Fares, Payments and Refunds

Fare Information

Fares operate on a two fare booking system: Non Refundable (NR) and Fully Refundable.

Fully Refundable Fares are divided into the following fare types: Adult (AD), Child (CH), Student (ST), Backpackers (BP) and Golden Age (GA).

For more information about our fare options and availability once you know where you are going you can contact any one of InterCity®'s 600 agents nationwide.

How to get the cheapest fare?

• On selected services we offer discounts for Golden Age, Students, Backpackers and Children.  If you qualify for one of these fares it is a good way to save.
• We offer a limited number of Non Refundable fares on most services which are available to anyone.  These offer considerable savings against our Fully Refundable Fares.
• At any point in time, our best fares will always be found at www.intercity.co.nz
• We operate a dynamic pricing system where our prices are constantly reviewed and therefore booking early does not guarantee you the best fare, however it is the best option in most cases

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  • Infants (less than 3 years old) are free, provided infants must travel with an adult parent or guardian over the age of 18
  • infants do not take up a seat (sit on adults lap)
  • one infant per adult, carried on the lap
  • Child fares are available on selected services 

  • A minor is deemed by InterCity Group to be someone aged between 7 and 12 years of age, inclusive. A minor is deemed to unaccompanied if they are not accompanied by a person over the age of 18 years. No child less than 7 years old may travel alone on any InterCity Group Operated service

  • Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult

  • For safety reasons unaccompanied persons under 16 years cannot travel on the InterCity® Starlighter (overnight) service between Auckland & Wellington unless they are accompanied by an adult over the age of 18 years.
  • Persons aged between 7 & 12 may travel as 'unaccompanied minors'. An Unaccompanied minor form must be completed in order for them to travel, you can download the form here.
  • Students receive a discount off standard fares on selected services.  Student discounts do not apply to passes or tours.
  • Students include local secondary school students and students at local or international tertiary learning centres
  • Students aged between 12 and 16 do not require identification although proof of age may be requested by the driver
  • Students aged 17 and over require identification.  Local students may use Polytech, CIT, University ISIC or other official student identification cards issued by their Regional Council (eg Canterbury's Cando card).  International students must hold an ISIC card
  • Backpackers discounts are available on selected services only. 
  • Correct ID cards are required when you purchase your ticket (YHA, BBH, ISIC, Nomads, VIP, Hostelling International Cards). The driver may ask to see these before accepting backpackers for travel.
  • Check out Flexi-Pass and TravelPass for other great value transport options (backpacker discounts not available on Flexi-pass)
  • Golden Age Fares are available on selected services only
  • Golden Age Fares are ONLY available for New Zealand Citizen travellers 60+ years of age (ID or proof of age may be requested)
  • Check out Flexi-Pass and TravelPass for other great value transport options (Golden Age discounts not available on Flexi or Travel passes)

Payment

For online bookings, credit card or internet banking payment is required at the time of booking.  (You cannot book online and pay later.) 

Learn more about how you can pay online using Internet Banking (POLi)

Alternatively you can book and pay at any of InterCity®'s 600 agents nationwide, or through InterCity's National Contact Centre.  The payment deadlines for Contact Centre & Agent bookings are below:

Non Refundable

Payment required within 24 hours of booking or booking will be auto-cancelled.

Fully Refundable

If booking within 48 hours, payment is required within 24 hours of the time the booking has been made or the booking will be auto-cancelled. If booking within 24 hours, payment can be made up until the time of departure.

No correspondence will be entered into with any passengers whose reservations have been auto cancelled because no payment was received within the required time. In simple, no payment, no seat.  The InterCity® National Contact Centre accepts all major credit cards. InterCity®'s agents will state individually what cards they accept.

A $1.99 booking fee applies per transaction for all bookings made at www.intercity.co.nz and a booking fee of $3 applies to all transactions made via our contact centre.

Amendments

Passengers may amend bookings prior to travel. An amendment is a change in travel date, stop or service. The amount of refund is determined by the fare type purchased and the time prior to departure that the amendment is made.  To qualify as an amendment, the new journey must be ticketed on the same day that the original journey is cancelled, and any additional fares must be paid in full at that time.

Non Refundable

Up to two hours prior to departure: A fare can be credited towards an alternative service. If the alternative service is more expensive, the additional fare charge will apply. If it is less expensive, no refund can be claimed. Within two hours of departure, no amendments are allowed.

Fully Refundable

Amendments can be made up to two hours prior to departure. Within two hours of departure, no amendments are allowed.

Cancellation and Refunds

Passengers may cancel bookings before travel. Refunds are determined by the fare type purchased. Please make sure you understand which conditions apply to your bookings.

For after hours amendments and cancellations, please email us on reservations@intercity.co.nz with your request and booking number.  We will endeavour to respond to your email on the next business day.  Our cancellation and amendment terms will be applied according to your fare type and the time your email is received.

Non Refundable No refund will be paid if this booking is cancelled or amended.  Bookings can be amended up to 2 hours before departure but additional fare charges will apply.

Fully Refundable A full refund is given up to two hours prior to service departure. Within two hours of departure, no refund is given. Refunds must be claimed within 30 days of cancellation.

Some non refundable fares are available online only

Special Fares

InterCity® Coachlines offers the following special fares on some selected services:

Children (3 to 12 years inclusive)

Unaccompanied Children

Secondary and Tertiary Students

Backpacker Fares

Golden Age Fares / SuperGold & Seniors Card holders