Last edit by: msm2000uk
Please post your experiences related to QR's longest route, between DOH-AKL-DOH.
M
M
The AKL Thread
#286
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
given the number of longhaul flights arriving early in the morning (4-7am) it could do with one
if flying onward domestic on Air NZ their domestic lounge includes showers (although these are in high demand early morning)
#287
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 10
Hi guys, how long did it take to clear immigration and customs etc. in AKL?
I am leaving for AKL in November on QR920 (STA 05.00) and need to be in the city center by 07.45 at latest (very important). I know it is pretty tight, so I have booked a Blacklane car for 06.00 to be on the safe side as they include a 1 hour wait. Does it sound realistic?
BR. Flyer8000
I am leaving for AKL in November on QR920 (STA 05.00) and need to be in the city center by 07.45 at latest (very important). I know it is pretty tight, so I have booked a Blacklane car for 06.00 to be on the safe side as they include a 1 hour wait. Does it sound realistic?
BR. Flyer8000
#288
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
Hi guys, how long did it take to clear immigration and customs etc. in AKL?
I am leaving for AKL in November on QR920 (STA 05.00) and need to be in the city center by 07.45 at latest (very important). I know it is pretty tight, so I have booked a Blacklane car for 06.00 to be on the safe side as they include a 1 hour wait. Does it sound realistic?
BR. Flyer8000
I am leaving for AKL in November on QR920 (STA 05.00) and need to be in the city center by 07.45 at latest (very important). I know it is pretty tight, so I have booked a Blacklane car for 06.00 to be on the safe side as they include a 1 hour wait. Does it sound realistic?
BR. Flyer8000
If you have checked bags, something to declare or a non-biometric passport, then it could take an hour. There are a lot of international arrivals early in the morning, so I'd expect potentially long lines at customs.
That said, the drive to the CBD is roughly 45 minutes (possibly a bit longer at rush hour). Getting there by 07:45 is doable, but dependent on a number of factors potentially beyond your control.
#289
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 10
Thank you for your answer I am a EU citizen, so unfortunately I will not be able to use the smartgates :/, however 1 hour should be ok. I am crossing my fingers for no major delays. Luckily i am in J, so I can get off the plane quickly and for run for immigrations!
Depends. If you are eligible to use the SmartGate (have a biometric passport from AU/NZ/US/CA/UK) and have nothing to declare at customs, then you could be curbside within 30 minutes or so.
If you have checked bags, something to declare or a non-biometric passport, then it could take an hour. There are a lot of international arrivals early in the morning, so I'd expect potentially long lines at customs.
That said, the drive to the CBD is roughly 45 minutes (possibly a bit longer at rush hour). Getting there by 07:45 is doable, but dependent on a number of factors potentially beyond your control.
If you have checked bags, something to declare or a non-biometric passport, then it could take an hour. There are a lot of international arrivals early in the morning, so I'd expect potentially long lines at customs.
That said, the drive to the CBD is roughly 45 minutes (possibly a bit longer at rush hour). Getting there by 07:45 is doable, but dependent on a number of factors potentially beyond your control.
#290
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 388
I've just been on my first ever flight with QR, OSL-DOH-AKL in J. Oh my goodness... This has to be by a country mile the best experience I have ever had on a plane, it was absolutely amazing! Having previously done Club World before, this was light years better. I'll enjoy the journey back, that's for sure!
#291
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 204
I've just been on my first ever flight with QR, OSL-DOH-AKL in J. Oh my goodness... This has to be by a country mile the best experience I have ever had on a plane, it was absolutely amazing! Having previously done Club World before, this was light years better. I'll enjoy the journey back, that's for sure!
#292
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Gold, Caesars Diamond
Posts: 921
I've just been on my first ever flight with QR, OSL-DOH-AKL in J. Oh my goodness... This has to be by a country mile the best experience I have ever had on a plane, it was absolutely amazing! Having previously done Club World before, this was light years better. I'll enjoy the journey back, that's for sure!
#293
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,141
I've just been on my first ever flight with QR, OSL-DOH-AKL in J. Oh my goodness... This has to be by a country mile the best experience I have ever had on a plane, it was absolutely amazing! Having previously done Club World before, this was light years better. I'll enjoy the journey back, that's for sure!
#295
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 388
We started the epic journey last Friday. Everything was absolutely lovely. Nothing was too much hassle on either leg and they really pampered us. What was night and day for us compared to BA was the food. Both being vegetarians, you play food roulette with BA, do you hope they've got the pasta available, or do you put down lacto ovo vegetarian and get presented with bland chickpeas. The food offerings we got, wow. Just wow.
#296
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cheshire / Wherever they send me
Programs: BA Blue, Marriott Plat Life, UA Silver (thx Marriott), IHG Gold, Accor Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 943
We started the epic journey last Friday. Everything was absolutely lovely. Nothing was too much hassle on either leg and they really pampered us. What was night and day for us compared to BA was the food. Both being vegetarians, you play food roulette with BA, do you hope they've got the pasta available, or do you put down lacto ovo vegetarian and get presented with bland chickpeas. The food offerings we got, wow. Just wow.
I was also surprised at the number of people having dinner straight away and sleeping, rather than staying awake to NZ time. That's what Mrs Toothy and I did and it worked with pretty much no jet lag. Was just a bit frustrating that when we were trying to sleep others were having food. Proper first world problems!!
T
#297
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Programs: BA EC Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,237
Views from the plane
I realise that the flightpath can vary, slightly or significantly, on any given day but looking at the Great Circle Mapper it appears that this route (i.e, DOH-AKL) passes near to Uluru (Ayers Rock). For those of you who have taken this flight: were you able to see it?
Any other notable landmarks visible from the air?
TIA.
Any other notable landmarks visible from the air?
TIA.
#298
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: EXPLT
Posts: 142
I realise that the flightpath can vary, slightly or significantly, on any given day but looking at the Great Circle Mapper it appears that this route (i.e, DOH-AKL) passes near to Uluru (Ayers Rock). For those of you who have taken this flight: were you able to see it?
Any other notable landmarks visible from the air?
TIA.
Any other notable landmarks visible from the air?
TIA.
i will also say that inbound to AKL over Australia ..at least in the winter months will be all dark . Westbound ex AKL will be sunset-ish over Tasman Sea and most of east Australia
#299
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Programs: BA EC Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,237
i can tell u about my experience here
" ... flew south of most part of India and coasted in over Port Hedland/Exmouth ... and exited over SYD."
i will also say that inbound to AKL over Australia ..at least in the winter months will be all dark.
#300
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UK/Australia
Programs: BAEC Silver, UA2MM, QF Platinum, VA Platinum., Volare Executive Club
Posts: 2,512
Thanks a lot. We will be going in the middle of summer (29 Dec) and in playing around with the nice HourWorld program it looks to me like it will get light somewhere around Kerala / Tamil Nadu or Sri Lanka and dark again near Alice Springs. A flightpath from Port Hedland to Sydney would be pretty close to Uluru, so that's encouraging.
And it was very dark over Aussie and NZ, as it would be with the flight arriving into AKL at 5:30 am