Air NZ international check in

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knoydart

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#64184 9-Jul-2010 18:36

Hi,

I have a late night flight to London (via Hong Kong) in a few weeks from Auckland and was wondering if anyone had experience with time frames for check in? Ideally I'm looking to check in really early or as late as possible. The airnz website states the last check in is 90 minutes before a flight, but intrigued by what happens on the ground so to speak.

Thanks

Knoydart

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126 posts

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#349626 9-Jul-2010 18:55

knoydart: Hi,

I have a late night flight to London (via Hong Kong) in a few weeks from Auckland and was wondering if anyone had experience with time frames for check in? Ideally I'm looking to check in really early or as late as possible. The airnz website states the last check in is 90 minutes before a flight, but intrigued by what happens on the ground so to speak.

Thanks

Knoydart

They won't open the checkin until about three hours before the flight, which probably rules out 'really early'. Not sure how late you could leave it, but my guess would be about 40 minutes given the potential queues at customs and security. But seriously is it worth the stress?

Jarno

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#349631 9-Jul-2010 19:01

Processing in the remaining passengers in the queue at checkin, filling in departure cards, getting through passport control and security, walk to the gate, sometimes a quick check by staff of passport and ticket to make sure you are in the right place, (for USA-bound flights: yet another security screening before the gate lounge), fill up your waterbottle at the gate lounge facilities, then the boarding process of 64 rows of seats. It does take some time, especially if it is particularly busy. 90 minutes is plenty of time though.

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#349644 9-Jul-2010 19:59

40 mins definitely not enough! if you plan for that and hit 3 red lights and end up at the back of each bottleneck queue you're stuffed. have you never travelled on planes before?

nicks

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#349653 9-Jul-2010 20:22

joker97: 40 mins definitely not enough! if you plan for that and hit 3 red lights and end up at the back of each bottleneck queue you're stuffed. have you never travelled on planes before?

Thanks for that. OP asked what the last possible check-in time might be. I've done it in about 15 minutes after a delayed domestic connection, although that was with carry on only and the Koru shortcut to security. I think 40 minutes would be possible, but no way I'd plan to do it, for exactly the reasons you mention. Hence the comment about stress!

knoydart

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#349657 9-Jul-2010 20:39

I'm more than likely to go hand luggage only. Less hassle and never get anything lost at Heathrow... 7Kg for 2 weeks should be fine

nicks

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#349660 9-Jul-2010 20:56

knoydart: I'm more than likely to go hand luggage only. Less hassle and never get anything lost at Heathrow... 7Kg for 2 weeks should be fine

It does make life easier but be warned that even odds they'll ask to weigh your bag at checkin - and 7kg isn't that much when you take off the weight of the bag. Personally I think Heathrow gets a bad rap. I've flown through Heathrow dozens of times and never had any major problems. But I'm sure others will disagree.

knoydart

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#349662 9-Jul-2010 21:07

nicks: It does make life easier but be warned that even odds they'll ask to weigh your bag at checkin - and 7kg isn't that much when you take off the weight of the bag.

I've done it before to the UK on hand luggage alone so its possible. Just looking at a lighter bag to see if I can gain any weight for extra stuff.

Personally I think Heathrow gets a bad rap. I've flown through Heathrow dozens of times and never had any major problems. But I'm sure others will disagree.

Having grown up under a Heathrow flight path, I've never had a problem there either but always a bit nervous when I've had to check in luggage to go through there.

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alasta

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#349686 9-Jul-2010 22:40

When I came over here to Australia on Wednesday I came via Auckland. The stopover in Auckland was supposed to be an hour and a half but once I'd walked to the international terminal, exchanged some currency, filled out the departure card, stood in the immigration queue for ages, gone through security and found the correct gate I had less than ten minutes until boarding.

Don't underestimate the amount of mucking around with international flights.

Regs

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#349690 9-Jul-2010 23:09

knoydart: I'm more than likely to go hand luggage only. Less hassle and never get anything lost at Heathrow... 7Kg for 2 weeks should be fine

hand luggage only.... try not to look suspicious or you might get extra attention from the customs officials :)

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chiefie

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#349693 9-Jul-2010 23:39

I've flown hand-carry only and transferred via Auckland... my advice... don't! You're target for "potential suspicion"

Get to the airport super early and check in once the check-in counter opens, and sit back and wait and relax.. walk around the duty free shops etc. Once you get passed the immigration you pretty much on the way to plane.

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heavenlywild

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#349694 9-Jul-2010 23:42

Yeah agreed! Don't leave it too late. The airport can suck up all that spare time in literally no time!:)

kiwitrc

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#349705 10-Jul-2010 06:51

I have always thought a long coat specially made with lots of zip up pockets would be ideal for short trips, or even long trips when you blow your luggage allowance.

You could load the pockets up with a few kilos of stuff to supplement your hand carry. Know anyone who sews :)

Nety

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#349711 10-Jul-2010 09:18

nicks:
Thanks for that. OP asked what the last possible check-in time might be. I've done it in about 15 minutes after a delayed domestic connection, although that was with carry on only and the Koru shortcut to security. I think 40 minutes would be possible, but no way I'd plan to do it, for exactly the reasons you mention. Hence the comment about stress!

We have no idea just how lucky we are in NZ when it comes to checking in. In the US I missed a small domestic flight because I arrived at the counter 55 minutes before the flight and they had closed the flight!

International/large planes are loading people 40mins out.

Personally for overseas airports I turn up 30mins before you are told to. You just never know what delays you might get caught up in.

As for packing it is always funny seeing the huge suitcases people travel with. We went to Europe for 5 weeks (2 adults, 2 pre-teens) not long ago and we each had one small suitcase weighing less then 10kg.

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Byrned

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#349719 10-Jul-2010 10:15

Also with hand luggage only, make sure you consider what you're allowed to board with on an international flight i.e. liquids etc. Unless you're just going to pick up your toiletries once you arrive.

wmoore

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#349727 10-Jul-2010 10:56

chiefie: I've flown hand-carry only and transferred via Auckland... my advice... don't! You're target for "potential suspicion"

Get to the airport super early and check in once the check-in counter opens, and sit back and wait and relax.. walk around the duty free shops etc. Once you get passed the immigration you pretty much on the way to plane.

Always get there super early, less stress, Who wants to wait in line, where the person in front of you has probably lost his passports, tickets or his kids.

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