Air New Zealand Air Points - NZ Transit Visa question

I have about 2K flight credit with NZ from a ticket I purchased last year but had to cancel at the last minute. I want to use the flight credit on Air NZ to go to Australia from the US, but I found out that I am required to obtain a NZ transit visa even if I do not intend to enter NZ. Under the NZ immigration website, for my outbound trip, I do not need a NZ transit visa because my next legal destination is Australia. However, for my return trip to the US, I assume I need a transit visa because my next legal destination is the US, not Australia. Do I interpret the rules correctly and how do NZ immigration enforce this rule? If the connection in AKL for my flight SYD-AKL-LAX is only 1.5 hours, will I have time to go through document check?
Is it possible that I use my flight credit for other star alliance carriers through Air NZ so I don't have to go through NZ at all.
Thanks.

What is your nationality? NZ is visa free for many.

If you are transferring international flight to international flight, and do not have any bags tagged through to AKL (ie either no checked bags or they are tagged all the way to destination) then no immigration or visa check at AKL. However, the airline may check your passport and deny check in at your origin if they think you do not meet NZ entry or transit requirements.

Just on a side note, as a British National, I believe I do not require a visa while in transit at HKG on NZ38.

Can anyone else confirm this?

I'm going back to the UK on NZ2 and returning on NZ38. I don't think I could handle LAX twice in a fortnight!

What is your nationality? NZ is visa free for many.

If you are transferring international flight to international flight, and do not have any bags tagged through to AKL (ie either no checked bags or they are tagged all the way to destination) then no immigration or visa check at AKL. However, the airline may check your passport and deny check in at your origin if they think you do not meet NZ entry or transit requirements.

Isn't there some exception here regarding a flight to CHC too?

Just on a side note, as a British National, I believe I do not require a visa while in transit at HKG on NZ38.
Can anyone else confirm this?
I'm going back to the UK on NZ2 and returning on NZ38. I don't think I could handle LAX twice in a fortnight!

No visa required for HKG/British citizens - you don't pass through any immigration checks while in transit either. But you will need to ESTA a couple of days in advance for the LAX transit.

Isn't there some exception here regarding a flight to CHC too?

There is one CHC flight that counts as an international flight - it leaves AKL from the international terminal and you clear immigration and customs/biosecurity at CHC.

For the OP though - like Kiwi Flyer I suspect they do a check of elligibility to enter NZ as part of the check-in process at LAX - I have had issues at LAX NZ check-in with the New Zealand (country, not airline) advance passenger approval system sending back error messages when checking in for a flight to SYD transiting AKL.

Is the transit visa expensive? Or difficult to get? It may save a lot of hassle in the end. Particularly given that check-in for your SYD-AKL-LAX will be handled by QF staffers at Sydney. Although this might be an advantage if they don't know the rules well!

What is your nationality? NZ is visa free for many.

If you are transferring international flight to international flight, and do not have any bags tagged through to AKL (ie either no checked bags or they are tagged all the way to destination) then no immigration or visa check at AKL. However, the airline may check your passport and deny check in at your origin if they think you do not meet NZ entry or transit requirements.

I hold a Taiwan passport and Taiwan is not on the visa free country list. :td:
It's just so absurd that I have to pay 75 USD and go through all the hassle to get a piece of sticker that nobody cares about other than the airline employee who will check me in for the flight. The transit time is only 2 hours.
Given that tourist visa is 75USD as well, the worst case scenario is getting a NZ visa.

Isn't there some exception here regarding a flight to CHC too?

True, there is one AKL-CHC "international" flight. Immigration and customs is at CHC not AKL for those pax.

I hold a Taiwan passport and Taiwan is not on the visa free country list. :td:


Helpfully, the UK has just become visa free for Taiwan passport holders - perhaps you could use the credit to fly to London on NZ instead of Australia?

If your credit is allowed to be used on codeshares simply take the NZ codeshare on UA back to USA.

If your credit is allowed to be used on *A fares then a circle pacific or RTW fare may be good.

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/

Thank you for the helpful information. I didn't know Delta has such a useful site.
New Zealand is a beautiful country, I was deeply impressed by its natural scenery. But I think I will pass this time.

Its not just the Qantas staff that don't know the rules.

I often get hassled checking-in in Houston travelling to Australia on a NZ passport. I get asked all the time where is my Visa. This is both @ United and Singapore Air.

I tell them, 1) NZ Passports don't need them, 2) I live there. Can't they see all the AU stamps in my passport. Answer comes back - we need to ring AU Consulate or the computer says you need one.

Two weeks ago, I had my passport thrown back at me (United) and told in a broad NY accent "I'll let LA sort it out, I ain't gettin in trouble for letting you on board."

I don't expect them to know every passport / country combination, but NZ/AU combinations must be common enough for the computers to get it right.

I don't expect them to know every passport / country combination, but NZ/AU combinations must be common enough for the computers to get it right.
I wouldn't bet on it :(. I have been asked by Qantas staff (flying QF) in Australia where my visa for New Zealand is, when presenting them a New Zealand passport. I think Kiwi Flyer has had the same issue.

They always need to call Canberra to get it sorted.

I wouldn't bet on it :(. I have been asked by Qantas staff (flying QF) in Australia where my visa for New Zealand is, when presenting them a New Zealand passport. I think Kiwi Flyer has had the same issue.

They always need to call Canberra to get it sorted.

Gosh this is bizarre. Only done US-Aust-NZ a couple of times on NZ passport, never had a problem.

Yeah sometimes computer gives the wrong answer - perhaps 1 per 30 flights to Australia for me. When flying QF or NZ (or checking in with their staff eg flying LA from AKL) it is never a problem other than waiting 10 minutes for someone to call Canberra and verify. Fortunately I've yet to have it happen when I've been checking in with other airlines to Australia.