If it's a while since you visited Queenstown Airport, you'll notice lots of changes next time you travel. We've been working hard on taking some of the stress out of checking in and boarding your flight. Here are some things that might help:
Park & Ride: Leave home a little bit early and use our Park & Ride car park at Brookes Road, Frankton. A free shuttle will take you the short distance to the airport (and back again when you return to Queenstown). This park is large, secure, and great value, so it is a particularly good choice if you are going to be away for a while.
P20: If someone is giving you a ride to the airport, there's no need to rush the goodbyes. The spaces in Car Park A nearest the terminal have been reserved for short-term parking and the free-parking period has been extended to 20 minutes.
Self-check-in technology: Nobody likes waiting in line to check in for a flight, so we've invested in extra self-service technology to speed the process up. If you're flying with Jetstar, Qantas or Virgin Australia, head left when you enter the departures area. The check-in kiosks there are shared by all three airlines and are easy to use. Pick one and follow the instructions on the screen. The machines will print your boarding pass and baggage tag. Air New Zealand also uses self-service kiosks, which are on the right side of the check-in area. If you have any difficulty, ask an airline representative for help.
Automated bag drops: Again, to save you waiting in a long queue, we have installed automated bag-drop technology in the area used by Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia. Pick whichever unit is free, follow the prompts on the screen and quickly send your luggage on its way.
If your flight is leaving from Gate 1, you can relax until you hear a boarding call. (Check out the sensational selection of treats at The Remarkable Sweet Shop and you'll be close by when it's time to get on the plane.) Everyone else needs to go through security screening.
Security screening: The screening lanes for all passengers are in the centre of the terminal at Queenstown Airport – if you're catching a domestic flight, enter the queue on the left and if you're catching an international flight, enter the queue on the right. Passenger screening at all New Zealand airports is managed by the Aviation Security Service, which provides information about how to prepare for screening on its website. It also publishes anticipated peak times. We've recently created a fourth screening lane, which gives Aviation Security more flexibility and capacity to handle busy periods.
Domestic departures area: One of the biggest changes has been the construction of a glass wall to enable the expansion and refurbishment of the domestic departures area. This has created a much larger and more comfortable space to wait for a domestic flight. The popular Airspresso cafe and licensed bar is still in the same location, serving up cheese rolls and other delicious food to enjoy while you look out over the runway. Surely that's an incentive to go through security screening early!
Air New Zealand Lounge: The Air New Zealand Regional Lounge (aka the Koru Club) has also been moved airside, so pass through domestic passenger screening to access it. If you are flying domestically, you can then go directly from the lounge to the boarding gate. If you are flying to Australia, you will have to also go through international security screening and border control before getting on your plane.
Flight information screens: The digital screens providing information about arrivals and departures have been redesigned to be easier to read and to meet acessibility guidelines.
Aircraft access ramps: During the past year, we have invested in four solar-powered aircraft access ramps. Fully enclosed, they have handrails, a low gradient and anti-slip flooring, which makes them safer to use than the stairs they are replacing. They also make it quicker to get passengers on and off aircraft and reduce the number of passengers who need help boarding.
Bon voyage!
