School holiday travel hacks

2019 is the year of epic Easter holidays rolling into Anzac Day bonanza that has been on every super-organised-planner’s calendar since Easter 2018! With school holidays also rolled into the mix, a holiday break is on everyone’s mind and heads up – it is going to be a busy time at the airport. 

To help you keep your chill while travelling during this busy travel period we've collected a bunch of travel hacks to help you plan ahead.

TIP 1: Be aware of the busiest travel days

Let’s be honest, school holidays and special times of year like Easter are busy times for travel. We all know this, but sometimes it can fall through the mind cracks and be a surprise. We’re expecting the busiest travel times to be:

• The week leading up to school holidays: Monday 1 April to Sunday 7 April particularly Thursday, Friday night, Saturday morning and Sunday night (Queensland school holidays start Friday 5 April and finish up Monday 22 April 2019).
• On Sunday 14 April, there will be a lot of road closures on the south side of Brisbane including the Inner City Bypass for the major cycling event Tour de Brisbane. Check the road closures in advance if you are travelling to or from the airport on this day. 
• Thursday 18 April and Good Friday 19 April are expected to be the busiest travel days and will see a lot of family and friends picking up passengers. 

It will be busy inside the terminals as well as on the roads to and from the terminals. Keep your chill by allowing extra travel time to and from the airport.

TIP 2: Book your parking online in advance 

If you are looking to book car parking at the airport for your trip or to pick someone up, book online in advance for the best price. It will be a busy time at the airport, so being prepared with your parking in advance is the most convenient option.

• Getting out of town for a long weekend? Park after 12pm on Friday and pick up your car before 12pm on Monday with the $39* ParkLong weekend special.
• ParkShort is the perfect option if you are picking up family and friends. You can help them with their bags and greet them in the terminal for just $5* for the first hour when you book online.  
• Start your trip with ease and experience the convenience of ParkValet, just drop your keys with a parking attendants and let your holidays begin.

TIP 3: Use the waiting areas

If you are on pick-up duty and not planning to park, use the waiting areas until your passengers are at the pick-up zone and ready to go. Using the waiting areas will help reduce the traffic on the surrounding roads and your frustration if you are asked to move on and loop around because your passengers are not quite ready to be picked up yet.

TIP 4: Lost and found

Remember to pack your valuables securely including your passports and ID, phones and favourite toys. If you do misplace something in the terminal, get in touch with our lost property team to try and find your items.

Lost passports and other identification documents like drivers licences must be handed into the Australian Federal Police. If you think you lost your item near the boarding gate, on the place or if you are missing your luggage, you’ll need to contact your airline’s lost property team. 

TIP 5: Find some zen while you wait

Once you’re in the terminal, through check-in and security this is your time to relax pre-flight and find your kind of pre-holiday cheer. A few ideas we prepared earlier:

At the Domestic Terminal:

• While travelling through the Domestic Terminal this Easter, you might notice some changes. That’s because we're investing $40 million to revamp the Qantas and Central terminal areas. Check out the new stores already open including Samonsite, Seeds by Bruno Loubet and [email protected] and keep an eye out for many more changes to come. 
• Snap a pre-flight photo for the 'gram. Nothing says holidays like a photo of a cocktail or coffee with an plane tail in the background. Pull up a seat at Glasshouse Bar, Fonzie Abbott or Aviation Pier for the best plane spotting. 
• Grab a last minute Easter gift:
  • [email protected] have a beautiful range of locally made, hand crafted chocolate as well as Easter bunnies, chocolate eggs and Easter themed kids books available in store.  
  • Up your seasonal pj game with Peter Alexander's fun range of Easter themed sleep wear.
  • Keep the little ones occupied with a stuffed toy from Zoodle or a colouring-in book from Watermark Books.

At the International Terminal:

• Grab a seat by the window, order a pre-flight coffee or cocktail from Windmill & Co and snap your first holiday photo.
• Get your last minute Easter gifts of handcrafted chocolate truffles or your Easter egg favourites from Australian Produce Store. 
• Treat yourself to a hot cross bun iced frappe or a s’mores hot cross bun (or both, you're on holidays) from Hudson's Coffee. 

And if all else fails, smile. Your holiday is about to begin after all!