International check-in
Everything you need to know to check in for your international flight.
Partner airlines
If the first flight in your itinerary is operated by a partner airline, you’ll need to check in at the partner airline’s website or check-in desk.
When to check in
For some flights check-in closes 90 minutes before departure, others are 120 minutes before departure. You can find your exact check-in time in your Air NZ app, in your check-in email or on your e-ticket.
Allow enough time after check-in to go through security screening and customs.
What you need to check in
- Your booking reference number, or be logged in to your Koru account to check in online.
- Your valid passport. Some countries require at least 6 months validity in your passport. Please check the requirements for your destinations.
- Your entry visas, or electronic travel authority (eTA) if required by the countries you’re visiting.
- Your health and/or border declaration, if required by the countries you’re visiting or transiting through.
Entry requirements differ between countries. Before you check in, we recommend you ensure you meet all travel requirements for each country you’re visiting or transiting through.
Check in online
You can check in online, 24 hours prior to your flight for an Air New Zealand-operated flight. If you meet all the travel requirements and are able to check in successfully, then all you need to do is:
- Check in your bags. Use one of our self-service kiosks to print your bag tags. Tag your bags and take them to Bag Drop or the Oversize and fragile items desk.
- Go straight to the gate with your digital boarding pass and passport.
Check in at the airport
You’ll need to check in at the airport if:
- there are border restrictions that require us to manually check your documentation
- boarding passes that have been printed at home or mobile boarding passes are not accepted at your departure airport (such as Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport)
- you need special assistance
- you’re a child travelling alone
Otherwise, if you have all the travel documentation required by your destination and transit points, you can skip the queues and use the self-service kiosks.
At the self-service kiosk you’ll be asked to scan your passport, followed by printing then print your boarding passes and bag tags.
Attach the labels to your bags and take them to Bag Drop. You're ready to go through security.
Self-service kiosks
Self-service kiosks are available if you are flying from the following locations.
- Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Invercargill, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Tauranga, Queenstown and Wellington
- Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney
- Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver
- Hong Kong, Nadi, Narita and Singapore
Bag Drop
Bag Drop open times vary depending on your departure airport and scheduled flight departure time. As a general rule, at international airports, Bag Drop usually opens 3 hours before departure.
You can find what time Bag Drop closes on your e-ticket and on the flight details screen on the Air NZ app.
If you've checked in online, it's easy to check in your bags when you arrive at the airport. Use one of our self-service kiosks to print your bag tags. Tag your bags and take them to Bag Drop or the Oversize and fragile items desk.
Track your bags
You can track the status of your checked-in baggage on all Air New Zealand and partner Star Alliance flights within the Air NZ app.
Connecting to international
If you have an Air New Zealand flight that connects with another Air New Zealand flight, or an airline we have an agreement with, and it's on the same booking, your baggage will be tagged through to your final destination. Find out more about checking in your bags for connecting flights.
Airport maps and flight connections
Whether you're connecting through an airport, clearing customs, or transiting on an international journey, our airport maps and flight connections information can help you. You'll find airport-specific connection information, including transfer processes, baggage collection, customs requirements, and terminal information.
Air New Zealand Koru lounges
Relax and recharge at an Air New Zealand Koru lounge before departure.