Recently I flew NZ283 from SIN-AKL, which was scheduled to arrive in AKL at 8:15am, before my connecting flight to Wellington departing at 10am (same Air NZ PNR).

I know already 1h45 in AKL is very much pushing it but it was the only option on the website when I booked my flight so just accepted the risk (and using multi stop to get the next flight to WLG was $300 more).

Just before I arrived at SIN to check in, I was informed my flight was delayed 30 mins (late inbound flight) with a revised arrival time of 8:45am. I knew there was no way in hell I was making a 1h15 connection so asked at Air NZ check in at SIN if they could move me to the 11:30 flight to WLG. Nope they said, need to call Air NZ direct.

After I went through SIN immigration I noticed the app had still reflected the 30 min departure delay, but arrival had been revised to 8:20am. Decided not to call Air NZ given it was close to boarding.

I arrived in AKL at 8:40 but bags took forever and was still standing at the baggage carousel at 9:25. Decided to ring Air NZ as I’d clearly miss the 9:30 cut off for bag drop for the 10am flight. Asked the same thing, can you move me to the 11:30 flight. Again, was told no, and to go to the air nz service desk at the airport. Once I cleared biosecurity I went to the ticketing desk at INT and they sorted it for me.

This is my first time experiencing a misconnect on arrival at AKL, and can honestly say I was a bit surprised that neither SIN check in agents or the call centre could change my flight, when it was clear there was a very high chance I was going to miss it, after finding out the inbound flight was delayed.

Is this the norm? Can’t say I was impressed with only being able to sort it in AKL after clearing customs. It also seems a bit counterintuitive as if I was able to sort it in SIN, it would have freed up a seat on the 10am flight for somebody else, rather than the seat being “lost” given I knew well before that I wasn’t going to make that flight. Rant over.