Gold Star Alliance - expedited security lines at Auckland airport?
Sep 29, 2017, 11:59 pm
#31
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,415
Its cringe to see the prices they are selling NZ products for at duty free, e.g. $4 suppermarket chocolate blocks for $9.
https://www.theloopdutyfree.co.nz/p/...chocolate-300g is $12
AKL duty free is definitely not vaule for money, and most frequent travels would know to avoid it.
Sep 30, 2017, 1:06 am
#32
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: OZ Platinum LifeTime; DL PM; QF Gold; VA Gold; HH Diamond; IHG Diamond
Posts: 1,128
They are probably even cheaper than that at your local dairy, aren't they around $2 at the supper market.
Its cringe to see the prices they are selling NZ products for at duty free, e.g. $4 suppermarket chocolate blocks for $9.
https://www.theloopdutyfree.co.nz/p/...chocolate-300g is $12
AKL duty free is definitely not vaule for money, and most frequent travels would know to avoid it.
Its cringe to see the prices they are selling NZ products for at duty free, e.g. $4 suppermarket chocolate blocks for $9.
https://www.theloopdutyfree.co.nz/p/...chocolate-300g is $12
AKL duty free is definitely not vaule for money, and most frequent travels would know to avoid it.
And btw, it's a "supermarket", as in a ginormous market. It's not a place where you shop for supper...
Sep 30, 2017, 1:44 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 168
I was surprised at the prices when I went through the other day. Needless to say, didn't buy a thing. The AKL duty free prices seemed to be on par with prices with duty and gst in Sydney...
And btw, it's a "supermarket", as in a ginormous market. It's not a place where you shop for supper...
And btw, it's a "supermarket", as in a ginormous market. It's not a place where you shop for supper...
Sep 30, 2017, 4:59 pm
#34
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
I don't think Duty Free is a good deal anywhere to be honest. When I can walk into Brisbane Duty Free and see a bottle of alcohol for $71 which doesn't include GST or duty, then pull out my phone and see the same bottle for $68 including duty and GST at Dan Murphy's, I know it's not worth even looking at anything else.
They do occasionally have Duty Free exclusives though.
They do occasionally have Duty Free exclusives though.
Sep 30, 2017, 5:06 pm
#35
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,119
Duty free in general is a rip off these days. Prices of champagne is often more expensive than supermarkets every day pricing, and the price of some whisky is often the same or even more expensive than simply buying retail.
As for snacks and chocolate it's just a complete rip off. Duty free stores in Australia are chokka full of bulk packs of Tim Tams that are 3-4x the price of buying them in a store.
The only way you'll really get a good deal these days is online if they offer discounts. It's not uncommon to see 20% off because the stores don't need to pay this to the airports for products sold online. In recent months however JR in Wellington have seriously limited the products available online so while you can save 20% it's now on a pretty limited range of products.
As for snacks and chocolate it's just a complete rip off. Duty free stores in Australia are chokka full of bulk packs of Tim Tams that are 3-4x the price of buying them in a store.
The only way you'll really get a good deal these days is online if they offer discounts. It's not uncommon to see 20% off because the stores don't need to pay this to the airports for products sold online. In recent months however JR in Wellington have seriously limited the products available online so while you can save 20% it's now on a pretty limited range of products.
Sep 30, 2017, 10:33 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Air NZ Koru, Air NZ ELT *G, IHG Spire Ambassador, Emirates, Flying Blue, QANTAS Club
Posts: 424
I usually pick up my top shelf (or better) bourbons from local or boutique liquor stores on my travels in the USA, travelling to Tennessee regularly affords me the luxury of a scrounge. Unlikely to find these Duty Free anywhere . . .
Oct 8, 2017, 5:52 pm
#37
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Programs: NZ Elite; QF Platinum; CZ Gold; MU Platinum; Marriott Titanium; Accor Platinum
Posts: 1,467
Think has changed
It's moving quite fast but stretches back to the passport control
There was a gaggle of Auckland airport and immigration and AVSEC officials and they said they are no longer providing an expedited security line only passport
If correct that's a real shame. Kind of pointless to have it at all for passports that can use the smart gates
Oct 8, 2017, 7:57 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Zealand
Programs: NZ Elite, QF Platinum (LTS), VA Platinum
Posts: 1,672
In a massive security line as I write this
It's moving quite fast but stretches back to the passport control
There was a gaggle of Auckland airport and immigration and AVSEC officials and they said they are no longer providing an expedited security line only passport
If correct that's a real shame. Kind of pointless to have it at all for passports that can use the smart gates
It's moving quite fast but stretches back to the passport control
There was a gaggle of Auckland airport and immigration and AVSEC officials and they said they are no longer providing an expedited security line only passport
If correct that's a real shame. Kind of pointless to have it at all for passports that can use the smart gates
If the general line is moving swiftly which it has when I've been through then I don't mind not having an express lane. But if I were to be stuck in a massive queue then I'd be wishing hard for the express lane.
I don't envy you flying during the school holidays.
Oct 8, 2017, 8:40 pm
#39
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,498
A bit of active management at the front of each queue would also speed things up. If there is a kettle at the front holding everyone else up as he digs through his pockets for his phone, or loose change, or slowly rummaging round in his suitcase for his liquids bag - wave the people behind him who are prepared for security through.
Frankly if I had my way if you are not Ready For Security within 20 seconds of arriving at the x-ray machine you should be sent to the back of the line. Goodness knows you've had enough time to throw your phone/loose change/whatever else is in your pockets into your bag while you are standing in line waiting to get to the front. Not saying you have to try to get your laptop out and balance it with your liquids bag while you are shuffling in line (though props if you do), but a bit of thinking ahead would speed things up for everybody no end.
Frankly if I had my way if you are not Ready For Security within 20 seconds of arriving at the x-ray machine you should be sent to the back of the line. Goodness knows you've had enough time to throw your phone/loose change/whatever else is in your pockets into your bag while you are standing in line waiting to get to the front. Not saying you have to try to get your laptop out and balance it with your liquids bag while you are shuffling in line (though props if you do), but a bit of thinking ahead would speed things up for everybody no end.
Oct 9, 2017, 4:01 pm
#43
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YYZ/SFO/AKL
Programs: NZ*G, back of the bus UA, corner of the MLL AC.
Posts: 373
Oct 9, 2017, 4:13 pm
#44
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,119
I do know that policy there does seem to vary depending on the day of the week. It seems they randomly enforce tougher restrictions on some days.