FAQ's - Sounds Air

Sounds Air offers 10 Trip Tickets to all our routes in the following packages:

• Wellington & Blenheim/Picton, Paraparaumu & Blenheim;
• Wellington/Paraparaumu & Nelson;
• Wellington & Westport;
• Wellington & Taupo;
• Blenheim & Christchurch;
• Christchurch & Wanaka

To utilise our 10 Trip Tickets, you need a Sounds Air log-in which will be used to purchase and manage your bookings.
To create a log-in, please click here. To log-in to your existing account, please click here. 
Once logged in, simply select Purchase 10 Trip Tickets and select your desired package.
10 Trip Tickets are at a discounted rate and maximum flexibility. For more information please see our Fare Options & Rules. 
Please call 0800 505 005 or email [email protected] for the most up-to-date pricing information.

Sounds Air accepts the following Credit/Debit cards

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express

If you do not have access to a Credit or Debit cards, most travel agents and Information Centre’s are agents for us. You can pay by cash or EFTPOS at those locations.

Please note: there is a 2% card payment fee on all bookings when paid for by Credit/Debit cards.

Sounds Air operates four Cessna Caravan's, predominantly on our Blenheim, Picton, Nelson & Paraparaumu routes.

The Cessna Caravan is a late model turbo prop aircraft holding up-to 12 passengers. It's world renowned as a safe reliable aircraft, offering a fast and comfortable flight, with full size airline style seating. It is high winged for maximum visibility, and all seats have great views - every flight is a scenic flight! The Cessna Caravan is operated by instrument flight rules; meaning we are able to fly in all weather conditions.

Sounds Air operates six Pilatus PC-12's, predominantly on our Westport, Taupo, Christchurch & Wanaka routes.

The Pilatus PC-12 is a modern turbo prop aircraft holding 9 passengers. It boasts incredible speed, comfort, safety and reliability. Manufactured in Switzerland, the Pilatus PC-12 and it's pressurised cabin offers an incredibly smooth and comfortable flight around regional New Zealand. Similarly, the Pilatus PC-12 is operated by instrument flight rules, and is extremely capable in all weather conditions.

Check-in opens 1 hour prior to the scheduled departure time.
Check-in must be completed 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.
Please call 0800 505 005 if you require any assistance with checking-in for your flight and a Sounds Air staff member is not present.

All of our check-in locations are within the MAIN TERMINAL of their respective airports:

PICTON – Picton Airport - State Highway 1, Koromiko, Marlborough.
This is located roughly 8km south of Picton township. Please note, this is NOT Blenheim Airport.

BLENHEIM – Marlborough Airport - Tancred Crescent, Springlands, Woodbourne, 7206. 
Please note: This is NOT Picton Airport.

WELLINGTON – Wellington Airport - Stewart Duff Drive, Rongotai. 
Check-in is located at Departure Gate 3, down the Southern Pier. A boarding pass is NOT required to get to gate 3.

NELSON – Nelson Airport - Trent Road, Nelson. 

TAUPO – Taupo Airport - Anzac Memorial Drive, Wharewaka, Taupo.

PARAPARAUMU – Kapiti Airport - Toru Road, Paraparaumu Beach.

CHRISTCHURCH – Christchurch Airport - 30 Durey Road, Christchurch. 
Check-in is located between Zone A & B on the ground floor, in the main domestic check-in area.

WESTPORT – Westport Airport - Tiphead Road, Carters Beach.

WANAKA - Wanaka Airport - 12 Lloyd Dunn Place RD2, State Highway 6, Wanaka 9382.

You can view your booking online by going to the following link:

https://soundsair.tflite.com/Public/sa/Account/Bookings and entering your booking number in the space provided.

To manage your booking please call the reservations office on 0800 505 005 (NZ only), Tel: +64 (0)3520 3080

Sounds Air offers three levels of flexibility for our customers, which can be found here.

Sounds Good - name changes are not permitted.
Sounds Great - name changes are permitted.
Sounds Best - name changes are permitted.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to give our reservations team a call on 0800 505 005 (NZ Only) or email [email protected] 

Sounds Air offers three levels of flexibility for our customers, which can be found here.

Sounds Good fares are non-refundable.
Sounds Great fares are non-refundable.
Sounds Best fares are fully refundable.

For assistance or further inquiry, please contact our reservations team on:
0800 505 005 (NZ Only)
+64 03 520 3080
[email protected] 

All Sounds Air fares include a 20kg luggage allowance, per person. This includes any carry-on items. 
Anything in excess of 20kg is charged at $3.00/kg.
Please go to this page to view the excess luggage policy in more detail. 

Yes, however as these are classed as excess luggage items, an additional cost will apply, and the items are taken subject to space availability.

• Pushchairs: $15.00
• Car Seats: Free | (weighed and included in luggage allowance). If exceeding 20kg total luggage allowance, excess charges will apply ($3.00 per kg over 20kg and subject to space and weight availability). 
  Modern car seats may not fit in our C208 luggage hold – refer to dimensions here.

For more information please visit our Luggage Policy page.

You can on certain routes, these are classed as excess luggage items, an additional cost will apply, and the items are taken subject to space availability.

For more information please visit our Luggage Policy page.

Yes we do! We love working with groups to come up with travel solutions.

Please contact us at [email protected], if you can, please include the following information: 

• Departure date/s
• Route 
• Number of passengers 
• Luggage requirements 
• Any additional information that you think might be useful

For more information please visit our Charters page.

A group is considered 8 or more passengers 

Infants over 7 days old and under 2 years in age are welcome on all flights, subject to seat availability. A maximum of two infants are allowed on each flight. If booking more than one infant, an adult must be booked to accompany each infant. Infants travel free of charge provided they do not occupy a seat. Infants not occupying a seat do not have a baggage allowance. If you require a seat for your infant, the normal child fare applies.

In June 2022 we have removed the children fare discount in response to the significantly increased fuel costs and operation. This may be reinstated at a future date.

Children aged between 7 and 12 years (inclusive) may travel as an 'Unaccompanied Minor' if they meet the Unaccompanied Minor Conditions. All bookings for unaccompanied minors must be made via our Reservations Office – 0800 505 005 – and require an authorisation form to be completed and signed.

There is a $10 service fee per child one way.

Unaccompanied Minor Form

Animals can travel provided they are accompanied by an owner.

• There is a $40.00 fee for this service.

Please note we no longer accept unaccompanied animals for travel. Exceptions to this include endangered wildlife.

All animals must be caged; the maximum height of the cage is 37cm (370mm). Sounds Air do not supply cages. A $10 fee will apply for the transportation of empty cages.

We do have specific requirements, please have a look at the following document prior to travel: Download Pets Travelling with Sounds Air PDF

Yes, please phone +64 3 5203080 during the hours of 8.00am and 5.00pm New Zealand time. Or you can email [email protected] any time and we will get back to you as soon as we can. 

Yes, we use Windcave as a secure purchasing site.

Windcave have a dedicated and purpose-built development and data centre, specially designed for payments processing. Windcave have invested and continue to re-invest in state of the art, bank grade security and infrastructure. Windcave are fully certified as Visa AIS and MasterCard SDP (PCI-DSS) compliant at processor level; using an approved QSA for quarterly scans on systems and full onsite audits, annually. All sensitive information is encrypted with the 3DES protocol, with Atalla Network Security Processors.

Yes, all shuttle pickups are 50 minutes prior to your flight's scheduled departure time and must be booked in advance.

Shuttle cost – $20.00 per person each way, applies to all types of fares available.

Picton Pick-up Locations:

• Westside Waikawa Marina – Please phone 0800 505 005 to advise pier number
• Jolly Roger Cafe – Waikawa Marina
• The Buccaneer Lodge – 318 Waikawa Road
• Picton Superette (On The Spot Dairy) – 100 Waikawa Road
• Picton Yacht Club Hotel, Cnr Wellington and Waikawa Roads
• Town Wharf, London Quay (Cougarline/Beachcomber Cruises/Arrow Water Taxis)
• Picton Police Station – 36 Broadway
• Sounds Storage – 7 Market Street
• Picton Railway Station – 3 Auckland Street
• Sounds Air Office – 10 London Quay 
• Queen Charlotte College Bus Bay – Waikawa Road
• Launching Ramp, Picton Marina – Please phone 0800 505 005 to advise pier number
  
  

To book your shuttle pick-up or drop off, please call 0800 505 005

To view a map of pick-up locations, please visit our Picton Shuttle page.

Articles such as the following may not be carried in passengers luggage (carry-on or checked):

• Flammable or poisonous compressed gases
• Corrosive materials (acids, mercury, etc.)
• Explosives (fireworks and other articles that are easily ignited)
• Magnetised materials
• Oxidising substances
• Poisonous, toxic, infectious substances
• Radioactive materials
• Other dangerous goods

If you are unsure or have any questions, please call us on 0800 505 005

Valuable and fragile items are carried solely at the passenger's risk unless Sounds Air has accepted them for travel in writing. Valuable items include cash, shares, important documents, jewellery, antiques, or any other item of similar value. Commercial goods, samples, and tools of trade are classified as freight.

All information that is retained by Sounds Air is private and will be treated as such. This information will only be used for the purposes of providing the services offered by the website and will not be given or sold to any third party without your prior permission.

Yes. Firearms may be checked in, however a valid firearms licence must be available for inspection at check-in. The bolt must be removed and stored separately.