EK to Auckland
Mar 7, 2018, 2:44 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
EK to Auckland
I’m flying DXB-AKL-MEL in firstclass and the layover in Auckland is about 7 hours. I’ve never been to NZ and was wondering if anyone could shed light on the layover? Am I able to leave the airport, and do I have enough time to get from the airport downtown and back? What lounge is the best to hang out at in NZ? Any information that could be useful on this route would be appreciated.
thanks
thanks
Mar 7, 2018, 3:49 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: BA Gold Lifetime, AA 2M, Delta 2M, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Club, EK Platinum
Posts: 948
Airport is well outside of the city center. No airport train. Bus or taxi to city. Depending on time of day... traffic can be very bad. Standard EK lounge.
Mar 7, 2018, 12:25 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: SQ TPPS (21),QF G, NZ E, IHG D Amb, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, Shangri-La Jade, Accor Plat, Hertz P
Posts: 397
I’m flying DXB-AKL-MEL in firstclass and the layover in Auckland is about 7 hours. I’ve never been to NZ and was wondering if anyone could shed light on the layover? Am I able to leave the airport, and do I have enough time to get from the airport downtown and back? What lounge is the best to hang out at in NZ? Any information that could be useful on this route would be appreciated.
thanks
thanks
Mar 7, 2018, 5:02 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
I’m a US passport holder and citizen so entrance should not be an issue. I’m just wondering if I can stow my bags in the lounge and then go into the city so I’m not lugging around my luggage around Auckland.
At the very least i would like to see outside the airport since I’ve never seen NZ at all.
At the very least i would like to see outside the airport since I’ve never seen NZ at all.
Mar 7, 2018, 5:33 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: SQ TPPS (21),QF G, NZ E, IHG D Amb, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, Shangri-La Jade, Accor Plat, Hertz P
Posts: 397
I’m a US passport holder and citizen so entrance should not be an issue. I’m just wondering if I can stow my bags in the lounge and then go into the city so I’m not lugging around my luggage around Auckland.
At the very least i would like to see outside the airport since I’ve never seen NZ at all.
At the very least i would like to see outside the airport since I’ve never seen NZ at all.
Mar 7, 2018, 7:47 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
Mar 7, 2018, 11:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,645
What are you wanting to do or see in the City? If there is something you want to do in the city sure see it. Bus roughly allocated an hour worse one I have had is 90min. Though leaving Auckland I'm normally flying home domestically so no stress as domestic security is never more than a few minutes and can be landside when they make the final call and make the flight. International is different and think MEL flight leaves near the start of the evening peak so security and emigration can have queues.
Mar 8, 2018, 12:15 am
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 36
This is what I would do:
Clear immigration (assuming your bags are checked through) then if your hand luggage is large, re-enter the terminal and leave it in storage, but if it’s small, like a backpack, bring it with you.
Get an uber into the city, won’t be much quicker than the bus, but the bus trundles around to the domestic terminal after international and it just takes that bit longer. Uber is cheap in Auckland.
Go to the Sky Tower and get an excellent summary of the city, both in view and information.
Take a wander down to the waterfront (just keep going downhill). Depending on time available, either take a harbour cruise for an hour, or if hungry pop into the Botswana Butchery for one of their lunchtime specials (steak restaurant), or turn left and head for the marina and there are plenty of options there. Then Uber back to the airport.
Allowing an hour each way in the Uber, plus 90 mins pre-flight, you should have up to 3 1/2 hours in the city.
Clear immigration (assuming your bags are checked through) then if your hand luggage is large, re-enter the terminal and leave it in storage, but if it’s small, like a backpack, bring it with you.
Get an uber into the city, won’t be much quicker than the bus, but the bus trundles around to the domestic terminal after international and it just takes that bit longer. Uber is cheap in Auckland.
Go to the Sky Tower and get an excellent summary of the city, both in view and information.
Take a wander down to the waterfront (just keep going downhill). Depending on time available, either take a harbour cruise for an hour, or if hungry pop into the Botswana Butchery for one of their lunchtime specials (steak restaurant), or turn left and head for the marina and there are plenty of options there. Then Uber back to the airport.
Allowing an hour each way in the Uber, plus 90 mins pre-flight, you should have up to 3 1/2 hours in the city.
Mar 8, 2018, 5:15 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
This is what I would do:
Clear immigration (assuming your bags are checked through) then if your hand luggage is large, re-enter the terminal and leave it in storage, but if it’s small, like a backpack, bring it with you.
Get an uber into the city, won’t be much quicker than the bus, but the bus trundles around to the domestic terminal after international and it just takes that bit longer. Uber is cheap in Auckland.
Go to the Sky Tower and get an excellent summary of the city, both in view and information.
Take a wander down to the waterfront (just keep going downhill). Depending on time available, either take a harbour cruise for an hour, or if hungry pop into the Botswana Butchery for one of their lunchtime specials (steak restaurant), or turn left and head for the marina and there are plenty of options there. Then Uber back to the airport.
Allowing an hour each way in the Uber, plus 90 mins pre-flight, you should have up to 3 1/2 hours in the city.
Clear immigration (assuming your bags are checked through) then if your hand luggage is large, re-enter the terminal and leave it in storage, but if it’s small, like a backpack, bring it with you.
Get an uber into the city, won’t be much quicker than the bus, but the bus trundles around to the domestic terminal after international and it just takes that bit longer. Uber is cheap in Auckland.
Go to the Sky Tower and get an excellent summary of the city, both in view and information.
Take a wander down to the waterfront (just keep going downhill). Depending on time available, either take a harbour cruise for an hour, or if hungry pop into the Botswana Butchery for one of their lunchtime specials (steak restaurant), or turn left and head for the marina and there are plenty of options there. Then Uber back to the airport.
Allowing an hour each way in the Uber, plus 90 mins pre-flight, you should have up to 3 1/2 hours in the city.
Mar 9, 2018, 12:35 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,645
This is what I would do:
Clear immigration (assuming your bags are checked through) then if your hand luggage is large, re-enter the terminal and leave it in storage, but if it’s small, like a backpack, bring it with you.
Get an uber into the city, won’t be much quicker than the bus, but the bus trundles around to the domestic terminal after international and it just takes that bit longer. Uber is cheap in Auckland.
Go to the Sky Tower and get an excellent summary of the city, both in view and information.
Take a wander down to the waterfront (just keep going downhill). Depending on time available, either take a harbour cruise for an hour, or if hungry pop into the Botswana Butchery for one of their lunchtime specials (steak restaurant), or turn left and head for the marina and there are plenty of options there. Then Uber back to the airport.
Allowing an hour each way in the Uber, plus 90 mins pre-flight, you should have up to 3 1/2 hours in the city.
Clear immigration (assuming your bags are checked through) then if your hand luggage is large, re-enter the terminal and leave it in storage, but if it’s small, like a backpack, bring it with you.
Get an uber into the city, won’t be much quicker than the bus, but the bus trundles around to the domestic terminal after international and it just takes that bit longer. Uber is cheap in Auckland.
Go to the Sky Tower and get an excellent summary of the city, both in view and information.
Take a wander down to the waterfront (just keep going downhill). Depending on time available, either take a harbour cruise for an hour, or if hungry pop into the Botswana Butchery for one of their lunchtime specials (steak restaurant), or turn left and head for the marina and there are plenty of options there. Then Uber back to the airport.
Allowing an hour each way in the Uber, plus 90 mins pre-flight, you should have up to 3 1/2 hours in the city.
Mar 20, 2018, 1:49 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
Used uber to get to and from. Beautiful city, and country. Delightfully nice people, including the immigration officers who were assisting in giving suggestions on where to go, what to do, and what time I should to be back by to make my layover.
Frankly, I was quite surprised at the sheer kindness and patience an immigration officer would show me, a lowly tourist, visiting their country. I think that reflects very highly on New Zealand, and their mindset. It’s a sad state of affairs in many modern western countries immigration officers with the worst offenders (in this order) being Canada, America, and even Australia comes to mind of immigration officers who are just interested in trying to trip you up and prove you’re smuggling heroin or just got back from an ISIS holiday.
Last edited by NWplatinum; Apr 1, 2018 at 2:26 am
Mar 25, 2018, 6:34 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: BKK, CDG, TLS
Programs: QR G, A3 G, EK G, IHG Amb, GHA Black, WOH LT something
Posts: 1,306
Can't agree more! NZ'ers are extremely friendly and helpful, even the immigrations officers, lol such a difference to some other countries.... (USA, France come to mind) Glad you had a great time!