Brisbane Airport

I pass through BNE international twice a year - out of and into Australia from Asia where I work and usually exclusively fly Qantas. Generally I find the processing outbound good - but I do have Gold FF status so never queue for Economy. QF staff generally good. The Xpress service into Immigration is mostly not open and queues are long but the agents have generally been friendly and polite. Security screening tends to be ordered chaos but again mostly polite. Once inside you are basically at the mercy of retailers of over priced brands and so called duty free that in many instances is way above retail prices at the bigger chains. Seating is poorly distributed and caters mostly for consumers fast food so just finding somewhere to rest while waiting to board is pretty hit and miss. I do use the Qantas Business Class lounge which is usually not too crowded and definitely a bonus and worth it if you are prepared to fork out the fee for the Qantas Club; the priority boarding is also a huge bonus! Inbound I find usually OK even weaving through the Duty Free shop where at least the booze is significantly cheaper than retail. I use an ePassport now and haven't had a problem yet but even when using the agents didn't have a long wait. There's little point worrying even if it is slow because the baggage is going to be a longish time in arriving. Lifts to the various exit points outside Customs in the Arrivals Hall are far too small to handle more than about two luggage trolleys and far to few to move people at any reasonable speed or volume. Parking is obscenely expensive for anyone picking you up. My experiences in the past with the domestic terminal however are poor - unhelpful staff inefficient check-in even with the self check-in kiosks rude staff at the security screens. Overall international works OK and is at a standard comparable to any terminal I have been though anywhere around the world; domestic I found below acceptable standards but it may well have improved in recent years.

I travel from Newcastle NSW to Brisbane QLD Domestic terminal and back again once a week every week. I have also travelled extensively to both other Domestic terminals and international/domestic terminals. I can honestly say that Brisbane domestic terminal is the worst for friendly helpful service from the terminals 2 Bar stalls. The one in the Food court opposite Gate 5 has a very rude attitude to people using mobile phones. The other is the bar at Gate 1. Today I went to the side counter to order a beer and was told promptly to get round to the front. When asked why very short abrupt answer not allowed to serve there. It would seem we owe them the respect not vice versa. I think from now on I will bring my own drink in with me. A lot less nasty and by far a lot less cheaper.

Possibly the worst Airport experience ever. Queued for over 50 minutes to get through immigration with only 3 staff processing hundreds of people as a result missed our connecting flight to Cairns. Airport staff couldn't have cared less with lots of staff standing round apparently doing nothing. Brisbane Airport management and staff you should be ashamed of yourselves this is not a good introduction to Australia. I have travelled extensively and have never come across such incompetence it is beyond belief in this day and age.

Travel through Brisbane every few months not my favourite airport. Whilst international arrivals works fairly well - possibly because I tend to arrive at the right time (only one flight arriving) international departures is a pain. Last time on a Wednesday morning arrived at 7.30 am for a 9.30 am flight and took over an hour from check in to airside - long queues for security long queues for passport control. Then another long queue for refund of GST. Not enough seats airside and looking a bit worn. Glad to leave.

I thought Perth international was the worst in Australia but this place takes the cake or runs a very close second. Forty five minutes to get through security this morning in chaotic unregulated conditions. Several hundred people queuing to get through the single open gate. Would have taken another half hour for immigration if not for the express card.

Flying in and out BNE every weekend is a pain. The worst pick up and drop off areas I've seen very poor management. Delay is a usual event on Friday evening. At least 30 mins you are going to experience when flying to BNE during peak hour.

Brisbane is my home airport and am not a person to usually complain but my recent trip to Auckland left me with a bitter taste. Flying business class on EK had checked-in online and with carry-on only went straight to security and immigration. No priority security lane open at 6am but at least 50-60 people in front of me many of them being apparent first time travellers as it took ages to get through. Finally made it to immigration only to be told that I had no right to line-up in the express line as I did not have the express card from the airline. Told staff that I had checked-in at home and showed my business class boarding card but no luck so off I went behind the previous 50-60 passengers and wasted another 30 minutes. Instead of being through security in the usual 10-15 minutes it took me nearly an hour which is precious time as I needed to get some work done in the lounge. Very disappointing.

The facilities and general condition of the airport is shocking. The international terminal has one food outlet open at 9pm! Transfer between terminals is poor. No bus or train after 10pm?Definitely wont be transiting thru this airport in a while.

The difference between the domestic and international terminal is like chalk and cheese with the international terminal far superior to the domestic. I would use the domestic about 6 times a year and the international about once every 18 months. With the domestic terminal not happy with the parking and drop offs general condition inside the airport choice of food outlets and like most people the flight delays. In the last 12 months none of my flights have taken off or arrived on time. Longest delay was 90 minutes. For my next trip if it is to Melbourne or Sydney thinking of flying from Gold Coast (about 60 minutes from where I live) or Sunshine Coast (about 75 minutes). With the average delay I have experienced it would be quicker. Also parking far cheaper.

I have been using this airport for international and domestic flights several times a year for the last 25 years. There have been some improvements during that time particularly in regard to the incredibly discourteous security Immigration and Customs staff. Last weekend was shocked that my daughter was refused hot water at a coffee shop to warm up a baby's bottle. Had a very strange surreal exchange with the coffee shop manager which bordered on open hostility. Went to the baby care room no hot water facilities dirty smelly unhygienic. Terminal inside was reasonably clean but food and beverage operators rarely clean up their tables so you have to do it yourself. Outside the terminal was dirty and smelled of urine. $4 for a luggage trolley $16 for less than an hour's parking. An airport with such potential but there is a lot that lets it down.