To avoid the hefty "Station Access Fee" at Sydney Airport—which can cost over $17 per person in 2026—you can use the "Mascot Shortcut." Instead of taking the train directly to the Airport stations (International or Domestic), take the T8 Airport & South Line to Mascot Station, which is just one stop outside the airport boundary. From Mascot, you can catch a local 420 bus (using your Opal card or credit card) which takes about 10–15 minutes to reach the terminals. Alternatively, if you are traveling light, some travelers choose to walk from Mascot or Wolli Creek, though the bus is the much more practical choice. Another option is to be dropped off at the P7 public car park (for domestic) or the express pick-up (for international), where the first 15 minutes are free, allowing you to avoid both the train fee and expensive taxi surcharges. By simply getting off at the stop before the airport, a family of four can save over $60 on their transit costs.