Air New Zealand opens swish Auckland premium check-in zone
The Auckland fast track gets a fresh new look.
By David Flynn, October 26 2023
Business class travellers and frequent flyers on Air New Zealand flights from Auckland International Airport can now start their journey with fewer speed-bumps and a bit more style, following a total makeover of the premium check-in area.
The revamped premium check-in zone reopened is now open, revealing a fresh look for fast-track facility.
Air New Zealand's new-look premium check-in area at Auckland International Airport.
A standout feature is a living wall replicating the forest floor of the Waitakere Ranges alongside natural stone, timber finishes and a 12-metre digital wall featuring bespoke art and music add warmth and tactility to the sophisticated space.
Air New Zealand's new-look premium check-in area at Auckland International Airport.
Sweeping timber curves imitate the contour of a bird’s wing in motion “to help guide customers through their check-in journey,” while folded ceiling battens illustrating a stylised nest pattern help soften the area acoustically.
Air New Zealand's new-look premium check-in area at Auckland International Airport.
Another avian-themed touch are the illuminated feather motifs visible between carved timber screen slats.
In addition to the self-service kiosks and bag drop, concierge-style desks provide passengers with a space to sit to speak with customer service agents.
Air New Zealand's new-look premium check-in area at Auckland International Airport.
“After the January floods caused damage to the space, we took the opportunity to completely redesign the footprint creating a better customer flow and installing new and refreshed finishings,” explains Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty.
“We’ve had great feedback that the space now feels bigger, with an improved transition for customers to move from the check-in kiosks to the bag drop. The new colours and textures also provide a sense of calm which is a lovely way to start a trip overseas.”
The refreshed premium check-in is the beginning of a new look and feel for Air New Zealand’s physical spaces, expressing the unique diversity, vibrancy, and personality of Aotearoa.
“We want people to experience Aotearoa at every point in their journey with us so design elements from this space will eventually carry through to our other customer touchpoints including lounges, check-in spaces and aircraft,” Geraghty says.
Those natural elements drawn from New Zealand have been woven into the airline’s next batch of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which sport new Business Premier business class suites along with innovative Skynest sleeping bunks, which delivers full-length lie-flat beds to economy passengers.
As previously reported, Air New Zealand will next month begin flying a Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 with first class suites and Cathay’s popular business class seats.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 165
What looks like 100% self-service kiosks aren't premium. If there are lots of staff to help everyone that is better, but it's simply less of a queue. By contrast see the BA First zone at LHR T5, or indeed the First check-in area at SYD for QF.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 477
While I have to agree to some extent with Libertyscott above in that more staff would be great, the airline is limited to the space made available at AKL, particularly this specific location and its needs, it's not a large space to begin with and I know from first hand experience that in peak times it gets very busy, very cluttered, so I do actually see some sense in this layout of having self-service machines on one side, baggage drop on the other and staffed desks at one end.
That said, maybe Air New Zealand could have looked at those standing podiums you see at a lot of banks these days plus some hip hotels, they wouldn't take up much room and having actual people to help is always 'premium'.
I think most of the people using this 'premium check-in zone' would be frequent flyers who probably have just carry-on luggage and know the routine, are very familiar with using these machines and how to quickly speed through the process. But more staff always helps!
31 May 2013
Total posts 28
Isn't there a second doorway at the end for Business class? You can see it in the first photo - that is staffed with sit down desk for check-in? I think the first room is for Koru, and Gold. Second section through a sliding door is for Business and Elite.
18 Mar 2014
Total posts 98
Yes, that's correct, there is a separate area for Business and Elite customers.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
05 Nov 2014
Total posts 65
No, not at all.
This is the Premium check-in at the international terminal. Not even 5% of passengers would be travelling without checked baggage.
Many passengers are on complex multi-stop itineraries, especially now that passengers to London are decanted onto three other Star Alliance carriers. And a significant number are using different passports upon AKL departure and international arrival. This area always gets clogged up if too few customer service agents are available, because many of these tasks are not amenable to self-service.
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 30
Used Auckland ANZ premuim check in in April - dogs breakfast
29 Nov 2023
Total posts 1
Used this area on Saturday. It was nice but felt very similar to the previous premium area. Self serve kiosks were staffed well and we had a lot of assistance with our baggage.
Small area, as usual, so quite cramped during a busy period but it does make things go a lot quicker and is a pleasant change to the separate kiosks Air NZ passengers have needed to use while the renovation was completed.
To answer a previous comment, no, there is not a separate business area this is for Koru through to Elite and Business as well as first (if you count the single ex-cathay plane with a small first-class area Air NZ operates)
18 Mar 2014
Total posts 98
I've used this area multiple times since it has opened and can confirm there is a separate area for Business Premier and Elite customers. The left side is the area for Gold, Koru and Premium Economy customers, but down to the right is a frosted sliding door which is the area for Business Premier and Elite customers. One of the photos above is looking from inside this area back towards the frosted door (the photo with the wall garden on the right and kiosks to the left). There is also the seated check-in where you sit down to talk with staff if needed.
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