Auckland Airport — Attraction in Māngere-Ōtāhuhu

Despite arriving at Auckland International Airport two hours ahead of our scheduled departure, our experience with Air New Zealand’s ground staff was nothing short of appalling. We were forced to endure an excruciatingly slow queue for manual check-in, only to be informed—after over an hour of waiting—that boarding had already closed because we were now less than an hour from departure. This wasn’t due to our own lateness, but the inefficiency of their check-in process.

Attempts to use the self check-in kiosks were blocked by a staff member who claimed their system could not detect our first and last names from our passports. Strangely, we witnessed other passengers—many of whom were also Asian—slipping past her and using the kiosks without issue. The inconsistency was both frustrating and suspicious.

When we finally reached the counter, we were met by what could only be described as the most condescending and sarcastic staff member we’ve ever encountered. Rather than offering any empathy, she berated us for not hearing her supposed verbal call for Singapore-bound passengers. According to her, we were “standing right there” and “staring at her” when she made the announcement. None of us heard a word. Her smug tone only escalated as she rang another staff member to ask whether we could still board, all while making it painfully clear she thought we were at fault.

Eventually, they allowed us to board—only after we were made to sprint to the gate like it was somehow our privilege to make it on the flight.

While we don’t take pleasure in writing such a review, this experience left us deeply disappointed. Given that Air New Zealand is one of the few options for direct flights between Singapore and New Zealand, it is likely we’ll fly with them again. However, we sincerely hope that this review highlights the need for serious improvements in both ground service efficiency and staff professionalism. Passengers deserve consistency, clear communication, and respect—none of which were demonstrated during our encounter. We genuinely hope Air New Zealand takes steps to raise their standards and better reflect the spirit of New Zealand...

A modern airport with separate International and Domestic terminals.

The international terminal is quite big, has a large duty free area at departures, and a smaller one on arrivals. Plenty of facilities at multiple points including rest rooms, free showers, paid luggage storage, and Muslim prayer room. The baggage drop and all airline check in counters are on the ground floor. Moreover there are plenty of eateries and shops in the waiting area of the airport located on first floor. The departures are on first floor with a walk time of as far as 20 minutes from the security check to the plane while leaving. The same distance is covered while arriving however you pass through duty free area, customs, bio security, and finally arrive at baggage claim. Upon arrival it can take you either 30 minutes or 3 hours from the plane to exit, depending upon the number of flights that have arrived at the same time and airport staff at each counter.

The domestic terminal has two wings. One is for the departures for smaller airplanes which is straightforward on which you just walk from the common waiting area on the ground floor straight to the plane upon announcement by the staff. While for larger airplanes you pass through security and may need to walk as long as 10 to 15 minutes for accessing your plane. Plenty of eateries and shops on the domestic terminal, both before and after security check.

Both terminals have separate buildings and are connected through a free bus service that departs every 15 minutes from each terminal. You can also walk through a marked walkway between each terminal and that also takes between 10 to 15 minutes depending on your walking speed and amount of Luggage.

For travel to Auckland city you can either take a taxi, ride share cab, or a paid private bus, as well as public transport combination of a bus and train the last option will be...

in front of D check-in counter of Auckland International Airport at 7:30 PM on January 14, because our friend needed to check in a ski bag with skis in it, we entrusted me and another friend to ask oversize if we could check it before check in, because we have eight pieces of luggage and three pieces of international student ticket. One bag was lost at the entrance because there were too many luggage. When we found the luggage, the staff asked us to name the three items inside, even if we knew the password, but we respected the rules of the airport, and because there were too many luggage, we couldn't clearly remember what was inside. When we were thinking, a group of staff gathered around us, at least 4-5 of them, among which the leading male recorded the items with a normal attitude, but the other two were very excessive staff, first of all, their attitude has been forcing us, they have not given time to think, they have been forcing us with language, during which we are not allowed to speak our mother tongue. I don't know why they were so racist and threatened to cancel our tickets if we continued to speak Chinese! Forced by their discrimination, we finally got the contents completely correct, but at the same time, I don't know whether these two women were angry because they failed to take away our belongings, and still threatened to cancel our boarding qualification next time we speak Chinese. I don't know whether they have such a right? I don't know why we in New Zealand, a country of equality and freedom, should be subjected to such racial discrimination, while we respect the rules and regulations of the airport, except for the man who remembered the items, the other two women did not give us equal and...