Auckland Airport

We were assured by Air New Zealand that to transit in Auckland on a trip from Adelaide to Christchurch with only 1 hour 35 minutes between flights would be no problem. The flight from Adelaide landed about 15 minutes early but then had to wait on the Tarmac for 20 minutes until an airbridge was available. The e-immigration system was simple and quick; then the baggage collection wasn't too bad with maybe a 10 minute wait. Then we walked into chaos in the bio-security/customs area. There were 5 lines of queues each a good 200 meters long. It took an hour to reach the surly official who neither spoke to us or even looked at our documents; he was too busy being rude and overly aggressive to another passenger who clearly did not understand what was required. Through to the arrivals area we now had 20 minutes before our fight to Christchurch was due to take off. The transit desk was out of the question and there was a 15 minute wait for the free bus to the Domestic Terminal so we ran, bags and all, the 10 minutes to the terminal. We got to the Bag Drop literally 5 minutes before take off. They took the bags without question and we ran to the gate, arriving just moments after take off time. As luck would have it the flight was late so we made it. Would I choose to transit at Auckland again? No! I strongly recommend arriving directly at the much superior Christchurch airport.

Completely ridiculous for transit from Samoa to Australia. Flight arrives at 1.30am in the morning, we inquire with airport staff about the transit center, we are told it opens at 2.30am. Staff seem to be misinformed or just don't want to deal with passengers. If the centre does have those hours, why allow flights in between or at the very least, provide ample seating so we don't have to sit on the floor. This isn't the first time I have transited through Auckland but seriously considering making it my last. How can they be expected to be seen as a world class airport with this type of services?

✅ Verified Review | Facilities are ok and there are sufficient shops in my mind. The major issue I have is the wifi, only half an hour free. Completely out of line with any other quality airport I have been to anywhere else in the world. Major talking point among passengers. Such a shame.

As my home airport, I would like to be more complimentary towards Auckland, but my most recent experience of travelling through the International Terminal was not great. There are currently significant renovations going on. This limits the availability of seating around the Heineken bar on departures, causing a bit of a bottleneck getting through to the departure gates. In addition, my favourite place to get a coffee has gone. Not that I used it, but I noticed that the Air New Zealand lounge had moved, and I think that would be confusing for passengers, as signage to the 'airline lounges' points in a completely different direction. On my return to the International Terminal 5 days later, there was a lot of renovations going on in the baggage claim hall which made this hall seem really untidy. There are two other perennial problems with the International Terminal at Auckland: 1) if you depart or arrive at gates 9, 10, 15 or 16, be prepared for a long walk; 2) the free wifi at Auckland is pitiful with only 30 minutes given free.

The shops or lack of are an unmitigated disaster. Had to try two bars to get a beer. Wifi is a joke. Come on get out of the dark ages. As an expat kiwi I find this embarrassing. Only a couple of places after clearance to get food . Area has been under construction for years.

The shops or lack of are an unmitigated disaster. Had to try two bars to get a beer. Wifi is a joke. Come on get out of the dark ages. As an expat kiwi I find this embarrassing. Only a couple of places after clearance to get food. Area has been under construction for years.

The customs clearance hall on a Sunday morning is so badly managed. Auckland Airport is supposed to be the gateway to New Zealand, but instead it is an embarrassment. So many flights arrived, and so little management of arrival that everybody has to find their own way, fight amongst themselves when the smartgate machines don't work and that staff are so over-run, they can't check our bags properly. The airports knows how many people are arriving and when - it is not a secret - the airlines tell customs in advance. One would have thought Customs/Airport planning staff would plan for the amount of people arriving and manage flight arrives accordingly? Auckland Airport and customs is failing New Zealand.

Auckland Airport - this is 21st century. Really any airport without full free wifi deserves 1 star. The walk from domestic to international is a joke, in Auckland it is always raining and it's mostly not covered. Expensive cases, wet kids - it would be so cheap to put a canopy in over the walkway and add free wifi.

✅ Verified Review | I am annoyed by lack of sensible practice at Auckland Airport - I could have made my connecting flight to Dunedin if the biosecurity queue was not so long, with only a few desks open, and more cooperation from a staff member. I abandoned my trolley to politely ask a man behind a desk if i could 'queue jump' instead of missing my flight. He told me to get back in the queue and there was nothing he could do. I missed my flight by about 10 minutes, and had to wait another 5 hours for the next one. After a long haul from Asia, this was not pleasing and so easily avoided. In many airports around the world, they have staff calling out imminent flights in such queues so people can be transferred to the fast lane asap. A good idea - re-ticketing staff also in no hurry to get people sorted.

Arrived at Auckland domestic terminal and noticed that it had had an upgrade. However, it was somewhat disappointing for my wife to find queues of no less than 5 women outside all 3 women's toilets within the terminal. Abysmal planning by the look of it especially as there is supposedly an expected tourism boom coming from China and the US.