Day Trip to Auckland

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Ben170292

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Hi,

I am thinking of doing a day trip (maybe 2 days) to Auckland from MEL and have a couple of questions.
I am wanting to do something like the following, I have not chosen exact dates yet but would like to do it while the A340 is still used.

QF400 Depart MEL 0600 Arrive SYD 0725
LA800 Depart SYD 0930 Arrive AKL 1445
EK407 Depart AKL 1850 Arrive MEL 0850

I want to do this because i like to fly and i would like to try LAN as well as an EK A380.

Do you think something like this could be possible in one day? Is the connection in SYD to short?
Can this all be done on one booking?
Would I have to go through immigration in AKL?
Would I be able to earn QFF points on all 3 flights?
Lastly, Has anyone done anything like this before? If yes, How did it go?

Thanks for any replies, Ben
 
I live in MEL and have caught the LA flight SYD-AKL and I did not risk same day (different bookings, maybe one booking can be achieved via a TA, not sure if one can do it oneself - even so if you miss the LA flight, you're stuffed given your reason for doing the trip). It is a pretty tight connection as is and it does not take much to go wrong to screw it completely, especially if on different bookings. That is not to say it won't work, if everything goes smoothly it will, it is just a risk I would not normally take. I overnighted at Rydges Sydney Airport (a good stay). Note I am conservative when it comes to connections.

AFAIK all you need to do at AKL is clear security, no immigration (assuming no checked luggage, and that you had the return BP - unsure if that can be issued airside at AKL, someone else will know). QF points would be earned on all flights (unsure of earning conditions on EK).

I'm sure someone has done it before. :)
 
We've gone to NZ for approx 30hrs for a rugby game a couple of times.

I would be stressed about the Sydney transit.

On arrival at Auckland, you have annoying/aggressive duty free then immigration then bio security. Bio security usually takes the longest so try to stay ahead of the pack.
 
The connection would be an issue if LAN closes check in 90 minutes before departure, in which case I would have to support overnighting in Sydney to eliminate the risk. If you are in J you may have an additional 30 minutes. You do not mention your class of travel but if you do not have lounge access in AKL the terminal will become rather boring for that length of time. If you are in J on the EK flight their lounge is a pleasant way to waste a few hours. The transit is easy and no immigration is involved. On arrival, before you get to the duty free, you turn right into the transit security, go through the usual security checks and you are in the departure terminal in minutes. You can go to the EK lounge and ask them to print a boarding pass for you. Points and SC earn would require QF flight numbers on all sectors. You may need the assistance of a TA to get the QF flight numbers on LAN and EK as IME those flights are not always automatically offered on the QF booking site.
 
I wouldn't be using LAN if you were wanting to turn around and come back the same day. As Markis said LAN can be unreliable. For a same day experience go for EK over and back.

I've done a same day EK trip BNE-AKL-BNE couriering some documents. Cleared customs, delivered documents to contact at the Novotel across the road, had a beer with her then re-checked in and home.

With reference to QF points on the 3 flight3, if they were all booked with QF flight numbers you would get points and status points
 
I went to AKL for 4 days over Christmas and the immigration guy asked me: "I can't understand why your trip is so short..".. :confused:
 
zainman said:
I went to AKL for 4 days over Christmas and the immigration guy asked me: "I can't understand why your trip is so short..".. :confused:
Click to expand...

Similar here, I will quite often catch EK over on a Fri morning and EK back Sunday evening. Flight timings allow you to have pretty much a full afternoon when you arrive on Fri and a full morning and arvo on the sunday. Viaduct harbor Friday afternoon, Sat and Sunday is always good for some music and food with a late check out from CP just up the road
 
zainman said:
I went to AKL for 4 days over Christmas and the immigration guy asked me: "I can't understand why your trip is so short..".. :confused:
Click to expand...

We had 2 x very short visits in the past 4mths.

Trip #1 answer: We are here for the Bledisloe game = welcome to NZ
Trip #2 answer: We are here to see a movie (The Hobbit) = hubby and I were separated and I was questioned for a few minutes on why such a short trip
 
zainman said:
I went to AKL for 4 days over Christmas and the immigration guy asked me: "I can't understand why your trip is so short..".. :confused:
Click to expand...

I also had the same line of questioning for a weekend trip to AKL. If I had flown from Iceland I would understand, but from MEL on a $350 return fare I failed to see what looked so suspicious.
 
defurax said:
I also had the same line of questioning for a weekend trip to AKL. If I had flown from Iceland I would understand, but from MEL on a $350 return fare I failed to see what looked so suspicious.
Click to expand...

Flying to NZ is often cheaper than PER from MEL
 
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Thanks for the replies,

I would be travelling in economy but might use points for an upgrade on the AKL-MEL flight if possible, I was thinking of overnighting in both Sydney and Auckland, as then I could maybe do some spotting.
The main reason for the trip is to fly on 2 new airlines and 1 new aircraft.
I could possibly do it the other way round and spend the afternoon/night in Auckland then fly on LAN to Sydney the next day and get a flight in the afternoon back to Melbourne, this way i might not have to stay in Sydney.

I might have to go and see a TA to see if they can get all QF flight numbers.
 
Hi Ben, In your OP I thought you were leaning towards a one dayer and as such we advised against LAN because of the reputation and timing should something go wrong, but if you are going to make it 2 days the by all means try them as QF would be able to assist if they do cancel and not be restricted by a short turn around period (if all that makes sense).

If making a 2 day affair, may I suggest staying at the Rydges Hotel in SYD and the Novotel at AKL. Both hotels are located within 50 mtrs of the International terminals and both make an excellent base for some plane spotting. Pay a tad extra and request high floors with airport views.

On the AKL-MEL flight which you indicated you would use EK, however I do not think a points upgrade is possible on a QF ticket. If you can crank out an extra few hundred $'s J class on EK is worth it especially on the return evening flight. Check out down the back of the plane...

Hope you decide to go and give us a TR when you return
 
Sprucegoose said:
They quizzed me once.....I was there to help their electricity infrastructure. The questions stopped.
Click to expand...

I previously made a trip that was even shorter, 2 or 3 nights I think and they did a full US immigration style secondary interview on me with bags opened and everything...
 
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