How long is AKL arrivals process?
Hi, trying to advise someone on AKL arrivals, but my memory is not great ...
Any advice on how long it takes from stepping off a plane at AKL (international arrival, at noon, in July) to get through passport control, collect checked baggage, and get through biosecurity/customs? NZ citizen, but no current NZ passport, so travelling on a UK passport. Are there any advantages to having a current NZ passport in hand? I vaguely recall from my last visit that there is a single line for NZ passport and NZ citizen with foreign passport? Also, for the return, what will be the journey time (traffic) from Auckland Hilton to AKL leaving around 11am on a weekday? Thanks. |
45-60 minutes for arrival processing and aircraft disembarking total and probably the same to get to the airport from the Hilton
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Originally Posted by kiwicyclo
(Post 29686400)
45-60 minutes for arrival processing and aircraft disembarking total and probably the same to get to the airport from the Hilton
Any speedup for having NZ passport in hand, or was my memory right about the lane being shared with NZ citizens with foreign passport anyway? Is the queueing mostly at passport control, or mostly at biosecurity, or both? |
Originally Posted by manord
(Post 29686432)
Thanks for the quick reply.
Any speedup for having NZ passport in hand, or was my memory right about the lane being shared with NZ citizens with foreign passport anyway? Is the queueing mostly at passport control, or mostly at biosecurity, or both? I usually take the NZ/AUS 'something to declare' lane because it's usually way shorter than the green lane, and when you say you have some sweets from the US they wave you straight through. YMMV, of course. |
Originally Posted by samyoull
(Post 29686451)
IIRC if you're an NZ citizen you can use the NZ/AUS lane regardless of what passport you're travelling on - they don't really check anyway and quite often the lanes comingle.
I usually take the NZ/AUS 'something to declare' lane because it's usually way shorter than the green lane, and when you say you have some sweets from the US they wave you straight through. YMMV, of course. |
Originally Posted by samyoull
(Post 29686451)
IIRC if you're an NZ citizen you can use the NZ/AUS lane regardless of what passport you're travelling on - they don't really check anyway and quite often the lanes comingle.
I usually take the NZ/AUS 'something to declare' lane because it's usually way shorter than the green lane, and when you say you have some sweets from the US they wave you straight through. YMMV, of course. we were even cautioned when carrying a brand new unused tent, and advised that we should have declared it as and could be fined for not doing so as it's a biosecurity risk - even though the declaration form only refers to used equipment 45-60mins seems safe bet when travelling with luggage YMMV :-) |
Originally Posted by jeffrocowboy
(Post 29687156)
NZ citizen passport, usually carrying commercial packaged sweets, always sent to X-ray - and I am always wondering if its due to my brown skin (and when partner with me he is Filipino)
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Originally Posted by manord
(Post 29686383)
...Any advice on how long it takes from stepping off a plane at AKL (international arrival, at noon, in July) to get through passport control, collect checked baggage, and get through biosecurity/customs?
NZ citizen, but no current NZ passport, so travelling on a UK passport. Are there any advantages to having a current NZ passport in hand? I vaguely recall from my last visit that there is a single line for NZ passport and NZ citizen with foreign passport? Smartgate at Australia & NZ immigration Click to open the wiki For customs/bio security everyone is in the same (slowish) line. I am a NZ citizen travelling on an Au passport. An NZ passport gives no advantage over other eligible e-passports. But most of recent experience has been entering at WLG & CHC. |
Originally Posted by jeffrocowboy
(Post 29687156)
NZ citizen passport, usually carrying commercial packaged sweets, always sent to X-ray - and I am always wondering if its due to my brown skin (and when partner with me he is Filipino)
we were even cautioned when carrying a brand new unused tent, and advised that we should have declared it as and could be fined for not doing so as it's a biosecurity risk - even though the declaration form only refers to used equipment 45-60mins seems safe bet when travelling with luggage YMMV :-) In CHC in March everyone was in the same lane and it was an 80 minute ordeal to get through Customs/Biosecurity. |
Originally Posted by Mwenenzi
(Post 29687328)
For customs/bio security everyone is in the same (slowish) line.
I am a NZ citizen travelling on an Au passport. An NZ passport gives no advantage over other eligible e-passports. But most of recent experience has been entering at WLG & CHC.
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Originally Posted by samyoull
(Post 29687385)
..In CHC in March everyone was in the same lane and it was an 80 minute ordeal to get through Customs/Biosecurity.
At CHC that's the only time I have seem delays. But not 80 minutes. |
Since the question is not about any specific airline, the thread is being moved to the Destination forum for Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific).
NewbieRunner, senior moderator |
It varies on the time of day but in my experience early morning is fine (got in at 0545 and was outside within 10min of walking off the plane). Late evening/midnight can be atrocious.
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Originally Posted by Mwenenzi
(Post 29687411)
So on the, or at the same time , as the EK A380 SYD-CHC?
At CHC that's the only time I have seem delays. But not 80 minutes. |
Originally Posted by manord
(Post 29686383)
NZ citizen, but no current NZ passport, so travelling on a UK passport. Are there any advantages to having a current NZ passport in hand? I vaguely recall from my last visit that there is a single line for NZ passport and NZ citizen with foreign passport?
You will need an endorsement of your New Zealand citizenship in your foreign passport. An endorsement is a record that allows a New Zealand citizen to enter New Zealand as a citizen although they are travelling on a foreign passport. The main disadvantage of traveling on a non-NZ passport without an endorsement is that you would, by default, be processed according to entry requirements of the other country. If there for a brief period, not likely to be significant. But if there for a longer period or to work, might cause additional processing (to be clear, not saying you'd be refused entry, but could materially impact processing time). |
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