Auckland Airport

Not Verified | Auckland airport would have to be one of the worst airports to travel to and from in the world. I fly in and out twice a month, when claiming baggage at arrivals and clearing customs the lines are always massive and you can expect a 45min wait minimum. When departing and having your baggage screened there is only every 3 machines operating. Why have 6 and only use 3? Auckland airport must have the most incompetent staff for customs and security. I dread travelling to it. I hate to think what it would be like if it actually had a decent amount of travellers commuting from it.

Not Verified | The man directing people at customs was an absolute horrid experience for first time flyers. Understand that there's a lot of people too get through but he was just rude saying things like 'I have no sympathy for you'! Horrible man I hope never to encounter again, no PR skills at all.

✅ Trip Verified | We arrived about 3pm today. It was a terrible ordeal. This would have to be the airport with the worst management ever! It took over an hour waiting with hundreds of others to get thru customs. It also took about 25 minutes for the bags to arrive on the carousel, and expect to get harassed in the overpriced duty fee shops which you can’t avoid when you arrive. Passengers with connections all missed their flights because of the interminable delays. This used to be a good airport but it’s getting worse by the day whether you leave or arrive. The signage to the car parks is wrong with many customers confused. With better management this could be a much better airport.

Not Verified | The Biosecurity check at Auckland is a shambles. Our son, daughter-in-law and toddler grandchildren have been queuing for two hours. We had a similar experience a week ago. What impression does this give to visitors or for that matter NZers?

Not Verified | Got to the airport 2 hours before departure. As I write this review I have been in a queue for passport control (via machines) for 1 hour. I have yet to go through security. I have been through 70pc of airports in the world and this one is the worst. Appalling waiting times.

Not Verified | Really impressed. I was in the security queue for about 5 minutes and a guy came up and apologised for the slowness - it was the speediest I have been through any international departure in years! Nice terminal, with good facilities. Especially liked the water bottle stations and big screen showing international sport.

✅ Trip Verified | Really impressed. The vibe at Auckland Airport is super serene with smiling staff at all points. I was in the security queue for about 5 minutes and a guy came up and apologised for the slowness - it was the speediest I have been through any international departure in years! Nice terminal, with good facilities. Especially liked the water bottle stations and big screen showing international sport.

Not Verified | What a terrible experience. Plane arrived on time, fine. Baggage claim, fine. (A handy hint - if you're busting to go to the loo, do NOT go to the first loo on disembarking as it will be like a bunfight. Go to the very quiet and hardly used one just before baggage claim!) Immigration, fine. But customs - there were about seven planes that had arrived. There were three queues snaking all the way from baggage claim. It was appalling. We were in the middle queue that did not move at all, however the first and third queues seemed to be moving? We had had enough and ducked under the rope to get into another queue (sorry for that, people in that queue). There seemed to be absolutely no reason for the delay except under-staffing. We were in the queue for over an hour and one chap beside us was in danger of missing his domestic connection. It would also help if there were signs before you get to immigration, customs, X-ray screening, etc pointing out what you need. Otherwise you get to these "stations of the cross" and frantically have to dig out your passport and/or arrival card, or get your bits and bobs out to be put into trays for scanning, and hold up everyone else. Every airport is different so don't assume what you need in one country is the same as another. However though the interminable queues and bureaucracy were ghastly, the staff were friendly and welcoming, though their jobs must be very hard with the understaffing and grouchy passengers. A family member flew on the exact same flight the day after us and the queues were just as bad, if not worse, so this wasn't a one-off. So my advice is to empty your bladder, fill your stomach, charge your phone and make sure you don't have any urgent need to go anywhere for 2-3 hours after you disembark...

Not Verified | I just wanted to express my concern about the queues at the MPI border security. Coming in from Singapore where it is so streamlined and pleasant it was like walking into a third world country. Alas I have been here before, but feel for overseas passengers experiencing this debacle for the first time. We had to wait for two hours just to get to the counter and be seen. I understand that we need to protect our agricultural sector, but to have two counters for countless planes full of people to filter through, is ludicrous and frankly embarrassing to all concerned. Hopefully your new Mayor and council will address this problem forthwith. May I suggest a trip to Changi airport Singapore to see how an efficient airport could work!

Not Verified | There really needs to be a public toilet in the wait zone. There is no knowing how long to allocate for collecting people arriving with Auckland traffic / getting through MPI queues.