Auckland Airport

What an extraordinary range of reviews for this airport and I guess it reflects different times / dates and expectations. I use it fairly regularly - admittedly mostly going to and from Aus and have found it very good (far superior to Sydney). I agree with the comments about the pushy Duty Free salesman but overall I always find going in and out either alone or with my infant son very easy. On a recent arrival I mentioned the pushchair had been on the beach and in the forest in North Queensland and they happily took it away and cleaned the wheels thoroughly - great service! Enough food options - how many do you need? And with one exception I have found all customs immigration staff very helpful and friendly.

The airport is now contemporary and modern with excellent shopping. Staff are friendly but obtrusive and most surprisingly many don't know what they are talking about. So double check. I was assured a window seat on TG but was seated smack bang in the middle. The girl at the curio shop asked how I sneaked through with a duty free bag. Strange. Small and cosy airport that mostly serves the Pacific islands. It would qualify as a small section of LAX. Like in the US they don't stamp your passport on your way out. Upside: If you are flying in from the west or north at day time get your camera ready for some great sights as you approach the Island. The drive to the city on a sunny winter day has gorgeous views. Rolling hills crisp cool air bright sunny skies. Its breath taking. As for Auckland Airport: its pretty mediocre. Its getting into and out of the airport by air or land that's so scenic.

In regard to the previous comment if you're from a foreign country you should expect to be questioned on arrival. In regards to finding your gate number I admit I've always found it a bit odd at Auckland that check in sometimes don't know it but the information is easily available on the many information boards before and after you pass through security. Auckland is a good airport and is a breeze to use polite helpful staff and a large departure hall plentiful food outlets and you don't have to walk miles to get to your gate. You also don't get ambushed by staff trying to sell you things as you do at many American airports as you walk through duty free to reach your gate. The arrivals hall is attached to departures so if you need to transfer its a 2 minute walk. Buses / taxis etc are within easy reach and there is a 24 hour airport bus service to the centre of Auckland for 16 NZD. If you want an airport with poor transfer links try Sydney! Auckland has got it right be it the staff or the facilitates.

I didn't like this airport one bit! They questioned me when I got there. On leaving the airport they don't even give you a Gate #. This is unacceptable in my home airport LAX because its extremely busy and they could never waste time like they do in Auckland. This place is not satisfactory at all! This was as bad as Canada (YVR). Yet for some reason Heathrow is much better.

Arrival and departure were fast pleasant and welcoming airport staff customs and immigration easy access to the city and to the domestic terminal. Nothing to complain about.

Arriving at Auckland was a breeze. Aircraft door to car park in 25 minutes. Staff were helpful and welcoming the Immigration officer spotted that my birthday was in a few days time and wished me a happy birthday. MAF officer couldn't have been more helpful in addressing a quarantine query. I realise that I could have been behind several hundred passengers who had just touched down before my flight and indeed I have been in that queue! However I have always found that the staff who work at the airport seem to go out of their way to say "Welcome to New Zealand we are glad you have come to visit us." Many other international airports could learn a lot from the officials at AKL.

Found the airport to be clean and well staffed. Staff were friendly and our bags came through very quickly. Even the customs staff were friendly and helpful!

Into AKL on EK Thursday 18 Oct exiting 11 November. A game of two halves: arrival was a pretty fraught process because EK have so timetabled it that two A380s and a B777 arrive within half an hour of each other (early afternoon) and the baggage hall is not really large enough to deal easily with that number of people at once. The E-gates work fine. Departure was much better; EK had extra staff on to speed up check-in and the two Pier B gates have enough room just to cope with two A380s' worth of departing passengers. For once the duty-free was decently priced. I still like AKL but its international baggage collection now needs work.

My Biggest complaint about this airport is the lack of free wifi. The food options are not great airside (we ended up with a microwave heated chicken roll grim) and pricey. There is a McDonalds on arrival and upstairs on departures there is quite a few good eating options. One person commented on the touts at the duty free on arrival I also find this bizarre and disconcerting after a long flight. All in all it tries hard but you will see from these reviews that Kiwis think it is fab but other nationalities know it could do better. The smart gate passport readers are not OK for under 16s so if you are travelling with a family they are useless.

MEL-AKL arrived at 10.45pm in the car and away within 20 minutes incl collecting luggage that's pretty good isn't it.