1 hr connection AKL

[loobloke]

Hi all

I'm going to be doing a flight on NZ, namely flying into CHC - AKL - ADL. VA's website offers a flight with a one hour connection time. I would prefer this option over the Australian transit options as it is the shortest time and I don't have to fluff around collecting baggage in two ports.

Having never been through AKL airport ... is this stupid/achievable? Would you do it?

 

[Hvr]

If it's all on one ticket then go for it. AKL AP isn't that big so you should be fine.

 

[Canny man]

Longest gate to gate I've experienced is about 15 minutes so you should be fine if things are running on time.

 

[docjames]

Dom --> Int at AKL with through checked baggage should be no problem.

 

[johndoe]

If your baggage is through checked and you have your boarding pass already, it should be ok. In saying that, I'd leave a bit more time to be safe - getting off the plane, walking to the int terminal and going back through can be 30-45mins. Also flights out of Chch in the mornings (if that's what you're going for) can be held up due to fog in the colder months.

 

[loobloke]

Thanks all. Hopefully my little time saving idea doesn't backfire.

It's the first flight of the day out of CHC so there isn't an option for longer connection times :S

 

[mushez]

If it is CHC->AKL->ADL you "should" be fine. Your bag should be checked through to AKL in CHC & boarding pass issued, meaning all you have to do is deboard in Auckland, walk the 10 minutes to the International Terminal, and go straight through immigration, and almost walk to the gate and walk straight on. However as some have said, I would personally prefer a bit more breathing space.

If your other options have you transiting in AKL for ages longer - you may want to check out the Emperor Lounge for $49 nzd ($40 aud) for a 3 hour business class experience, - I personally use this lounge if I am not already traveling in J when I fly out of Auckland. - aucklandairport.co.nz/ShopandEat/Premium-Lounge.aspx

If you are however booking through Webjet, and over two airlines, (which I highly doubt you are), I would question it. I sat next to a kid on EK434 18 months ago who had booked through webjet and had allowed him only 45 minutes to connect to an ANZ domestic flight. It didn't help that we landed 15 minutes late, squeezing it to 30 minutes. He missed his flight and ANZ would not re-book him without full fare of $800 being paid for a later flight. He was in tears, but I took him South and went out of my way to drop him off to family. He ended up getting nothing from webjet.

 

[kiwi2768]

It isn't far to walk between the terminals, just follow the path (IIRC marked with blue paint). It takes about 10 minutes at a good pace or there's a free bus which runs frequently between the terminals. The walk is nice if it isn't raining. We're heading back from LAX to SYD via AKL with Air NZ in October and have just 90 minutes in AKL. As we will only be in transit and our luggage booked through to SYD our only worry is that the flight from LAX will be late. I guess in that case Air NZ would book us on the next available flight to SYD. On a trip back to NZ a few years ago the Air NZ flight was late into AKL and we missed our connection to DUD. We were automatically rebooked on the next flight to DUD.

He was in tears, but I took him South and went out of my way to drop him off to family. He ended up getting nothing from webjet.

What an awesome thing to do mushez. Its a shame there aren't more people like you. Does travel insurance cover a situation like the one the kid found himself in?

 

[mushez]

What an awesome thing to do mushez. Its a shame there aren't more people like you. Does travel insurance cover a situation like the one the kid found himself in?

I would have "thought" webjet being a "travel agent" and all, that they would come to the party, but they didn't from what I am told. I did follow up with him about what happened, and he said he just got nothing from them, how much he pushed is another thing. Doubt he had any form of insurance - or if he did - didn't know about it.

To me, webjet have a duty to ensure adequate connection time, aka 1.5 hours as a minimum on any international to domestic flight. Personally would never book less than 2 hours. For them to have allowed someone to book a flight with only 45 minutes scheduled time between is wrong.

Had I not bothered to talk to him during the flight, I would not have known that he was about to have issues making his connecting flight.