Checking in at AKL

[holdenvxman]

My flight is at 1255 from AKL and Mrs VX and baby is at 1550, we are both flying to BNE but im going via MEL to maximize my SC's Question is will I be able to check us both in so we can clear immi and get her into the Business lounge so she dosnt have to wait in the Y lounge with our daughter?

 

[djfuzz]

If you do online check in for them, and they don't have any checked bags, can't see why not.

On the other hand, if they do have bags, I imagine they may be unable to check them in until 1250.

[Edit] Do you mean the F lounge / J lounge? Unless by Y lounge you mean the gate.

 

[Andyzx]

Yes you can both check in at the same time. Check In starts 3 hours before hand but as they will be open it should be ok. Q have a seperate dedicated business and QC checkin to the left of the main check in which is nice and you are pre cleared customs. This assumes that you are both on QF flights. Make sure you have all the liquids / gels and other like stuff in clear bags they are draggons at security.

Lounge is upstairs and nice, usually quiet etc. Not sure if the baby VX is counted as another guest though. Someone may be able to answer that.

 

[djfuzz]

Lounge is upstairs and nice, usually quiet etc. Not sure if the baby VX is counted as another guest though. Someone may be able to answer that.

This probably varies, but the common wisdom appears to be that young children are not counted.

 

[serfty]

This would be possible; however you would lose the "Customs Pre-Clearance" fast track.

As a QP member, simply check in at the Premium lobby; tell the agent you are on different flights and it should be no issue. (Kiwis are pretty laid back, more so than many Aussies... )

You do emigration at the premium lobby (in the same foyer/lounge as where you check-in); head upstairs and use the "Pre-Cleared" lane, then head up to the QP. You should be fine.

 

[holdenvxman]

Yes you can both check in at the same time. Check In starts 3 hours before hand but as they will be open it should be ok. Q have a seperate dedicated business and QC checkin to the left of the main check in which is nice and you are pre cleared customs. This assumes that you are both on QF flights. Make sure you have all the liquids / gels and other like stuff in clear bags they are draggons at security.

Lounge is upstairs and nice, usually quiet etc. Not sure if the baby VX is counted as another guest though. Someone may be able to answer that.

We are both flying QF, Mrs VX is in Y and im in J, Im hoping at checkin they can route us on the same aircrafts - but I doubt it.

 

[holdenvxman]

Also on the way to AKL I have a 70min connection time in SYD is that enough? Do you think I should go earlier to BNE and try and get an earlier flight?

And do QF do the international noise canceling headsets in J SYD>ALK?

 

[harvyk]

Also on the way to AKL I have a 70min connection time in SYD is that enough? Do you think I should go earlier to BNE and try and get an earlier flight?

And do QF do the international noise canceling headsets in J SYD>ALK?

70 minutes could be pushing it, however if they are all booked under one booking it will be fine as QF will simply place you onto a later flight if you miss the connection.

Also what do you mean route you on the same a/c? If your booked to fly BNE\SYD\AKL\MEL\BNE and mrs holdenvxman is booked to go on BNE\AKL\BNE, they may put you on a direct flight (as your J), but I doubt they would put her onto a milk run without good reason.

 

[holdenvxman]

70 minutes could be pushing it, however if they are all booked under one booking it will be fine as QF will simply place you onto a later flight if you miss the connection.

Also what do you mean route you on the same a/c? If your booked to fly BNE\SYD\AKL\MEL\BNE and mrs holdenvxman is booked to go on BNE\AKL\BNE, they may put you on a direct flight (as your J), but I doubt they would put her onto a milk run without good reason.

Thanks Harvyk, you answered my question.
Do you think they will put me on an earlier flight if I get to BNE early?

 

[serfty]

70 minutes SYD T3 to T1 should be ok - I personally would prefer at least another hour. If you get there well before the previous flight you may have a good chance of being moved.

As for the Black Headphone they give to J PAX TT - they are not active noise cancelling.

 

[harvyk]

Thanks Harvyk, you answered my question.
Do you think they will put me on an earlier flight if I get to BNE early?

They might, but I wouldn't count on it... I've certainly been placed onto earlier flights before when there has been room and I was already at the airport, but I put that down to part asking and part luck.

 

[albatross710]

Also, at AKL you can do the first step of Australian Immigration at the Australian kiosk ie produce the automated ticket for use with the face scanner when you get to Oz. Converts a few minutes of hanging around at AKL to a few minutes saved in the arrivals hall in Oz.

I recall it is at the top of the escalators outside of the QP.

 

[serfty]

...
I recall it is at the top of the escalators outside of the QP.

Yep, there's one there. I have used it half a dozen times.

There are also a couple on the main departures concourse, somewhat up from the escalators.

 

[harvyk]

Also, at AKL you can do the first step of Australian Immigration at the Australian kiosk ie produce the automated ticket for use with the face scanner when you get to Oz. Converts a few minutes of hanging around at AKL to a few minutes saved in the arrivals hall in Oz.

I recall it is at the top of the escalators outside of the QP.

And it's a good way of confusing customs guys in SYD who didn't know that there is a smart gate kiosk in AKL.

In Feb I used the kiosk in AKL, arriving into SYD I asked the customs guys which line was the best one for me (as all the lines where for the kiosks going straight to the gate) they where very confused and kept asking me where I got the ticket from. It took quite a few goes explaining that the AU gov't has placed a smartgate kiosk in AKL.

prob ended up saving 15 minutes on arrival.

 

[holdenvxman]

prob ended up saving 15 minutes on arrival.

Thats 15 more minutes in the J lounge