New Zealand Flight Instructions

This page provides information and instructions for booking flights for TEAN’s Fall 2024 programs in New Zealand. Please start by reading the flight information, and then select your specific program for more detailed flight information. Once you have booked your flight, please upload your flight itinerary to your TEAN application portal.

New Zealand Flight Information

Booking Your Flights

You have the option to book your own flights or to book with Student Universe. Students are not required to book with Student Universe. If you do decide to book independently, please check, then re-check your flight booking to make sure it falls within TEAN’s parameters. There are many different legs and itineraries so please take your time as it can be confusing. 

Important: Do not book your flights until you have received the flight booking instruction email from your Program Manager. 

TEAN strongly recommends that you purchase refundable, flexible or insured airfare. If you purchase non-refundable tickets for the current arrival date and your travel plans change for any reason including entry requirements, visa processing issues, travel disruptions or any other reason, you will be responsible for the cost to change your flights. 

Arrival in New Zealand

You will spend the few days in New Zealand in Queenstown for the 5-Day TEAN Orientation. Please visit this page to learn more. The cost of orientation is included in your program fees, and there is no discount for opting out.
Most international flights landing in New Zealand arrive in Auckland where you will then connect to your flight to Queenstown.
You must arrive in Queenstown, New Zealand, between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM on July 1 to be eligible for the airport transfer.
If you arrive earlier than 11:00 AM, you can wait at the airport for TEAN staff to arrive and then transfer with the group. 
If you arrive later than 3:00 PM, you will be responsible for making your own way to the orientation accommodation and may risk missing out on the TEAN Welcome Session and Maori Welcome session and dinner.
TEAN recommends you leave at least three hours between the time you land in New Zealand and your connection to Queenstown to allow for passport control (immigration), collecting your luggage, passing through customs/biosecurity and transferring to the domestic terminal.
Biosecurity is an additional screening process that New Zealand requires for all international passengers, and the lines can be quite long, which is why you need to allow for extra time before your domestic connection.

Flying from Queenstown to Host City

You are responsible for booking your flight from Queenstown to your host city at the end of the TEAN Orientation on July 5. There are specific flights to your host city that TEAN has outlined below (under each university tab). You will need to book the specific flight for your relevant program for July 5 to be eligible for airport transfer both in Queenstown and in your host city. Specific flight details are provided under each university tab below.

Note: Otago students are not required to book a flight from Queenstown to Dunedin as there will be a bus arranged for you.

Return Dates

The housing move-out date and corresponding return flight is typically one day after the last possible exam for each university. Please reference the Program Calendar if you have any questions about your move-out day.
Some students change their return tickets based on their personal exam schedule. Students will not receive their exam schedule until they arrive overseas. If a student decides to change their return date at that time, please keep the following in mind:
- Students that finish exams early are more than welcome to stay until the last day of the program
- You need to work with Student Universe or the company/airline you booked through directly to adjust your ticket(s)
- Be aware of any change fees or fees associated with increases in fare rates, taxes or fuel surcharges as this will vary from airline to airline

Important tip: If you need to change your return date home do NOT wait until the last minute. There are many students trying to return home during this busy period, which may limit availability and discounted fare classes.

If you do decide to book a flight home prior to your program’s end date, it’s important to note that there is a possibility that you will have to change your flight to stay for any necessary final exams. New Zealand universities do not typically allow students to take final exams early or remotely. Students who do not attend final exams will not receive credit for their course.

Baggage Allowance

Each airline has different baggage allowances, so it is imperative that you check with the airline for your luggage allowance. If you do not double check, it may lead to additional baggage charges during your travel days. 
Adding your domestic connection to your international ticket helps ensure that you will have your international luggage allowance for all of your flights. 
Adding extra bags to your flights can be very expensive. We will be providing a suggested packing list and tips for packing light prior to your departure. This is particularly true if you’re flying with different airlines throughout your ticket.

Important Booking Notes

Accommodation will be provided for students arriving on the specified arrival date, but it will not be available prior to that. 
Be careful when looking at arrival dates/times – double check dates and times to ensure you arrive on the correct day. 
Be sure to allow at least a 3-hour window of time between domestic and international connections. If you need to re-check your bags in any domestic US airport, you should allow 3-5 hours between flights. This may seem like a long time but, considering potential flight details, it is better to wait at the airport for your international flight than to miss your flight overseas. 
The airfare will vary in cost depending on when you book your flight and which airline you choose. Student Universe will be able to provide the most relevant and up to date options for you.  
Airfare costs can vary greatly from one departure city to another. If you live close to multiple departure cities, we encourage you to research flight options through each departure location. You may find that by driving to a slightly farther departure city/airport, you can save a significant amount in airfare costs. 
Always read the terms and conditions for the airline and the ticket you are booking. You’ll want to research things like fees for date changes, cancellation policies and baggage allowance.  
Please strongly consider purchasing trip insurance on all your flights, as you will be protecting your large purchase from possible interruptions to your trip.  
Pay attention to any cancellation policies, ticketing fees and baggage fees. Many great deals are non-refundable and have quite a few rules and regulations for use. Again, TEAN strongly recommends that you book insured, flexible or refundable airfare. 
If your itinerary has an international layover on your way to New Zealand, it is your responsibility to confirm any protocols, processes and/or restrictions for the country you are transiting through.
Keep in mind, we strongly suggest that you research all of your options for flights/fares. Often times sites like Google Flights, Hopper, Expedia, Kayak and Cheap-O Air have very competitive prices compared to booking with airlines directly or using a booking agent. Be aware that these itineraries can sometimes lead to customer service issues down the road. That said, if the fare is significantly less expensive and you feel comfortable with what you are booking, the final decision is at your discretion. Please be sure you read the terms and conditions and other fine print before booking through a discount airfare site.

Before you Make your Booking

Have you been accepted to study abroad with TEAN in New Zealand for Fall 2024? 
Do you feel comfortable with the flight booking procedures?

If you answered YES to both questions, please read below for instructions on how to book your flight. 

If you answered NO – please call us on (737) 242-8152 with questions before you proceed or email Katelyn Catino (Katelyn.Catino@worldstrides.com)

How to book your Flight

Be sure to review the itinerary below for your specific program. After you’ve reviewed all the information above and your specific program itinerary, you can start your flight search directly with an airline, using a third-party flight booking site or Student Universe.

If you’d like to book with Student Universe, please complete this form so they can reach out to you directly. Be sure to include your specific program name, dates of travel and locations. Booking with Student Universe is not a requirement. TEAN recommends booking with an airline directly or with Student Universe.

submit your itinerary to tean

Once you have booked ALL segments of your itinerary, please complete the New Zealand Arrival Form found in your TEAN Application portal. You will also need to upload a copy of your itinerary that includes ALL flight segments to your TEAN Application portal.

For your flight itinerary document, please be sure to either merge all the documents together if you have separate bookings (you can use https://tinywow.com/pdf/merge or https://pdfjoiner.com) OR take screenshots of each segment and add them into a word document so all segments of your itinerary are in one document.

University of Auckland

June 29: Depart U.S. 
July 1: Arrive in Queenstown between 11:00am-3:00pm
July 5: Queenstown > Auckland on NZ 616 departing Queenstown (ZQN) at 12:10pm arriving in Auckland (AKL) 2:00pm
November 12: Auckland > U.S.

Note: You must book the specific flight outlined above for July 5 in order to be eligible for TEAN arranged airport transfers.

Please allow at least three hours to connect between domestic and international flights. This includes your flight out of the U.S. to New Zealand/Australia as well as your arrival into New Zealand/Australia and then departure to Queenstown. 

AUT University

June 29: Depart U.S. 
July 1: Arrive in Queenstown between 11:00am-3:00pm
July 5: Queenstown> Auckland on NZ 616 departing Queenstown (ZQN) at 12:10pm arriving in Auckland (AKL) 2:00pm
November 9: Auckland > U.S.

Note: You must book the specific flight outlined above for July 5 in order to be eligible for TEAN arranged airport transfers.

Massey University - Palmerston North

Massey University – Palmerston North

June 29: Depart U.S. 
July 1: Arrive in Queenstown 11:00am-3:00pm
July 5: Queenstown > Auckland > Palmerston North
November 12: Auckland > U.S.

Note: There are no direct flights from Queenstown to Palmerston North so you will fly from Queenstown to Auckland and then Auckland to Palmerston North. You must book the specific flight outlined above for July 5 in order to be eligible for TEAN arranged airport transfers.

Massey University - Wellington

Massey University – Wellington

June 29: Depart U.S. 
July 1: Arrive in Queenstown 11:00am-3:00pm
July 5: Queenstown > NZ 604 departing ZQN 1:05pm arriving WLG 2:25pm
November 12: Auckland > U.S.

Note: You must book the specific flight outlined above for July 5 in order to be eligible for TEAN arranged airport transfers.

Victoria University of Wellington

June 29: Depart U.S.
July 1: Arrive in Queenstown between 11:00am-3:00pm
July 5: Queenstown (ZQN) > Wellington (WLG) on NZ 600 departing Queenstown at 11:25 AM arriving Wellington at 12:45 PM
November 10: Wellington > U.S.

Note: You must book flight NZ 600 on July 5 in order to be eligible for TEAN arranged airport transfers and to attend the VUW Orientation Session on-campus the afternoon of July 5.

University of Canterbury

June 29: Depart U.S. 
July 1: Arrive in Queenstown between 11:00am-3:00pm
July 5: Queenstown > Christchurch on NZ 5646 departing Queenstown (ZQN) at 12:45pm arriving Christchurch (CHC) 1:55pm
November 10: Christchurch > U.S.

Note: You must book the specific flight outlined above for July 5 in order to be eligible for TEAN arranged airport transfers.

Lincoln University

June 29: Depart U.S. 
July 1: Arrive in Queenstown 11:00am-3:00pm
July 5: Queenstown > Auckland NZ 5646 departing ZQN at 12:45pm arriving CHC 1:55pm
November 12: Auckland > U.S.

Note: You must book the specific flight outlined above for July 5 in order to be eligible for TEAN arranged airport transfers.

University of Otago

June 29: Depart U.S. 
July 1: Arrive in Queenstown between 11:00am-3:00pm
July 5: Queenstown > Dunedin Flight not required as TEAN will provide a coach bus from Queenstown to Dunedin 
November 10: Dunedin > U.S.

Note: Otago students are not required to book a flight from Queenstown to Dunedin on July 5. However, students will need to book an outbound flight from Dunedin on November 10 at the end of the semester.

University of Waikato

June 29: Depart U.S. 
July 1: Arrive in Queenstown 11:00am-3:00pm
July 5: Queenstown > Auckland NZ 616 departing ZQN at 12:10pm arriving AKL 2:00pm
November 12: Auckland > U.S. (you will need to transfer back to Auckland Airport from Hamilton)

Note: On July 5, Waikato students will fly to Auckland and will then be transferred from the Auckland Airport to Hamilton/University of Waikato. You must book the specific flight outlined above for July 5 in order to be eligible for TEAN arranged airport transfers.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I arrive after/before the arrival window?
Yes, but we don’t recommend it. As a reminder, the arrival window for airport transfers in Queenstown is 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. This means if you arrive before 11:00 AM, you will need to wait at the airport for the TEAN staff. If you arrive after 3:00 PM, you will need to arrange your own airport transfer. It’s best to arrive within the 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM window if possible. Your Program Manager will be in touch with you if you indicate you are arriving outside the arrival window.

Do I have to book a return flight?
You don’t have to book your return flight now if you’re not sure what your plans are going to be at the end of your semester. That said, it can oftentimes be more economical to book it all in one ticket. If you don’t book your return flight, you will need to show that you have enough funds to purchase outward travel for your visa. This will be covered with the visa information once we’re at that stage in the process. 

How should I get to my international gateway airport?
You’ll want to add your home airport to your international ticket as you will typically get international luggage allowance that way. So, you would start your flight search by inputting your home airport. Including your US domestic flight on your international ticket also means if there are any travel disruptions, you’ll get rebooked more easily. 

Is there a group flight or specific itinerary to follow?
No, we have stopped utilizing group flights as we found that holding a block of seats actually drives the ticket prices up for students. It also allows more flexibility for students to book their individual itineraries. If you have any questions about a particular itinerary, please just let us know. 

Does TEAN need my flight information?
Yes! We require that you upload your full flight itinerary to your TEAN Application under “Upload Copy of your Flight Itinerary”. Please be sure that all of your flight segments are included in the one document that you upload.

Do I go to Queenstown or my host city first?
You will spend the first five days of your semester abroad in Queenstown for the TEAN Orientation which means you’ll fly to Queenstown before going to your host city. Then, at the end of the TEAN Orientation, you will fly from Queenstown to your host city.  

How do I get from Queenstown to my host city?
You are responsible for booking your flights from Queenstown to your host city. Please see the tabs above for your relevant program and the dates of travel and specific flight you’ll need to book.   

Note: Students studying at the University of Otago in Dunedin do not need to book a flight between Queenstown and Dunedin as TEAN provides a coach bus.  

How many bags can I have?
You need to check with the airline for baggage allowances as they differ by airline and by international or domestic. We strongly recommend that you confirm your luggage allowance before you travel to avoid expensive charges for additional bags or overweight luggage.  

How much time should I leave for connections? 
For international connections, we strongly urge you allow 3 hours from the time your flight lands and your next flight. For example, if you land in Auckland at 7:00 am, your flight to Queenstown should not be until after 10:00 AM. This will allow you to move through immigration, collect your luggage, pass through customs and biosecurity and then transfer to the domestic terminal. In previous semesters, we have had students that book flights with less than a 3-hour layover and most of the time, they miss their connection to Queenstown. 

Can I arrive before orientation and travel on my own/with family?
Absolutely! If you are planning to go to New Zealand early or travel in Australia or Southeast Asia prior to your semester starting, you can certainly arrive before the first day of orientation. You will need to make your own arrangements for airport transfers and any accommodation required prior to the first day of orientation. Your Program Manager can provide more details for this. Also note you will need to understand any entry restrictions if traveling to other countries before arriving in New Zealand.  

Will someone meet me at the airport?
Yes, TEAN staff will meet you in the Queenstown Airport between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM on July 1 (arrival day).

Offset Your Carbon Footprint

HOW TO OFFSET YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

Team up with TEAN to reduce your carbon footprint by offsetting your carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from air travel!

What is carbon offsetting?
Carbon offsetting is the action or process of compensating for carbon dioxide emissions produced from industrial or other human activity by participating in activities or programs designed to reduce the equivalent amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

How do I calculate my carbon emissions?
Visit the free Carbon Footprint calculator page to access a user-friendly calculator that will guide you through the quick process of calculating your carbon. We encourage you to utilize the emissions calculator to estimate how much carbon is entering the atmosphere from your flight overseas. Through TEAN activities or utilizing companies that Carbon Footprint Ltd is associated with, you will have plenty of ample opportunities to offset your carbon throughout your semester abroad and better understand the many ways in which you can make a positive environmental impact. The Choose Earth Team at TEAN is always happy to assist you with your calculations, so please don’t hesitate to ask us for help!

What can I do to offset my carbon emissions?
TEAN will suggest plenty of opportunities to Choose Earth while you are abroad that will help offset your carbon emissions from your international flight. Following their helpful tips and offsetting your flight is the best way to start reducing your overall carbon footprint while abroad.

If you would like to do more – and we hope that you do! We encourage you to donate the monetary amount estimated by the calculator through Carbon Footprint Ltd.’s partnerships with multiple certified eco-friendly companies. That way, you can directly contribute to programs that help offset the carbon emitted from your flights, helping to make a global impact. Contributions from climate conscious consumers assist in developing projects that promote clean technology. The beauty of this particular program is that you can choose from a variety of charitable causes that are personal to you, as opposed to a single monetary donation to an airline where you may not beg sure if your money is going exactly where you intend it to. Through Carbon Footprint Ltd, you have the power to choose when and how your carbon emissions are offset.