Originally Posted by
Nazdoom
They don't stamp when you use the self-serve machines in either country. But for whatever reason 2 of my 3 trips to Auckland in the past 3 years (the first and the third) resulted in me being flagged as a risk such that I couldn't use the gates and had to talk to a human at the counter. While a bit annoying (but fair game, my travel patterns are highly sus), the consequence was that I got ink stamped both times.
A Canadian passenger coming to Oceania for 1.5-3 days flying business class as part of a maximized aeroplan or avios redemption is sufficient to get that coveted stamp ... along with enhanced immigration questioning and in one case, a fullsome customs secondary search. Do with that what you will
Yeah. I’ve found NZ & AU immigration to be, shall we say, thorough as a Canadian transiting through their country for 3-4 days on separate tickets, though the Scuba gear could have been a massive hint. But I'll give the 'keener' award to CBSA at YVR. Questioned at baggage claim every time I’ve connected through there and twice, on the outbound leaving YVR between the lounge and the gate. For those not familiar with Canada Immigration, there is not outbound checkpoint when departing Canada. I’ve never seen that at any other Canadian Airport but YVR. Maybe they were filming episodes of Border Security those days…