Domestic to International transfer times in Brisbane

[CanCanD]

Hi all,

Looking to fly home to Canada in July with my kids, first time in 7 years! We are all dual citizens and vaccinated, and Canada no longer requires period of a negative test to arrive. Looking to book the Adelaide-Brisbane-Vancouver onwards though the transfer in Brisbane is 1 hour and 15 minutes. I've normally flown through Auckland which is one airport, but thought staying within our 2 countries would be easier. But, is 1 hour and 15min enough to transfer from domestic to international? Our bags would be checked through, and we would have our tickets, though obviously would need to do security and customs in Brisbane.

I saw the complimentary bus runs every 10 minutes and takes about 10-15min to get to the other terminal. Just wondering if it's pretty efficient there? I'm not expecting too many issues through security or customs. There just isn't any earlier flight into Brisbane so wondering if I need to go a different way.

TIA!

 

[AIRwin]

I saw the complimentary bus runs every 10 minutes and takes about 10-15min to get to the other terminal. Just wondering if it's pretty efficient there?

Yes it's reliable and the small electronic display at the orange Terminal Transfer bus stop now shows a count down to the next bus...

 

[eric2011]

Welcome to AFF, your first post and its a hard one.

IMHO the 75 minute connection time is too tight. My friend Google tells me that the minimum time is 90 minutes.
Remember your flight from ADL might be 10 minutes late, you get to the bus stop to see the bus going off down the road and the next bus is another 10 minutes away plus the 10 minutes for the actual trip.

Me and my dicky heart says don't do it

 

[Brissy1]

Hi all,

Looking to fly home to Canada in July with my kids, first time in 7 years! We are all dual citizens and vaccinated, and Canada no longer requires period of a negative test to arrive. Looking to book the Adelaide-Brisbane-Vancouver onwards though the transfer in Brisbane is 1 hour and 15 minutes. I've normally flown through Auckland which is one airport, but thought staying within our 2 countries would be easier. But, is 1 hour and 15min enough to transfer from domestic to international? Our bags would be checked through, and we would have our tickets, though obviously would need to do security and customs in Brisbane.

I saw the complimentary bus runs every 10 minutes and takes about 10-15min to get to the other terminal. Just wondering if it's pretty efficient there? I'm not expecting too many issues through security or customs. There just isn't any earlier flight into Brisbane so wondering if I need to go a different way.

TIA!

Check that you are actually on the earliest flight, adl - bne is a well serviced route with flights from about 6:00am qfa and va. Could be the auto ticketing is assessing min transfer for your convenience

 

[henrus]

For reference these are the flights the OP is referring to:


The 6:10am QF flight is the first flight of the day so aside from an overnight stay in Brisbane then you don't have much choice.

Obviously being on a single ticket Qantas and Air Canada are responsible for getting you to your final destination. Worst case scenario is you miss your flight at which point Air Canada would rebook you on the next best flight. From Brisbane depending on the day and space this could mean:

- The following days Air Canada service, they would likely pay for the night in Brisbane.
- Re routing from BNE-AKL-YVR on the 12pm Air NZ service from Brisbane (arrives Vancouver 2pm instead).
- Connecting from Brisbane to Sydney and then onwards to Vancouver on Qantas (arrives Vancouver 5pm instead).

Obviously these are just some examples but if your comfortable with the tight connection and the slight possibility of one of the above happening then I'd say book it (I would).

 

[Quickstatus]

1hr 15min is too tight
Irrespective of whether both flights on one ticket or not

Lets assume flights are all on time:
The aircraft lands= clock starts ticking
Get out of aircraft to bus stop = 10 min
Wait for bus = 10min
Bus trip = 10 min
Walk to immigration = 10 min
Time in immigration 15 min
Walk to gate = 10 min
Toilet stop = 10 min

total time elapsed = 1hr 15 min. But that's the aircraft departure time

Then add in the extra time it will take when travelling with children

Minimum connection time for me is 90min to 2hrs. Even then, you might make the flight (just) but prepared to miss the AC flight and then go through the rigmarole of waiting for the next AC flight which may be the next day.

 

[serfty]

My friend Google tells me that the minimum time is 90 minutes.

Indeed it is 1½ hours - except for ** to AC which is 1¼ hours according to ExpertFlyer.

There is MCT and MST (Minimum Sensible Time); for me MST here is 2½ hours. Remember the flight commences boarding normally ¾ hours before scheduled departure time.

Here's the E/f VIEW:
Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com

Minimum Connect Times:
Connecting at BNE
Incoming airline QF
Outgoing airline AC
Flight type Domestic to International

STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I.
ONLINE    .30  1.30  1.30   .50
OFFLINE   .30  1.30  1.30   .50
** OR * ARE ALL
**-AC DI  1.15 ALL - FLT    1 - 1999
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  2D
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  2Z
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  2D -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  2Z -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AD -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AR -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  BC -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  BT -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  D8 -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  DY -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  EK -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  EW -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  F9 -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  H2 -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  HX -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  KC -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  MX -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  NK -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  O2 -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  PC -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  PD -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  QS -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  RO -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  SY -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  TR -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  TS -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  UX -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  VA -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  VB -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  W6 -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  XP -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  Y4 -  AA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  AR
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  BC
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  BT
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  D8
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  DY
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  EK
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  EW
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  F9
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  H2
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  KC
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  MX
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  O2
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  PC
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  PD
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  QS
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  RO
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  SY
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  TR
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  UX
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  VA
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  VB
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  W6
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  XP
**-** DI GLSUP CDS  AA -  Y4
.

 

[justinbrett]

You could get a taxi instead of waiting for the bus, unlike Sydney both terminals are on the same road next to each other (but not walking distance) and you'd be there in 5 minutes. Drop you right off at the departures door (otherwise it's a bit of a hike from the bus).

I wouldn't be booking it though, I'd rather pay for a hotel the night before.

 

[harvyk]

I did a 90 minute Dom to Int connection in BNE a few years back, it was not fun esp as my flight from CBR arrived late. I ended up getting a taxi from one terminal to the other as I couldn't wait for the bus, the taxi argued with me that he wasn't going to do the fare until the supervisor came over and ordered him to take me.

Whilst you may be able to pull off a 75 minute transfer, all it'll take is one thing not going right (eg the bus just that slightly bit more full than expected) to throw your plans into disarray.

 

[austgap]

@CanCanD Have just done the transit from domestic to international in Brisbane this morning. VA->SQ. Took us sub 30mins from deplaning to walking into the SQ lounge. Had done online check-in, however it was very easy and helped with no queues at security at international

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Just thought I'd follow up here as I've got a domestic to international connection coming up in a couple of months. Specifically, I'll be flying QF550 from SYD to BNE (arriving at 19:35) connecting onto QF15 from BNE to LAX (departing at 22:00). Since I'm travelling Qantas the whole way is there an airside transfer service like they have in SYD? Alternatively, if that is not the case, would the bus be the best bet? I take it baggage will be checked thru to LA?

-RooFlyer88

 

[AIRwin]

Since I'm travelling Qantas the whole way is there an airside transfer service like they have in SYD? Alternatively, if that is not the case, would the bus be the best bet? I take it baggage will be checked thru to LA?

No airside transfer bus, just take the terminal transfer bus outside the domestic terminal (baggage will have already been checked through):

Terminal Transfers - Brisbane Airport

Brisbane Airport complimentary transfer bus services are available between terminals, the Skygate Centre, DFO and AIRPARK. Find more information here.

www.bne.com.au

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/at-the-airport/airport-guides/brisbane-domestic-airport-guide.html

 

[kangarooflyer88]

No airside transfer bus, just take the terminal transfer bus outside the domestic terminal (baggage will have already been checked through):

Terminal Transfers - Brisbane Airport

Brisbane Airport complimentary transfer bus services are available between terminals, the Skygate Centre, DFO and AIRPARK. Find more information here.

www.bne.com.au

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/at-the-airport/airport-guides/brisbane-domestic-airport-guide.html

Thanks for that. Couple more questions if I may:

• I take it the whole check-in process will occur at Sydney domestic (i.e. I'll tell the agent I'm flying to LA via Brisbane, they'll check my passport and issue boarding passes)?
• What is the lounge situation like at Brisbane international? I see there is an international Qantas lounge but reading reviews online it seems to get packed and the food options are limited. If that's the case, would it make sense to use the domestic business lounge before transferring over to the international terminal?

-RooFlyer88

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks for that. Couple more questions if I may:

• I take it the whole check-in process will occur at Sydney domestic (i.e. I'll tell the agent I'm flying to LA via Brisbane, they'll check my passport and issue boarding passes)?
• What is the lounge situation like at Brisbane international? I see there is an international Qantas lounge but reading reviews online it seems to get packed and the food options are limited. If that's the case, would it make sense to use the domestic business lounge before transferring over to the international terminal?

-RooFlyer88

No it wouldn’t make any sense to use the Dom lounge.
The food options at BNE Int lounge are far, far better than the Dom J lounge

EDIT And yes is the answer to Q1. You will be checked through to LAX at SYD

 

[Mwenenzi]

Thanks for that. Couple more questions if I may:

• I take it the whole check-in process will occur at Sydney domestic (i.e. I'll tell the agent I'm flying to LA via Brisbane, they'll check my passport and issue boarding passes)?
• What is the lounge situation like at Brisbane international? I see there is an international Qantas lounge but reading reviews online it seems to get packed and the food options are limited. If that's the case, would it make sense to use the domestic business lounge before transferring over to the international terminal?

-RooFlyer88

Q1 Yes. If like MEL, check in at a desk
Q2. You do not have time for a domestic lounge visit. At the international terminal you need to process security & emigration(kiosk).

 

[henrus]

The food options at BNE Int lounge are far, far better than the Dom J lounge

Yep and champagne at the bar, must specifically walk up and ask for a class of “Piper”!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Yep and champagne at the bar, must specifically walk up and ask for a class of “Piper”!

Served to P1 in the mini red roped area too