At a glance
- Who it’s for
- Anyone collecting or dropping off a passenger at Brisbane Airport by car, and anyone who needs to park for a few hours
- What to do now
- Use the kerbside zone only when your passenger is ready; if they are not, park at ParkShort (first 15 minutes free at the Domestic Terminal) or AIRPARK (up to 1 hour free)
- Free time
- ParkShort Domestic: up to 15 minutes. AIRPARK: up to 1 hour, “until further notice”
- Last checked
- 8 November 2026 (AEST), on the Brisbane Airport ParkShort, AIRPARK and pick-up pages
- Not yet confirmed
- The Domestic kerbside page we read does not give a time limit for the kerbside zone, and the International Terminal ParkShort page lists no free period
If your passenger is not at the kerb when you arrive at Brisbane Airport, a Kerbside Officer will ask you to move on, and the airport’s own answer is to park instead. At the Domestic Terminal the first 15 minutes at ParkShort are free, and AIRPARK gives up to 1 hour free. These are the rules and prices on the Brisbane Airport website as of 8 November 2026.
Can I wait in the pick-up zone for my passenger?
No. Brisbane Airport describes the pick-up and drop-off kerbside zone as “strictly” for drivers who have a passenger ready to be dropped off or picked up immediately. If the passenger is not there waiting, you will be asked to move on by a Kerbside Officer.
The airport’s advice to anyone who has been moved on is to park and wait until the passenger has arrived and is ready for collection. It names two places: ParkShort, the short term car park, where the first 15 minutes are free, and AIRPARK, where you can get up to 1 hour of free parking. The airport says this is a safer and more convenient way to meet a passenger than driving in circles around the airport while they land.
The airport’s tip for the kerbside itself is to stay in your car. That is the whole idea of the zone: it works when drivers arrive, load or unload, and leave.
What is ParkShort, and where is it?
ParkShort is Brisbane Airport’s short term car park for picking up or dropping off family and friends. At the Domestic Terminal it is on Level 2 of the P1 car park. At the International Terminal it is in the open air area at ground level. It operates 24/7, it is ideal for stays of up to 4 hours, and the airport describes it as a 2 to 5 minute walk to the terminals. Booking online is offered.
How much does ParkShort cost at the Domestic Terminal?
| Time parked | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 15 minutes | FREE |
| 15-30 minutes | $15 |
| 30-60 minutes | $27 |
| 1-2 hours | $33 |
| 2-3 hours | $40 |
| 3-4 hours | $42 |
| 4-24 hours | $77 |
| 2 days | $124 |
| 3 days | $184 |
| 4 days | $246 |
| 5 days | $306 |
| 6 days | $367 |
| 7 days | $427 |
| 8 days | $488 |
| Each additional day | $55 |
Rates are as listed on Brisbane Airport’s ParkShort page on 8 November 2026. The free 15 minutes is marked with a footnote on the page. The airport says you can park at ParkShort Domestic for up to 15 minutes free, or for up to 1 hour at AIRPARK, “until further notice”, so check the page before you go in case either offer changes.
How much does ParkShort cost at the International Terminal?
| Time parked | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 minutes | $15 |
| 30-60 minutes | $27 |
| 1-2 hours | $33 |
| 2-3 hours | $40 |
| 3-4 hours | $42 |
The International Terminal table starts at “up to 30 minutes” for $15 and has no free period. If you are meeting an international arrival, that is the difference to plan around: the free 15 minutes belongs to the Domestic Terminal ParkShort.
What is AIRPARK, and is it cheaper?
AIRPARK and AIRPARK 2 are the airport’s budget open air car parks. The airport says they are on Airport land, close to the terminals, with 24 hour surveillance. Both are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The features the airport lists are a free shuttle bus to the terminals, up to 1 hour free parking, over-height spaces available up to 4m, and 24 hour CCTV. There is an air-conditioned lounge at both car parks for waiting. Booking online in advance is part of the offer.
| Time parked | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | Free (see the note above) |
| 1-2 hours | $10 |
| 2-3 hours | $15 |
| 3-4 hours | $20 |
| 4-24 hours | $50 |
| 2 days | $70 |
| 3 days | $85 |
| 4 days | $95 |
| 5 days | $105 |
| 6 days | $115 |
| 7 days | $125 |
| 8 days | $136 |
| Each additional day | $11 |
Side by side with the ParkShort tables, the printed rates are lower at AIRPARK at every duration the two pages share. For 3-4 hours the airport lists $42 at ParkShort and $20 at AIRPARK; for 4-24 hours it lists $77 at ParkShort Domestic and $50 at AIRPARK. The trade-off is the shuttle: AIRPARK is not a walk to the terminal.
How often does the AIRPARK shuttle run?
| Time | How often |
|---|---|
| 3:30am to 12:30am | Every 15 minutes |
| 12:30am to 3:30am | Every 30 minutes |
The bus runs 24 hours to the Domestic and International Terminals. The airport adds that timings are subject to road conditions, and that journey times are approximate and do not include waiting periods. If you have a flight to catch, build in the wait for the bus as well as the ride.
Where else can I wait for a late flight?
Brisbane Airport publishes a waiting areas page for drivers whose passenger is delayed or who have arrived early. The airport’s message is that there is no need to drive in circles around the airport precinct. Wait somewhere, then return to the pick-up area once you know the passenger has arrived. It lists these places.
| Place | What the airport says |
|---|---|
| ParkShort (Domestic) | Level 2 of the P1 car park. First 15 minutes free |
| AIRPARK | Up to 1 hour of free parking |
| Brisbane Airport Service Centre | Just off Moreton Drive. Free parking for up to two hours. 24-hour Shell Coles Express, 24-hour McDonald’s and a 24-hour Guzman Y Gomez. Ultra Tune for car servicing. Best for pick-ups at either terminal |
| Kingsford Smith Memorial | Aviation museum with the preserved “Southern Cross” aeroplane. Free parking for up to two hours. Best for pick-ups at the International Terminal. Turn around at the roundabout on Airport Drive to return to either terminal |
| Skygate | Less than five kilometres from the airport, with 147 fashion and lifestyle brands and Queensland’s only 24-hour Woolworths. Free parking for up to two hours. Best for pick-ups at either terminal. Return to both terminals via Airport Drive |
For a pick-up from the Domestic Terminal, the airport’s own suggestion is the ParkShort free 15 minutes or the AIRPARK hour. For a longer wait, the three places with free parking for up to two hours give you the most time.
Which option suits which trip?
| Your situation | Option the airport points to |
|---|---|
| Passenger is at the kerb and ready | Kerbside pick-up and drop-off zone; stay in your car |
| Short wait for a Domestic arrival | ParkShort Domestic, first 15 minutes free |
| Longer wait, or a flight running late | AIRPARK (up to 1 hour free) or a waiting area with up to two hours free |
| Meeting an International arrival | ParkShort International is $15 for up to 30 minutes; the Kingsford Smith Memorial and the Service Centre are free for up to two hours |
| Parking for a few hours, not days | ParkShort is built for up to 4 hours; AIRPARK lists lower rates for the same hours |
Is there another way to get to the airport without parking?
Yes. The Airtrain and the bus between the airport and the city are covered in our guide to getting from Brisbane Airport to the city. For fares on the wider network, see our go card and contactless fares guide.
What should I check before I go?
- Whether you are at the Domestic or International Terminal: only the Domestic ParkShort page lists the free 15 minutes
- The current rates on Brisbane Airport’s ParkShort and AIRPARK pages, which can change
- The note that AIRPARK’s hour free applies “until further notice”
- The kerbside maps on the airport’s pick-up and drop-off pages, including the accessible pick-up and drop-off map for the Domestic Terminal
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Brisbane Airport Corporation.
Sources
- Brisbane Airport: ParkShort (read 8 November 2026)
- Brisbane Airport: AIRPARK (read 8 November 2026)
- Brisbane Airport: Domestic Pick Up and Drop Off (read 8 November 2026)
- Brisbane Airport: Pick Up Waiting Areas (read 8 November 2026)