Cairns Airport - How long ??

[wendlle]

I'm arriving into Cairns Airport at approx 4:30am via Jetstar from Tokyo
I need to get to Canberra and see that there are some 6am flights with Virgin or more flights around noon with both Virgin and Qantas

Will I have enough time to get the 6am flight? I am thinking no but wasn't sure as I've never been to Cairns before.
I will have two young kids with me and a few bags.

 

[Captain Halliday]

If they’re separate bookings you wouldn’t be protected in the event the JQ flight is delayed.

If so, I think the 6am connection is high risk and asking for trouble.

Take the lunchtime option and free yourself of the stress.

 

[AIRwin]

JQ26 was late the last 2 days

 

[Dr Ralph]

1% chance of making it. Minimum of 2 hrs on a linked booking advised.

 

[wendlle]

Thanks everyone I’ll take a later flight

They won’t be linked as I have already booked the Tokyo flights.

There is a jetstar/qantas option leaving at 7:25am
I'm thinking of booking this one.
I don't fancy sitting at the airport for 6+ hours with a 4 and 7yo with nothing to do.
Surely 3 hours should be enough??
Thoughts??

 

[Captain Halliday]

Thanks everyone I’ll take a later flight

They won’t be linked as I have already booked the Tokyo flights.

There is a jetstar/qantas option leaving at 7:25am
I'm thinking of booking this one.
I don't fancy sitting at the airport for 6+ hours with a 4 and 7yo with nothing to do.
Surely 3 hours should be enough??
Thoughts??

Still too tight for my risk profile.

Take the lunchtime flight and take the kids for a morning swim at the Esplanade, or have breakfast on the waterfront.

Heck, take an afternoon flight and zip up to Kuranda on the sky rail.

No doubt you and the kids will be very tired… but I reckon all of these options will make for a more enjoyable day than missing the connection and having to pay for a second set of flights at last minute prices.

 

[wendlle]

are these places walkable from the airport?
I won’t have car seats with me

 

[Bundy Bear]

are these places walkable from the airport?
I won’t have car seats with me

Neither options are walkable,
7:30am in tight but doable, is the 7:30am bookable as a connection if you were to have booked them as connecting flights, that will give you a clue whether its wise to book the 7:30 option.

 

[Captain Halliday]

are these places walkable from the airport?
I won’t have car seats with me

An Uber/taxi into town for either the esplanade lagoon or breakfast should be no more than $25 each way.

Sky rail base station I’ve not done from the airport, but I’d estimate around double the distance and presumably double the cost.

 

[clifford]

are these places walkable from the airport?

Nowhere is walkable from the airport (especially with 2 young kids).

IMHO, Kuranda is just a tourist trap, but Cairns city and the Esplanade paddling area for kids would be nice (my granddaughters loved it).

 

[wendlle]

If it’s not walkable there is no way to get there as I don’t have car seats for my kids which I would need for an Uber or taxi

Yes it’s available as a connection maybe I’ll call Jetstar and see if I can add it to my booking

 

[Flyinfish]

It's not a big or busy airport. Jetstar allows about an hour for the transits to Japan. I think you should be fine for 7.30am barring a long delay... that's what I would do.

 

[JohnK]

I can't help you with Cairns airport international to domestic connection but I did have some fun last year on JQ BKK-MEL flight. I had revenue booking BKK-MEL with JQ in June 2022 and I booked a QF award flight MEL-BNE for around 3 hours later.

A day before the JQ flight to MEL receive email that flight will be delayed. The connection was now very tight with checked luggage and any further delays would cause issues with QF flight. I was able to cancel award flight for free as QF had free cancellations until Sep 2022 and I booked the 2:00pm flight and I was lucky to find award availability as last minute flights were expensive.

As it turned out it would have been a stretch to make original connection but I did make the new connecting flight but I don't need that sort of stress on holidays. The way airline schedules are now need to try and avoid tight connections. I'd be uncomfortable with 4-6 hour connections on separate bookings but left with no choice unless one is prepared to overnight.

 

[wendlle]

Jetstar won't allow me to add it to my booking as I have a starter plus fare. No changes or anything can be made.

 

[jastel]

Child seats are not legally required in Uber/Taxi in Qld...parents can bring their own.
Taxi to city is 10 minutes and $25...Uber $15 -$70
Skyrail doesnt open until 9am anyway...but to go up and down quick look and a bite to eat in Kuranda takes about 3 hours...
So leave bags in locker at DOM airport (200m walk from INT) go into city and get breakfast on the Esplanade, have swim in Lagoon, also a more kiddy type play area with swings etc called Muddies Playground a km or so back towards the airport near the hospital.
Also an Aquarium in the CBD now might interest the kids.

 

[wendlle]

They might not be required but they are by me
I’m not putting my kids in a car without a car seat that’s asking for an accident to happen

I think we will just stick to the airport I got 10am flights
We will I am sure find somewhere to have breakfast and just wait for our flight

 

[jastel]

The DOM terminal has had a little upgrade over Covid...a few more restaurants etc, Hungry Jacks and Oporto for the kids, a new bar or two for the grown ups.