Auckland Airport – 4 am arrival

[phantomchickenz]

We’ve got a 4am arrival at Auckland Airport next year, with two young-ish kids who are likely to be grumpy after the 16 hour flight (thankfully in business). Any thoughts on what to do on arrival when we’ll likely be looking to crash? Would a hotel accept someone arriving at circa 5-6am? Any other thoughts on how to spend the morning with bags in tow if we try and stretch it out for a 12 noon check-in?

[Gordon]

@phantomchickenz – I have heard of people booking a cheap hotel the night before arrival, so they can check straight in, and crash, but this obviously means checking out into your preferred hotel the same day.
Fortunately our days of traveling with young children are well and truly over, but can relate to this.

I would definitely email the hotel and ask the question though, even if a fee is payable, it would be worth it.

[JDB]

phantomchickenz wrote:

We’ve got a 4am arrival at Auckland Airport next year, with two young-ish kids who are likely to be grumpy after the 16 hour flight (thankfully in business). Any thoughts on what to do on arrival when we’ll likely be looking to crash? Would a hotel accept someone arriving at circa 5-6am? Any other thoughts on how to spend the morning with bags in tow if we try and stretch it out for a 12 noon check-in?

I would ask your actual hotel if you can arrive early. Unless they are actually full, any decent hotel will accommodate that request.

[JDB]

By the way, I would call rather than emailing!

[Gordon]

JDB wrote:

By the way, I would call rather than emailing!

Personally I email because there is proof to look back on from a reply, in the event of a dispute, Ive never had a problem with this method of communication, in the event of a dispute a telephone call may not be recorded, and it’s your word against theirs.

Apart from a WhatsApp call which I don’t seem to have much luck with, is there a cost effective method of calling the other side of the world, if your not lucky enough to have an employers phone to use!

[can2]

you mention you’ll have your bags. So you’ll clear customs in Auckland. Last time I was in Auckland (which was pre-pandemic), the ecological-check (or whatever they are called) took hours. That’s the one they carry out to protect the island’s biodiversity — they check the sole of your shoes, your soaps etc. The queue was long.
You may end up now having that long free time

[JDB]

@Gordon – well I’m old fashioned and trust people to honour what is agreed, something that hasn’t been an issue in forty plus years of direct hotel booking to negotiate best terms. I certainly don’t want to be relying on some ‘loyalty’ number or waving some piece of paper promising xyz, at which point all is probably lost anyway. How would you enforce that? People hide behind emails and it’s far easier for them to say no via email. The traditional value of human contact and hand written messages is greatly underestimated in many spheres of life.

In terms of low cost ways to call, many landline or mobile packages will include calls to popular countries, or you can use Skype, WhatsApp or similar services for a minimal price.

[can2]

So true @JDB

[FatherOfFour]

Shame Premier Inn couldn’t honour a simple request that was agreed by phone both before AND after booking. (I wanted to check that “nearby” rooms was possible before even booking. I wish I’d dont this via email now.
Complaining got me nowhere. As a result of rooms on different floors we had to compromise and one room went to waste.

Anyway- for the actual question, our experience in Sydney was that we were offered early check-in via our travel agent in advance for a fee, but when we actually arrived we were told the room (there was only 1 of our category) wasn’t ready as previous occupants hadn’t checked out. In retrospect, it was a good thing because we didnt want to sleep early in the day. 4am might be ever so slightly different!

[JDB]

@FatherOfFour – the Premier Inn model isn’t trying to be a full service hotel where requests are properly handled and the model works partly because it has removed a lot of costly humans from the cost base and everything is standardised. I’m afraid it’s annoying your request wasn’t honoured but not very surprising, as it would have been a bit like talking to a supermarket self checkout.

[Gordon]

FatherOfFour wrote:

Shame Premier Inn couldn’t honour a simple request that was agreed by phone both before AND after booking. (I wanted to check that “nearby” rooms was possible before even booking. I wish I’d dont this via email now.
Complaining got me nowhere. As a result of rooms on different floors we had to compromise and one room went to waste.

Anyway- for the actual question, our experience in Sydney was that we were offered early check-in via our travel agent in advance for a fee, but when we actually arrived we were told the room (there was only 1 of our category) wasn’t ready as previous occupants hadn’t checked out. In retrospect, it was a good thing because we didnt want to sleep early in the day. 4am might be ever so slightly different!

Exactly, that’s why I recommended emailing to the OP, there would not be any paper wagging involved as @JDB says, we have moved on from that,

it’s a simple as look at your flagged emails or hotel name, on your mobile device, this has helped me on more than one occasion, I’ve also never had any issues in 30 years of traveling.

[FatherOfFour]

JDB wrote:

@FatherOfFour – the Premier Inn model isn’t trying to be a full service hotel where requests are properly handled and the model works partly because it has removed a lot of costly humans from the cost base. I’m afraid it’s annoying your request wasn’t honoured but not very surprising, as it would have been a bit like talking to a supermarket self checkout.

I would understand this had I been speaking to a central reservations line, but I was talking directly to somebody at the hotel who sounded very competent and understood the request. I do agree however that staffing at PI is limited, it always took a long time to get through pre-booking and on the day of the problem, there was a long check-in queue and one person, so it wasn’t possible to go back and request removal of one of the rooms. Anyway, I’m sure people will agree that you get what you pay for.

I didn’t want to detract from phantomz question, but I do relate to people who would rather send emails than phone. Apart from the traceability issue that I gave, there are people who are much more comfortable taking their time to get their requests/and responses right via email and not be a bumbling mess, regretting the response they gave after the event.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

I really wouldn’t rely on any sort of good will to be allowed to check in this early in the day.

To be assured of the room book the room for the night before and then inform the hotel of your estimated arrival time

[Lady London]

… and personally having had the AKL arrival experience I’d book, say, a 9am checkin even at extra charge for the following night. If you look for an Accor hotel often they have fixed rates for early checkin and late checkout which are transparent and bookable. I’d research, call and yourself confirm any conversation by email immediately with the name of the person you spoke to Then in a week or so find a reason to forward that email and ask them to confirm as well as answer a spurious question you’ve dreamed up.

But they might save you the trouble by confirming in writing meanwhile or by adding a standard option with a fee to your booking that you can see on it.

[phantomchickenz]

Thanks all. I grew up in NZ (hence the avatar) so know the drill when arriving back home, biosecurity is drilled into us from a young age! We always fly through immigration and customs, just have never arrived at such a ridiculous hour.

We haven’t settled on the final accommodation yet, potentially considering trying the new IC at the waterfront. I think I’m erring towards paying for the night before at the new Pullman at the airport (thanks LL for the tip on fixed early check in rates with Accor) which is a very short walk, rather than spend 45 minutes heading downtown, and paying the premium price for an extra night. Unless of course I can use some kiwi charm to get a gratis very early check in.

Interesting convo on email vs phone call. We’ve discussed in the office that there seems to be definite generational split in that regard – the young’ us seem terrified to pick up the phone rather than tap into it, as the idea of actually speaking to someone seems entirely foreign. Our entirely unscientific analysis puts the age split around 35 (YMMV) for those that do/don’t use a phone for a phone call.

[Matt]

That’s interesting – I’m mid-40s, and would use email every time for this sort of thing (although I guess less emphatically so when it’s an English speaking country). Less chance of misunderstanding and a clear record of what’s been said, plus less hassle. Quite willing to take the trade off of maybe a slightly lower chance of a positive reply.

phantomchickenz wrote:

Thanks all. I grew up in NZ (hence the avatar) so know the drill when arriving back home, biosecurity is drilled into us from a young age! We always fly through immigration and customs, just have never arrived at such a ridiculous hour.

We haven’t settled on the final accommodation yet, potentially considering trying the new IC at the waterfront. I think I’m erring towards paying for the night before at the new Pullman at the airport (thanks LL for the tip on fixed early check in rates with Accor) which is a very short walk, rather than spend 45 minutes heading downtown, and paying the premium price for an extra night. Unless of course I can use some kiwi charm to get a gratis very early check in.

Interesting convo on email vs phone call. We’ve discussed in the office that there seems to be definite generational split in that regard – the young’ us seem terrified to pick up the phone rather than tap into it, as the idea of actually speaking to someone seems entirely foreign. Our entirely unscientific analysis puts the age split around 35 (YMMV) for those that do/don’t use a phone for a phone call.

[phantomchickenz]

It was more in the workplace environment where we hypothesised the roughly 35 year age split, rather than travel, holidays etc. I have in fact emailed a number of hotels already to get their view on which rooms can actually accommodate four people, as computer says no for the majority (but in reality many actually can). That’s a simple yes/no query though, for something requiring a bit more back and forth I would probably call – mid 40’s too!

[TMG]

Flying into Auckland ourselves later this week. One of the reasons we chose Singapore over BA/Qatar was the 1-20pm arrival time so jet lag after 27 hours of travel may make this a moot point. Been looking at the biosecurity requirements which look rather daunting. Online resources have left us confused over what we do or don’t need to declare. Literal reading suggests shoes, toiletries all need to be declared on tne NZTD.

[John]

If you’re coming straight from the UK, 4am arrival is 4pm body clock. With 16 hours in J you probably should have slept reasonably well.

We did this flight before covid. Immigration/biosecurity was deserted because we landed earlier than scheduled – but there do seem to be a lot of transpac flights arriving at this time too.

We got out by 5am and sat in arrivals (which was extremely busy with people who had arrived at midnight to wait until their 7am flights) until 6am when the car rental opened. We then drove to a nearby beach and had a nap which kept us going until hotel check in at 2pm – kids could also sleep in the car if beach is unsuitable.

Only problem was our circadian rhythms reset to a waking day of 4am-8pm for the rest of the NZ trip

[memesweeper]

@phantomchickenz I’ve arrived at an IC before 9am, on a standard booking, been given a shower in the gym and then given my room key. If they are not full i’m sure they’d do something to help. It won’t hurt to call or email ahead of time, but asking for a very early check in months ahead of arrival isn’t going to get you an assured arrangement. Instead, call or email when you leave the UK and explain you will be hopefully arriving very early. I’d prepared to book an airport hotel if they are full.

[phantomchickenz]

memesweeper wrote:

@phantomchickenz I’ve arrived at an IC before 9am, on a standard booking, been given a shower in the gym and then given my room key. If they are not full i’m sure they’d do something to help. It won’t hurt to call or email ahead of time, but asking for a very early check in months ahead of arrival isn’t going to get you an assured arrangement. Instead, call or email when you leave the UK and explain you will be hopefully arriving very early. I’d prepared to book an airport hotel if they are full.

Yep, that seems to be my evolving working theory. Hope for the best a weeek or somout, but have a backup plan.

[phantomchickenz]

TMG wrote:

Flying into Auckland ourselves later this week. One of the reasons we chose Singapore over BA/Qatar was the 1-20pm arrival time so jet lag after 27 hours of travel may make this a moot point. Been looking at the biosecurity requirements which look rather daunting. Online resources have left us confused over what we do or don’t need to declare. Literal reading suggests shoes, toiletries all need to be declared on tne NZTD.

I chose Qatar because of the redemptions 😉 – but in terms of product I think I preferred SQ over the Qsuite last time.

Check out this page and “what to declare”: https://www.customs.govt.nz/personal/travel-to-and-from-nz/travelling-to-new-zealand/on-your-arrival/

When entering NZ, avoid bringing food of any kind, including stuff you’ve half inched from the aircraft. A packet of biscuits isn’t going to get you thrown in jail, but you’ll have to follow the ‘declare’ route which is a faff and adds time. DO NOT bring any fresh food (fruit, meat, vegetables etc) – it will likely go in the bin. Same with anything that grows or once grew. Personal toiletries are fine (see link above), as are shoes unless you’ve been on or around a farm in the preceding month or so. NZ doesn’t want any mad cows. Golf/outdoor sports shoes can sometimes raise eyebrows.

If in doubt, declare, then explain to the customs officer. They’re generally friendly, and the opposite of their US equivalents.

[Man of Kent]

“…half inched…” now there’s a phrase I’ve not heard in a long time. I’m now in my late fifties and rhyming slang was something I remember my father using every now and again.

[Ladyshopper]

We stayed at the airport Novotel in Auckland, as we only had one night there. Landed at 5am ish, and walked over the road to it. They were happy to keep our luggage, and the lady on reception said she would have happily given us a room if she had one available, but she didn’t. She did say there would be one at around 10am if we wanted to wait, but we just wanted to get going as knew we would be fit to drop fairly early on in the evening! There wasn’t a shower available, which was a shame, so just had a bit of a freshen up in the toilets along with an outfit change (we had also showered and changed in Doha, and of course did the same when we checked into our room later that day).

I had enquired beforehand about an early check in, but they came back with a really expensive figure (to me) and didn’t think it was worth it.

In terms of food, we brought a lot with us, as we’re gluten free and didn’t want to be having to go to supermarkets before we picked up a hire car, when we were suffering jetlag etc. It was things like bread, crackers, breakfast cereal, sweet treats etc. All packaged goods, and none of them broke the rules (that I could see). We declared we had food, and when asked what it was I gave the list above and they couldn’t have been less interested. I made sure neither of us had any opened food from the flight.

[LD27]

We’ve stayed at the Holiday Inn, Novotel and Ibis at Auckland Airport in recent years. Even as gold, we’ve always managed to get a room immediately at the Holiday Inn however early in the morning we’ve arrived, but unfortunately it’s not at the terminal. Stayed once at the Ibis and also got early check in. Novotel we had to wait, but were able to leave bags. Can’t comment on the Pullman as we walked past it early last December, just before it opened. It did look very good.

When not taking another flight immediately, we’ve always headed directly to the city. Got an early check in last December at the Voco, but wasn’t early, early as had only come from Wellington.