Brisbane Airport

It is very spacious clean and tidy and accomodates crowds very well in the check-in area and departure gates. Airside Shopping has improved significantly since it opened in 1995. On the down side queues for customs and immigration on arrival can be long and Customs and AQIS staff just don't seem to understand that they also have an ambassadorial role to play. However these problems are hardly unique to Brisbane. I have had far longer lines (and far worse treatment) in Sydney and Melbourne. Ever tried arriving at T4 at LAX in peak time??? In summary - Brisbane International is a clean and spacious airport and particularly well suited to the frequent business traveller. It also caters well for families with large amounts of baggage. Customs and immigration could use a bit of an attitude change - but what airport is perfect in that regard?

As a new resident in Queensland I have not used the international terminal from Brisbane before- what a disappointment. The facilities upon leaving are not what you expect of an international airport - no decent restaurant or bar area. The seating is almost non existent except at the departure gates. The shopping is woeful. The current airport seems to have totally outgrown the obvious traffic of international travellers and needs to be upgraded. Upon arrival its just as bad with the number of immigration desks catering for everyone. I arrived early in the morning when the number of arrivals is heaviest and the lines were huge for both Australian and non Australian passport holders. Its not a good first impression of Australia for those newcomers and makes me wish to still be travelling through Sydney.

I have travelled through Brisbane Airport many times including domestic flights and international flights. Although the last domestic flight arriving in Brisbane is around midnight there are no shops open to cater to have a bite for the visitors and family who are waiting to receive their loved ones. Also in the international terminal there are flights leaving around midnight but none of the shops are open during that time. For eg. there is Singapore Airlines departing almost near midnight but there wouldn't be anything open after the passenger has checked in and if he wishes to grab a bite before he leaves. Also the Airtrain facility stops at 1930hrs(which is the last train to the city). After that you need to find your own means of transport or catch a cab (which could cost you a fortune if you are staying in the western suburbs). Since they have flights departing till midnight they could have trains running till then if not frequent but at least in frequency of an hour or so.

Over the years I have frequently travelled from Brisbane to NZ many times. My main concern is the lack of customs staff at the customs counters in the arrivals hall at Brisbane International Airport. On many occasions I have waited two hours to get through to the customs counters. Perhaps customs need to employ more staff to decrease the waiting time for passengers and increase the efficiency of a relatively new airport that promoted a quicker service to passengers when it first opened.