"Express Lane" stickers from Auckland

[tuapekastar]

Hi all,

sometime lurker, first time poster. I am actually a fairly infrequent flyer but enjoy reading the hints and tips on this site in order to maximise my enjoyment of the trips I do make (and by golly there is a lot of knowledge out there...)

There used to be (from memory) an "Express Lane" sticker stuck onto boarding passes at AKL international departures when using the First/Business checkin (I used this as a QPNB) by the person at the little immigration booth there. I got this on 2 occasions (in 2002 and 2003) and one time was a Godsend, as half of Auckland seemed to be queued for the customs and security checks, and we glided right by everybody and were through the checks in no time flat!

My question is, after the revamp/expansion of AKL int'l departure area, does anyone know if the Express Lane facility still exists?

Regards

 

[Mal]

I was there about a month ago, so hopefully things havn't changed.

The system worked as you suggested.

 

[serfty]

... There used to be (from memory) an "Express Lane" sticker stuck onto boarding passes at AKL international departures when using the First/Business checkin (I used this as a QPNB) ... My question is, after the revamp/expansion of AKL int'l departure area, does anyone know if the Express Lane facility still exists? ...

Hi tuapekastar & welcome to AFF.

I have been there twice this year and, yes, things have changed.

The Express Lane no longer specifically exists and they do not put little Express Lane stickers on your boarding pass!

The good news: The Precleared Lane has replaced the old express lane and they now put little CUSTOMS P C L stickers on your boarding pass!

It's better than the express lane because you access it from outside the entry to the customs area. Previously at really busy times you may have had to wait many minutes in a queue before even getting to the Express lane point inside.

 

[tuapekastar]

Thanks folks for the replies. Sounds even better than it was.

Regards

 

[MetroAir]

Second serfy

Was there on monday/tuesday, works well (BNE - AKL - BNE)

Cheers

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

For all that its still not as good as NZ premium pax (and *G) who have their own dedicated immigration line that bypasses between check-in and security.

 

[aus_flyer]

I was in Auckland just 12 hours ago, and I used the express lane.

 

[MetroAir]

True Kiwi Flyer, I usually use NZ but on the last trip was forced to use the red rat.

NZ's bypass is soooo much better.

Cheers

 

[serfty]

For all that its still not as good as NZ premium pax (and *G) who have their own dedicated immigration line that bypasses between check-in and security.

Kiwi Flyer, Is that the "Customs Precleared" line I referred to earlier? Or is it something different?

What I was describing is to the left of the main immigration entry with two lines, one for Aircrew and the other for those with CUSTOMS PCL on their BPs. These lines completely avoid the queues used by most other PAX. They scan your departure tax sticker and you go straight to x-ray.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

No its different. The NZ premium check-in area has its own immigration agent. Once checked you go up an escalator and comes out right at the security check.

Means only need to be checked once by immigration, whereas premium QF pax get checked twice (and have further to go through the terminal).

 

[serfty]

No its different. The NZ premium check-in area has its own immigration agent. Once checked you go up an escalator and comes out right at the security check.

Means only need to be checked once by immigration, whereas premium QF pax get checked twice (and have further to go through the terminal).

Fair enough, while QANTAS/oneWORLD has it's own immigration agent as well, there is no escalator (physically impossible really). Once you go back out, around, up and through via the CUSTOMS PCL lane, all they seem to do is scan the Tax Sticker and through you go.

 

[tuapekastar]

Just returned yesterday from AKL, and Pre-Cleared lane was just as you described, serfty (not that I was expecting it wouldn't be).

Cheers