AKL website including
flight boards and
news of the ongoing renovations
Departure tax
Currently $25 for all pax leaving NZ, except for children (under 12?) and for transit pax who are in NZ less than 24 hours and have the exemption sticker. Unlike most air travel taxes this is payable at the airport and not bundled into the ticket price. Some (NZ-based) TAs will collect the money and add the sticker. Otherwise you have to pay in person at one of the BNZ (Bank of NZ) branches - two downstairs behind check-in (they are side by side), one small bureaux de change downstairs just past where arrivals enter landside (thanks
jarinzfin ^ for finding this one), and one upstairs by the entrance to the customs & immigration hall - or at elite check-in desk (see below for more details). Non-elites non-premium passengers, unless pre-paid through TA, will need to use BNZ to pay the departure tax as check-in will not collect payment. There are now also machines next to the downstairs BNZ branches which dispense the departure tax stickers upon payment by Mastercard, Visa or any New Zealand issued ATM card according to the signs (note I haven't checked this and am slightly sceptical as the BNZ ATM machines in the terminal do NOT accept all New Zealand issued ATM cards
whereas non-airport ATMs do).
While some savvy travellers will skip past the queues at the downstairs BNZ to pay at the upstairs one, there are enough folk that are well aware of it that the queues there are sometimes longer than downstairs. YMMV.
The BNZ offices open at 4:30am (around the same time as customs & immigration) - due to the number of early flights there are big queues when they open. Not sure when they close - presumably just before the last flight departs.
Elite check-in
Both Qantas and Air NZ have elite check-in area (quite separate to the main queues and group check-in).
As there are a number of flights to Australia leaving at similar times with a high number of business travellers (higher proportion of elite and business class), there are times of the day when even elite check-in area has queues, although will still be quicker than standard check-in. These particularly busy times are for the 6-7am flights and the mid-afternoon flights.
Qantas
Available for use by business and first passengers on Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Lan Chile, also OW sapphires and emeralds.
Can pay $25 departure tax at check-in but only credit card accepted. For the early flights they dont have stickers so need to visit the BNZ - YMMV.
Dedicated immigration officer within the facility - but starts sometime around 5:30am. Gives you an express sticker. You still need to queue at customs & immigration hall - this is changing at the moment due to renovations - believe there soon will be an express lane again, although at busy periods (eg 4:30am) will still have queues to get to where you are directed to express or regular queue.
Air NZ
Available for use for business and Star Gold passengers on Air NZ. Not available for *G on Singapore Airlines or Thai flights unfortunately - hopefully one day the computer issues will be sorted. As SQ no longer uses NZ as ground agent it may be a long wait
Can pay $25 departure tax at check-in either in cash or by credit card.
Dedicated immigration officer. Once done head up the internal escalator to bypass the main customs & immigration hall - comes out just before security check. This passage-way bypasses all landside shops.
Other airlines
No special check-in but dedicated premium pax line(s). Generally allow payment of $25 departure tax at check-in, in cash (note I havent tried all carriers so YMMV).
Busy times for AKL International terminal departures
Scheduled departure times. Busy period at check-in will be 1 to 2 hours earlier, and at immigration 30 minutes to 2 hours prior.
07:00-11:00am
02:00-03:30pm
04:30-05:30pm
06:00-07:00pm
Busy times for AKL International terminal arrivals
Scheduled arrival times. Busy period at customs and immigration will be up to 30 minutes later.
00:00-02:00am
05:30-06:30am
08:00-09:00am
10:30-02:00pm
03:00-05:30pm
more to be added