Enough time to go to my meeting and catch my flight?

[harvyk]

I never thought I'd be posting a "is this enough time" question, esp for Auckland.

I'll be in Auckland next week, and there is a second meeting I'd like to attend whilst there. Problem is it runs from 12:00 to 13:30. Now i'm on QF56 (AKL-SYD) which departs at 15:40.

The meeting itself is in Epsom (near Mt Eden) and according to google maps it's a 26 minute drive to the airport. I'm QP\PS so i'll have access to J check-in (On the ticket issued by QF it says J check-in says 60 minutes for INT, but I'm flying in Y. I'm not sure if they will treat a QP\PS checkin as Y or J in regards to minimum times)

I'm flying carry on only, so no checked bags.

The meeting isn't critical, but it would be really nice if I'd be able to attend.

Thoughts?

 

[simongr]

Can't you do OLCI and avoid the queues completely?

 

[straitman]

I never thought I'd be posting a "is this enough time" question, esp for Auckland.

I'll be in Auckland next week, and there is a second meeting I'd like to attend whilst there. Problem is it runs from 12:00 to 13:30. Now i'm on QF56 (AKL-SYD) which departs at 15:40.

The meeting itself is in Epsom (near Mt Eden) and according to google maps it's a 26 minute drive to the airport. I'm QP\PS so i'll have access to J check-in (On the ticket issued by QF it says J check-in says 60 minutes for INT, but I'm flying in Y. I'm not sure if they will treat a QP\PS checkin as Y or J in regards to minimum times)

I'm flying carry on only, so no checked bags.

The meeting isn't critical, but it would be really nice if I'd be able to attend.

Thoughts?

Remember that AKL has a dedicated checkin area for QF FFers so that would help. It also includes a priority immigration pre clearance. You should have sufficient time IMHO.

 

[kpc]

Remember that AKL has a dedicated checkin area for QF FFers so that would help. It also includes a priority immigration pre clearance. You should have sufficient time IMHO.

...but he will probably be a bit anxious towards the latter 1/2 of the meeting to absorb much!....I know I would be

 

[straitman]

...but he will probably be a bit anxious towards the latter 1/2 of the meeting to absorb much!....I know I would be

No disagreement from me about that. Maybe that is the answer. Go to the meeting but ensure they know you have to leave early, and then do so. 30 minutes would be all the difference that was needed.

 

[MrHyde]

I never thought I'd be posting a "is this enough time" question, esp for Auckland.

I'll be in Auckland next week, and there is a second meeting I'd like to attend whilst there. Problem is it runs from 12:00 to 13:30. Now i'm on QF56 (AKL-SYD) which departs at 15:40.

The meeting itself is in Epsom (near Mt Eden) and according to google maps it's a 26 minute drive to the

I think you have enough time. Around 13:30, you won't be hitting any peak traffic. Even if it takes 1 hour to get to the airport, you will reach there by 14:30ish and if you have no checked baggage, and have access to priority queues, should be plenty of time.

Saying this, all it will take is one accident that has traffic piled up to cause you to miss the flight.

 

[anat0l]

I'd say you should be able to make it. In saying that, be very prepared!

Make sure you preface your fellow meeting attendees that you will need to leave at 1330h on the dot - no bargaining and no exceptions! If necessary, exchange cards/contacts before the meeting commences. Arrange your transport/taxi to arrive at 1330h or not much after that; given them at least 2h notice to minimise the chance that the taxi will arrive late. If you're taking the Airbus instead, check the timetable and leave yourself enough time + 5 minutes to make the bus. The Airbus takes around 50 minutes to get the airport.

I guess if you can, perhaps you should consider ducking out approximately 10 minutes earlier. It already takes ~1 hr to make it to the airport unless there is nil traffic; Auckland has a notorious reputation for bad traffic.

If you have access to OLCI, it might be a good idea to use it, even if you don't print your BP - you can get one from the airport, but OLCI will "lock" your spot on the flight. If you have checked bags, well you don't have much choice - it's T-60 minutes or bust (minimum check-in times are a function of your flown class; status affects squat, except for a little bit of discretionary love which you can't rely on and especially as a PS).

 

[dajop]

Thoughts?

It is clearly physically possible, it really depends on your personality type and level of comfort with the situation.

Are you a get to the airport at the last minute person (ie you enjoy the adrenalin rush of getting there as late as possible)? If so plenty of time, but if you were this type of person, you probably wouldn't be asking.

Do you get stressed by the whole airport experience, and when they say must be there 2 hours before departure, you put and extra 30mins-1hr comfort factor into the equation just in case? If so no good. But if you were this type of person, you probably wouldn't be asking.

Personally, I'd do it, just be prepared to leave as soon as the meeting finishes (ie have a taxi waiting).

 

[kiwitripper64]

Cutting it fine, but you should make it. There are some road works on way to airport while they are completing the bridge, but at this time of day it shouldnt be an issue.

I would place a final time of leaving meeting and book a taxi. This lot are very good. Corporate Cabs - Taxi Company New Zealand | Auckland | Wellington | Christchurch | Dunedin | Corporate Cabs

The qantas premier checkin lounge is a room of the the left of the main QF checkin ( as you enter the building ) At checkin you also have dedicated immigration desk and they give you a stamp for priority customs and immigration. ( on level 2, make sure you take the small turn to left rather than main entrance to the right.)

 

[ozbeachbabe]

kiwitripper64
If Harvyk checked in online QF at the airport won't realise he's not there until they go to finalise the flight when fail to board pax are evident. In other words QF could close the flight at - 60 when he's still in the cab. It depends what time they start boarding and how long the boarding process takes as to when they close boarding to finalise the flight by which time you'd hope our learned friend would have cleared customs & be at the gate. :mrgreen:

All his APP (advance pax clearance info eg passport etc) should be in the system already from his forward flight so web checking should be straight forward and allow him to complete the process and print a boarding pass online so all he needs to do is arrive at the airport and go through immigration.

Given that he's got no checked luggage would it still be worth going to the Premium checkin to:

a) Get the priority immigration stamp &
b) Pay the NZ departure tax (do they still do this here)?

* If it was me I would book my cab for 1330 from Epsom letting everyone know in the meeting that you need to leave then.
* Get a copy of the meeting agenda the day before so you can see the topics you're interested in. Surely they wouldn't mind discussing the items that are important to you first seeing as though you've made a special effort to be there.
* Everyone hates meetings that drag on so they might appreciate the fact it has to adhere to a strict finish time.

Who was it who coined the phrase "work expands to fill the time available for its completion"?

Don't forget to tell us all how you went & hope it's not one of those 'NATO' meetings - no action talk only! :mrgreen:

Cheers

Oz

 

[MrHyde]

b) Pay the NZ departure tax (do they still do this here)?

Not required in Auckland as it is included in price of ticket. It is Wellington where you have to pay the departure tax separately.

 

[serfty]

There should be enough time; the most variable points of failure would be the Taxi being on time and the traffic.

At AKL, QF board the flights 40 minutes before scheduled departure time; most PAX are generally on board 15 minutes before departure.

What I would do is:

1. Obtain a NZ "Passenger Departure card" and fill it out before the meeting. (Pick a few of these up on arrival at AKL; before leaving the airport. There's plenty on the tables/benches just inside the doors of both the AirNZ (Closest) and Qantas premium lobbies.)
2. OLCI - and print BP
3. Book the Taxi well in advance as noted.
4. Ensure those at the meeting know that 1:30pm is your limit.
5. Leave meeting at at 1:30
6. Wait for Taxi
7. Travel to airport.
8. On arrival at the airport head to the premium check-in area. Do not re-check in, simply do your customs pre-clearance at the dedicated emigration counter there and get your "CUSTOMS PRE-CLEARED" sticker on your OLCI BP printout.
9. Head upstairs to departures and use the dedicated "Customs Pre-Cleared" lane (This has changed recently with renovations, head through the portal, turn left and look for the signs (I am doing this this evening).
10. Once though airside, check the gate # for QF56. Use the following table and time to decide on your next action:
    
    If the amount of time left before the scheduled flight time is equal to or less than the time noted, head straight to the gate, otherwise you may have time for some QP refreshment.
    ​
    • Gate 1-4, 50 minutes.
    • Gate 6-7, 52 minutes.
    • Gate 8-10, 55 minutes.
    • Gate 15,16: 1 Hour.
11. Board, enjoy your flight.

My guesstimates are as follows after leaving the meeting are as follows:

• 5 minutes: Wait for Taxi
• 30 minutes travel to airport.
• 5 minutes to enter terminal and do customs pre-clearance at the dedicated emigration counter in the premium lobby.
• 5 minutes to get through security.

That's ¾ hour so you should be airside by 2:15pm giving you ½ to ¾ hours to enjoy the QP.

 

[harvyk]

Thanks all...

AKL and AKL airport are places I know extremely well (4 trips there last year alone)... It's just I'm also a person whom hates arriving at the airport at the last minute.

I have to admit I didn't think of using OLCI (although last time I tried to use OLCI OS it wouldn't let me), so that would put my mind at ease a little.

I'd prob look at the sizes of lines before using either the premier checkin lounge or the normal checkin desks, as I've been there to see the lines go out the door.

I think I will go to the meeting and just make sure that I have a taxi booked (and let them know I am on a tight schedule), and I'll make sure I'm already checked in. I'll also pick up a departure card from the airport when I arrive in the country so I can have that pre-filled in.

I was going to do a trip report on the flights, but I think I'll also include how the getting to the airport goes, either as advice or as a warning for others....

 

[serfty]

...
I'd prob look at the sizes of lines before using either the premier checkin lounge or the normal checkin desks, as I've been there to see the lines go out the door.
...

Note that if you already have your OLCI BP printout (assuming you can OLCI) then all you need to do is the customs pre-clearance (no need to queue up for check-in). Of course there may be a queue for that, but it would not be long.

Note that the emigration hall was moved in November and and it is back and well to the left of where it was. After getting your pre-clearance you head along the concourse toward arrivals and take the escalators on the right (opposite the concourse from the AirNZ General check-in area) to Level 1, turn left, along a bit, then left again and the big entrance is straight ahead.

Enter, turning left immediately. In front of you is the entry to the pre-cleared corridor. Go through it and follow the corridor/tapes to emigration counter, bypassing the general queues.


More here: New departures experience - Auckland Airport

(http://www.auckland-airport.co.nz/A...ia/Files/Retail files/New Departures Map.ashx)