Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

HELP_connection time in Brisbane Airport

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Solomon Islands

Hello.
I would very appreciate your help if someone has experience in international connection flights in Brisbane !!!

We already booked our flights from Zurich to Brisbane and are about to buy the connection flight with Solomon Airlines to Honiara for the same day.

ARRIVE 30AUG13 BRISBANE 06:05
Departure 30 AUG13 Brisbane-Honiara 09:30

Supposing we have no delay from our flight from Zurich-Dubai-Brisbane, and that check in would close around 08:30......*we would have about 2 hours 25 min in Brisbane, to get out of the plane, take the luggage, border/passport controls, and go to the Solomon Airlines counter.

Do you think we could get it or its to risky and we probably would loose the connection? Solomon airlines flight are really expensive to buy a new one at the airport if we'd loose it....

Alternatively we would have to stay a night in Brisbane and flight the day after.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!!!!

you have posted on the wrong branch, you will be a transit passenger in Brisbane and will not have to collect your luggage if your luggage is tagged for the end flight, but you will have no trouble meeting the time frame if you have to collect your luggage,

1

Not necessarily on the wrong branch, as the majority of flights to Solomon Islands originate in Brisbane, and most people who would understand them are on this branch (there are not many of us anyhow).
Provided your Zurich flight is on time, there shold be enough time to transit. Brisbane international is not a huge terminal, and most people check in for Honiara around 07.30.
Is it possibe for you to indicate to the airlne that you are flying in on that you are transitting to Solomon Airlines, in whch case you can stay airside as transit passengers, and not go through Australian immigration? This is common with passengers from Europe/Asia travelling to Honiara.
Staying overnight may require a transit Visa for Australia, as would going out through immigration.

2

Stay as transit passangers is not possible, I guess, as we have to take out our luggages from our Emirates airplane and check in for Solomon Airlines. Normally they are not able to send your luggage to another airplane if it is not a connecting flight. Although I will try to contact the airline and ask.

Providing our flight is on time, we would not have problems I think. I only hope the immigration control are not very long ( 1 hour or more). But if there is a small delay in Zurich-Dubai, we will have no chances....

Thank you for your advices.

3

the last twice I have been through Brisbane airport, I was on my way home 40 minutes after the plane landed,

4

I have used Emirates several times to Brisbane and proceeded direct to Honiara, last in Oct.2012. As I am at home at Lake of Constance in Southern Germany I have departed by Emirates from Kloten as well. Unless your arrival is late there is no problem.

With Emirates I always post my luggage direct to Honiara. The only problem is, Solomon Islands and Honiara is not well known, so you should tell the person at the counter the code for Honiara airport, which is: HIR. Insist on posting your luggage to Honiara, if the counter person says no.

In Brisbane go immediately through to the transit. After a search of your handluggage you get upstairs in the transit area.

If you flight is with Solomon Airlines proceed to the depature gate of your flight, where there will be someone to book you on the flight, if your flight is on Virgin Pacific go to the transfer desk.

5

You don't need a Visa/Transit-Visa for Australia, if you proceed as a transit passenger within 8 hours from Australia.

However as a safety measure I recommend to get an Australien Tourist visa. Assuming you are Swiss or German citizen it can be easily obtained on line and free of charge. I have applied online in the evening and got the visa next morning.
The counter person at Kloten will always look for your Australien Visa first and if you tell them you don't have one, because you are transitting through Australia he will have to verify this. So if you don't have an Australien Visa your cheque-in will go less fast, it is better the counter person sees an Australien Tourist Visa in his computer.

In case something goes wrong, you are better off with an Australien Visa.

6

I am surprised everyone is telling you you can't book your luggage straight through, with a full service airline.

7

Thank you Fais for your great information!!

We finally booked the flight!
Here the confirmation from James Chan, Airport & Cargo Manager, Solomon Airlines in Brisbane.

Samuel,
Good Morning, could you please advise the Airline in Zurich accordingly:
1. That you are transferring the same day to Solomon Airlines to Honiara.

  1. When arriving in BNE do not clear Customs or collect your luggage, Please go direct to Level 3 Departure Area and see our Staff at the Boarding gate who will Check you in give you a Boarding Pass and arrange your Baggage to be transferred.

  2. Baggage can be Checked Through to Honiara if your first leg is with Qantas/Emirates as we have an agreement with them for through check-in of Baggage.

If you have any further queries Please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards

James Chan
Airport & Cargo Manager, Solomon Airlines Limited

8

Thought so. Good luck and have a great trip.

9