How long to get through customs in Brisbane?
 

Hi all

We are arriving Brisbane Jan 2nd at 06.30. We've got the extra baggage allowance, so will have about 160kg of luggage on us. How long is it going to take us to get through customs, will they look through every single case?

Also, can we take some boxes instead of suitcases, we are wanting to take some other household items and feel a box would be stronger. Not too big though.

We're also taking in a box of our daughters special medical food, with letters from doctors, all packaged and sealed, no egg etc. do you think we will be ok?

Many thanks
Fairgoes

Re: How long to get through customs in Brisbane?
 

Customs queue is dependent on how many flights have landed at the same time. If you have 2 big jumbo's disembarking then you're in for 60mins wait or longer. If its just one jumbo you can be out in 15 minutes.

Its not like you think - they just ask 'have you got food in the case ' , if you say yes you go through one queue, the 'no' goes through a nother queue. Both queues get your suitcases loaded onto a x-ray machine by nice guys from customs , they x-ray it like a bomb machine and one in 10 or something get pulled over to inspect their tom-toms or bongo-drums or banannas or dried dead insect collection... other than that it straight through to the arrivals hall and you are on your way.

Top Tip is - take a packet of crisps with you , then .... if the queue for the 'foodies' is shorter - keep them on you and declare it, if the queue for the non-foodies is shorter - chuck them in the bin and go there.... seriously I go through here about 3 times a month with my airline snack in my pocket just in case...

You can take boxes or whatever you want - boxes though will be oversize baggage and end up being a seperate check-in at UK end for the bags to be checked in after you have checked in yourselves. Then again at Aus end dont be surprised if you are last out the departures hall because oversized baggage tends to come out later than the normal bags.

The food will be fine - you just declare it as medical supplies/food on the form when they ask , then they'll just take a look at whtas in the box. Make it easy for them to inspect it and you'll be through quicker.

When you get through customs etc you are into the arrivals hall. There is a small coffee shop + newsagents +a coffee stand / cart thing plus a fairly large seating area. IF you want proper restaurants go up to departures there are 3 or 4 there if you need a rest / recouperate before journeying onwards.