I bought the ticket OOL->KUL (Gold Coast to KL) from AirAsia. Taking-off is 09:05 hours and this is the only flight to KUL.
I checked the train and bus timetable, the first service arrives at Gold Coast Airport (OOL) at 08:00 hours. Is there enough time for check-in, immigration, security and boarding? Does it make any difference if I do web check-in?
Three hours is really overkill nowadays. I travel fairly regularly internationally and I usually arrive about 90 minutes before departure. If you arrive three hours before you'll be sitting at the airport for two and a half hours completely bored.
8am for a 9am departure is pushing it though.
Go the night before and slum it at the YHA hostel nearby for around $30 if you can't get there earlier.
Gold Coast is such a small airport that 3hours is probably overdoing it. But 1:05 is WAY too little. I think the key here is the word "scheduled" what happens if it's just 15 mins overdue, you would be stuffed :(
gotta go through customs etc so probs need 2-3 hours
web check in usually cuts 1/2 hour lesser than the normal recommended 2-3 hours arrival at airport in general.. usually thats the case. but for international, usually 2-3 hours will be ideal.. i reckon OOL should be about 2-2.5 hours.. the customs at syd sometimes took 1-2 hours just to clear that during peak periods..
international check-in counters close 1 hour before departure.
Dude, are you travelling from Brissie? Don't take train, you won't make it for AA…use AA shuttle bus from brisbane.
here is the link https://www.aaexpress.com.au/BusTime.aspx
Thanks man, will definitely use AAexpress.
Have used AAX and suggest you look at LinkTransfers http://goo.gl/XjWMaF
Can recommend Link, very good service.
Insane prices and inconvenient pickup for bus
More convenience and similar pricing renting a car
Wouldn't take any risks whatsoever with this. LCC's show no mercy.
Even if most say arriving 3 hours before is overkill, I would still do whatever is necessary to be there WELL ahead of time. You will have no advance warnings about traffic problems en route to OOL, cancelled buses, trains etc, queues at the airport for checkin, bag drop, immigration/border control, security etc etc. I always work on the principle that if something can go wrong, it will. Have never missed a flight in 45 years of travelling.
Airports are ghastly places (well apart from Singapore Changi of course), so just take a book, earphones and music and find a quiet spot to sit and relax while you wait for your flight to board.
Your flight will be so much more enjoyable (though that's debatable on AAX!) if you are calm and have everything under control. Start your relaxing holiday at OOL, not KL! Let others stress about all the other stuff and risk missing the flight.
Great advice, I wish I could + this 1000 times! :)
I think it's a bit more nuanced than that. It's standard risk analysis: What do you have to lose? What are your alternate plan? What is the probability of the various contingencies? Otherwise you commit yourself to arriving at the airport 6 hours ahead of time for a vanishing probability.
E.g. What do you have to lose? Is it the start of your holiday? Is it your return flight? Is it a connection in the middle of your holiday where you are just risking the fare and perhaps a night's accommodation. Is it a flexifare work flight paid for by your employer? How much are you risking? A cheap bargain worth $100 or a whole international package?
What is your alternate plan? Will the next service get you there? If the bus breaks down, can you get off and hail a taxi?
What is the probability of the various contingencies? Is this a dodgy commuter service? Is it a special airport service where the authorities take more care with reliability? Is a holiday rush period?
As far as the LCC aspect goes, it's no different from a full-service carrier. You miss it, you missed it, same for all airlines. Where it matters is whether you can rebook, the penalties, etc.
In the OP's case, I think he's taking too much risk. The train from Brissy is a commuter service. If it is late or breaks down, he's finished. In his place I would overnight nearby, like the YHA. Then it's just a walk to the airport.
I usually try to stack the small odds in my favour. I work out the margin I have, including the next service. I work out from maps exactly where I have to go, precious minutes can be wasted in a strange city if you go to the wrong terminal or door. I try to do as much as possible of the check-in ahead of time. I haven't missed a flight yet. The closest shave I've had was in Japan where I foolishly took a day trip to Hakone when I was leaving by a night flight. The various connections took longer than I expected. Fortunately I was able to plot a journey directly to Narita using the Shinkansen service. I even worked out which platforms I had to run between to make a connection, the Japanese timetables are that detailed. Since then I have a policy of not leaving town on the day of a night flight.
Not sure if you're from KL, but you may want to also check how you are going to find your way back as well. I was using the light rail system two years ago and misinterpreted the stops. It was a very frantic 2 hours to see if I could get there on time. Luckily, the Gold Coast flight left at 10pm not 9pm as I was advised by staff.
Counter check-in closes 1 hr before scheduled departure time. Also has a cost. Web check-in or self check-in are free and also close an hour before.
http://www.airasia.com/au/en/check-ins/counter.page
With Web check-in you still need to attend a counter and get an actual boarding pass.
I usually get to the airport at least 2 hours before my international flights.
be aware: There are roadworks causing longish delays on the gold coast highway near Mudgeeraba at the moment.
I like the $30 hostel and stay nearby the night before option someone suggested, at least you are close by.
Budget airline I would really advise to be early. They won't give you any leeway at all as costly airlines do sometimes.
Dude.. Getting there 1 hour before is really cutting it close. I would strongly advise getting there earlier.
For all international flights you should be at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure. You can web check in which might save some time - but you will be at the mercy of the security checkpoint lines and you have no idea how long they can get!
It's not worth the risk!
Get there earlier!