Planned total₱67,963AUD 1,517Qantas nonstop + 50 cent buses and trains
Saved on transfers₱2,065AUD 46.10Compared with taking the Airtrain both ways
AccommodationPENDING7 nightsCheck in 29 Nov, check out 6 Dec
Flights · 1 adult · economy · taxes included
Qantas nonstop, both ways
QantasRecommended
QF98SAT 28 NOV
9:35 PMMANILA · MNL
7h 50m
7:25 AMBRISBANE · BNE · SUN 29 NOV
QF97SUN 6 DEC
2:05 PMBRISBANE · BNE
8h 15m
8:20 PMMANILA · MNL · SUN 6 DEC
Return fare · Trip.com
₱67,896
AUD 1,516
₱1,529 less than the first quote for the same flights
| Option | Book with | Times | PHP | AUD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick Qantas nonstop | Trip.com | Out 9:35pm → 7:25am Back 2:05pm → 8:20pm | ₱67,896 | AUD 1,516 |
| Qantas nonstop | Qantas direct | Same flights | ₱70,079 | AUD 1,564 |
| Qantas nonstop (first quote) | Trip.com via fare site | Same flights | ₱69,425 | AUD 1,550 |
| Philippine Airlines nonstop | Trip.com | Out 12:05am → 10:15am Back 11:35am → 5:25pm | ₱87,662 | AUD 1,957 |
| Philippine Airlines nonstop | PAL direct | Same flights | ₱123,121 | AUD 2,748 |
Only two airlines fly this nonstopQantas and Philippine Airlines. There are no nonstop flights from Manila to Gold Coast Airport on these dates, so Brisbane is the gateway.
Qantas is ₱19,766 cheaper than PALFor the same nonstop trip. Google Flights rates ₱67,896 as typical for this route (usual range ₱51,000 to ₱79,000).
Better times at both endsLand 7:25am Sunday with the day ahead. The 2:05pm return allows a normal checkout; PAL's 11:35am return means leaving the Gold Coast around 6am.
Trip.com or Qantas directTrip.com is ₱2,183 cheaper. Qantas direct costs more but changes are handled by the airline. Confirm baggage and change rules before paying.
Brisbane Airport ⇄ Gold Coast · 50 cents a trip
Airport transfer
Queensland's 50 cent flat fare covers buses, trains and trams, but not the two airport train stations (Airtrain is privately run). The plan avoids those stations: a free shuttle links the terminal to Skygate, where regular 50 cent buses connect to the train and tram network. Times below are from the Translink Sunday timetables.
Arrival · Sun 29 Nov
6 ridesAUD 1.00arrive ~1:30 to 2pm
1Free Skygate shuttle, International Terminal Level 48:40am
2Bus 590, Skygate to Toombul Interchange9:30am
3Bus 300, Toombul (platform C) to Cultural Centre10:13am
4Walk 5 min to South Brisbane station. Railbus to Banoon (track work this weekend)~11:00am
5Train towards Varsity Lakes, off at Helensvale~12:00pm
6G:link tram to Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach~12:50pm
Departure · Sun 6 Dec
5 ridesAUD 0.50at airport 10:40 or 11:10am
1G:link tram to Helensvale7:30am
2Train (platform 2) to South Brisbane, not to the airport8:20am
3Walk 5 min. Bus 300, Cultural Centre to Toombul9:38am
4Bus 590, Toombul to Skygate10:15 / 10:45
5Free Skygate shuttle to International Terminal10:30 / 11:00
Planned with a buffer: on 6 Dec there is a spare 30-minute connection before the 1:05pm check-in cut-off. Track work closes the Gold Coast line between South Brisbane and Banoon on 28 to 29 Nov, so a railbus covers that part on arrival day. Times will be rechecked the day before each trip.
| Planned: 50 cent route | Alternative: Airtrain | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost, both ways | About AUD 1.50 · ₱67 | AUD 47.60 · ₱2,132 |
| Rides each way | 5 to 6 (one is a free shuttle) | 2 (3 with the railbus on 29 Nov) |
| Leave the Gold Coast, 6 Dec | 7:30am | 9:00am |
| Payment | Tap a bank card. 50 cents covers up to 3 transfers within an hour of each other | Tap a bank card, Airtrain fare |
Times are local · Queensland is 2 hours ahead of Manila, no daylight saving
Itinerary
Sat 28 Nov Manila
6:30 pmArrive at NAIA, 3 hours before. Check the terminal on the booking.
9:35 pmQF98 departs Manila, nonstop to Brisbane.
Sun 29 Nov Brisbane → Gold Coast
7:25 amLand at Brisbane International. Immigration, bags and customs.
8:40 amFree Skygate shuttle, then bus 590 (9:30am) and bus 300 (10:13am) into the city.
~11:00 amRailbus South Brisbane to Banoon, then train to Helensvale and the G:link tram.
~1:30 pmArrive at accommodation, around standard check-in time.
Mon 30 Nov – Tue 1 Dec Gold Coast
All dayWorkshop.
Wed 2 – Fri 4 Dec Brisbane
All daySite visits with the crew, observing Brisbane City Council jobs.
TravelTrain between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, 50 cents each way.
Sat 5 Dec Gold Coast
TBCTo be confirmed.
Sun 6 Dec Gold Coast → Manila
7:30 amCheck out. G:link tram to Helensvale, 8:20am train to South Brisbane.
9:38 amBus 300 to Toombul, bus 590 to Skygate, free shuttle to the terminal.
10:40 amAt Brisbane International (11:10am at the latest with one missed connection).
1:05 pmCheck-in closes (60 min before departure).
2:05 pmQF97 departs Brisbane. Lands Manila 8:20pm.
If plans change on the day
Backup plans
Late arrival on 29 NovIf I leave the terminal after 5pm, when the shuttle and buses wind down, I switch to the Airtrain or the Con-x-ion door-to-door shuttle.
Missed bus or railbus issueBuses run every 30 minutes, so I wait for the next. If stuck, a short taxi to South Brisbane station or Con-x-ion avoids the problem.
Running late on 6 DecRule: inside the International Terminal by 12pm. If not on track, I stay on the train to the airport station (Airtrain fare). The 10:20am train from Helensvale is the last safe one.
Track work, delays, card issuesI'll check the Translink app the night before each trip. Two payment cards on hand. Qantas and Trip.com apps for any flight changes.
7 nights · 29 Nov to 6 Dec
Accommodation Pending
Staying within a short walk of a G:link stop (Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach) keeps the airport trip simple. Early bag drop to be requested for arrival day.
| Property | Address | Nearest tram stop | Nights | PHP | AUD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To be added | To be added | To be added | 7 | To be added | To be added |
Before flying
Checklist
- Passport valid for the whole trip.
- Australian visa granted and matching the purpose of travel.
- Travel insurance.
- Arrival declaration for Australia, completed as Qantas instructs.
- Declare any food at customs. Australian biosecurity is strict.
- Contactless Visa or Mastercard for tap-on and tap-off on every bus, train and tram (check foreign card fees).
- Type I power adaptor.
- Light clothes and sun protection: early December is summer with high UV.