated Virgin higher than Jet Star and lower than Quantas in terms of internal Australian service. Those are practically the only 3 choices to fly within Australia.

Sadly very quick to point out I'd entered the wrong side by mistake…read more Not a good thing to embarrass your customers

I flew one way from Sydney to Melbourne with TigerAir. They seemed to be basically the same price…read moreas the competition, and I picked them because of their (slightly) higher reviews. I wasn't impressed by these guys. They were over an hour late showing up to the gate, due to the fact that the plane had some maintenance issues at the other airport and didn't get to take off on schedule. Since we were running late, our pilot seemed to ignore storms and turbulence and plowed through them in a very bumpy flight. The plane seemed pretty old and run down. It was in serious need of an upgrade. Even the flight attendants' uniforms were retro. They looked straight outta the 70's. Everything costs extra with these super budget guys. Need something to drink? That'll be extra. Surcharges for everything except going to the lavatories. Thankfully, my luggage and I arrived intact.

I took a round trip flight from Melbourne to Sydney and thought my experience was just fine. I…read morebooked my flight at the last minute (two days in advance) and even though I was new to Tigerair's process, everything went smoothly. When you book the flight, they are very clear and upfront in stating that there is a weight limit on the one piece of luggage you're permitted to bring and also that food/beverages are not included in the price. The cost of airfare is the lowest compared to the other options, so you get what you pay for - airfare from one city to another and nothing more. If you decide to use Tigerair, make sure you check in for your flight online so that it's one less thing to worry about at the airport. I think they let you check in 72 hours in advance. Also, if you have a carry on and know it's under the weight limit, you can go ahead through airport security and go straight to the gate. No need to stop by the Tigerair check-in. They'll double check the weight of your carry-on at the gate. I will admit that they will corral you like cattle at the gate. If you fly out from Melbourne, you'll have to walk onto the tarmac to board. If you're not okay with that, you should go with a different airline. Otherwise, accept that you're using a budget airline.

Flew to Brisbane with Jetstar in the morning and was flying back to Sydney that night with Tiger…read moreAirways. It was the first time I was to fly with Tiger and they cancelled the flight via text and email. I immediately called customer service which is based in the Philippines and waited 15 minutes for someone to answer the phone. After 20 minutes on a mobile phone I realised that I would not be provided with any assistance. I went to the airport and waited two and a half hours for Tiger Airways staff to get to work at 6.30pm. To say Tiger Airways staff are unhelpful is a gross understatement. They could not give a rats about the customer at all, in fact their complete lack of ability to provide assistance was incredulous. Their idea of assistance was for me to sleep at the airport in the clothes I was wearing, go without food or showering and my prescription medication for the next two days. The fact that they are required to put passengers on the next available flight doesn't hold for them if there are no seats available. I was asked haughtily if I had read their terms and conditions. Now I have to wait two weeks to get my money back and they refused to give me a receipt. Disgraceful airline, rude staff with no empathy or common sense and appalling service. Tiger Airlines business practices need to be investigated. To make matters worse all the other airlines jacked up their prices to take cancelled passengers on board. I slept at the airport and had to pay $552 to fly one way to Sydney the next morning. Just a horrible stressful experience and I will NEVER choose Tiger Airways again.

Skybus is a convenient and reliable way to get from MEL to Southern Cross Station. It is quite…read morepricey at $18 one way but as a tourist visiting Melbourne the first time, I highly recommend this option. Just follow the signs and you will find the bus station and just get your ticket right from the booth. I would just get the one way as there is no money saved for a return ticket and the chances of losing your ticket might mean your need to pay another $18 to get back! The ride was fast and smooth. I did not use the free hotel transfer which is included in the fare as I was just staying at an Airbnb just across the Station. If you have more than 2 people, maybe taking a taxi directly to your hotel is a better choice.

If you're thinking of leaving the airport, SkyBus is a great option. Since I used their services…read morefor a long layover, my review will mostly focus on that. It cost around 36 AUD for a roundtrip bus ride. The bus takes you from the Melbourne airport to Southern Cross station. The ride takes about 10-15 minutes each way depending on traffic. From there you can walk down the road and hop on a tram to the city center. Pro tip for international travelers: the tram within the city center is FREE! Wifi is included with your purchase and you can use it while riding the bus. Overall a positive experience. The cost of the ride is pricey, but definitely beats waiting around at the airport during a long layover.