Brisbane Airport — Attraction in Brisbane City

I can see that there is a LOT of works happening on all the improvements at Both our Domestic and International Airports. I am delighted to say that the journey there was very easy to follow the clear signs to find my way to the Domestic AirPort, for anyone who has never been to Brisbane Airport, now I am going to suggest in my most diplomatic way, because what I suggest may already be in place for the in going plans just saying now so I don’t risk stepping on anyone’s toes! I would like it clear to inform those who may need to go from Domestic Terminal to International and vice versa that you will need transport of some kind as it is waaay too far to walk it especially with luggage! Also unless you know that the person you are going to collect is actually already waiting for you at the pickup and drop off zones the Zones are from 1-6 all in different colours with ) being the area for those who live with disabilities. If they are not already there you run the risk of being fined for just waiting there, trust me the officials were there looking with sharp eyes and ready to pounce! I chose to pull out as my Don had only literally just landed about 10 minutes earlier, the signs were easy to follow to find the short stay car park. It did take all the hassle out of it all and worth the $14 it cost to wait the few minutes to contact my Son to let him know where I was waiting for him to go to the toilet, wash his hands, collect his bag from the baggage collection section then come and locate me. I chose to sit in the beautiful warm sun at a table at the outdoor cafe at the entrance near the door for Virgin Air, on one end, the entrance for the SKY WALK at the other end, which brought us both up to the top of the travelator we turned left there to head towards the short and long stay car park,where I paid for my parking, those of you whom are savvy and paid for your tickets good on you, as I was not expecting to be parking, the lift then brought us back down to the level we were parked where I could easily trace back to my car, easy clear signs for driving back out and for those like me travelling back to Redcliffe make sure you are keep to your left side when you are back on the motorway to head home as I had to quickly make my way over in time for the Redcliffe turn off, it appears a lot sooner than expected, clear sailing all the way back after that! There you go not so bad. The turn off for taking to the International Airport was a bit tricky for me, lucky it was very early in the morning as I managed to make two wrong turns getting there, I ended up inthe parking for staff area! I managed to finally find my way to where I needed to go to park, though with bigger clearer signs this wouldn’t have happened. Lucky we were waaay earlier than need be. The cafes and shops etc we went right past and didn’t see them on the 2nd level, we were left wondering where they all were, nothing and no one told us, it would have been nice to be able to get a seat somewhere while we waited, though my Son was first in to have his bag put through, I was able to go wave him off on his way to passport control then headed home. I really have no complaints as the Staff were very helpful in locating the toilets for me! I hope this helps some of you reading this, take care and I hope your journey is a...

We were flying through BNE with a one night stopover to make our connection. As with most airports nowadays, BNE is in a construction/refurb/expasion phase (when was the last time you were in a fully completed and functioning airport with no scaffolding or ploythene walls/barriers??? LOL), so this review kinda works around that. On arrival, all went exceeding smoothly, with the new Australia Smart Immigraiton system working flawlessly. Scan passport, step thru fancy gate sytsem, pick up bags and hand slip to customs guy; nothing to declare, exit to international arrivals hall!

And then we get into a little tussle trying to get to our supposed 'airport' hotel, the Novotel Brisbane Airport. On asking at info desk , we were informed that there was not shuttle transfer after 10.30am (we are at 11am), that taxi's probably wouldn't take us as it's too short a run, and gthat we should take the free bus to the next door shopping centre DFO SkyGate. Advised that the hotel is quote "just over the road from the Woolworths drop off". We are travelling for work, with work gear, including 4 x 23kg main bags, 2 roller carry ones, and just can't walk about on and off buses. No-one elses' 'fault' per-se, but international airports normally cater to passenegers with large baggage...

SO off we trot to try to find if we can manage this. First dumb-steer, all signs say "Go to Level 4 for Shuttle Buses". On the way there, and luckily wew were cuaght on way by an info person who redirected us to Level 1 far right to catch bus (where there was still a sign directing us to Level 4 for SkyGate bus, more than a bit confusing)

But, up comes the transfer bus after only a 20 minute wait, but it's obvious to us that this is not set up for large baggage. Load us on, 25 minute trip later and we disemak in the middle of a shopping mall. Advised by a passer by where Novotel was, and told we should use Woolworth shopping trolleys to wheel our bags over. Sheesh, less than ideal. Okay, so 2 trolleys 'borrowed' from Woolworths (sure they are NOT happy about this happening!!), bags loaded, and we wheeel urselves to 800 yds, thru the mall, over the crossing, thru their carpark, to check into Novotel looking like homeless bag people !!! Surprised we weren;t challenged somewhere by security! LOL

After talking to Novotel front desk team, this is apparently an on going issue 'since' COVID... Geez, that all opened up and got going again in Dec 2021, it's April 2023, get it together. We do expect more from ACCOR Hotels and partners... Luckily we were informed that the morning shuttle runs were available to get back to International Departures at 4.35am the next morning. This went smoothly, at AUD8 per person door to door, bargain, and great service from STA Transport (see otehr review).

BNE Airport, if you are to call yourself an international standard airport, with transit hotels 'on site' and trying to promote to us to fly through to connecting flights, this shuttle/hotel transfer system needs to be reviewed and upgraded. We could not recommend this as an option for anyone with connecting flights...

Brisbane is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, known for its vibrant culture and natural attractions. However, the experience at Brisbane International Airport falls significantly short of the standard one might expect from a city of such global appeal.

Departure Terminal:

(a) Security Clearance: The security process is notably inefficient. Passengers are subjected to long queues due to the presence of only two or three security counters managing hundreds of travelers. This creates an unnecessarily stressful start to the journey.

(b) Seating Availability: Once past immigration, the lack of seating near the gates is alarming. For flights with over 200 passengers, there are often only 30 to 40 seats available. This results in families, including mothers with young children, being forced to sit on the floor—an unacceptable situation for any international airport.

(c) Food Outlets: Dining options are extremely limited, with Coffee Club being the predominant choice. Even here, there is a noticeable shortage of seating, making it difficult for passengers to comfortably enjoy a meal while waiting for their flight.

(d) Terminal Design and Aesthetics: The overall design and visual appeal of the departure terminal are uninspired and outdated, lacking both functionality and aesthetic coherence.

Arrival Terminal:

(a) Immigration Process Confusion: Passengers are greeted with a confusing array of signs and messages that make it unclear which lines to join based on passport type. This leads to unnecessary delays and frustration.

(b) Design and Staffing: The immigration area is poorly designed and dimly lit in certain sections, with an overwhelming amount of signage but little guidance. Furthermore, the limited presence of immigration officers adds to the inefficiency of the process.

(c)Self-Service Kiosks: The number of available self-service immigration kiosks is insufficient for the volume of arriving passengers, resulting in long wait times and congestion.

Final Thoughts:

Given that Brisbane is scheduled to host the Olympic Games in the near future, it is imperative that significant improvements be made to the Brisbane International Airport. The current state of both the departure and arrival terminals is not reflective of a world-class city. Executive management must seriously consider a complete redesign to ensure the airport meets international standards and provides a welcoming experience for...