Check-in on Air NZ to USA (HNL)

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#1995453 13-Apr-2018 13:02

sbiddle:

Check-in will close around 60 mins out for international services. If you're there 90 mins before hand there won't be any issues.

Unless something has broken down, like the conveyor belt problem that happened to me a couple of years ago.

Dingbatt

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#1995501 13-Apr-2018 14:04

The traffic jams are so horrible around AKL airport at the moment you should probably factor that in as well.

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kryptonjohn

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#1995507 13-Apr-2018 14:07

Dingbatt: The traffic jams are so horrible around AKL airport at the moment you should probably factor that in as well.

At least the major roadworks are now winding down or complete. Over the last few years there's been some horrendous jams and detours around the Kirkbride road intersection and Montogmerie Rd intersection. Now the biggest problem is accessing the domestic airport drop-off areas.

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#1995584 13-Apr-2018 15:52

My other half demands early check-in so we met half way and I got a Koru membership..

kryptonjohn

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#1995596 13-Apr-2018 15:56

I have Koru and about a dozen guest passes... but not sure if they'll allow me, wife, 3 kids (well behaved) plus our other friends on the flight (6 of them) all in on my vouchers... I'd feel a bit of a dick living it up in the lounge while they're outside shivering over their gruel sandwiches.

...

Actually I wouldn't!

sbiddle

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#1995602 13-Apr-2018 16:06

kryptonjohn:

I have Koru and about a dozen guest passes... but not sure if they'll allow me, wife, 3 kids (well behaved) plus our other friends on the flight (6 of them) all in on my vouchers... I'd feel a bit of a dick living it up in the lounge while they're outside shivering over their gruel sandwiches.

...

Actually I wouldn't!

They will - subject to space.

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#1995669 13-Apr-2018 17:42

kryptonjohn:
Dingbatt: The traffic jams are so horrible around AKL airport at the moment you should probably factor that in as well.

At least the major roadworks are now winding down or complete. Over the last few years there's been some horrendous jams and detours around the Kirkbride road intersection and Montogmerie Rd intersection. Now the biggest problem is accessing the domestic airport drop-off areas.

The roadworks may be almost finished, but now there is no access to the industrial area at Montgomerie, all the traffic goes via the Landing Drive roundabout. Essentially that causes traffic to bank up in all directions. Gridlocking the airport, and banking traffic right back to Kirkbride Road. At least they have occasionally started using the metering lights lights at the Landing Drive roundabout.

And don't get me started about Puhinui Road.

Sorry, taken it a bit off topic. But the point I make is factor in airport traffic jams when considering how early to set out to the airport. And they don't only occur during peak time.

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Kyanar

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#1996187 14-Apr-2018 20:35

sbiddle:

Secondary screening to the US only occurs if you're unlucky enough to get the dreaded SSSS on your boarding pass which is only a small percentage of the pax on each flight.

I think he's referring to that super pointless quiz that the airline is meant to ask you and sticker your passport prior to boarding a flight to the US. It adds literally a minute, because it's basically "where are you from, why are you going to the US, how long are you there for" - the same questions that CBP will ask you at the other end anyway.

sbiddle

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#1996287 15-Apr-2018 09:27

Kyanar:

sbiddle:

Secondary screening to the US only occurs if you're unlucky enough to get the dreaded SSSS on your boarding pass which is only a small percentage of the pax on each flight.

I think he's referring to that super pointless quiz that the airline is meant to ask you and sticker your passport prior to boarding a flight to the US. It adds literally a minute, because it's basically "where are you from, why are you going to the US, how long are you there for" - the same questions that CBP will ask you at the other end anyway.

I've never had that asked before. They will however always ask for an address if you don't have this linked in your booking.

Kyanar

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#1996513 15-Apr-2018 16:05

sbiddle:

I've never had that asked before. They will however always ask for an address if you don't have this linked in your booking.

It's left up to airlines to decide how to implement it apparently. United does the quiz at the gate, Air NZ apparently just trusts the computers.

Linuxluver

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#1996520 15-Apr-2018 16:10

kryptonjohn:

Air NZ says on their website 90 mins for international flights unless USA in which case 2hrs before flight, but it also says check the mobile app.

Mobile app (on the specific booking) says 90min.

So... do I take it that 2hrs before flight is the cut-off to be safe?

Cheers

JohnO

For the US you have to go through the usual security....and then go through metal detectors and screening again at the gate. So they allow extra time.

2 hours is good. If it's a full flight, you may need all of it. They have been improving boarding generally, but the US is always a pain.

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SirHumphreyAppleby

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#1996523 15-Apr-2018 16:18

Kyanar:

I think he's referring to that super pointless quiz that the airline is meant to ask you and sticker your passport prior to boarding a flight to the US. It adds literally a minute, because it's basically "where are you from, why are you going to the US, how long are you there for" - the same questions that CBP will ask you at the other end anyway.

Actually, no. Last time I travelled to the US, all passengers were subject to additional screening. The gates at the far end of the terminal had additional scanners for this purpose. That was ~2013 however, and I've not been on flights departing from adjacent gates in a while.

sbiddle

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#1996545 15-Apr-2018 16:55

Linuxluver:

kryptonjohn:

Air NZ says on their website 90 mins for international flights unless USA in which case 2hrs before flight, but it also says check the mobile app.

Mobile app (on the specific booking) says 90min.

So... do I take it that 2hrs before flight is the cut-off to be safe?

Cheers

JohnO

For the US you have to go through the usual security....and then go through metal detectors and screening again at the gate. So they allow extra time.

2 hours is good. If it's a full flight, you may need all of it. They have been improving boarding generally, but the US is always a pain.

I've certainly never seen the additional screening at the gate - and I've flown to the US 2-3 times per year for the last 5-6 years.

If you get flagged for secondary screening this will occur (but not at the gate area), but that's the only time you'll be subject to additional checks after proceeding through NZ Avsec screening (secondary is not done by Avsec). Previously secondary screening occurred part way down the terminal and pax were crossed off the manifest with those who had been selected for secondary then screened there.

MCT for domestic - international is only 75 mins and most domestic connections from Wellington only allow between 75 - 90 mins. I never feel rushed even arriving in Auckland 75 mins before the flight, sure I don't have to go through check-in, but after 10 mins to walk to the terminal and mins to clear screening and immigration it still gives me 15 - 20 mins in the Koru lounge before boarding is called.

Assuming you are at Auckland airport 90 mins before a flight there is no reason why you'd ever have issues.

Kyanar

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#1996925 16-Apr-2018 11:29

SirHumphreyAppleby:

Actually, no. Last time I travelled to the US, all passengers were subject to additional screening. The gates at the far end of the terminal had additional scanners for this purpose. That was ~2013 however, and I've not been on flights departing from adjacent gates in a while.

I've literally never experienced this, though I'm unsure if that's because my origin is Australia which uses WBI scanners for departure security (which already meets US "security" standards).

sbiddle

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#1996931 16-Apr-2018 11:41

Kyanar:

SirHumphreyAppleby:

Actually, no. Last time I travelled to the US, all passengers were subject to additional screening. The gates at the far end of the terminal had additional scanners for this purpose. That was ~2013 however, and I've not been on flights departing from adjacent gates in a while.

I've literally never experienced this, though I'm unsure if that's because my origin is Australia which uses WBI scanners for departure security (which already meets US "security" standards).

Body scanners aren't essential, and even the US doesn't use them on some days particularly at TBIT. If you're transiting at AKL from Australia you go through NZ transit security anyway before you enter the terminal.

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