Is fast track / priority security screening offerred?
 

Recently I used the Premium Checkin counter at AKL and the ticket agent applied an "Express Lane" sticker onto my boarding pass. Incidentally with the queues at the SmartGates vs. the one guy doing express security with no-one waiting it was actually quicker with the express lane. However, I am unable to see any mention of this benefit on the Air NZ website. Further, when I arrived in LAX I was told that the express lane sticker that I held did not apply and was directed to use the regular lanes. It took me over an hour and twenty minutes from gate to curb (and I didn't even get the X).

So what's the story here? Do I need to be flying in Business (I was in PE) or have Gold (I have Koru) or does Air NZ just not offer it? I noticed quite a number of people were holding Air NZ-branded blue stickers for transiting, but I'm not sure of their purpose here.

Also wondered this. Priority screening departing MEL late last year. Travelling with a colleague who was *G at the time. Checked in together but no linked bookings.

Gold gets it, as do business and Koru. Sometimes actually quicker not to use. Does not speed security up as it used to do with the old system before building works.

It's just a replacement sticker as the dedicated immigration and security entry from Premium check-in doesn't exist now with the changes at AKL.

I'm also not sure what the comment about LAX means because this sticker is nothing to do with LAX arrivals. Unless you have an APEC card or Global Entry you queue with everybody else. 1hr20 is certainly not a bad time, on a bad day things will be over 90 mins. A good day is 50-60 mins.

The blue transit card is so staff can identify transit customers on NZ1/NZ2 and direct them to the transit area after clearing CBP. You then swap the card for a transit stamp on your boarding pass at the transit desk for expedited TSA screening if a transit queue is in place (if it's quiet they don't bother with it).

At AKL departure smartgate is usually quicker than the express line. Before the new security machines arrived the express immigration lane fed into dedicated security, but no more.

Just reviving this thread as I experienced AKL International's new security setup outbound for the first time last week. I noticed that there seemed to be construction hoardings still in the space between where the premium check-in lift goes up to the first floor and the area further around where the security screening is. Might that mean that in due course there will be some kind of link between premium check-in and the security area, and the current need to go around the long way with the hordes will be done away with?

I really hope that's the case, as the current setup really doesn't create any kind of premium security, because you have to stand in the main line with everyone else until you get right to the front. How hard would it be to have two separate lanes?

Went through a few minutes ago. Have been through several times in last few months. There is effectively no priority service.

The current Auckland security setup is a lot slower than it used to be for Air NZ Premium customers.
I have been through it several times, and sometimes the wait times are a bit frustrating.
I hope that a new solution is offered sometime...

I was through yesterday morning, not bad wait time but I guess it wasn’t that busy either. I guess we have to give them the benefit of the doubt for priority screening post completion.

Has anyone used their APEC card overseas? I've got one but never used one because it's not obvious which lane to go in.

Is their a list of which airports you can use it?

Dave

Which Airports are you travelling to?

Some airports will have the APEC logo and some will just have the name.

I use mine frequently.

SIN, BKK, HKG, NRT, KUL, SYD, MEL, SGN

WLG, AKL (If there are queues at the smart gates)

Also to avoid the queues from Hong Kong to China land crossings.

One can hope the current arrangements in AKL Intl is just temporary as there is currently no benefit beyond Immigration as you join the same queue. The consolation is there are multiple "slots" for people to approach the security area so if you know the procedure you can bypass the slower / more confused travelers. I seem to recall the agent saying they can clear about 700 passengers an hour or something to that extent. Express lanes where you need it most (i.e. LAX) do not exist regardless of class of travel.

If in doubt while overseas, just hold it up as you approach the first immigration / line organising person. They will point you in the right direction.

Asking usually doesn't work in the US, and often not in Canada (other than YVR) because they rarely see these cards. Sometimes you will be actively turned away from the APEC line (usually the crew/diplomat) line in the US by the line herders... just look carefully for signage.