How Early Should You Arrive at Perth Airport?

If you are unsure how early to arrive at Perth Airport, you are in the right place!

Here's what you should consider when planning your arrival time: 

Important Updates to Read before Heading to Perth Airport

🚨 Important Updates at Perth Airport! 🚨 Make sure to factor these changes into your travel plans and allow extra time for your journey:

• Short-Term Car Parks at T1 & T2: Capacity is now limited. If you’re not pre-booking but prefer to park on-site, consider the Short Term Saver or Long Term Car Parks for better availability.
• Arriving by Bus? The Transperth Airport Drive Bus Stands 1 & 2 (serving bus routes 36, 37, and the 902 train replacement service to/from Perth and High Wycombe) have been relocated to a temporary location next to the Airport Central Train Station.
• Terminal Transfer Shuttle: The stop outside T2 is now closed. The stop for the T3/T4 Terminal Transfer Shuttle is now located on the forecourt road near T1 International Departures.
• T1 Domestic Taxi Rank: Currently not in operation. Please use the T1 International Taxi Rank instead.
• Jetstar Flights: All Jetstar domestic flights are now departing from Terminal 2.

General Perth Airport Information

Perth Airport Opening Hours

• Terminal 1 (International): 24/7
• Terminal 1 (Domestic): 04:00 to 00:30 
• Terminal 2 (Domestic): 04:00 to 00:30 
• Terminal 3 (International & Domestic): 04:00 - 01:00
• Terminal 4 (Qantas Domestic Terminal): 04:00 to 00:30

Peak Times at Perth Airport

🕐Morning: 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM (common for domestic and international departures).

🕖Evening: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM (busy with both arrivals and departures).

What to Know About Peak Times

• Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) Travel: Many FIFO workers depart early morning (4 AM - 6 AM) and return late afternoons or evenings, especially on Mondays and Fridays.
• School Holidays: Expect increased traffic during school holiday periods, especially early mornings and weekends.
• Public Holidays & Long Weekends: Peak times extend to days before and after major holidays.

💡 Tip: Arrive 20 minutes early during these peak times to allow for parking, security screening, and check-in. Consider off-site parking options to avoid delays during busy periods.

Parking at Perth Airport

The easiest way to arrive at Perth Airport is in your car, especially when using a park-and-ride facility to save up to 30% on Perth Airport parking rates.

The process is straightforward:

1️⃣ Drive to the off-site car park and park your car.

2️⃣ Show your booking confirmation upon arrival.

3️⃣ Hop on a shuttle bus that takes you directly to any terminal.

It’s that simple. No navigating the airport precinct or searching for parking spots!

When you return to Perth, a shuttle will pick you up directly outside the terminal and take you back to the car park.

How Early to Arrive for Domestic Flights at Perth Airport?

Domestic flights at Perth Airport:

Recommended arrival: 2 hours before departure

Check-in locations: All domestic check-in desks are located on the ground floor of T1 Domestic, T2, and T3.

💡TIP: If you’re flying during a busy holiday or special event, concerned about wait times at security, or utilising a Perth Airport car park facility with a shuttle service, you may want to leave even earlier, by twenty or thirty minutes or so. 

How Early to Arrive for International Flights at Perth Airport?

International flights at Perth Airport:

Recommended arrival: 3 hours before your departure

Check-in locations: Check-in desks for international flights are located on the ground floor of Terminal 1 International.

💡TIP: To get a sense of how long the lines will be at security, or to see if recent changes will affect your journey, you can consult Perth Airport’s Twitter account for updates.

How Early Can I Check My Bags?

Check-in times at Perth Airport will be determined by your airline, not the airport.

✈️ Qantas: Check-in opens 3 hours before domestic flights and 4 hours before international flights. Bag check-in typically opens at the same time and closes 1 hour before departure for domestic flights and 2 hours before for international flights.

✈️ Virgin Australia: Check-in for domestic flights opens 3 hours before departure and closes 1 hour prior. For international flights, check-in opens 4 hours before and closes 1 hour before departure.

✈️ Jetstar: Domestic check-in starts 3 hours before departure and closes 45 minutes before departure. For international flights, check-in opens 4 hours before and closes 1 hour before departure.

If you're flying from Terminal 1 at Perth Airport with the following airlines, you can use the self-check-in kiosks to save up to 30 minutes at the airport: Air New Zealand; Cathay Pacific; Emirates; Malaysian Airlines; Philippine Airlines; Qatar Airways

Travel Time Between PER Terminals

A free terminal transfer bus at Perth Airport will transfer you between T1/T2 to T3/T4. The journey is approximately 15 minutes and operates between the following times: 

• Every 20 minutes between 06:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
• Every 30 minutes between 10:00 p.m. and 06:00 a.m.

There are also taxi ranks located outside each respective terminal forecourt. Be sure to factor in 20 minutes or so into your transportation time at Perth Airport if you require a terminal transfer.

Need more information on getting to and navigating Perth Airport?

• Consult our guide to Perth Airport
• Consider taking public transport to Perth Airport
• Deciding between taking an Uber and driving to Perth Airport

^{All the Perth Airport parking fees cited are approximate and subject to change without notice, but were accurate at the time of publication in September 2025 for the duration(s) listed. Please note that ParkMundo does not compare all the airport car parking spaces available in the market, and cannot consider specific needs and individual requirements. Always read the terms and conditions before booking. The goal of this article is to help you become more informed and to help you save time by providing you with helpful information. ParkMundo does not accept responsibility or liability for the use of the information.}