OOL

- To city center
- Gold Coast · ~20 km
- Time to city
- Taxi rank (13 cabs / Black & White) · ~30 min to Surfers Paradise; ~45 min to Byron Bay (airport FAQ)
OOL

BNE

One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
OOL
OOL
OOL
OOL · Compact single-terminal holiday gateway with permanent 50-cent Translink access, Qantas/Virgin soft lounges, and a new airside Quiet Room — undercut by restaurant-credit-only Priority Pass and no sterile domestic↔intl walk.
BNE · Strong Airtrain CBD link and a solid international lounge set led by Escape Lounges, undercut by two terminals 4 km apart with no sterile transfer — Plaza Premium is closed 15 Sep–1 Dec 2026.
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
BNE
BNE
Compact single terminal — international still wants a full buffer
Domestic airlines want you at check-in ~60 minutes out; the airport’s international journey page recommends 3 hours for both screens.
One building — but domestic airside ≠ international airside
One terminal to find; still two security environments for passport flights.
Airline lounges beat restaurant credit when eligible
Soft lounges = Qantas / Virgin only; Priority Pass and LoungeKey are A$36 restaurant credit.
BNE
Domestic can be tight; international still wants a full buffer
Domestic ~75–90 minutes when quiet; international ~2–2.5 hours; terminal transfers are additive.
International ≠ Domestic — and Qantas domestic ≠ Qantas international
Confirm International vs Domestic before you leave home; Qantas brand does not put you in one building.
Escape or airline lounges beat last-minute airside grabs when eligible
Use Escape / Plaza / airline lounges when entitled; domestic PP is eat credit, not a lounge.

Qantas Club
Credit: Kgbo
Virgin Australia Lounge
Terminal 1 Domestic · Southern end of the domestic departures lounge, opposite Gate 18 (Virgin Australia Gold Coast lounge page / airport lounge page)
The Sand Bar (Priority Pass restaurant credit)
Terminal 1 Domestic · Domestic airside after security — turn left; near Gate 16 (Priority Pass OOL4D / LoungeKey OOL4D). Domestic flights only.

Escape Lounges
Credit: Escape Lounges
Qantas Club / Qantas Business Lounge Domestic
Domestic Terminal · Domestic Terminal Qantas northern concourse near Gate 22 cluster (frequent flyer / airport guides) — airside after Qantas security
Emirates Lounge
International Terminal · International Terminal airside Level 3 near Gate 75 (BAC Emirates page) — after security and passport control; direct boarding for Emirates flights