Domestic airlines want you at check-in ~60 minutes out; the airport’s international journey page recommends 3 hours for both screens.

Airport FAQ: most domestic airlines want you at the check-in counter at least 60 minutes before departure; international airlines recommend at least 2 hours. The airport’s own international checking-in page is stricter: arrive 3 hours before departure so you can check in, clear domestic security, wait for the FIDS “Please proceed to international” call, then clear the second outbound screening / Border Force bank. Domestic cabin-bag passengers who already know the kerb can often work with ~75–90 minutes when queues are calm. Same-day domestic↔international connections re-clear landside inside the same building.

One terminal to find; still two security environments for passport flights.

All scheduled passenger airlines on the airport destinations list use the same terminal check-in hall at the northern end. After the main security point you are in the domestic departures lounge. International flights display “Please proceed to international” on FIDS — then a second screening / outbound Border Force path. The international departures lounge itself opens about two hours before departure; international gate numbers appear one hour before boarding. Domestic gate numbers appear 40 minutes before departure. Northern Bays Phase 1 (Gates 4 and 5) opened early August 2026; remaining works run through the end of 2026.

Soft lounges = Qantas / Virgin only; Priority Pass and LoungeKey are A$36 restaurant credit.

Qantas Club and Virgin Australia Lounge are the only soft rooms. Priority Pass and Mastercard LoungeKey here are A$36 restaurant credit at The Sand Bar (domestic) or Wollumbin (international) — useful for a meal, not a quiet lounge. American Express-issued Priority Pass cards often exclude restaurant credits; confirm your card rules. DragonPass does not list this airport. Landside cafés before security are usually better value than deep airside grabs.

From 1 Jul 2026 most QF Club / Gold / Platinum lose lounge access on international Jetstar metal.

Qantas official: from 1 July 2026, lounge access is no longer available to Platinum and Gold Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members travelling on international Jetstar (JQ) flights. Platinum One is excepted. Domestic Jetstar, Qantas codeshares operated by Jetstar (QF flight number), and Jetstar Business Max still follow the published matrix. Screenshot eligibility before a Bali / NZ bank if status was your only plan. Northern Bays remaining works through end-2026 can shift domestic gate areas.