run&fly

Yes, I'm curious, what are they?

24left

I can't speak for anyone else. I've been to/through there 4 times in the past year, twice last month.

While not a big airport, the renovations in the departure area have been going on for the year that I've been through there. Why it takes so long, no idea.
Also, if you don't have lounge access, the cluttered retail and food places and the noise and circular design can be annoying.

When you arrive on a flight into AKL, it's weird that you have to go through the duty free and all that to get to the long hallway to get out, or to transfer security.

If you are transferring, either there is no one in that line or the line is long and there was only one machine and well, you get the picture.
Then up the escalator to departures. Again. And also before the escalator, some other security for random swabbing. Not as exciting as it sounds and more time wasted.

The NZ lounge in the international departures is insanely packed. The bouncer at the desk outside turns people away, sending them to some other contract lounge.

But by far the most annoying for some is if you arrive or depart to the U.S. Due to U.S. Secure Flight rules, all those flights regardless of airline have been moved to a remote pier. It was pretty ugh in June, but definitely improved a few weeks ago. But it's a wasteland and there is that second level of security, which doesn't open until they say it opens, so you essentially sit in a holding area. The NZers are not happy with this as the country is paying for it and it's a challenge for some with mobility issues.

Those are just my recent experiences but others may have different ones to offer.

BTW, none of this would stop me from going back - on NZ or AC if they ever offer it. No airport is perfect and now that I've been there a few times, I know what to do.

run&fly

OK, thanks. I am still debating whether I'll do the YVR-AKL NZ direct or AC through SYD as I usually do... My final destination is not AKL, so in the end, same number of flights but a little longer...

24left

I've flown in and out of AKL on AA, QF, NZ, SQ and UA.

As other may say, price and schedule on AC etc, or whatever Aeroplan has.

YYCYYZ

I have to +1 24left's note here. I haven't been recently but have done 6 North America - Australia shuffles through AKL over the years. A few of my worst connection experiences have been at AKL. Once an overzealous screener confiscated my entire bag of toiletries (which fit in the standard Canadian style baggie) because one bottle had no 100 ml sizing on it. It was clearly less than 100ml and in the previous couple weeks I had been through SFO/LAX/YVR/YYZ etc with that same bottle. No rhyme or reason about *why* they took it (as well as all other toiletries), and I wasn't in the mood to get detained over it. As 24left said the transfer process is usually marked by long lines.

Second - I am 50/50 on getting access to the lounge. Sometimes you just get forced off to a lesser lounge.

Third - The morning AKL-SYD flights are insane. Boarding is really poor generally and they're always super crowded and often delayed, but to be fair that's usually SYD's issue, but it seems like the trans-Tasman flights often get shafted with slots at SYD when there are IRROPS.

My preferred method to Australia has been YVR-BNE. Often cheaper, BNE is a smaller airport which is nice to transfer through and the long distance leg is shorter. Just my 2 cents. Obviously it's pretty close because I do it too, but I think I'd pass now that I have done it a few times.

Bohemian1

The AC staff at BNE are excellent. Even stopped by the lounge to suggest when to come down and held one desk open just for Zone 1s even after Zone 2 boarding had begun. Great people!

CZAMFlyer

Offering a counterpoint to the negative AKL experiences above, I've always had a fine airport experience when arriving or departing New Zealand. Nothing spectacular, nothing terrible nor annoying sticks out for me. I haven't actually done a simple transit there since 2003, so I can't offer a recent assessment of that process, nor have I flown there on a US carrier if that makes a difference.

Construction, inconsistent screening, overcrowding and running the retail gauntlet are realities of most successful airports. Some of these variables can vary from day to day.

To the OP, the flight itself is where the real comfort or pain will be felt. It seems the onboard space and service are greater with NZ, and I'd be inclined to opt for them.

lhrpete

I would agree with all the above about AKL and would avoid it because the building work has stopped it being the antiroom to hell and turned it in to hell.

This maybe just me but I don't experience it anywhere else outside NZ, I find staff at AKL very full of their own importance, determined to enforce petty rules that you'd never heard of and arrogant about how wonderful they are when in fact they are a bad advert for what is otherwise a beautiful place. IMO the only worse place is CHC.

24left

Exactly. You haven't done a simple transit there since 2003.


And since the discussion was based on this statement by @Dover2Golf, where others asked why, a few of use who have been there recently and/or repeatedly provided our experiences.

And this


So while a couple of us detailed our transit experiences, a few here thought it a place to avoid.

My conclusion is: it's not terrible. We've all been to worse. If you want to visit AKL and at least part of NZ, you may have to go through AKL. The point is whether you fly AC via SYD or Aeroplan on NZ via the U.S. or other, all this thread does is provide insight and info so people can make a more informed decision.

CZAMFlyer

I'm left wondering what the implication is. I've flown a lot to and from Auckland. Some peoples' assessments of the airport are frankly exaggerated and misleading. The quote above implies that landing at AKL and departing AKL doesn't entitle one to an opinion on the airport as much as somebody who stays within the building.

Many of us hold varying opinions on topics. Personally, I see lots of positives when I travel and don't experience the same annoyances as others.

It's ok to allow that to happen.