Christmas fun begins before take-off

Santa Small

BNE is providing free fun festive activities so families can begin their Christmas holiday experience from the moment they’re inside the terminal. 

Three million people are expected to pass through Brisbane Airport this holiday season, up from 1.2m over the previous two Christmas holiday periods. 

“This is the first restriction-free Christmas in three years, and we certainly want it to be memorable from the moment passengers reach the terminal,” according to Brisbane Airport’s Head of Public Affairs, Stephen Beckett. 

BNE has created a special “Brisbane Airport Christmas Lounge” with things to do throughout the month. 

Scheduled activities at the Domestic Terminal include: 

• Christmas movies (now – 23 Dec): Pull up a chair and catch your favourite festive flick playing throughout the day, including Home Alone, Elf, The Santa Clause, The Grinch who Stole Christmas and Polar Express 
• Biscuit Decorating (18, 21 Dec): Unleash your inner artist and decorate a Christmas cookie to give to a loved one or devour on your flight   
• Roving entertainers including Santa and his elves, and Rudolph  
• Christmas Carollers (13 – 15 Dec) spreading festive cheer throughout the terminal 
• The ultimate holiday photo booth (16, 17 and 20, 21 Dec) take your family for a Christmas photo and receive a full-colour print to take home 
• Calligrapher (22-23 Dec) For those needing to finish their Christmas shopping and pick up some last-minute stocking stuffers, Domestic Terminal retailers will be giving away exclusive Gift Bags from 13 - 23 December and a calligrapher will set up within the Brisbane Airport Christmas Lounge on 22 and 23 December to personalise gift tags.   

At the International Terminal: 

• Spin & Win in the International Terminal (13-21 December 8am-11am & 6pm-9pm). Spin the wheel to receive a voucher of between $5 and $100 to spend at airport retail stores 
• Roving Christmas Entertainment 
• Ballet Moves with Queensland Ballet (13 December). Stretch your body before your flight from 10:45am on the Village Green 

The busiest day of the holidays is forecast to be Friday December 16 when 53,000 passengers will pass through the domestic terminal.

“When Brisbane Airport is busy, Queensland is busy, so this is great news for jobs across the Sunshine State’s tourism economy,” adds Stephen Beckett. 

Brisbane born Artist Troy Dagan was commissioned to design a bespoke Christmas decoration for exclusive use throughout the terminals.  

Troy was inspired by local flora that bloom in Queensland during the festive season including the bougainvillea, and the white and red gum trees. 

 Here are 12 Christmas Holiday travel tips: 

1. Be aware of the busiest travel days. They will be Thursday 15 December and Friday 16 December, as well as the period between Wednesday 21 December and 23 December. Monday mornings are busy too with the surge of FIFO and business travellers.  Arrive 90 minutes before a domestic flight. International Terminal peak days are Tuesday, Friday and Sundays. Arrive three hours before an international flight. 
2. Book your airport parking online well in advance as car parks are more packed than Santa’s workshop. 
3. Keep up the Covid-safe practices. Restrictions have eased, but respect people’s individual choice to wear masks and feel free to wear one if you want to. Go contactless where you can. 
4. Pack “dangerous gifts” in your checked luggage. If you’re travelling with presents that could be seen as harmful to others or look dangerous through airport screening, like cricket bats and NERF toy guns, pack them in your checked luggage or they will be surrendered at the screening point.   
5. Don’t pre-wrap presents that are in your carry-on. As beautiful as they will look, airport security may have to unwrap your gifts to check the contents, ruining your perfect wrapping. Wrap them at your destination.  
6. Forgot a present? There are plenty of gifts available at our airport retailers. 
7. Leave Christmas bon bons at home. This tip is a cracker! Christmas crackers or bon bons are generally on the naughty list when it comes to flights. Most airlines don't allow them. Double check with your airline before flying or just pick some up when you get to your destination. 
8. Pack valuables securely and guard your passport especially. 
9. Watch out for the rein, deer. Queensland summer storms can impact flights. The airport doesn’t close during a storm, however if lightning is within five nautical miles of the airport, all ground staff must return to the cover of the terminal for safety reasons and delays may be experienced. 
10. Post your last-minute Christmas cards at the airport. There are post boxes at both of the terminals. You’ll find them at the International Terminal on Level 4 and at the Domestic Terminal on Level 1 forecourt at the Qantas end. Make sure you have your letters and parcels all stamped and ready to post. 
11. Beat the heat! The Queensland summer is hot. Stay hydrated and protect against sunburn. The only one approved for flying with a red nose is Rudolph!
12. Pack your patience. It has been a big year and everyone wants to escape. Airport and airline staff will do the best they can to get you on your way these holidays.  

What: Brisbane Airport Christmas Lounge  

When: Now – Friday 23 December, 7am – 7pm  

Where: Brisbane Domestic Airport, Level 2 post-security (near Gate 24, opposite The Common) 

More info: For more info and a full schedule of activities, visit https://www.bne.com.au/whatson