Auckland Airport

Had a 3hr layover here in the international area. Easy to transit, quite a few people around at 1am so felt very safe. Very quiet, also very bright. Very clean airport, with lots of places to charge devices. Seats are comfy, but not designed to lie down. Only place open was duty free, so no chance of hot drink. There are stations to fill your water bottle though. Had fun watching the robot cleaner lol

Disappointed with my experience at Auckland Airport. Security opened my bag without informing me and took items from it without any explanation or notice. This has never happened to me in Australia, the UK, or China — I’ve always had clear communication and proper handling in those places. I understand the importance of airport security, but basic respect and transparency should still be standard. This left a very negative impression and made me feel uncomfortable as a traveller.

After immigration desk, The duty free on arrival seems nice and good. Outside, they have small shops for refreshments, and a lot of free shuttle transportation uber services to your hotel and the buses in the airport area seem organised very well. All good but NZ air always delays that are the boring part. I was so excited about visiting Auckland airport premises. Let’s see the other NZ beautiful places

9/10 Auckland Airport is a great gateway to and from New Zealand. It’s clean, quiet, and incredibly easy to navigate—even for first-time visitors. The layout is intuitive, signage is clear, and the whole place has a calm, organized feel that makes traveling a breeze. What really makes this airport shine is the staff. Everyone we encountered was super friendly and helpful, from check-in to customs. You really feel that warm Kiwi hospitality right from the start. The only reason it’s not a full 10 is that there could be a few more food or shopping options past security, but honestly, it’s a minor thing considering how smooth and stress-free the experience is overall. Definitely one of the better airports out there—clean, efficient, and welcoming. Would absolutely fly through Auckland again!

Very simple check-in and passport and security system. Enough people about to assist those people who do not fly very often, but enough automation for those who do. Gate 15-18 in international departures is a fair hike from the check-in, so if you have any walking issues, use the golf cart transporter going to and from. Even with travelatorz it akes 10-15 mins of walking and on your feet to get there. Overall a very pleasant little international airport with enough facilities and outlets to make it entertaining.

The airport is a lot smaller than the ones we normally use. It was quick through security. Everyone is extremely pleasant and smiles everywhere. Gates are clearly marked, good signage, a few restaurants and vending machines all over. The workers seem to like their jobs, and patient with repetitive questions.

Its a great building and all. But the designated smoking/vaping ares are waaay sub par. Been awake all night 9 hour flight and the only seat i found is wet, miles away across roads etc. I know your leaning on smokers but dam. Thats harsh.

A nice decent airport. It beats most airports in Europe and more comforting and has a lot of seating available while waiting for flights. Just wished there were more food options that is actually worth it’s value. They have done a lot of renovations for parking and their pick up and drop off area is nice and convenient

Very efficient getting off the plane, going through customs, and getting to the next gate for our next flight. This is a bright, clean, thoroughly modern airport with lots of shops and eateries. Makes me wish we were staying here for a few days. Alas, that will have to be another time as we head off to Sydney Australia next.

Beautiful, huge, airy and modern, I got to experience the Auckland Airport's International terminal arriving on Delta from Los Angeles and eight days later, departing. Lots of automation, lots of bar code readers so that you don't have to interact with people. I no longer have airline status so this is how it is for most everyone. Four stars because we ended up at a hard stand to deplane. No one likes exiting the plane down stairs and into a bus after a long flight. And then a bottleneck entrance to an escalator before the immigration/biosecurity scan. The airport is not close to the Central Business District. I took the public transport to get into the CBD and that took 90 minutes. A bus to a train and then I had to catch another bus to get to my hotel. For the return, I did a shared ride shuttle bus which was less stress and not that much more expensive. Security was super easy though I got a bag check because I have a loose battery (it's for my noise cancelling headset) and a charging cable. Safety first because there's a chance that the battery and the wire could touch, I got to put the cable in my pocket. 25 minutes from end to end. Lots of duty free shopping, many toilets and several places both groundside and airside for eating. Bagels, sushi, noodles and both McDonald's and KFC. Clean and smooth tile floors that made my rollaboard fly along. It's a lovely airport and very easy to navigate. I look forward to returning one day. [Review 356 of 2024 - 9 in New Zealand - 21389 overall]

Security checkpoints are explained well. There are many places to weigh and repack baggage as needed. The food options are varied and quality. Huge Duty Free areas. Additionally we experience a 35 minute delay due to a security issue. The entire airport was cordoned off into sections. Very efficient.

I've now been to the Auckland Airport twice -- when we arrived, and when we left to fly to Fiji. But neither time was particularly memorable -- it was just an average airport, but it was well maintained. While waiting for our flight to Fiji, we killed a bit of time looking in the shops but with all the regulations about what you could not bring in to Fiji (they are very strict about honey!) we didn't buy anything significant -- just some chocolates and the like. There weren't many food options that appealed to me, so at Best Ugly Bagels I had a "King Salmon" bagel (smoked salmon, cream cheese, red onions, capers, and dill), which was pretty good. Last year, a state of emergency was declared in Auckland due to heavy rainfall and the airport flooded and briefly closed. Fortunately by the time of our trip the airport was open although it took longer than usual to get through customs upon arrival, as it was the international terminal that had flooded, and it was not yet completely repaired. But considering the amount of flooding, I was impressed that things ran pretty smoothly. [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023; Planes, Trains, and Automobiles]

International arrivals was great! You don't have to walk a zillion miles. If you're visa is in order, you can go through automated immigration. While you wait for your bags, there's a money changing desk right there. Customs is close by baggage claim. Assuming you've filled in your declaration online, and have nothing to declare, ypu can get through easily. BTW, my flight arrived around 9:30 pm, so getting through immigration and customs was a snap because it was just the people from our flight. However, I could see they were prepared for lots and lots of people. The information desk, mini-mart, etc., were just outside of customs. Transportation was just outside the door. It took a moment or two of examining the signs to make sure I went to the right place. I saw the directions if you wanted to walk to the domestic terminal and also saw the free bus that transported people between the two terminals.

AKL is fairly nice. Like many airports, transiting between an international flight and a domestic one requires a few extra steps. There is a coach that goes between the two, but there are crowds waiting (and the wait was unpredictable). There is a green arrow if you want to walk; it's 10-15 minutes and you'll be dragging your suitcase from sidewalks to bumpy asphalt and back. Everything else was great. Lots of shops and dining options if you've got some time. The airline clubs are upstairs if you can use them.

Not sure what's with some of the low reviews for AKL airport. Depending on when your flight arrives, sometime the airport is incredibly busy because multiple flights arrive around the same time and hundreds of people have to go through immigrations at the same time. My flight arrived right around 8am on a Saturday and from baggage carousel to exit took about 15 minutes. Flying from the US to Australia or any Pacific Islands if there are no direct flights, the best and easiest way to transit for international flights is via AKL rather than any US or Australia or Pacific Island gateways because it's all within the same terminal and you just have to go through a short security line. This is an A+ for me.

We printed our boarding and luggage tags and then waited :40 on a premium passenger line to check our bags. We then moved to TSA pre check line and waited an additional hour at another line for scanning. They appear to be checking passengers going to America more vigorously, they even checked behind my wrist watch. We then walked through a very large & expensive gift shop where I couldn't find local cookies or chocolates to bring home It took us 2 1/2 hours from the time we got out of our taxi to the gate. At the gate, Americans lined up to have our passports & boarding passes inspected again. Near gate 18, at the far end of the terminal, there were no shops nor food kiosks. Most of the people walkers were not working, we walked 1.5 miles in the hot airport with our baggage. Largest & busiest international airport in New Zealand with over 20 million passengers passing through annually. It is the domestic & international hub for Air New Zealand, and Jetstar. It is currently the busiest single-runway airport in Oceania, with 45 flight ls per hour. The airport opened in 1960 and in 1977 the international terminal, Jean Batten, was built. Construction just began on a new domestic terminal . The airport has 65 gates, 23 with Jetbridges & 42 remote stands for aircraft parking. Most international flights are going to Australia, Asia & the west coast of America.

Airports can be difficult places to review. One only wants to be in a one for a little time. When one has to wait for 30 minutes for their bags to come off the plane, like my flight did, it can be frustrating. Then, one must go through customs which is stressful. The process was quick once getting to the officer. The airport is clean. Leaving to go home was a bit frustrating too as they held us at another gate before giving us access to our departure gate. From a handwritten list, passengers were selected for additional screening. Once pass the additional screenings, one may charge their phone, get water, or use the restroom. The duty free is large and has plenty of items. Be sure to check how many liters of spirits you can bring back to your country of origin before making a purchase.

The good - new, speedy check-in process, lots of shops. The bad - long line for customs for non Kiwis or non Aussie, after breezing through immigration. The ugly - none.

My husband and I traveled to Aucklnd via Holland America cruise line. I am sad that we are not able to tour this wonderful city. I am delighted that our airport security experience was streamlined. We are traveling internationally from Auckland New Zealand to Dallas forth worth US. There was one person who was guiding to the gate. The person was friendly and helpful. This person reminded us to make sure not to bring any liquid through the security. They have a Egate where you scan your passport and a door will open. You have to have your photo taken before you proceed to another door. After this security check, your bags will be placed on the conveyor floor inspection. Laptops and cell phone should be in a separate bin. You do not have to take off your shoes.

The airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand. The airport wasn't too memorable for me, which is a good thing. We arrived and departed with no issues. There are E-Gates: scan your passport, take a photograph, and answer questions at a kiosk. You'll receive a receipt, which must be shown to the CBP Officer.

There are a lot of shops and restaurants at the airport. Gives you something to do while waiting. Immigration services are pretty efficient. Lines move quickly.

I genuinely didn't know that an airport in a first world country could have Wi-Fi as bad as the Auckland Airport. I mean the the Wi-Fi is absolutely horrendous! If you didn't know better you'd think you were in Sudan after a major earthquake. Wi-Fi goes in and out every 20 minutes or so. If you're lucky you might get a Tik Tok video to load halfway before buffering! BUT if for some reason you get a FULL video to load without buffering I would suggest booking a trip straight to Vegas because you have a guardian angel watching over you. Want to download a movie at the airport for your upcoming flight? I'd suggest bringing a book instead. Come on New Zealand, you can do better.

Reviewing airports.... Hmm this place is decent. It's got cleanliness going for it, which I never take for granted. But is appears somewhat outdated and/basic compared to other larger airports. Still much nicer than our local Honolulu International Airport. But that's not saying much lol.

Arrived very early to Auckland Airport via the international portal. Signs are very helpful, border and customs were professional during the screening, and the bathrooms are very clean. Not all stores are open early, and the Addidas store doesn't open until 10 am, which I will be gone by then. Staff are friendly at the stores I visited, and you get double the value for the US dollar vs the New Zealand dollar, which is a major plus for purchasing items here.

This rating is for the airport experience and not the check in process with the airline. The airline line was long and slow. However, the airport is well maintained and takes about 5-10 minutes to get from your airline check in through security. The security process was fast and staff are directed people in the right direction speeding up the process. Many food court before and after security. The lounges are nice to use if you have access. There are many seats alongside many tables to relax and play games or eat.

What' a bozo layout to fly Air New Zealand back to the USA. Never again. Garbage set up with no food no beverages and about a 15 minute walk from civilization. Terrible layout. They don't even open the gates until an hour or less before boarding time. I just hate this place!

HNL to AKL - Took the late flight arriving in Auckland about 11pm at night. The airport wasn't very crowded, and customs went through very quickly. They had a dog sniffing around everyone's baggage looking for food items. ZQN to AKL - Super easy to find the international terminal from the domestic terminal (just follow the green path on the sidewalk). It is a bit of a walk, but since it was wintertime it felt nice to walk outside. AKL to HNL - Not sure if it's an airport policy, but we couldn't check in to our flight earlier than 2 hours. Which was disappointing because my friends flight was earlier than mine. I was planning to hangout in the airport with her until her flight, but our plan completely backfired when I couldn't check in. =__= Other than the check in issue. Overall, it's a good airport. Its clean, quick security lines, lots of shopping and 2 hours of free WiFi.

This is one of the nicer airport that I've traveled to recently..in fact everything about NZ is generally nicer than what I'm used to here in the states..especially the gf scene! I've been through here several times both for trips to NZ as well as transferring to Sydney and Fiji. It has a nice large open area to hang out in once you get through security. There is a huge wall of windows opening to the tarmac for a nice view as you wait for your plane. There is a fair amount of decent shopping here but my favorite part of this airport by far is the gluten free options for snackas. There are several places to grab some quick bites and they all have fresh beautiful choices with gf meal choices. There isn't a lot of great seating or really much else to do in this airport. It's very clean which I definitely appreciated but there are not really any places to relax or lounge. The gates are nice but not a ton of chargers. As a whole, its a solid airport that is kept immaculate and has snack options which is essential for any major airport.

Horrible place. Ltd amenities, old, long queues and when arriving the customs queues are always horrendous.

On our recent trip, Auckland was our starting and ending location. We ended up flying here twice, and each time we had no issues. Auckland Airport is the largest in the country, but it doesn't feel huge. On arrival we were late due to technical issues before departure. We arrived close to midnight, but everything in the arrival area was open. Customs was a breeze and all automated; we didn't answer any questions and did all the passport business with a machine (we were each sad we didn't a stamp though). After passport control, it was a short walk out to the arrival area and baggage claim. This was also a breeze with friendly security. From there we went to our rental car stand and were greeted by a friendly associate who upgraded us for free and got us on our way as quickly as possible. At the end of our trip we flew back here from Queenstown on a domestic flight. It was even easier arriving that morning (although unpleasant for me as the rain led to turbulence). Getting our bags at the airport was again easy with shuttle service right outside. We came back here a few nights later for our journey home. We had no issues with check-in and bag drop. The international departure was more fun with duty-free shops, restaurants, bars, and plenty of places to relax. We also had ample seating area, large restrooms, and an easy departure. This airport will be a welcome site on our next trip!

Arrived in AKL for the first time in 4 years. Absolute shambles at the arrivals hall and took over AN HOUR AND A HALF IN THE GREEN LINE with literally thousands of weary travellers at 5pm on a weekday to clear customs. I've never experienced this anywhere in 40 years of world travel, and certainly not in a first world country!

This was our first stop on many flights to come via new Zealand and Australia. The staff were friendly and informative. I remember telling my friend, dang I saw a lot of their TSA staff smiling, woo hoo. Coming out the airport they have an information desk who helped us with booking the shuttle buses directly to the hotel. Upon returning to the airport, we had no issues with check in and or long waits despite the long lines. The airport flow seemed organized and staff were professional. I was able to use the complimentary wifi with no issues. There were a variety of food options and places to shop.

Nice people overall but I had a super crappy experience. Everything's sucky here, it's like a long lost Oasis for pouring outdated technology, where old ideas and technology go to die. Automation meant to save time is overwhelmed and workers are inept. When something goes wrong nobody really knows what to do. I would just offer the advice that you should be understanding and expect things to move slowly.

Very modern airport with quick and easy arrivals and processing through Customs. There are various food offerings in the Arrivals terminal, a very helpful i-site, and a welcome from Middle Earth. Flight check-in is done at kiosks with checked baggage and residual issues dealt w/airline reps at the counters. They also have a nice duty-free store you exit through from security clearance. A couple of things to keep in mind here. If you fly stand-by, it is not like in the US here. You have to wait to clear security until you are assigned a seat and a ticket, which can be a bit nerve-wracking. They also have a bio-security screening you have to go through if you bring in any camping equipment, including tent, sleeping bag, and hiking shoes. They have to examine it and you get a little tag receipt. It is about 15-20mins and you pick up your stuff from a little window in the Arrivals terminal.

Not much to do and spotty WiFi in the terminal. I arrived first for the initial leg of a recent girl's trip. Having to occupy oneself with a bad WiFi connection for 3 hours is a real challenge. I eventually gave in and went back to the arrivals hall to purchase a SIM card for my phone - mind you it is not cheap! The things we do to have the world at our fingertips! Anyway, I passed the time wandering through every business at this airport before finally just starting a logic puzzle on my phone. What was frustrating was that I could have been waiting in one of the airport lounges I have access to. However before exiting the customs area I asked an airport official if and where the airport lounges were located - she conferred with a coworker and they both told me there were no lounges in this airport. So I exited without bothering to check in for a third opinion elsewhere! After getting my SIM card I was able to look up the lounges on my phone to find that there were two cozy lounges I could've been waiting for my friend to arrive in had I just had access to the internet before leaving the secure area of the airport!

Things they are doing really well: -free luggage carts! -Air NZ's whole check in system + earlier than 4 hour luggage check -free shower upstairs in the domestic terminal + TravelPharm's $10 towel rental service ($5 back in cash when you return it) The shower alone was amazing to have. After a 16 hour flight, I didn't want anyone near me in 70° heat while we waited for our next flight 10 hours later. This made me feel human again!

Auckland airport is one of the nicest international airports we have been into in the last couple of years. Super clean, state of the art everything. As soon as you come out of customs into the secured shopping area there is a Times Square type of changing billboard. Brilliant. The shops are great, lots of free liquor tasting as well as high-quality souvenirs, electronics, watches and perfume's. As throughout this country & especially in the capital city of all Polynesia, the people at the airport here are very gracious. Knowledgeable as well. I had 2 hours of layover and got to spend time with several of the vendors. The people selling the new Tag Hauer watch just about had me lay out $1000 because she was so good at what she did. It is a nice watch, much more attractive than the Apple Watch I was wearing. We did not eat at any of the many restaurants but instead included with our ticket on Qantas, we ate in the executive lounge. It was good, not great because it was buffet style. I must say that the beer wine and spirit selections were top end and plentiful. There are showers and lots of space to spread out including a business center. Qantas is the way to go coming out of either Australia or New Zealand. All in all you could be stuck at a much worst airport, that's for sure.

Good rule of thumb is to renew your US passport when traveling within 6 months from expiration date and carry that! It was a big time of my energy to make big efforts to go through multiple staff members to get an exception on uplift to Fiji from Air New Zealand. Different staff members had different ways of doing things and it was a horrible experience for 7am on a Saturday when all embassies and immigrations are ideally closed office hours. However, Robyn and Sina from Air New Zealand was of great experienced help! I had many responses of denial, "no can not travel without calling and receiving email", and they are closed for Saturday weekend and "go there to get help", and I finally met the correct person that knows how to do things! Robyn was a lifesaver on knowing the right phone number to ring up and Sina made the call in 10 minutes and less to get it done! Love them! Recommended employees of the month! I can't thank them enough! We need more people and staff members like that, who knows how to problem solve and is knowledgeable about work arounds! They saved my flight itinerary and everything!!

Easy transfer. Lovely people. Polite, smooth security. Decent ANZ lounge and retail. Makes a stop from LAX enroute to Sydney not that bad at all. Well done Auckland.

I'm just happy it's not as crowded as LAX. The terminals we were in were pretty small but they had what most people need: coffee sandwiches, and magazine shops. We ended up just grabbing a light breakfast at the terminal for our 2 hour layover which consisted simply of a cappuccino and a chai latte. I really enjoyed my chai latte and had some good snacks to eat it with. The security check was thurough but no line at all. It was great! Word of advice, make sure you buy food BEFORE you enter the security check point. Because after that there really wasn't much to purchase to eat. One cafe kiosk but that was it. We walked around a bit before our flight took off but after the security check point there really wasn't much to walk around and see.

This smallish international airport is relatively effective in moving you in and out of the country, but it isn't very pretty or comfortable, at least with all the construction that's currently under way. Once you have boarding pass, the area beyond Security has several shops and food options, as well as more seating options. That is in stark contrast to the area before Security. Before security, there are only a few restaurants and shops. There is also very limited seating if you have a long wait. And I should mention that there were nearly non-existent power outlets to charge electrical items. (People with children and a long wait, BEWARE!!) As a small airport, there is also not much space to wander around. All of this makes departure from this airport very frustrating if you're here early or have a long layover. I also found the check-in and heading-to-gate arrangements to be frustrating in the international terminal. There are few booths for specific airlines -- including Air New Zealand -- so no one to talk to from the various airlines. Many/most of the airlines don't open counters until 2-3 hours before their limited flights, and the digital system meant that no one I spoke to even knew where the counter for my flight would be. And once you did check in, getting to Security was a less than straightforward path, following occasionally conflicting signs. (I will admit that this last part may have been a direct result of the significant ongoing construction.) As a doorway to New Zealand, I look forward to traveling through here again. But as an international airport in general, it's got a long way to go.

I was here to transit from a US flight to Sydney. I did a little bit of exploring of the airport and it has some decent shops but there seems to be a bit of walking involved from the transit security to the shops and lounges. There is a LOT of space at the gates and you don't feel crowded which is nice. The airport isn't that busy so delays in or out seems to be minimal. The security at the transit lounge was a pain. Every country is different some you need to clear immigration but not customs or security to transit and others clear immigration but not security. The security line did take a while to clear. Be warned at the transit security just because you made it through US or Canadian security doesn't mean they will allow you through NZ security. Literally 2 dozen people were stopped for items that easily cleared US security including myself. I didn't know a fridge magnet was such a security risk. I have though of travelling via NZ again to Australia but the biggest thing holding me back is the pain you have to deal with at the security check point.

Small and organized airport. Security check is easier than US airports. Hope I will come back again.

Pros: - Lord of the Rings Statue when you arrive - Easy electronic passport control - Short security lines - Clean bathrooms - seats that don't have arm rests so you can lie down Cons: - no outlets for charging your phone on seats - only 45 minutes of free wifi with a long sign in process - not many seats available at international gates as there is a glass corridor that blocks you from accessing seats at nearby gates The fact that they don't have unlimited free wifi and no outlets for charging your phone makes this a 3 star rating for me as in this day and age, this should be a given at any international airport.

Great airport, clean, bright, calm, well organized. Wide hallways, plenty of seating. Going through customs was easy because we met a local who guided us. Our bags were x-rayed TWICE and there was a dog sniffing people too. We appreciate tight security. Everyone we encountered was polite and friendly. We're using it again soon!

First time flying into New Zealand's busiest airport: Auckland international airport. First time flying to New Zealand, period actually. Flown to Christchurch first, then here to Auckland. It's nice. I flew from Christchurch New Zealand on Air New Zealand to Auckland and back out to Sydney Australia on Jetstar Airlines on a mid September 2018 holiday trip. Auckland international airport is large enough, where they have separate departure zones for travelers to catch their flights out of Auckland. Arriving in Auckland from Christchurch was simple and fast, since it is a domestic flight and I was off the plane and into an Uber within 15 minutes. Getting out of Auckland to Sydney required the New Zealand customs and border control, which took a little bit more time, but it was fast too, since everything now is streamlined and monitored electronically. Like Hawaii and Australia, New Zealand monitors what comes in and out in the way of fresh vegetables, fruits, live meats, and anything that can harm the host's local ecosystem. I get it, I live in Hawaii, USA and have to see that all the time when returning back from travels, but seeing it in New Zealand is interesting too. They have bio security agents waiting to check on people if they do / don't declare something. Auckland international airport is pretty amazing actually. The terminal is kept meticulously clean and there are a handful of toilets. Although there wasn't as much outlets to charge mobile devices at the gates, There are a handful of good eateries in the departure terminals, but usually are overpriced. Best bet is to find local restaurants outside the airport if you can and support local businesses. The overall experience here at the Auckland international airport was as good as you can get, with respect to airports. They are a necessity to get anywhere really fast these days and you'd have to invent flying cars just to beat the current system. For the most part though, I did enjoy the amenities that the airport provided. With the free airport WiFi that the airport provided, it was nice to have that with me while waiting for my flight. 12 major airlines serve the airport, including Quantas, Emirates, China Southern, Air New Zealand, and Jetstar Airlines among others. I was surprised that the Auckland international airport is located far away from the city and its central business district. It was around 42 km I think. I wasn't sure if there was public transportation services connecting the airport to the city center. I was in a hurry, so I just used uber. There was a waiting area for uber about 300 meters in a designated area. Follow signs on the uber app to meet your ride. The airport terminal is large enough, so wherever you need to go, you can get to no problem! Just follow the signs and you'll be okay. I kind of enjoyed my time here at Auckland international airport, even though I was just passing through, coming and going. It is one of the easiest airports to get to, - once arriving in the country - including getting through the New Zealand customs and border control. Auckland NZ is pretty awesome. Happy travels! 5.0 stars for the overall experience. 5.0 stars for the ambiance for international travelers. Just nice to get in and out without the drama. Fly more! Support local! A

International travel: this was our entry and exit from New Zealand. The airport is well laid out, allowing for easy navigation and quick check-ins and customs. The folks in New Zealand, as a generality, are some of the nicest folks you will meet anywhere! We had strangers give us their phone numbers just in case we got into a bind - since this was our first trip to the islands. I have visited many countries, and rarely find that degree of niceness from so many. Customs in New Zealand took less time than a day through regular security at my now second favorite airport (Portland, Oregon - PDX)

International arrival: very simple and well organized! There were no issues with finding where to go as I left the plain. I had already filled out my declaration form on the airplane, so I'm not sure where to grab it if you didn't get one on your plane. Passport control? Not sure what it was, but it was confusing as they had the computerized passport check stalls or "all other passports" had to go talk to a board control person at a stall. Turns out, USA passports when through the computerized stalls, but I failed to see that cause the indicator of what passports were allowed there was a TV that had to scroll through multiple pages. But I waited in a short line with multiple agents and got through quickly. The agent asked what my plans were and that's about it - quick screening. I also got a stamp in my passport, so I'm happy with that cause I don't think you get that in the computerized stall. So I'll take that as an accidental win (cause who doesn't love a stamp?) haha After that we then proceeded to a more intense check. Comparable to immigration/customs for the USA. Waited in line (5 were available) and when it was my turn, the agent asked me a couple questions and had to go all the way over the the green hall. I guess this allowed me to bypass the xrays. Most however, were sent through the X-ray screen (I only had a backpack though). NZ has multiple dogs sniffing. Make sense as they have a strict restrictions on what's not allowed in the country. Easy entry for those prepped and understanding what NZ restrictions are! Well staffed and simple to understand the process.

Dramatic upgrade in the works here. Aukland airport is becoming more international with more and better food options and shopping is nearly as extensive as Sydney. Hopefully some more upscale dining options will arrive, most places now are fast casual.

I only stopped at Auckland International for a transiting flight to Melbourne and again back home to San Francisco. In the short amount of time I was there, I really enjoyed browsing the duty free shops. Employees were very friendly and welcoming at the shops, as well as at the airport information booths. Going through security was a breeze, quick and easy, and shoes weren't required to be removed. The only downside to Auckland International was the free WiFi being limited to 30 minutes. After that, you'll need to pay. But overall, the airport was very clean, modern, and easy to navigate. If you have time to spare, hang out under the Pou Manawa (Maori name for "the tree"), which is situated in the middle of the retail center at the departure terminals. It's a beautifully designed artistic structure, where there's images of stars, fish, flowers, etc., projected onto the large fabric screen and presented 360 degrees around the trunk. You could just stare at it all day (or, at least until your flight).

Love this Airport! I have read through many of the reviews concerning this airport and quite frankly I'm shocked. But everyone has an opinion and that is what a review is. So I hope you take the time to read my review and look at my pictures. Whenever you travel to unchartered territory I think you have some trepidation when you land as to where things are and how things are going to go in the airport since you aren't familiar with it. Yes, most airlines offer a layout of the airport(s), we look at them, and by the time we hit the gangway we've forgotten. But I must tell you, arriving and departing from this airport was nothing short of easy, painless and extremely simple. And I want to say upfront that the airport staff, no matter what position, are extremely friendly and accommodating. From the time of our arrival we were very impressed with how well everything was marked. There was simply no way to get lost, go the wrong way, etc. unless you just aren't paying attention. I wish more airports could be set up like this and make it this easy. The Auckland airport is a bit of a museum. Along any path you have a bit of history and/or fun things to check out that the country is known for. It truly gives you a feel of what the country is about, the people, the culture, etc....it makes you excited to be there. Customs was rockin'. Everything went super-fast...so fast I had to stop and ask them if that was it. Of course, if you have everything ready in advance then it does go fast. I am always surprised at the amount of people that blame customs for their own shortcomings. Make it easy on yourself, the customs staff and everyone else behind you...please have your stuff ready and don't be the problem and blame it on everything or everyone else but yourself. This is just a smooth customs...oh they are thorough, but again...if you are ready, they are ready. Plus, they are super friendly. I've always thought there is no reason for customs to be nasty, but in some countries they are. Not here, be ready to be welcomed with kind words and great attitudes. I did ask if I could get a picture of the welcome sign to NZ since it was facing in the opposite direction...and you know what? Since the customs officer didn't have any more people to check he offered to take a picture for us. That was very nice of him. Of course, getting baggage was nothing short of easy. No waiting. They must have the quickest people at Air NZ to have unloaded that plane so quickly. After picking up bags we had to go to the domestic terminal. This is where the fun starts right? No way...they make is super simple! They actually have lines marked on the ground for you to follow all the way to the domestic terminal from the international terminal. And if you aren't looking down, then they have arrow signs for you to follow. How can you miss? Once at the domestic terminal...everything is right there! Go to your airline desk and do your thing. As for our departure...same experience. Security has this loonnnngggg line. Oh goodness, we thought we'd be there forever/hours. When we got in line we far away from even entering the serpentine area. But no...seriously! They are very well staffed and again, still very thorough...it went fast. There are a lot of airports in the world that could take a page out of the Auckland Airport play book because they've got "it" figured out. Seriously...this is a sweet airport. For an international and rather busy airport...WOW...my family and I are very impressed. Please see my pictures. I ONLY included pictures of the airport and not of any airline, yelp badge, restaurant, etc. since those pics belong in other areas.

The biggest airport in New Zealand, the employees are very kind and friendly. I just wish they had more than 2 hours of free WiFi with in a 24 hour period.

Electronic passport control and the kindness of kiwis makes this an easy airport to get in and out of NZ. Every bag gets screened for honey and meat products, to protect the island economy and native flora and fauna, but there are many X-ray machines and the queue is quick. Not many food options and the duty free is quite small, but the Gimli LoTR statue is not to be missed.

Generally a clean and quiet airport. I enjoy the short security lines, easy electronic passport control and higher technology security check in process. The security lines are always short. There's a variety of shops and restaurants for one to buy food or shop. They have effective shuttle stops that can help you away from the airport. If you're a traveler, I recommend the Vodafone traveler's sim card. They have the $86 NZD for 8GB of data, 200 international minutes, 200 international texts and unlimited NZ minutes/ texts. This came in very handy for my travel experience. They even do the sim card switch for you too and you can pay in USD if needed. What I do not like about the airport is the lack of power outlets. There is only a 45-minute free wifi which is funny despite the higher end technology they have. Queenstown airport has unlimited wifi. Overall, love the short lines and the higher technology check-in process but the 45 minute limited wifi gives it a big thumbs down.

Sadly had to spend about 6hrs waiting in the International departures in Oct. 2016. One big issue was the lack of a dedicated charging station for your mobile phone. (Used it in Christchurch and automatically assumed there would be one in Auckland.) Had to wander around before finding one outlet to sit and plug in at. Shops are typical but most carry similar products to the others. Used the toilets and was totally taken off guard to find a children's sized toilet next to the adult size in several different locations in their airport. Absolutely WELL DONE AKL!!! Only seen these teeny tiny toilets at my granddaughters daycare ever. Very impressed!! Usually We like to find our departure gate and familiarize ourselves and then explore the shops. When looking at the departures board up until one hour before your departure you will only see "relax" under the gate. So just go relax until you need to walk to your gate and then they tell you how long the estimated walk time is to that gate. Clever.

I am shocked by the other reviews of this airport. I travel a lot and this is by far the worst airport I have ever been in! Small, crowded, dirty and outdated... I could go on and on but the worst part of this airport by far was the customer service. I try to be understanding, and had it just been one employee at one location within the airport that was rude and ridiculous I could have looked past that. We all have our bad days. However, every employee that I encountered in this airport, from the girls working at the airline counter, to the security staff, to the horrible horrible woman that was weighing peoples luggage, every person I encountered was either in a very bad mood or just a miserable person. I arrived 2 hours before my flight was to leave and spent over 45 minutes waiting in line just to check in. That is not an exaggeration, and I have already made a separate complaint with Virgin Australia. Again, it would have been one thing if they didn't have enough employees and were crowded by patrons, but the truth is that there were plenty of workers and they only had a few lines open for the crowded flight while others stood around chatting at lines where no one was checking in. A few people in line who were clearly upset by this, including me, asked the oblivious staff to please move over and start assisting the people that were waiting. Although they responded that they were just about to do that , I never actually witnessed any of them open a line to help those of us who were waiting. I will never fly Virgin Australia again. The worst part was still yet to come. At the counter when we checked in they weighed our bags and the weight was slightly over the allowance (.2 kg to be exact) but the girl at the desk said just to pull a few items out and stick them in our pockets and it would be no big deal. She couldn't have been more wrong. The woman who was weighing peoples bags has to be one of the most horrible people I have ever met in my entire existence. She was rude. She was yelling at people. She was being derogatory towards large families of the people. When I tried to explain to her that I had spoken to the girl downstairs she refused to look at me or listen and kept yelling the same line over and over. I literally called her the Luggage Nazi for the remainder of our trip. I have never seen such a horrible person who hates their job so much. Instead of argue with this woman, I asked if we could just pay to check our luggage since we were now running late because the line had been so ridiculously long. She told me repeatedly to go back downstairs and start over and refused to actually listen to the questions I was asking her. It was by far the worst experience I've had at an airport and I've been patted down multiple times. Security wasn't much better and they put an extra early boarding time on the tickets to rush people to get to the gate so that they could sit and wait which I thought was ridiculous and deceptive on the part of the airline. I am glad the experience was over and I doubt I will be returning to Auckland.

This is home base for me. It certainly has nothing on Changi, Pudong, LAX or Heathrow in terms of sheer size. But it is clean and functional. It isn't as busy as any of the above either. Showers are free of charge to transit travellers. They are located through the lobby to the airline VIP lounges. Just keep following the corridor to the left. This is great for travellers transiting from Perth and then connecting to Air New Zealand's Houston or Buenos Aires long haul flights. Not the same as the short stay hotels or shower and meal facilities of Changi, but very welcome all the same. If you are an Air New Zealand Koru Club member, be sure to check in well in advance to get to the lounge. Once there have a glass of their Dulcet sparkling wine. It is made especially for Air New Zealand and is only available in the Koru Lounges or up in the Air New Zealand planes. Made by Villa Maria, it really is a great drop. WiFi: The first 30minutes of the "Airport Hotspot" is free. You will need to register to gain access, much like any other free WiFi service. Further WiFi can be purchased using the login details you used to get 30 minutes free. Check in for international flights through the U.S. is recommended a minimum of two hours before your flight departs. This means you actually need to have cleared check in two hours before your flights estimated time of departure. (ETD) Through to other locations such as Asia and the pacific, final check in completion time is 90 minutes prior to ETD. It pays to have prepared to have checked in well in advance of the final check in to avoid delays. Once checked in, clear customs and get airside. The duty free shopping area is fairly extensive. Prices aren't actually that great. A 400g Toblerone chocolate bar is $14 NZD at duty free but I've seen the same Toblerone bars at Countdown on special for $5 NZD. If you're flying to Narita, buy there. If you're flying to Singapore, buy in NZ. Flying to the U.S.A, buy there. Unless of course you are buying NZ wine for friends and family. Buy at an off licence and pack it in your check in luggage. Airside there is a Burger King, sushi bar and numerous Cafes offering all manner of food. But remember that a huge meal with a large soda is prone to give you gas...and once you're up in high altitude, gas expands. It's Boyle's law.