How to Find a Better Exchange Rate at Brisbane Airport

Beat the airport exchange rates with a prepaid travel card

The aiport can be the most convenient option for buying travel money, but that convenience comes at a price: worse exchange rates and hidden fees.

With a prepaid travel card from Wise, you get the market exchange rate (the one you see on Google) with low fees and complete transparency.

Currency Exchange at Brisbane Airport

There are two ways you can change money:

 

1. Order your currency ahead of time and pick it up at the airport

This is by far, the cheapest way to buy currency at Brisbane airport. The exchange rates are much better than buying it over the counter.

It's really easy:

  1. Order your currency online and choose a pick up location as Brisbane Airport
  2. Pay for it using BPAY (and avoid the card fee!)
  3. Pick up your ordered currency

Please keep in mind, you'll avoid the card fee if you choose BPAY. The rate is locked in on the day you book the transaction. You can choose your pick up date but if you use BPAY, you'll need to allow at least 3 business days. Also, they offer a better rate for amounts above $2000 but have a maximum transaction size of $5000.

Order Currency

2. From a currency exchange store

There are plenty of places to exchange currency at Brisbane Airport. We've broken it down into International Arrivals, International Departures and Domestic;

International Departures - There are five Travelex outlets: two at Duty Free, two on Level 4 and one near gate 80.

International Arrivals - There are two mobile counters near the baggage carousels, one near gates 79-80 and one on Level 2

Domestic Terminal - There are two options in the domestic terminal. One is near gate 22

Related: Where to Get the Best Currency Exchange Rates in the Brisbane CBD

Pre Order Currency & Pick Up at Brisbane Airport

Tips to help you get a better rate

  1. 1

    Don't leave it unitl the last minute

    Most of the time, the best exchange rates are either online or in Brisbane CBD. If you are prepared, you can compare exchange rates online or over the phone, find the best deal and arrange to either buy it in person or online (picking it up later). Even ordering it online and picking it up at Brisbane airport is much cheaper than buying it over the counter just before you fly out.
  2. 2 

    Avoid the most common fees

    Travelex don't charge commission over the counter however their exchange rates are considerably worse than outside Brisbane airport. Online, they have a 0.8% card fee that Travelex apply to online transactions.If you are buying currency online, choose to pay through BPAY to avoid the card fee. Please note that if you are going to use this option you need to allow 3-4 business days before your trip to allow time to pick it up in time.

  3. 3 

    Buy abroad instead?

    In some cases, it could work out better to purchase your foreign exchange in the country you are going to rather than exchanging it before you leave. Good examples are popular spots in Thailand, London and New Zealand (depending on where you go). The downside is that it is a lot harder to find the best exchange rate when you away from home and you are running a higher risk of being scammed.

Your currency knowledge centre

Is It Cheaper to Buy Currency Abroad?

As a general rule of thumb, holiday destinations that are very popular with Australians tend to be cheaper to buy currency than buying it before you go.

How to Buy Currency: Online Versus In-Store

Buying travel money online is one way to reduce stress and potentially save time - but are there any disadvantages you need to be aware of?

The Ultimate Guide to Currency Exchange in Australia

There is no single way to exchange currency that is always the cheapest. It really depends on what currency you are buying, how much and where you are.

Ileana Ionescu
Content manager
With a background in business journalism, Ileana is an experienced content manager, creating content for Exiap that helps its audience make informed decisions about their finances.
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Last updated
December 30th, 2022