Auckland Airport : So far behind Singapore's Changi
Apr 17, 2019, 7:19 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
Apr 18, 2019, 5:01 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Programs: Krisflyer, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Air NZ Airpoints, Koru, NZ*S and former *G
Posts: 317
Apr 18, 2019, 7:18 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 367
I go to MEL regularly and almost always find it a better experience arriving there than at AKL. Leaving is not so good as my epassport photo fails to identify me on nearly every occasion yet works elsewhere fine. I think that the baggage collection area and final queueing at AKL when arriving could be greatly improved and is generally a poor experience.
Apr 22, 2019, 8:03 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: MEL
Programs: VA Gold, Aegean *G, QF, SQ...etc
Posts: 176
MEL and AKL are my two most frequently used airports--I'd pick AKL 7 days a week and twice on Sundays. MEL can't seem to sort themselves out to get bags out in anything approximating a reasonable time, typical wait is 45 minutes plus. Departure experience was more horrible in AKL briefly with the introduction of the new xray machines, but they have since been introduced in MEL so lose lose there. Staff and signage both miles better in AKL.
Apr 24, 2019, 7:55 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Auckland NZ
Programs: NZ Gold Elite, AS, AC, QF
Posts: 748
AKL has improved massively since my first visit here from Canada in 1991. Comparing it to super-hubs like SIN or DXB or the new IST makes no sense at all. I would rather investments go into better public transport to AKL than installing a butterfly prison or ostensive "luxury" retailers. AKL continues to improve. That works for me.