Getting to Brisbane Airport

[Jim Grant]

I can't believe it is so difficult for decision makers to get it right. We have visited a few places around the world now. Most of those places are a lot bigger than Brisbane. They seem to move people a lot easier than we do here in Brissy.

Take Vancouver for example. The number of cars going to the airport is considerably reduced because the train goes right into the terminal and is CHEAP!

Seaports have to handle a lot of people in a short time too and at Seattle they have something they call a "Mobile Free Car Park". That is where you go park for as long as you like while you wait for your passengers to call on their "mobile" to say they are ready for pickup. Works a treat!

The latest free car park at Brisbane Airport could have been the same BUT NO the passengers have to go up to the skywalk, get through two multi level carparks, down to ground level and around the P2 carpark to find your pickup somewhere in the carpark.

And to top all that off that does nothing to satisfy the same need at the International Terminal.

There could have been a "Mobile Free Car Park" put somewhere that could service both terminals.

 

[here2go]

I can't believe it is so difficult for decision makers to get it right. We have visited a few places around the world now. Most of those places are a lot bigger than Brisbane. They seem to move people a lot easier than we do here in Brissy.

Take Vancouver for example. The number of cars going to the airport is considerably reduced because the train goes right into the terminal and is CHEAP!

Seaports have to handle a lot of people in a short time too and at Seattle they have something they call a "Mobile Free Car Park". That is where you go park for as long as you like while you wait for your passengers to call on their "mobile" to say they are ready for pickup. Works a treat!

The latest free car park at Brisbane Airport could have been the same BUT NO the passengers have to go up to the skywalk, get through two multi level carparks, down to ground level and around the P2 carpark to find your pickup somewhere in the carpark.

And to top all that off that does nothing to satisfy the same need at the International Terminal.

There could have been a "Mobile Free Car Park" put somewhere that could service both terminals.

Difference between YVR and BNE. YVR is publicly owned, and BNE is privately owned. The AirTrain is private too. Free Enterprise and monopolies are never a good mix.

 

[anat0l]

As a resident and born-and-bred of BNE, I'd like to, on behalf of the city, sincerely apologise to our non-resident brethren for our exceedingly embarrassing lack of satisfactory transportation facilities.

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF Jim Grant!

I have been using BNE airport for the past 4 years or so and sick and tired of being scammed going to/from airport.

 

[TonyD]

As a resident and born-and-bred of BNE, I'd like to, on behalf of the city, sincerely apologise to our non-resident brethren for our exceedingly embarrassing lack of satisfactory transportation facilities.

Ditto to that

 

[markis10]

Difference between YVR and BNE. YVR is publicly owned, and BNE is privately owned. The AirTrain is private too. Free Enterprise and monopolies are never a good mix.

Brisbane does have a phone and collect carpark in fact, 1 for domestic and one of international .

 

[hummel]

I was in BNE last week, trying to meet our pickup was very awaits, walking up stairs, over the road then back down? No signage indicating which direction to take and most of all, the one staff member I could find responded with a grunt!

 

[JohnK]

Brisbane does have a phone and collect carpark in fact, 1 for domestic and one of international .

I hope you are not talking about the cars illegally parked on the way in to the airport.

 

[k_sheep]

Just last night I was discussing BNEs complete lack of transport infrastructure planning (not just to and from the airport) at a dinner party. I remember making many witty and powerful observations about it, however may have had a tipple or 6 and now can't remember them.

The sheer number of huge road projects requiring exorbitant tolls and private enterprises going bankrupt is just plain embarrassing. Meanwhile there is no investment in the rail system, which has been shown in most cities in the world the only way for bulk transport to work effectively. I understand that Qld rail has significant expenditure given the population density outside of SE QLD, but c'mon. I struggle to think of any city in the world I've been to that has a worse train system (to say nothing of the generally rubbish busses).

What brought this up is the Kingsford Smith Drive debate. The feeling is opening of the AirportLink fixed it, but honestly, who is going to pay $4.90 a trip once the trial period is over? Not me, that's for sure.

 

[anat0l]

The sheer number of huge road projects requiring exorbitant tolls and private enterprises going bankrupt is just plain embarrassing. Meanwhile there is no investment in the rail system, which has been shown in most cities in the world the only way for bulk transport to work effectively. I understand that Qld rail has significant expenditure given the population density outside of SE QLD, but c'mon. I struggle to think of any city in the world I've been to that has a worse train system (to say nothing of the generally rubbish busses).

The biggest problem I see is that the government (both levels) will not be willing to invest the significant capex or planning required to overcome the current deficiencies. One could always argue that BNE is a car city and there's not much to be done about it, and people are not willing to live near train stations or lines if they don't already have to, but those are (if even inevitable) unfortunate arguments.

The only real advantages in BNE are if you live within the inner city, where the transport is frequent and generally quite reliable. One could argue since the concentration of population (or at least transportable population) is within such an area, that's the markings of a fairly successful transport system (as was spun by someone in the council some time ago). I think effective public transportation for those outside the "inner city" is very difficult for any city in the world, so there may not be a quick fix or off-the-shelf fix for such a situation.

That said, the train system is supposed to have the reputation that it does not rely on the traffic conditions on the roads and is usually weather immune. Our train system at the moment hardly reflects this (it is quite sensitive to weather and has been experiencing embarrassingly frequent breakdowns); moreover, even for inner city transportation, it isn't overly convenient.

What brought this up is the Kingsford Smith Drive debate. The feeling is opening of the AirportLink fixed it, but honestly, who is going to pay $4.90 a trip once the trial period is over? Not me, that's for sure.

If you had an expense account or in a real hurry, you damn well will be.

That said, I'm also in agreement with you that tolling most of these roads is a farce. But that's what frequently happens now with the PPP system.


All aside, most of this is off the main topic. Although it doesn't rely on a complete transport system overhaul, we still have deficient options when it comes to transport to and from Brisbane airport. Suffice to say, some of the other notable airports in Australia aren't much better, but that's not an excuse for Brisbane.

Airtrain probably charges $15 because they can get away with it. To compare, Sydney's equivalent rail service charges the same amount for what almost amounts to be a shorter trip (give or take, otherwise the same - the exact difference is irrelevant). After all, what are you going to do - get a taxi? That's $50-60. Coachtrans shuttle is about the same price and takes longer. Any other convoluted methods of getting to the airport that may be cheaper are not friendly to non-residents and may take longer to get to the airport.

The issue of driving, parking or pickup/drop off at the airport is, across the board, a pretty poor affair across all major Australian airports. Again, not an excuse, but monkey see monkey do...... luckily most tourists (except for family / friends) will not have to endure any of this.

 

[here2go]

I took the family on the AirTrain last month as an experiment for the Christmas Holidays when off to Europe, and also give my folks the option of a sleep in. Landed in BNE on the redeye, hopped on the train into Roma St, then caught the 444 (all four of us) out to Moggill. The travellers on the bus were surprised to see a family of 4 with suitcases getting on, and the old school buses that Brisbane City Council uses on the 444 certainly aren't fit for purpose compared with low floor buses. However, the kids (3 years and 9 months) had an absolute ball as they weren't strapped in, and could look out the window. I must admit Brisbane is also a lot prettier from a bus window than a car.

This trip did show me though how Translink is almost solely geared around commuter travel, and doesn't want to contemplate over travellers beyond the CBD with the woeful old-school buses on what is a core route (I understand they have more torque for the hills). I also wouldn't want to contemplate the trip in peak traffic with no decent interchanges between rail and bus beyond Roma St to take the bus once it has emptied a bit. (Toowong is a joke)
The other thing I learned is that the Baby Backpack was a godsend compared with the option of a pram. My daughter enjoyed being up high and see the world around her, while I had free hands to tow bags or grab excited three-year olds, and didn't have anything clunky to fold.

 

[clifford]

Would've cost you a fortune then.

 

[here2go]

Would've cost you a fortune then.

$27 for the Airtrain tickets prepaid for Mrs Here2go and I, kids free. $5 each for the adults something for Go Card Roma St to Moggill. Taxi would have been $90-100 at least. Hire car was pricing at $100 due to holidays and short notice. I thought $40 for my folk's sanity and fuel (noting that they work in the opposite direction) is not bad really. However, I agree the Go Card Translink pricing is crazy, and paper tickets even scarier for occasional travellers. I have friends who use scooters in Brisbane as they are cheaper to run and faster.

 

[DeKa]

What are people's current preferences for getting between Brisbane CBD and the airport?
I am going there next weekend - there will be two of us.
- Airtrain - total of $60 ($30 return each)
- Taxi - $40 each way according to Taxi Fare Calculator - Estimate your taxi fare (is that realistic, and are there tolls?)
- VA / Brunel Chauffer - $66 each way Airport Transfers Information | Virgin Australia

 

[samh004]

Not answering DeKa, but on the subject of both the AirTrain and BAC being privately owned businesses, it's a shame they don't get into a price war. For instance, I'd imagine if the AirTrain ticket prices were lowered substantially, they'd have much more people using the service... but then this may make BAC lower rates on the car park to get people driving again!

It's never going to happen, but it would be good for the consumer... as it is now with them both remaining reasonably high, almost seems like they're colluding to rip us off

On DeKa's issue, the taxi looks the best option, but then it depends what time of day you're planning to take the trip and the fact that a return journey in a taxi would come to more than a return on the train... but the train also stops running at certain times

I normally drive (from the Gold Coast), fuel is cheaper than the train, but parking isn't, but of course there is a lot more convenience, especially having missed flights due to track work and not even being able to take the train as it hasn't started as early in the morning as I want to go

 

[Mal]

Airtrain is a bit cheaper if you book online...

Personally from airport to city, presuming manageable luggage and wanting to save time and money, the airtrain is the best.

If someone else is paying, you have lots of luggage, or can't stand the indignity of catching a train....

 

[JohnK]

My stance still stands. I will do everything possible to avoid paying the exhorbitant fares for the airtrain.

All my future bookings SYD-BNE return are to arrive in BNE around 5:30pm Sunday night.

From the airport it is T-Bus to DFO, then 369 bus to either Toombul or Eagle Junction and then on the airtrain at Eagle Junction to the city for ~$4. I did this last week and the time from airport to Central was ~45 minutes as all connected perfectly. The airtrain would have been ~25 minutes and the privilege of paying ~$15. No way.

On the way back to the airport from Central on a Friday afternoon it costs me nothing as I have already have 9 trips for the week. And if I return back from the airport on the Sunday after a full week at work it costs nothing as well.

Airtrain prices are a joke and I will do exactly the same thing on Tuesday 12 March to/from BNE airport for Rockpool lunch in Sydney....

 

[deejo77]

We fly out the international at around 6.30am in a few weeks so need to be at the airport by 5am - coming from Ipswich with 3 adults and 1 child. As we are only gone 14 days it was cheaper to drive my car in and leave it at the airport for collection on Easter Monday. Price came to $141.50 advanced purchase for parking at the airport. Added benefit of no time waiting for connections and my son's car seat.

 

[JohnK]

What are people's current preferences for getting between Brisbane CBD and the airport?
I am going there next weekend - there will be two of us.

Do you need to go anywhere else? Hiring a car should be ~$85 plus fuel and you earn FF points as well.

 

[DeKa]

Do you need to go anywhere else? Hiring a car should be ~$85 plus fuel and you earn FF points as well.

No.. Wedding and reception all in the city. I'd imagine once I add parking, I'd be at about the same price as a cab?