[shagen]

We are booked on Air New Zealand to Christchurch via Auckland. From the trip planner, it says the flight arrives at Auckland International and transfer to Auckland Domestic.

Are the two terminals linked? Would it be a real hassle to move our luggage from the international terminal to the domestic terminal? I am assuming that we need to clear customs at Auckland.

Anyone done this route? Any info is appreciated!

Thanks
Shagen

[Beach Kiwi]

Are the two terminals linked? Would it be a real hassle to move our luggage from the international terminal to the domestic terminal?

No, they're not linked, they're about 1km apart. However, there is a free inter-terminal shuttle bus that operates from 6am to 10-30pm, and plenty of taxis that can take you there.

Here's the airport website: CLICK ME (http://www.auckland-airport.co.nz)

[Tanya]

You clear customs and take your luggage out through the doors to where everyone waits for friends/family. You then walk along to the transfer desk and assuming you have 45 minutes before your next flight(I think its that) you can check in your bags there and then hop onto the free shuttle bus to the domestic terminal. Then all you have to do is board the plane. It's really quite easy but if you haved a short connection then be prepared to take all your bags onto the bus and check in at domestic.

Tanya

[shagen]

Thanks Tanya, we have 90 minutes between the arrival and departure.

Is the queue usually long at customs? I read here of people queuing up to an hour to clear customs and passports.

Shagen

[Tanya]

Not too bad, we joined the family line which was a lot shorter - do the same and you will have a shorter wait. Don't linger, just get in the queue which is the first line as you get to customs.

Tanya

[veronica]

We've experienced both the long queue and the no queue scenario at Auckland. Just depends on what flights are coming in about the same time as you.

[MikeandCez]

I would concur with the comments made. We however tend to walk the 1KM it really isn't that far and it's great to get some fresh air before heading back into the healthy atmosphere of a plane's interior!!!
Just follow the painted line on the floor and you can't go wrong.

[RoadRunner]

When I booked our tickets (Wellington via Auckland) I was told we'd have to pay a departure fee of NZ $25. The Web site that Beack Kiwi sent says:
"Departure fee - Pay at the Bank of New Zealand on the ground floor or the first floor. Have ready boarding pass and $25NZ per passenger. Children under 12, and international transit passengers in Auckland for less than 24 hours, do not pay a departure fee, but an exemption sticker must be obtained from the Bank of New Zealand."

I read that to mean that those of us simply passing through Auckland are exempt. Is that true? Can we get the exemption sticker at any Bank of NZ outlet or do we have to do this at the branch at the airport? Has anyone else had to do this?

Thanks,
RoadRunner

[veronica]

No sorry you have to pay the departure tax, just have to pay it at point of departure, for me that would be Christchurch. When it says .............international transit passengers in Auckland for less than 24 hours,.................it means people who are in transit to another place and NZ is not their destination.

[Tanya]

Right - I have just phoned Auckland Airport for you.

If you are transiting from Auckland to another NZ airport then you DO NOT pay departure tax. She told me that DEPARTURE tax is for when you leave the country and not when you go on a domestic route. The only time you would pay is on your journey back out of NZ. For your journey you do not even need an exemption sticker.

I know we didn't pay it when we came down from Auckland to CHCH in November but wanted to clarify it before posting the wrong information for you.

Hope this helps clear this up

Tanya

[shagen]

Thanks everyone.

A direct flight to Christchurch from Asia is a lot more expensive than one that goes via Oz or Auckland!

[Annierobrigado]

hi shagen!

gosh, almost almost there! wish i had the same chance!

indonesia has air new zealand? or did you go to australia first? i read there's a flight from manila to new zealand via japan, but it takes 39 hours. Yuck! that long?! i would rather fly to singapore or bangkok then take singapore airlines to nz, what the brits did? shorter time i think. is this true, brits?

:cheers
annie

[shagen]

Hi Annie,

We are going in March and hoping that by then, we get some good news from NZIS but are keeping our fingers and toes crossed! :hopeso :hopeso

There is so much to do and becasue we have never been to NZ, it is so difficult to picture what it is like. The people here are so helpful but without actually seeing for yourself it is really like trying to find your way with the lights switched off! :uhoh So, Vera and I thought of making this trip (despite the cost) to see it for ourselves before we make the final move so that we know what we are getting ourselves into! Especially since we are moving with our young children and we want it to be as comfortable as possible for them.

Air New Zealand does not fly from Indonesia. It flies from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and from Singapore. Only Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand flies direct from Singapore to Christchurch but the cost is more expensive. That route is about 10 hours.

There are many routes available from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to NZ and cost wise also reasonable. From Singapore the cheapest flight to Christchurch is about US$380 return but it takes you half way round the world before you reach Chch. A direct flight costs about US$900. So we are looking at somewhere in between. The option we are taking costs about US$700 return and take about 12 hours via Auckland. We do not have a lot of time to spare and getting there as fast as we can possibly afford is important.

If you plan to fly via Singapore, there are many options. Take a look at this website www.airfares.com.sg and you can even buy your tickets from them while you are in Manila.

Hope to see you all there in Chch soon!

Cheers,
Shagen

[Moorf]

Make sure you give me a call soon after you touchdown Shagen .. can't wait to meet you and your family :P

Where will you be staying?

Moorf

[shagen]

Hi Helen,

We must meet up! :nice1

Nicky has given some pointers as to where to stay! She has been sooo helpful to the point where we feel guilty :oops: !

We found this 100 year old cottage with 2 rooms on Perth Street for rent at $90 a night and is fully furnished and Vera loves it! So, we might be staying there!

We are looking elsewhere too but most places seem to be full during the week we are there! So, if nothings comes up, we will place a deposit on this cottage before we loose it!

Cheers,
Shagen

[Annierobrigado]

hi shagen

thanks for your help, wish i was going with you already!! :laugh :laugh
am looking at airfares now so i have an idea how much we will be spending to go to nz... right now it seems like a fortune! if i could just win the lottery...

anyway, your 100 yr old cottage sounds absolutely charming! go for it, and enjoy your stay. bring back pictures!

:cheers
annie

[deebat]

If you get a chance to walk from the international terminal to the domestic one, do it! As Mike and Cez say, it's a good way to get some fresh air after a long flight. The walk is pleasant, and ... IT'S IN NEW ZEALAND! I'll never forget the excited feeling I had as I strolled between the terminals. The walk gives you a great chance to let it begin to sink in.

-Dan

[shagen]

We might just do that walk Dan!

How long does it take? Taking into account that it is 1km between the terminals and that we have 90 minutes between arrival and departure, would it be a rush?

Cheers,
Shagen