Airport Guide: Auckland Airport

Auckland Airport is the biggest airport in New Zealand and the transportation hub for Air New Zealand. If you are planning a trip to New Zealand, it’s very likely that you’ll arrive in Auckland. That’s why we want to help you a little bit with out airport guide!

• You can find more content about Auckland on our city page!

With more than 16 million passengers, Auckland Airport is the fourth biggest airport on the continent after Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane Airport.

Auckland is the hub for Air New Zealand, but an important destination for other airlines including Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Emirates as well. At the moment, Auckland Airport just operates with a single runway and a single terminal.

Most important airlines at Auckland Airport:

• Air New Zealand: Several domestic and international destinations
• Jetstar Airways: More than a dozen domestic and international destinations
• Virgin Australia: Half a dozen destinations in Australia
• Emirates: Several daily flights to Dubai via cities in Australia

Shopping and dining at Auckland Airport

Due to the two terminal architecture of Auckland Airport, there are several options for shopping and dining at the airport. There are several shops prior and after security control in the international terminal, making it easy to not only shop things you might have forgotten, but also cloth, sports equipment, jewelry and other things. Food-wise you can find several cafés, bars and even a few proper restaurants. Several fast food options are also available at Auckland Airport. The domestic terminal just comes with a few shopping and dining options.

• Overview of shopping options at Auckland Airport
• All cafés, bars and restaurants at Auckland Airport

Sleeping at Auckland Airport

According to sleepinginairports.com, it is possible to spend the night at Auckland Airport. However, it might only be possible to sleep airside. While there are no sleeping areas per se, you might just nap on one of the benches.

For a more comfortable night, I’d highly recommend booking a hotel near the airport. The best option might be Novotel Auckland Airport, which is adjacent to the terminal. For a cheaper stay, you might also consider ibis Auckland Airport, which is in walking distance as well. Other three and four star options with shuttle services are also available.

• Book your hotel at Auckland Airport now!

Lounges at Auckland Airport

Auckland Airport offers passengers departing several lounges to relax. Be aware of the entry requirements (usally business class or a certain frequent flyer tier). In addition to the airline lounges, there is also the Emperor Lounge, which you may access with a Priority Pass membership or paying cash at the door (49 NZD / ~ 33 Euro / 35 US-Dollar). Star Alliance passengers enjoy access to three Air New Zealand Lounges (international, domestic and regional). Qantas offers two lounges (busienss and first) for oneworld passengers, while SkyTeam uses the Air New Zealand Lounges. As you’d expect, Emirates also operates a lounge at Auckland Airport.

Lounges at Auckland Airport:

• Air New Zealand Lounges: Star Alliance Business and First Class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members as well as eligble Virgin Australia customers
• Emirates Lounge: Emirates Business and First Class passengers and Skywards Silver and Gold members
• Emperor Lounge: Pay at the door or Priority Pass
• Qantas International Business Lounge: oneworld Business and First Class passengers and oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members
• Qantas International First Class Lounge: oneworld First Class passengers and oneworld Emerald members

Transportation at Auckland Airport

Public transportation at Auckland Airport is rather weak. The only real option to get to Auckland are the Skybus Express Buses, which are quite expensive. If taking those buses, you should plan with approximately one hour for the journey to the Britomart transportation hub.

If you are travelling with a companion, I’d recommend either using Uber or taking a taxi. While the latter might be slightly cheaper than a bus ticket for two, Uber is approximately the same price. Starting from three passengers, the choice is quite obvious. At the moment, the city council of Auckland is in talks about a rail link to the airport. Yet, it looks like the buses, taxi and Uber will be the only public transportation option till mid- or even late-2020.

• Prices and more information on transportation at Auckland Airport

 

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