Connection time INTL to domestic at AKL on separate bookings
Feb 9, 2019, 2:46 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: NZ*G, United.
Posts: 194
Haven't had bags x-rayed at AKL since the last century. In my experience the actual processing is v quick. That includes travelling with family members carrying insulin. The queue waiting to get to the officer is the slow bit.
Feb 9, 2019, 3:03 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,993
I haven’t really concidered transfering throug Australia since the issue with my itinerary is how quick I can get landside at AKL. Adding two TT flights AND customs and immigration in Australia (which in my experience takes longer than NZ) seems like doubling the risk.
Or am I missing something?
Or am I missing something?
For flights to NZ secondary destinations transferring at SYD/MEL and then direct to the NZ destination can be simpler the AKL inter terminal transfer
For flights to Au secondary destinations transferring at AKL and then direct to the Au destination can be simpler the SYD inter terminal transfer
Worth $ to avoid the SYD T1 T2/T3 transfer. And a little the same at AKL, but the terminal transfer is not as bad
Feb 9, 2019, 7:40 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Christchurch, NZ
Programs: NZ*E, Accor Gold, PGR Black
Posts: 51
Did it comfortably within 2 hours this morning off NZ1 - even was able to get a slightly earlier connection to CHC - the arrival hall was full of the usual early morning arrivals and the MAF line long - took approximately 20mins to clear. I agree it all depends on your risk appetite.
Feb 9, 2019, 9:57 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 366
The problem is it very much depends upon the Officer. My wife and I had bags xrayed on most recent return from Melbourne because we had “too many bags” to go through green lane.
Feb 10, 2019, 8:11 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 101
We will need to check a bag, mostly running gear. Shoes, either brand new or carefully cleaned from soil of course.
Last edited by LadyBell; Feb 10, 2019 at 8:18 am
Feb 10, 2019, 8:38 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 101
Given your handle I guess you are a NZ citizen.
I can’t really recall but isn’t there a different line for returning nationals ?
At immigration off course but also at customs/bio security?
Feb 10, 2019, 10:20 am
#25
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: AKL
Posts: 446
There's a sign board that you pass under with a few different categories but it all eventually spills out at the same place at the end and everyone gets the same treatment. I've never quite understood the purpose of it. The only people who have their own line seem to be aircrew.
Feb 10, 2019, 11:31 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,179
There's a sign board that you pass under with a few different categories but it all eventually spills out at the same place at the end and everyone gets the same treatment. I've never quite understood the purpose of it. The only people who have their own line seem to be aircrew.
The purpose is to determine whether or not to grant entry to NZ and under what conditions. Whilst almost all pax are legit, flags are raised on a few - including those holding a visa.
[slightly OT]
Having a Visa doesn’t guarantee entry, it is effectively just a (initial) screening which gives confidence (but not absolute sureity) to the airline that the pax is OK to board at origin, and to the Customs official on arrival that the pax has been though a process and has made certain declarations on the purpose of their travel. But they can still decide not to issue an Entry Permit ( the old inky stamp or now electronic record). The differences between a Visa and Entry Permit are not well known - since almost all pax don’t have .a problem.
And of course some countries just use the visa as a revenue source and/or reciprocity for what NZ requires of their citizens who want to travel here
[/slightly OT]
Last edited by Thai-Kiwi; Feb 10, 2019 at 11:41 am
Feb 10, 2019, 11:42 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Christchurch, NZ
Programs: NZ *E, QF Gold, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, PanPacific Platinum
Posts: 752
yes, guests are escorted through the crew lane at MPI so no queues. Obviously still need to satisfy entry requiremens and have a face to face interview with the MPI staff, but if you hate queues, this service is fantastic.
Feb 10, 2019, 11:46 am
#28
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Christchurch, NZ
Programs: NZ *E, QF Gold, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, PanPacific Platinum
Posts: 752
Feb 10, 2019, 12:37 pm
#29
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: AKL
Posts: 446
Feb 10, 2019, 12:50 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,638