Premium lane Auckland airport
Dec 2, 2018, 5:31 am
#31
Ambassador: Air New Zealand
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Wellington NZ
Programs: NZ Elite, EK Gold, Qatar Gold, Amex Plat, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,426
A couple of weeks ago when I went through the Premium check-in area they attached an “Express Lane” sticker to my boarding pass.
Dec 2, 2018, 11:12 am
#32
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,118
I've always walked through the premium check-in area when connecting from WLG. In the past it's been 50/50 whether they ever even questioned you, but now it's important to engage with them so you can get an express lane stamp otherwise you risk having to join the main queue.
Historically I've never found the express lane to be any faster, but part of that will be because my flights are mostly evening ones to the US rather than in the morning when the airport is super busy.
Historically I've never found the express lane to be any faster, but part of that will be because my flights are mostly evening ones to the US rather than in the morning when the airport is super busy.
Jan 2, 2019, 1:49 pm
#34
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 228
Just went through the express lane after connecting from Wellington. I asked at the desk for the express lane sticker but once I got up the elevator we were fed straight into the express lane. As long as you go up the elevator in the premium check in you should be fine.
Jan 4, 2019, 8:12 pm
#37
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: NZ GE, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 40
This is new info for me. If I travel from WLG to SFO on NZ via AKL. Normally I check-in at Wellington at the Premium desk and then follow the crowds at AIA. As an NZ Gold Elite, are you saying there is a different way through customs and security via a lift? How do I find this lift? It sounds like I should head to the premium check-in at AIA to get this benefit.
Jan 4, 2019, 8:53 pm
#38
Ambassador: Air New Zealand
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Wellington NZ
Programs: NZ Elite, EK Gold, Qatar Gold, Amex Plat, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,426
This is new info for me. If I travel from WLG to SFO on NZ via AKL. Normally I check-in at Wellington at the Premium desk and then follow the crowds at AIA. As an NZ Gold Elite, are you saying there is a different way through customs and security via a lift? How do I find this lift? It sounds like I should head to the premium check-in at AIA to get this benefit.
On your return to New Zealand you can drop off your bags in the Premium Area for your flight to WLG.
Jan 4, 2019, 10:08 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,201
In my (limited) experience there is no active checking by Premium Checkin staff of the pax moving in through this area.
I have simply entered the Premium Hall and then taken the elevator up. Fying TG in J, but also *G. I have a Seat only fare AKL-SYD in May, I’ll try my luck again then.
I have simply entered the Premium Hall and then taken the elevator up. Fying TG in J, but also *G. I have a Seat only fare AKL-SYD in May, I’ll try my luck again then.
Jan 4, 2019, 10:39 pm
#40
Ambassador: Air New Zealand
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Wellington NZ
Programs: NZ Elite, EK Gold, Qatar Gold, Amex Plat, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,426
Jan 5, 2019, 1:08 pm
#41
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: NZ GE, QF
Posts: 390
I didn't realise that you could drop off luggage there for domestic transfer, thanks for that advice. I very rarely have checked luggage, and the most recent time about 3 months ago I tried to drop the checked-through (ie same ticket) luggage off at international 1 hour 20 minutes before my domestic connection (thus well within allowable time) he refused to take it, telling me to hurry over to domestic. Air NZ never answered the complaint about it.
Jan 5, 2019, 1:14 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: NZ GE, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 40
I have gone through this way routinely for many years. I have been questioned a couple of times in the past year asking to see my boarding pass, but now I stop routinely for a sticker.
I didn't realise that you could drop off luggage there for domestic transfer, thanks for that advice. I very rarely have checked luggage, and the most recent time about 3 months ago I tried to drop the checked-through (ie same ticket) luggage off at international 1 hour 20 minutes before my domestic connection (thus well within allowable time) he refused to take it, telling me to hurry over to domestic. Air NZ never answered the complaint about it.
I didn't realise that you could drop off luggage there for domestic transfer, thanks for that advice. I very rarely have checked luggage, and the most recent time about 3 months ago I tried to drop the checked-through (ie same ticket) luggage off at international 1 hour 20 minutes before my domestic connection (thus well within allowable time) he refused to take it, telling me to hurry over to domestic. Air NZ never answered the complaint about it.
Jan 6, 2019, 12:50 am
#43
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 778
I used the newly upgraded security lane recently. Not sure what the deal was but I was travelling with a brand new passport and was using the SmartGate for the first time. However, it didn't work and referred me to the officer. I asked him why it didn't work and he claimed to have absolutely no clue. He did have to enter quite a bit of stuff using his keyboard though. Any ideas?
Jan 23, 2019, 4:46 pm
#44
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Plat, NZ Elite, QF Plat
Posts: 1,776
Was flying QF earlier this week to BNE (they don’t currently participate in the new Express Path at AKL) and the main queue for both immigration and security was very long. Express Path pax I saw going through breezed through the new Express Path only gates and then ended up at the front of the security screening queue. Much improved over anything they’ve had before IMO. Flying NZ ex-AKL tomorrow so will get to see if it saves much time.
Jan 23, 2019, 6:39 pm
#45
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Zealand
Programs: NZ Elite, QF Platinum (LTS), VA Platinum
Posts: 1,672
I used the newly upgraded security lane recently. Not sure what the deal was but I was travelling with a brand new passport and was using the SmartGate for the first time. However, it didn't work and referred me to the officer. I asked him why it didn't work and he claimed to have absolutely no clue. He did have to enter quite a bit of stuff using his keyboard though. Any ideas?