Qantas Lounge Gold Coast

[hwy]

I cannot understand why JQ has such decent market share out of OOL. As a generalisation the flights are always always delayed if leaving OOL any time after 8:30am

 

[justinbrett]

I cannot understand why JQ has such decent market share out of OOL. As a generalisation the flights are always always delayed if leaving OOL any time after 8:30am

No need to generalise - we have stats! https://www.bitre.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/BITRE_OTP_Report_September_2023.pdf

Looks like VA is just as bad for SYD - and much worse going to MEL.

But pretty bad stats all around for all airlines.

 

[Lynda2475]

Due to a schedule change on earlier flights the same day on a different PNR I wont be able to make an upcoming early arvo flight out of OOL in late January. Right now the schedule shows that there is a later QF flight around 6pm from OOL-SYD, yet everyone here is stating no later flights.

Is it likely the evening flight will be canned? Should I instead plan to spend the night and fly first thing the next day? I've held off moving the flight in case the earlier PNR schedule changes again (originally I had a 3hr buffer now its only 35 mins).

 

[dairyfloss]

Due to a schedule change on earlier flights the same day on a different PNR I wont be able to make an upcoming early arvo flight out of OOL in late January. Right now the schedule shows that there is a later QF flight around 6pm from OOL-SYD, yet everyone here is stating no later flights.

Is it likely the evening flight will be canned? Should I instead plan to spend the night and fly first thing the next day? I've held off moving the flight in case the earlier PNR schedule changes again (originally I had a 3hr buffer now its only 35 mins).

The last 3-4 times I’ve been to the Goldie, I’ve come and gone through BNE, and I don’t think I’ll bother with OOL anymore, unless I’m staying quite a bit further south (like Kingscliff, perhaps).

I’ve found there’s not much of a difference (20-30 mins - assumes driving) to transfer in & out of BNE, which opens up a heap more flights, cheaper and better car rental options, and of course; much better lounges, airport F&B and more. But if you’re starting from south of Surfers it can start to add more time than you might like, for the sake of those benefits

Just some food for thought, if your schedule change alternatives don’t work out.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[justinbrett]

Due to a schedule change on earlier flights the same day on a different PNR I wont be able to make an upcoming early arvo flight out of OOL in late January. Right now the schedule shows that there is a later QF flight around 6pm from OOL-SYD, yet everyone here is stating no later flights.

Is it likely the evening flight will be canned? Should I instead plan to spend the night and fly first thing the next day? I've held off moving the flight in case the earlier PNR schedule changes again (originally I had a 3hr buffer now its only 35 mins).

An extra flight for the Christmas peak I assume.

The last 3-4 times I’ve been to the Goldie, I’ve come and gone through BNE, and I don’t think I’ll bother with OOL anymore, unless I’m staying quite a bit further south (like Kingscliff, perhaps).

I’ve found there’s not much of a difference (20-30 mins - assumes driving) to transfer in & out of BNE, which opens up a heap more flights, cheaper and better car rental options, and of course; much better lounges, airport F&B and more. But if you’re starting from south of Surfers it can start to add more time than you might like, for the sake of those benefits

Just some food for thought, if your schedule change alternatives don’t work out.

Cheers,
Matt.

If renting a car - yes. For those of us who live here - or those coming expecting to rely on public transport (a perfectly valid, and increasingly better option*), OOL is a much better idea. I have Ubered from BNE connecting from HNL (no same day option to OOL) and it's around $150 (vs around $50 to OOL), public transport to BNE is a long slog that's still quite expensive ($30ish), whereas to OOL is pretty decent - light rail to Broadbeach South and then dedicated bus to the airport (all at normal Translink rates). This will improve as the light rail is extended.

So it really depends, if going SYD/MEL or overseas I stick with OOL, domestic locations like DRW/PER etc I go to BNE.

Having just moved from NTL where I had the same issue with SYD, it's a familiar situation, although much more feasible to go to BNE vs NTL going to SYD.

*Frankly unless you're going to the theme parks, or staying south of Broadbeach, I think renting a car on the GC is a liability these days. Traffic is horrendous and parking near impossible. In addition, there are often severe delays on the M1 to/from Brisbane which can easily add 30 minutes to your trip, especially during school holidays.

 

[RichardMEL]

A bit OT to lounges, but I'm a PT user myself from OOL and absent the skybus operation which was a door to door service (but much pricier of course) that got killed off what 3-4 years ago now? getting into GC proper/Broadbeach/Surfers etc is actually really simple and very affordable. The 777 bus leaves OOL every 15 minutes pretty much the whole day and connects directly to the tram at Broadbeach and from there you can get up through surfers up to the theme park area. There's also the 760(?) bus from OOL, but I think that goes more the other way (I connect to the tram and it's simples). Cost of under $5 to get to surfers and if not with a lot of luggage is perfectly acceptable way to do it (though the 777 bus also has *some* space for luggage, and can roll cases and so on onto the tram. It's so convenient (I guess set up for the comm games more or less) that it's my go to. Walk off the plane, out the terminal and pretty much onto a bus within minutes. Can be at hotel in around 40-45 minutes depending on where in the area I'm staying.

Now from BNE, yes the train goes right down, through BNE, to the train station there, but that's a little more complicated to navigate, and definitely more costly for the airtrain. It also takes longer to/fro than OOL (but there isn't the road component). Sure BNE has far more options and better (mainline) service and that's definitely a distinction, but I just find OOL so easy to get to with rarely any kind of delay or issue.

Indeed if going into the heart of surfers and staying in that area, it probably would make more sense with this as an option than renting a car and finding/dealing with parking and all the rest (but again, if one wants to go exploring more up/down the coast or hinterland, then a car is going to be a must, but if just going to stay in that general area between Broadbeach nd Helensvale, I'd almost say one doesn't *need* a car - the tram and busses run pretty well to get to most places. They're electric, clean, friendly drivers and I've not had a problem in many trips (except if I screw up the touch off at Broadbeach South before touch on the tram, but you can get that fixed via the go card website and they are really responsive).

Currently it's best to use a Go card for this kind of trip, but already one can use contactless cc's for the trams and I'm pretty sre this will be extended to the busses too at some point, so it will be like Sydney or London where one can just PAYG with via contactless, and it really is very cheap compared to many places.

so I echo the vote for PT to/from OOL.
(also sale prices, specially in J, are generally much cheaper than BNE when they crop up)

 

[AIRwin]

There's also the 760(?) bus from OOL, but I think that goes more the other way

Bus 760 connects OOL with Varsity Lakes station where trains depart half hourly to BNE

 

[justinbrett]

Currently it's best to use a Go card for this kind of trip, but already one can use contactless cc's for the trams and I'm pretty sre this will be extended to the busses too at some point, so it will be like Sydney or London where one can just PAYG with via contactless, and it really is very cheap compared to many places.

Gold Coast buses already take contactless. So buses, light rail and heavy rail all on contactless - no need for Go Card anymore here. I think Brisbane still has some services which don't take Contactless. GC was the first to transfer.

I have taken 3 full size suitcases on the 777 - it is possible!

 

[AIRwin]

I think Brisbane still has some services which don't take Contactless.

Rollout status:

Smart Ticketing on Queensland's bus and ferry network

Smart Ticketing equipment is being progressively installed on South East Queensland buses and ferries to make way for customer trials of contactless payments, with installation on regional buses to follow. New Smart Ticketing equipment is wrapped in 'The Connecting Thread' First Nations artwork a

translink.com.au

 

[Hampton Mike]

As a poor old retired senior, I can confirm that the public transport from OOL is brilliant and cheap.

I head to the gold coast very often, and when I first started coming up here regularly I was still working. I waltzed out of the terminal in corporate mindset, jumped in a taxi -“take me to Southport”. At a cost of $84 coming straight out of my pocket, that was the last time I did that!! For the return trip it was $5 on public transport, and now I’m a retired senior it’s half that cost.

 

[dairyfloss]

If renting a car - yes. For those of us who live here - or those coming expecting to rely on public transport (a perfectly valid, and increasingly better option*), OOL is a much better idea.

Yes, i did flag that my experiences and benefit assume one is driving. When visiting as a family we always have a rental car.

My wife just did BNE to Broadbeach last week on PT (the train + tram combo), and made it crystal clear that this was not something she would let happen again

Cheers,
Matt

 

[justinbrett]

Yes, i did flag that my experiences and benefit assume one is driving. When visiting as a family we always have a rental car.

My wife just did BNE to Broadbeach last week on PT (the train + tram combo), and made it crystal clear that this was not something she would allow to occur again

Cheers,
Matt

Yup - I did it coming home from DRW earlier in the year, never again.

Tram-Train to Brisbane CBD for sports/drinking is fine - but not after a 4 hour flight.

 

[Captain Halliday]

We’re a bit off topic here but I have to go from BNE to OOL early next year and after a bit of research found that the public transport suits my needs nicely.

I’ll be getting the DSC 737 that goes via MEL.

 

[CaptJCool]

We’re a bit off topic here but I have to go from BNE to OOL early next year and after a bit of research found that the public transport suits my needs nicely.

I’ll be getting the DSC 737 that goes via MEL.

can do that via Sydney for $887 J for 80 SCs

 

[Captain Halliday]

can do that via Sydney for $887 J for 80 SCs

Yeah mine’s J and is timed for the end of my year just in case I fall short.

The extra distance kicks the SC earn up slightly.

 

[henrus]

There's also the 760(?) bus from OOL, but I think that goes more the other way (I connect to the tram and it's simples).

760 connects the border to the south through to varsity lakes station on the north - meant to be every 30 minutes, but sometimes it runs late. Quite a few times I've pulled up anytrip seen the next one is a fair way off and used the VA lounge on arrival to sit in a nicer spot before moving out to the bus stop a few minutes before bus departure.

Sadly not possible with the QF lounge as often on the afternoon departures the lounge is closed as soon as boarding is called.

 

[henrus]

Gold Coast buses already take contactless. So buses, light rail and heavy rail all on contactless - no need for Go Card anymore here. I think Brisbane still has some services which don't take Contactless. GC was the first to transfer.

Not yet, most buses have the equipment installed but none have been enabled to take contactless yet... although if you're a regular traveller on the Gold Coast you'll know half just get on

I’ll be getting the DSC 737 that goes via MEL.

I passed through the OOL lounge a couple of times on cheap OOL-MEL-AKL flights with the DSC.

They were perfect as despite the longer journey from home in Zone 1 Brisbane, it's basically the same fare to the Gold Coast airport via train/bus as it is on the airtrain.

I tried to time it as close as possible to avoid a long lounge stop and then the QF 737 down to MEL before a ~2hr 30min layover (half spent in the EK lounge) and off to AKL.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

The QF lounge is the only lounge I can think of that gives HBA a run for its money. Thank goodness I rarely have to fly out of there!

-RooFlyer88

 

[Isolar]

Had the unfortunate experience this Tuesday of turning up at OOL 2.5 hours before my morning SYD flight planning to do some work in the lounge and have a half decent coffee.

As reported here, lounge not open and there was a sign near the door listing the flights & times that it would be open for. Wish I had checked this beforehand (it is on the QF web page for the lounge). I seem to remember prior to Covid it was open one hour before the first QF flight of the day and closed after the last one.

Anywho, when the lounge did finally open I asked the reception staff if this was a permanent thing. They said that management was supposed to be looking into changing the operating hours to something like pre-Covid. The lounge receives passenger complaints about it everyday and the staff encourage sending feedback to QF.

I asked if QF was only paying them to work during the hours the lounge was open (like split shifts I guess) or if they worked somewhere else in the operations. Nope, they are employed all day in the lounge, finding whatever they can to do when the doors are closed.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

When you see the Qantas lounge then visit the Virgin Lounge at OOL, it really makes you want to fly Virgin to OOL doesn’t it?