Trans-Tasman routes to become "domestic"

[oz_mark]

The article in today's SMH definitely suggests that flights will be flying from domestic terminals which would be the most logical and , for most passengers, the most conveniant and beneficial

For airlines that currently have space at domestic terminals. Not sure how much airlines that don't would be willing to spend to get such access etc. Certainly for EK I can't see it being a beneficial idea. I think you would see both approaches taken.

 

[NM]

This article clearly states the probability of "allowing planes to land at domestic terminals" and "domestic terminal-to-domestic terminal operations."

While "allowing" may be possible, the practice may be different . Especially for examples such as EK.

 

[anat0l]

For airlines that currently have space at domestic terminals.

That's not a bad point. I think at least the three domestic terminals in the golden triangle are bulging as it is for capacity. Redirecting the Trans-Tasman traffic to those terminals is probably asking for trouble...unless people will switch to remote gates / bussing arrangements (e.g. at SYD, check-in/lounge/board at T3 but be ferried to a gate at T1 where aircraft waits) for a while.

 

[medhead]

The psossiblity that flights can go from a domestic terminal seems to be clouding some thinking on this. Just because they might be allowed to fly domestic to domestic terminal, doesn't mean that the have to fly from the domestic terminal. In the case of EK flights, it would make perfect sense that that flight is treated differently and does continue to land at a international terminal in NZ. Same, same for other airlines that don't have domestic space. Or even to fly from a Int terminal to a domestic terminal using a "D" sticker system.

 

[anat0l]

The psossiblity that flights can go from a domestic terminal seems to be clouding some thinking on this. Just because they might be allowed to fly domestic to domestic terminal, doesn't mean that the have to fly from the domestic terminal. In the case of EK flights, it would make perfect sense that that flight is treated differently and does continue to land at a international terminal in NZ. Same, same for other airlines that don't have domestic space. Or even to fly from a Int terminal to a domestic terminal using a "D" sticker system.

Fair enough - possibility and not certainty.

The fact that it is a "possibility" is scary enough for some (e.g. loss of F Lounge opportunity ); but perhaps I can understand having only certain airlines allowed access to domestic terminals for Trans-Tasman services (although the other airlines not allowed to do this may certainly cry foul on this one). What would be oddly disturbing to see is airlines having Trans-Tasman services leaving at different terminals (e.g. for SYD, some from T1 and some from T2 or T3). That would just be confusing.

I should add that some domestic terminals (viz. all of them) will need a real, good, hard kick in the pants if Trans-Tasman services start operating from them. Their current handling of the traffic for domestic in terms of check-in, security and arrival facilities is worse than abysmal. I won't even get started on inter-terminal transfers (with the possible exception of MEL).

 

[serfty]

Currently, both AirNZ and Qantas are selling AKL-MEL/SYD-AKL for as low NZD405 all up.

This is composed of NZD264 in actual fare and

's of 141. AU makes up NZD60 and NZ NZD27, totalling over ½ the

.

I still can't see both:

• The fares staying at that level and
• The Oz/NZ authorities giving up NZD87 in revenue.

(In reality, I still can't see the Oz Federal government giving up ~AUD115,000,000 in annual revenue.)

 

[harvyk]

Unlike other countries which have removed some or all of the formalities for int travel between them, it's not like a trip from OZ to NZ, either way you look at it, the actual flying is the part which will always take the longest amount of time. (Short of getting Concorde to fly TT).

In other countries where this has worked they are talking about flights which take no more than 1 to 2 hours, and there is even a chance that a good percentage of that is circling the airport waiting to land. Certainly in those situations, customs, immi and other formalities took up time and meant that it was no longer possible to fly to another country for the day. However TT is not something which is usually done as a day trip. For me personally the shortest amount of time I've done on one of those trips was an o'nighter in AKL, and even then, I left CBR early in the morning, had a couple of hours to kill in MEL, and then only arrived in AKL at COB (thanks to time zones). (and then through immi and MAF within 10 minutes, thanks to no hand luggage only). The long part of the day was the flight from MEL - AKL, which was 3 hours (plus add an hour for boarding, taxing at both ends and deplaning) The 15 minutes waiting in ques at various ends for the formailities didn't really cause much concern.

 

[medhead]

The fact that it is a "possibility" is scary enough for some (e.g. loss of F Lounge opportunity ); but perhaps I can understand having only certain airlines allowed access to domestic terminals for Trans-Tasman services (although the other airlines not allowed to do this may certainly cry foul on this one). What would be oddly disturbing to see is airlines having Trans-Tasman services leaving at different terminals (e.g. for SYD, some from T1 and some from T2 or T3). That would just be confusing.

Yes agreed loss of F lounge wouyld be bad.

For airlines crying foul. I was thinking that the key issue is how pax are processed. It wouldn't be a big issue to have pax processed as domestic at either end, even if the aircraft leaves from the Int terminal. Also for something like a EK transit of Oz to NZ, IMO there is no way you'd make the pax bound for NZ enter Oz. Simpler to treat the departing pax as international in both OZ and NZ, so no change for EK there, but maybe pax getting on the EK flight in Oz going to NZ (and v.v.) would be treated a D pax.

However, as Serfty says, it is hard to see governemnt's forgoing those taxes

 

[Mwenenzi]

from 'Domestic-like' travel to ease trips to Aust | Stuff.co.nz

Prime Minister John Key has dismissed reports he is set to announce a "common border" with Australia.
<snip>
Australian newspapers say Key and Rudd are poised to announce domestic-style air travel between the two countries, including the scrapping of departure taxes, a single biosecurity and quarantine check and entry through domestic terminals.

Key said yesterday the reports were wrong Border security and departure taxes would remain, and aircraft would still land at international terminals..
<snip>
It is understood the initial changes relate only to passport control and immigration clearance, which will be done at departure rather than arrival, and the introduction of "self-service" check-in kiosks.

 

[serfty]

from 'Domestic-like' travel to ease trips to Aust | Stuff.co.nz

...It is understood the initial changes relate only to passport control and immigration clearance, which will be done at departure rather than arrival, and the introduction of "self-service" check-in kiosks.

This is almost already the case ex NZ.

My last trip I obtained my epassport token at AKL (just outside the international QF and NZ lounge entrances).

They were a bit surprised at SYD to see I already had one. (Unlike MEL, all the machines are within sight of the immigration counters).

 

[serfty]

Eased border controls for transtasman travel announced

Eased border controls for transtasman travel announced - Travel - NZ Herald News

Under changes announced today it will be easier to travel between Australia and New Zealand.

Prime Minister John Key said after a meeting with Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd that travel would be faster and easier under streamlined border processes.

"Once the changes I have announced today are in place, new passenger clearance systems for transtasman flights mean low-risk New Zealand and Australian passengers will get a fast exit from border control at the airport," Mr Key said.

Changes included:

• Installation of a kiosk and gate system "SmartGate" to allow passengers with e-passports to self-process through passport control. This would be introduced first at Auckland International Airport for arrivals in December. Wellington and Christchurch will follow next year and a SmartGate for departures will be operational in all three airports in 2011.
  .
• Passengers from New Zealand or Australia identified as low-risk will be able to exit the airport faster because of the use of more targeted risk-based assessment following a successful trial in Auckland.
  .
• The instant fine for bringing risk goods into the country will increase from $200 to $400.
  .
• The feasibility of x-ray image transfer was being looked into. This would mean inspectors would be able to assess and clear incoming passenger baggage during flight time.

...

"These changes are not the end of the work programme, but as they are implemented they will help make transtasman travel more convenient for passengers," Mr Key said.

"This can be achieved without sacrificing New Zealand's border security - in fact allowing staff to focus more on high-risk passengers enhances security.
...

 

[Flashback]

Prime Minister John Key said after a meeting with Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd

Is John Key acting PM at the moment?

 

[markis10]

Is John Key acting PM at the moment?

Not sure what you mean, but I was intrigued to see him on Sunrise getting of a RAAF aircraft in Canberra - maybe it was an acting RNZAF aircraft?

 

[oz_mark]

Is John Key acting PM at the moment?

I thought John Key was the current Prime Minister of NZ.

 

[serfty]

Prime Minister John Key said after a meeting ...

Is John Key acting PM at the moment?

Not sure what you mean, but I was intrigued to see him on Sunrise getting of a RAAF aircraft in Canberra - maybe it was an acting RNZAF aircraft?

I thought John Key was the current Prime Minister of NZ.

I see what you mean Flashware - the article linked was from a NZ website, Prime Minster 'defaults' to that of NZ for the writer and NZ readers.

Here's an ozcentric article: Key plan to bring Anzacs closer

 

[Flashback]

I see what you mean flashware - the article linked was from a NZ website, Prime Minster 'defaults' to that of NZ for the writer and NZ readers.

Here's an ozcentric article: Key plan to bring Anzacs closer

Ahh!

 

[Slats7]

Aussies through New Zealand airports in just eight minutes Kiwis | Travel News | News.com.au

AUSTRALIANS can expect to be in and out of New Zealand airports within eight minutes under a new trans-Tasman agreement to improve customs processing.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his New Zealand counterpart John Key agreed on Thursday to a joint plan that ultimately aims to increase airline travel between the two countries

Well it's finally been agreed on.

 

[anat0l]

Aussies through New Zealand airports in just eight minutes

Eight minutes???!!

Like right.

Shorter? Maybe. Eight minutes? Maybe on a dead quiet day. Apart from that, bl**dy fat chance.

 

[Mal]

I think I've gone through Customs and Quarantine in NZ in under 8 mins (excluding walking time and waiting for bags time). So it's definately possible.

The interesting thing I see from this is:

The feasibility of x-ray image transfer was being looked into. This would mean inspectors would be able to assess and clear incoming passenger baggage during flight time.

Interesting that Australia would send x-ray images of outgoing bags to NZ for them to analyse before arrival. How on earth would they match up bags to x-ray images in an easy manner - it's not like the x-ray image shows the bag tag. I know that Australia x-rays outgoing baggage already for illegal medicine/wildlife exports and similar, although I suspected that is a 1:1 type detection - ie, if a bag flags as containing something suspicious, it's immediately yanked off the belt and examined.

 

[anat0l]

I think I've gone through Customs and Quarantine in NZ in under 8 mins (excluding walking time and waiting for bags time). So it's definitely possible.

Yeah well I'm sorry but 8 mins to achieve customs and quarantine in NZ isn't anything to crow to home about, especially if you can already do it now. And excluding walking time? Not exactly fair.

A claim like that is false like headlining "free ticket" in huge flashy letters and then charging the taxes when the real thing happens. Besides, for most people, why do they care about how long it takes to get through? They just want to get through with less pain and bother; time is merely incidental to that. Maybe a better headline would have been "Trans-Tasman now an easier ride" or along those lines.

In any case, incoming immigration is never really a big problem unlike the days of ol', especially with many more people with new passports.

Waiting for bags is always a chestnut - and for some reason AKL can load bags very quickly but unloading them off arriving flights they are slow! And I won't even start talking about SYD - an Australian embarrassment. MEL isn't as bad but doesn't have a horn to toot either.

MAF is getting a bit better in my successive visits. I haven't been benched since my first time in NZ last June (2008) and I've always had something to declare.