Auckland Airport

Not Verified | Auckland International Airport. What a joke. A labyrinth of over lit 'shopping opportunities' and oh so many over anxious sales people to negotiate after a somewhat grubby immigration entry point. Waiting, waiting for the boarding gate to be posted in an underserviced food hall area with few actual seats but opportunity to sit on a seriously uncomfortable and cold bench seat in the 'internet hub sunken lounge'. Really? Did the designer ever actually sit here? Did the designer ever consider that mobility challenged people might like to charge up their phones? Finally the boarding gate announcement - boarding now and you find that you have a 17 minute walk to the gate. And the walk way is grubby in far too many places. Yes. The terminal is a work in progress. It seems to be a terminally long process. This is New Zealand's major entry and exit point. What an embarrassment.

✅ Trip Verified | I was travelling overseas with my partner in February 2018, and it was our first time using international departures since the new automated check-in and security system was introduced. The first thing I noticed going past Departure was the airport staff who was collecting departure cards was shouting "I want your departure cards only". Upon when an elderly couple handed their documents (passport, flights and departure card) she again shouted angrily "I repeat, I only want your departure cards." This behaviour came across very rude and was very unlike the usual friendly and considerate service from Auckland Airport. When we got up to the security checks, we weren't aware that the system has changed to picking up a tray from the automatically rotating tray belt. The security staff snapped at me to tell me to take a tray from the rotating belt under the counter. It was a barking order and I was stunned. The tray belt was not at eye level and it was not unreasonable to be unfamiliar with the new system. Additionally my partner and I are in our late-20s and we are tech-savvy people who travel often. If we were struggling to find things I would shudder for older people or those who don't travel often. Overall Auckland Airport, you may have a brand spanking new airport and amazing interior, but the customer service has got to be lifted if tourism is going to be one of NZ's biggest markets. Our last experience was appalling.

✅ Trip Verified | I agree with all the comments that Auckland airport is third world. I travel extensively and would rate Auckland at about 2 out of 10. The domestic terminal passed its used by date about 20 years ago, it is far too small and confusing if not a regular traveller. The transit between domestic and international is a shocker. The bus only runs every 20 minutes with no indication when it will arrive, the stop is also shared by buses for other routes at the domestic terminal which causes confusion and the waiting area is very unfriendly, partly open to the weather with very limited room. The so called walkway between terminals is the worst I have experienced anywhere, poorly laid out and marked and open to the weather most of the way. The footpath has been narrowed even more in some parts. Many times I have assisted foreign passengers trying to find their way. Improvements have been made to the international terminal, but navigating through the maze of duty free shops is a mission.

✅ Trip Verified | I have in the past provided reasonably positive reviews in regard to this airport. This review however will not be positive. I recently used this airport for a short business trip up to Singapore, my experience was not positive. Unloading the car in the rain due to no overhead cover, how hard would it be to cover the drop off area and pedestrian crossings? Departure and check-in were fine, but that is where the positivity ends. Having to snake around building works which seem to have been ongoing for literally decades now is not pleasant. If you have the misfortune to be leaving from one of the remote gates, as I was, leave with plenty of time. The travellators are of minimal use, so generally it is a long walk. Not great if you are of limited mobility. Once at the gate don’t expect a seat if it is a full flight or a large plane. There are limited facilities at the gate, a toilet and that is it. In the main terminal itself, airside, there are very limited refreshment options, even less seats, certainly away from the eateries unless you go to the gate early and jockey for position. Lounge facilities, particularly for Air NZ, are overcrowded and overheated. Upon return I had to battle my way through a building site and the duty free once more, not seeing a clear path to the immigration gates until right upon them. Then on down to the carousel, which is a right scrum. Into the overheated building site complete with scaffold (As it has been for some years now) that is MAF clearance. Once again understaffed so queueing is the norm. It all shouts underinvestment and cheapest solutions, which are not solutions. Having come in from Singapore Changi, it was a major disappointment to arrive in my home town to such a shambles.

✅ Trip Verified | Oh how I despise Auckland Airport. What's the worst thing about living in Auckland. Some would say traffic, some would say rain but those that travel would say having to go through Auckland Airport. Firstly car parking options suck, long term parking might as well be park n ride it is so far away from the terminal, you feel like you need a shuttle but alas there is none. Them you get to the terminal which seems totally empty until you got the chaos that is Air New Zealand check in. For some reason, every other airline seems to be processing passengers seemlessly but the Air New Zealand area is a complete new of people blocking walkways & looking completely lost. Once you check your bag you exit into the oversized luggage drop off & try to manoeuvre past surfboards & all the other oversized luggage waiting to be checked in. Security has improved although I don't think it's being used to it's ability. Long queues with empty bays at the far end or no containers to put your stuff in. And then the epic journey begins again, as if the walk from the car park wasn't bad enough, as you meander the construction maze. I don't even think the new construction will improve passenger journey's, it is just designed to keep you in show for as long as possible, too bad if you're running late for your flight, you've still got 3 km to get to the gate. Oh and if you need to pee, be careful of the automatic flushing toilets, they'll take any opportunity to flush with the slightest movement. Think I'll hold it for the flight next time. Now I'm one of the lucky ones, sitting in an overcrowded lounge waiting to board. It's the middle of winter, so people are all rugged up but sweating like pigs because either the heating is up or more likely the air conditioning doesn't work. If only there was an alternative to Auckland Airport, I'd happily drive to Hamilton if they could provide a better passenger experience than Auckland Airport. It's a shame that Aucklander's don't have a choice. Pick up your game Auckland Airport. You're an embarrassment.

❌ Not Verified | I have tried contacting the airport and have even emailed Air NZ with no reply. I am absolutely astounded by the state of the carpets at the domestic terminal. I recently visited there and have a 13 month old baby that I couldn't even let crawl on the floor. The chewing gum and stains was unbelievable where ever I looked. Absolutely horrific. Embarrassing for tourists to say the least.

❌ Not Verified | I live in New Zealand and I work at Auckland airport and I have to say I'm disgusted at the customer service I've witnessed from staff at Auckland Airport. Since when is it ok for staff on the frontline to chew bubble gum which is nearly all the staff you come across. Passenger service staff Menzies - we witnessed girls chewing gum and refusing to bring wheelchairs right down to the plane exit because "they're too heavy to push" making the passengers hold a side rail and walk up while the staff were giggling and chewing gum. It's disgusting. The customer service people in the blue shirts that walk around the international terminal spend half their days on their cell phones, chewing gum and hiding round where people can't find them. Asking one of them for help you'll get a laugh, a giggle and an open mouth full of gum to answer you. It's not professional at all. The staff who sit in the stalls to allow people to hire cars are all chewing gum like cows. I worked in Australia where any customer service job if you were found chewing gum you were told to get rid of it immediately because its not a good look. These people in customer service are meant to be representing our countries doorway in and yet compared to other international airports around the world we are the most unprofessional, untidy, rudest of all. The airport is dirty, if you sit near the KFC at the international part you can see all the rubbish and dust that is collecting up against the side rail where no one can reach. The carpets are filthy, the walls are horrible. It's embarrassing. Auckland airport bosses need to have a good hard look at the quality and standards of their airport.

❎ Not Verified | Departure. Check-in was smooth with very helpful and cheerful staff. The airside terminal has gone through a modern refit, and automated gates were installed for a faster passport control procedure (NZ only), airport is still under construction getting a modern refit, many duty-free shops, but were low on food shops as it was quite late at night. Gates were well kept, and were short to walk to. Signage, was well illuminated and everywhere.

✅ Trip Verified | Nice, modern layout. Check in and security were quick and efficient. Overall a good little international airport. Food was pricey. But that is to be expected. The only thing I didn’t like was the tendency for NZ airports to only open gates 15 minutes before depart. Thereby creating a ridiculous amount of queuing and generally ruining an otherwise relaxing experience. This is the 2nd airport I’ve reviewed in NZ. And both suffer the same silly fault. Hopefully this review will get through to someone.

❎ Not Verified | Horrible airport. Long term parking is at least 1 km walk, might as well use the cheaper Park n ride. So much congestion, hard to manoeuvre around, wouldn't want to be late for a flight, because once you've passed the congestion and passport control you have another couple of km to walk to the gates. The toilets are evil, automatic flush hours off every time you move, splashing your butt. No where to hang your handbags or jacket, adds to the grossness of the toilet experience.