Departures Guide

To comply with Aviation Security regulations, please ensure any sharp items over 6cm in length are packed in your checked luggage. Small scissors and blades of 6cm or less can be carried in carry-on luggage.

For domestic flights, you can carry liquids and gels in your hand luggage, so if you’ve got cosmetics, food or a beautiful bottle of wine, there's no need to worry! 

You are no longer allowed to carry loose or spare batteries in your checked baggage. 

It’s always best to check what you can or can’t take with you. Please also note there is no GST refund system in New Zealand or its airports. 

We recommend you arrive at the airport at least 60 minutes before your scheduled domestic departure to give yourself plenty of time to check in, check out a few of our retailers, grab a hot drink, and relax. There are several transport options including taxis, airport shuttles, limos, and buses. 

For quick goodbyes, use our free P2, two-minute drop-off zone, outside the terminal. If you need a little longer, there’s plenty of time to say your goodbyes with our 20 minutes’ free parking in the drop-off / pick-up zone, located in the first 5 rows of the public car park in front of the terminal building. Trolley bays are conveniently located throughout the car parks and in front of the terminal.

The check-in area is located in the Departures (left) side of the terminal. With your ticket or booking reference at the ready, make your way to the relevant airline counter or self-service kiosks to check in. Luggage labels are provided at the check-in counters, so make sure your bags are correctly tagged before handing them over to the airline.  

Allow some extra time after check-in to grab a bite to eat, pick up some reading material or a gift from one of our stores. We also offer free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal building.  

You can also check out our airport lounges here!

For flight updates, check our screens located around the terminal. Your airline will also make announcements when it’s time to go to your gate or board. Gate 1 is located to the left of Airspresso Café and Gates 2-8 are beyond the Security Screening Point.

When you’re ready to go to your gate, you need to go through security screening. To help our Aviation Security Service make the process quick and smooth, have your laptop out and check there’s nothing in your pockets. 

Queues can form at airport security screening at any time and for many reasons. Check the Aviation Security website the day before you travel for the most up-to-date peak times.

You cannot take unsealed liquids, such as hot drinks, with you through security screening, so please finish them before proceeding through the checkpoint.

The gate lounges have great views, comfortable seats, toilets, baby change facilities, and a full-service café and bar. Your airline will make an announcement when it’s time to board.

If you're travelling with pets, please be aware of and respect the airport's rules. We ask that you be mindful of other passengers and our airport working dogs at all times, and follow any staff guidance.

Your furry friends are allowed to be outside the terminal building in the public area, provided they're on a leash. However, for health and safety reasons, and the wellbeing of our working dogs, no pets are allowed inside the terminal, unless they are being checked in for cargo transport or are guide/mobility assistance dogs. 

During the check-in process, dogs must be on a leash at all times and placed in their crate in a timely manner. When you’re picking them upon arrival, we know they’ll be excited to see you, but the baggage carousel is a busy area, so please keep them in their crate until you exit the terminal building.

Find out more about travelling with pets here.

We recommend that you check well ahead of time that your visas, paperwork and insurances are in order for your transit stops and final destination.  

To comply with aviation security regulations, ensure your bags are packed correctly and all liquids and gels over 100ml are placed in your checked-in luggage - this includes wine, jams and chutneys! If you’re flying direct (no stops) you can buy liquid, aerosol or gel items, including Duty Free, after security screening. However it’s always best to check what you can or can’t take with you. Please also note there is no GST refund system in New Zealand or its airports. 

We recommend you arrive at the airport 2-3 hours before your scheduled international departure to give yourself time to check in and relax.

Please note security screening and passport control open 120 minutes before your flight departs.  

There are several transport options, including taxis, airport shuttles, limos, and buses. 

For quick goodbyes, use our free P2, two-minute drop-off zone, outside the terminal. Otherwise, there’s plenty of time to say your goodbyes with our 20 minutes’ free parking in the drop-off / pick up zone, located in the first 5 rows of the public car park in front of the terminal building. Trolley bays are conveniently located throughout the car parks and in front of the terminal.

With your passport and ticket / booking reference at the ready, make your way to the relevant airline counter or self-service kiosks to check in. Luggage labels are provided at the check-in counters, so make sure your bags are correctly tagged before handing them over to the airline.  

If you're travelling with pets, please be aware of and respect the airport's rules.  

Allow some extra time after check-in to grab something to eat or drink, change money, pick up some reading material or a gift from one of our stores, or head upstairs to the comfort of our lounges.

We also offer free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal building. 

For flight updates, check our screens located around the terminal. Your airline will also make announcements when it’s time to go to your gate or board. International gates 6-9 are located beyond the Security Screening Point.

When you’re ready to go to your gate, you need to pass through security screening. Please note that the security checkpoint and passport control open 120 minutes before your flight departs.

Queues can form at airport security screening at any time and for many reasons. Check the Aviation Security website the day before you travel for the most up-to-date peak times.

To help our Aviation Security Service make the process quick and smooth, have your laptop out, check there’s nothing in your pockets and that all your toiletries are under 100ml (the size of the container or bottle, not the amount that remains in the container or bottle). 

At Queenstown Airport, you don’t need to place your toiletries in a transparent plastic bag; you can just place them on the tray before going through. Unsealed liquids, such as takeaway hot drinks, cannot be taken through security screening, so please finish them before proceeding through the checkpoint. 

Next stop after security screening is the Customs counter so have your passport and boarding pass ready to show the officer. This will make the whole process flow smoothly and before you know it you’ll be browsing Duty-Free or relaxing with a glass of local wine or beer while you wait to be called for boarding.

Tax and Duty Free shopping is available to international passengers, so check out the great range of products and deals at our Aelia Duty Free store. There’s also a café and bar, a news agency, a children’s area with a screen showing movies, a water dispenser, toilets and comfortable seating. Relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery while you wait!

If you're travelling with pets, please be aware of and respect the airport's rules. We ask that you be mindful of other passengers and our airport working dogs at all times, and follow any staff guidance.

Your furry friends are allowed to be outside the terminal building in the public area, provided they're on a leash. However, for health and safety reasons, and the wellbeing of our working dogs, no pets are allowed inside the terminal, unless they are being checked in for cargo transport or are guide/mobility assistance dogs. 

During the check-in process, dogs must be on a leash at all times and placed in their crate in a timely manner.