I've just got a new passport and went to change the details in my account this evening. I noticed the app listed my old passport but showed it as not validated.

When I added my new passport it now scans the page and then reads the NFC chip in the passport and now shows it as verified.

It now says I don't need to get my passport verified before flying if I'm checking in online. If you've checked in online historically you still needed to validate your passport at the kiosk or get staff to manually do this in the lounge or at the gate.

Anybody know how long this feature has existed for?

It was a constant annoyance hearing names called out in the WLG lounge "Mr/Mrs/Ms X can you please come and see us with your passport"

SInce the new app... Which is a while now..... Guessing in 2025 as think that was when they stopped asking if I had checked in at a kiosk when scanning into the lounge with the app.

Is nice they are checking the signatures on the passport now so they can skip the in person check.

Yep, it's been there for a few months, on iOS at least.

I'm surprised they haven't communicated this feature.. Surely it wouldn't have been hard to send out a notification telling people to validate their passports in the app!

While I had stumbled across this at some point, it would be great if the lounge agent could offer to validate it on your Airpoints account for you. I had a number of times TT prior to this feature where I thought surely this only needs to happen once. The passport is checked at the gate as a final check anyway.

The check at the gate is more you are in possession of the passport. The check in and the app step, is checking the cryptographic integrity of your passport. Different checks for different purposes.

Does this only work with newer passports added to the app since ~2025? I�ve had three (iOS app, with my PP details pre-loaded) international check ins in the last few weeks and every time it says i need to have my passport verified at check in.

Much to the bane of many Wellington frequent fliers, when catching NZ402 to AKL (with international connection), it means a super punishing pre 5am check-in & passport check (even with carry on only). Would be great to abolish this annoying passport check and get another 30mins of sleep.

I hadn't noticed the PP verification step until sbiddle mentioned it. Did that last night so will need to wait until May for my next international departure to see if anything changes...

As a fellow Kapiti resident, it isn't so much the 5am check that is the bane of my life, it is the need to get up at 3:30am at home!

If I don�t need to be up there until a bit later eg. SIN NRT I often find myself just jumping on CVAs morning service

Thanks @sbiddle - didn't know about this either and on Thursday last week I was doing a AKL-SYD with hand luggage only and schlepped to the kiosks to verify the passport. No more of that!

Jumpseat/standby agreement? Assume also weather dependent? Assuming you have to have at least 2 flights that would have got you there on time thing?

ah, no sorry when I am pax. would not when operating

It would surely save so much time and resource, if they promoted it. I always didn�t get why QF/JQ would let me go straight to the gate, yet NZ wanted me to go via a kiosk.

There system does seem to have bugs though, I recently got paged even after going via the kiosk in AKL.

deleted - not sure why this posted again 30 mins later

I always wonder how strict the cut off is for NZ402 specifically and when they actually draw the line, given check in only opens at 5am!
A friend flew recently on his way to HKG had an uber running very late, but checked in at 5:10am with no issues.