Australia is open to international travelers
Australia reopened its borders on February 21, 2022. In July, the last travel restrictions have been lifted — overseas arrivals no longer have to prove they have been vaccinated. A negative pre-departure test is no longer required. However, masks are still mandatory on planes flying to Australia.
Most passport holders need the right visa to come to Australia.
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Arriving in Brisbane
- If you are flying to Brisbane from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport — Brisbane Airport
BNE— the primary airport serving the city of Brisbane and Queensland. It is located approximately 13km or a 30 minute drive from the city center.
Brisbane Airport has two terminals: Domestic Terminal (often referred to as Terminal D or T2) and International Terminal (Terminal I or T1). The terminals are located are 4km apart with easy access between them by the complimentary Terminal Transfer Bus that runs every 15 minutes. Find out more with a step-by-step guide (PDF) showing how to transfer from your international to domestic flight.
Brisbane Airport offers various facilities such as duty-free shops, range of specialty food and beverage outlets, lounges, luggage storage (International Terminal, ground floor, price from AU$14.00 for up to 24 hours), and free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal ("BNE Free WI-FI" network, an email address is required).
Airtrain passenger rail service operates transportation between the airport, Brisbane City and the Gold Coast from the Domestic and International Terminals (trains depart every 15 minutes during peak times). TransLink operates regular bus services to various locations in the city, while taxis and ride-sharing services such as Uber are readily available within their designated pick-up areas. A number of car rental companies (including Avis, Europcar, and Hertz) have desks located in the airport terminal, offering a convenient option for those who prefer to drive themselves.
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with low-cost regional airlines (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Batik Air, Jetstar, FlexFlight, and WestJet.
These budget carriers offer flights from Brisbane Airport at lower prices than full-service airlines, and they often fly to smaller airports that big players do not cover. However, the “no-frills” airlines may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support; you may not even get to choose your seats (unless you pay extra). With that in mind, they are a great option to save money if you fly only a short distance.
BNE, located approximately 13km from the city center of Brisbane (the capital and most populous city of Queensland). The airport is easily accessible by car (via the Gateway Motorway and Airport Drive), or public transportation such as Airtrain and bus services. Brisbane also has a second airport - Archerfield Airport ACF located about 15 kilometers south of the Brisbane central business district. It is a smaller airport primarily used for private and charter flights, flight training and other aviation-related services.
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Prearrange your Australian Tourist Visa
Passport holders from most countries need a visa to come to Australia, even if they are just visiting the country for a shorter holiday. You might even need a visa to transit through Australia to another destination.
The visa must be obtained before traveling to Brisbane from abroad. You can do this electronically (an ETA) via the Australian Government website, or your travel agent can arrange this for you.
The cheapest time to fly to Brisbane
The winter months of June to August are the low season in Brisbane when flights are the cheapest. The colder temperatures keep most travelers away, so you’ll have the city’s top attractions all to yourself. Remember that since Brisbane is located in the Southern Hemisphere – seasons are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere.
To get decent weather conditions and still avoid crowds of tourists and high airfares, book your flight to Brisbane for the shoulder seasons: September and November (spring) and between February and April (autumn). It is just before people start traveling for their holidays.
Avoid Australia’s public holidays
Prices skyrocket during holidays in Australia – adjust your travel dates to avoid expensive tickets. Airlines start to raise their flight prices to Brisbane for the Australian summer – December to February – when travelers from across the country and around the world flock to the city for the end-of-year holidays.
Hotel and apartment rates also soar during the Australian school vacations: April (Easter school holidays), July (Winter school holidays), September/October and December (Summer school holidays).
If you plan to visit Brisbane during these popular holidays, book your flight at least 2-3 months before departure to avoid high fares.
Know your time zone
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.
Australia has multiple time zones. Some of them are half-hour and quarter-hour time zones. There are three primary time zones in Australia, which change to five when DST (Daylight Savings Time – not all states and territories observe DST) kicks in during the warmer months of the year (October – April).
Brisbane is in the Australian Eastern Time Zone (AEST) which is GMT/UTC + 10h during Standard Time and GMT/UTC + 11h during Daylight Saving Time.
Flights to Brisbane fromUnited States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Brisbane. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Brisbane, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. Direct flights from North America to Brisbane
BNEare 14-15 hours long and departing from either Los AngelesLAX, San FranciscoSFOin the US or VancouverYVRin Canada. When opting for a non-stop flight, American travelers can only choose from a limited range of flight operators: Air Canada, American Airlines, Qantas, United Airlines and Virgin Australia. - Brisbane is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Brisbane with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Brisbane from the US and Canada are: ANA, EVA Air, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
- For long-haul flights, the type of aircraft you choose can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board – especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, WiFi, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin in general. When booking a flight to Brisbane, look for the airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as Airbus A350 (best choice), A380, A320neo, or Boeing 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner.
Brisbane from US & Canada
plane ticket prices in 2023/24
Real-time economy class airfares to Brisbane from the US and Canada. Shown are the top three deals for flights departing in the coming months (February to October).
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Superdeals airlines don't want you to see:
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Qantas, Virgin, and Jetstar).
When it comes to Twitter there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@Qantasairways”). The social media team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Use regional airports to visit Central Australia
There are no major airports that service Australia’s epic heartland. So, if you wish to visit, you’ll have to take a domestic flight to a regional airport:
- Alice Springs Airport
ASPis the best choice for the never-ending desert landscapes of Red Centre (~A$300 from Brisbane with Virgin Australia), - Ayers Rock Airport
AYQis the gateway for Uluru (~A$200 with Jetstar), - Mount Isa Airport
ISAis serving western Queensland (~A$350 with Virgin Australia).
The 80-hour rule for Qantas seat selection
Qantas restricts access to sought-after seats to elite frequent flyers, so you may not see those seats as available during the booking process. But these restrictions are lifted 80 hours before a flight. So, if you want to snap up your favorite seat on a flight to Brisbane, log in to Qantas Manage Booking 80 hours before departure, check for previously unavailable seats, and change your seat selection.
Extra checked bag for an infant
Virgin Australia aims to become the first choice for family travelers. It has the most generous policy regarding infant luggage allowances – a 23kg checked bag, and 3 infant items are allowed, free of charge.
This policy applies to the airline’s domestic and international short-haul and long-haul flights.
Flights to Brisbane with stopover
Direct flights to Brisbane are, of course, much less hassle than flights that require one or more connections. However, they tend to be more expensive. In a trade-off between convenience and cost, the best option is often to opt for a flight with one layover.
So if you’re looking at a long-haul trip with at least one connection, rather than simply transiting an airport, why not take this opportunity to plan a longer stopover? A stopover is a prolonged layover — more than 24 hours — and it won’t only break up your long journey but will also become a legitimate part of your vacation. If you’re prone to severe jet lag, a one or two-day stopover would help minimize its adverse effects.
When booking flights, many airlines allow you to include a free stopover en route to your final destination in Brisbane. Those flights are usually cheaper than non-stop (direct) flights, and you can often choose your stopover at no additional cost — just by looking for multi-city flights with longer layovers.
Some airlines openly advertise stopovers and offer significant discounts and travel perks for passengers to break up their trips: free luxury hotel stays, complimentary domestic flights, or exclusive rates for activities. Start checking for stopover deals to Brisbane with government-owned airlines (as they are looking to attract tourists to give the country economic benefits) — such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. Almost every airline’s website has multi-city search functionality, often hidden inside the one-way/return/multi-city switch.
A well-chosen stopover will not only turn one vacation into many but also save you several hundred dollars in airfare. The available stopovers to Brisbane will depend on your initial destination (Europe, North America, Asia, etc) and the airline you are flying with. For most airlines, the best free stopover offer will be at their main hub.
Flights to Brisbane from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Brisbane — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. The best airports for a layover on your way from Europe to Brisbane are Dubai
DXB, DohaDOH, Kuala LumpurKUL, SingaporeSIN, Hong KongHKGand DenpasarDPS. You'll find numerous convenient non-stop flights from all these hubs to Brisbane. - Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Brisbane include Air China, British Airways, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Finnair, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, Qantas, Thai Airways, United Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Brisbane from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Use European low-cost airlines such as RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to fly to the hub, then save hundreds of euros by taking a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination.
We recommend checking prices for flights to Brisbane from these European airport hubs: LondonLHRand ManchesterMANin the United Kingdom, FrankfurtFRAand MunichMUCin Germany, ParisCDGand NiceNCEin France, AmsterdamAMSin the Netherlands, MadridMADand BarcelonaBCNin Spain, RomeFCOand MilanoMXPin Italy, BrusselsBRUin Belgium, CopenhagenOSLin Denmark, OsloOSLin Norway, StockholmARNin Sweden, ZurichZRHin Switzerland, LisbonLISin Portugal, ViennaVIEin Austria, WarsawWAWin Poland, PraguePRGin Czech Republic, and DublinDUBin Ireland.
European airports with the cheapest flights to Brisbane
Find the lowest prices for flights to Brisbane Airport in Brisbane from the major airports in Europe — London, Dublin, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Lyon, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Stockholm, Geneva, Helsinki, Zurich, and others.
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Check different departure airports
Consider neighboring cities when choosing the departure airport – especially look for larger cities with airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines.
For example, if you live in West Europe, check prices for flights departing from Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, or Vienna. In 9 out of 10 cases, the cheapest flight to Brisbane will depart from one of these hubs, and it may be €500 less or more than your first choice. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to this hub, but low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for €50 – €100.
Use a similar tactic if you depart from the US or another region. It’s one of the best ways to save hundreds on trips.
Last-minute flights to Brisbane. The real cost of convenience.
Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Brisbane almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.
The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.
Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.
Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Brisbane is around 60-90 days before the departure date.
“Hot seats” on long-haul flights
Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Brisbane, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.
If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.
Lost baggage prevention
Avoid lost luggage nightmares by removing old tags on your suitcases. Tags are printed with a barcode for identification and tracking, so the old tags can confuse baggage handlers and the conveyor belt scanners. They are one of the reasons so many bags miss their flight or get misrouted.
Domestic air travel from Brisbane
Most domestic routes in Australia are operated by local airlines. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast from Brisbane Airport, you’ll be flying with one of these domestic air transport companies: Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Rex Airlines, and Bonza. In most cases, it is the best (the fastest, the most convenient, and the cheapest) way to travel around the country.
If you plan to fly domestically from Brisbane check the latest prices here, then book your flight ticket online.
Flights to Brisbane from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia
- Many popular tourist destinations in Asia have convenient direct flights to/from Brisbane: Bali
DPS, Kuala LumpurKUL, ManilaMNL, SingaporeSIN, Hong KongHKG, TaipeiTPE, and TokyoHND.
The Pacific Islands, a beloved holiday destination for many Australians, also have an excellent connectivity to Brisbane. There are readily available direct flights to and from NadiNANin Fiji, Port MoresbyPOMin Papua New Guinea, ApiaAPWin Samoa, Port VillaVLIin Vanuatu, NaumeaNOUin New Caledonia, NauruINU, and HoniaraHIRin Solomon Islands. - Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Brisbane look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Brisbane will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Australia and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
Asian airports with the cheapest flights to Brisbane in 2023/24
Find the lowest prices for flights to Brisbane from the largest airports in Asia — Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.
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Take advantage of loyalty programs
Choose an airline that suits you the best, then stick to it. By becoming a ‘regular’, you will be able to use its loyalty program and earn “miles” (or points) – not only for flying but also for everyday expenses (if your card is affiliated with an airline).
Points earned this way often add up over time and are extremely helpful in flying at reduced fares. Airlines offer not only ticket discounts for their frequent flyers, but also special travel perks such as cabin class upgrades, increased checked baggage allowance, or access to their airport lounges so you can relax during long layovers.
If you often fly with Emirates, opt for Skywards, with Qantas – for Qantas Frequent Flyer, with Singapore Airlines – for KrisFlyer, etc.
Proof of onward travel – a simple hack
Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Australia to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.
The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Australia and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.
How to book a superdeal to Brisbane?
Every superdeal you receive from Air Traveler Club includes a link you can use to book a flight. It always directs you to the website that offers the lowest price. Sometimes it’s an airline website; in other cases, Google Flights or a similar flight booking platform.
This video explains how to use Google Flights to book a plane ticket.
Dealing with the jet lag
Jet lag affects people differently depending on age, physical fitness, and genetics. The most accepted rule suggests that you should allow one full day to recover from jet lag for every time zone (hour gained) you traveled east and a number of days equal to half the time zones crossed when you traveled west.
The most effective natural jet lag remedy is to force your body into its new routine. You can begin before getting off the plane: set your watch to the time in Brisbane, then do your best to sleep and eat based on the new time zone. Close the window shade when it’s time to simulate darkness. During your first day on the ground in Australia, get outdoors, stay physically active during the day, and absorb sunlight.
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