Qantas new surcharge for international travel to/from Auckland from 01 July 2008

[JohnK]

Prices exclude New Zealand departure fee of $25 payable at airports. For travel on or after 1 July if Auckland is the International departure or arrival port, a fee of $13 each way will be payable at the time of fare purchase in addition to prices advertised.

I noticed this on the Qantas New Zealand website today.

I know about the departure tax but can anyone shed some light on this apparently new surcharge for international travel to/from Auckland? Would this be for tickets purchased from New Zealand only or include any international travel to/from Auckland? Is it only Qantas or are any other carriers introducing this surcharge?

Sorry if this has already been posted elsewhere.

 

[dajop]

JohnK, I believe the current departure fee that AKL levies on pax will now be levied on the airline for incoming and outbound pax (ie NZD $25 split into two). Of course airlines will pass directly on to pax.

Can't find a reference but will look for it.

.... knew I'd read it somewhere ..... On Flyertalk Air NZ board

 

[KiwiSurfer]

Yep the current $25 on departure at the airport, paid directly by the passenger, is being replaced by $13 payable for each arrival and departures to/from the airport, paid by the airline on behalf of the passenger.

Basically this change means we don't have to go to the BNZ to pay the departure tax -- it'll already have been paid for. This is a positive change, apart from the $1 increase for people doing return flights.

- James

 

[JohnK]

JohnK, I believe the current departure fee that AKL levies on pax will now be levied on the airline for incoming and outbound pax (ie NZD $25 split into two). Of course airlines will pass directly on to pax.

I thought the departure tax was for any international departure out of NZ. I am sure I paid a departure tax at WLG last November coming back from the Kiwi Mainland DO.

It does not make sense that QF will only levy a departure arrival/departure surcharge for Auckland only. Does this mean we will still have to pay the departure tax for any international departures outside of Auckland? So if I arrive into Auckland I will pay a $13 fee and then a departure from WLG/CHC will incur another $25 departure fee.

I am confused. Why can't they just incorporate these charges into the airfare or even into the taxes & surcharges? Because that would be too simple.

 

[oz_mark]

It's an airport specifc thing, and while referred to as 'departure tax', is not really a tax, but an airport charge.

As for SQ:

Airport departure tax for travel from 01 July 2008 ex Auckland Airport will be included in the total fare, and will not be payable at the airport.

 

[dajop]

I thought the departure tax was for any international departure out of NZ. I am sure I paid a departure tax at WLG last November coming back from the Kiwi Mainland DO.

It does not make sense that QF will only levy a departure arrival/departure surcharge for Auckland only. Does this mean we will still have to pay the departure tax for any international departures outside of Auckland? So if I arrive into Auckland I will pay a $13 fee and then a departure from WLG/CHC will incur another $25 departure fee.

It notice it's not actually a departure fee, it's been relabelled an "passenger service charge" and is specific to Auckland Airport. I haven't seen any reference to WLG/CHC or the other NZ intl gateways doing the same, so you may be correct that you have to pay the $13 as part of your ticket for arriving in AKL and then another $25 if you depart elsewhere. Conversely arrive in WLG/CHC etc and depart AKL, you only pay $13 not $25.