We have found JQ to be much stricter than NZ, brinks, but it does seem to depend on the check in (or gate check) person that you encounter. Some of the JQ people that we have struck have been quite anal about weighing everything, carry-ons included, but we have never struck this with NZ.

In our experience with NZ, passengers are allowed to carry on bags that would never squeeze into the test frames that are situated at most airports, and the resulting hold-up in the boarding of the aircraft while they try to shove these into the overhead lockers, leaving little space for anyone else, is a frustration to other passengers and aircrew alike.

If your briefcase can fit under the seat in front of you, it is not likely to be considered as your main cabin bag.

I remind you once again of the likelihood of having your carry-on weighed at Auckland, though.

Rob.

My experience with Air NZ is that they weigh everything but the passengers(!) They zero right in our carry ons - mind you I'm referring to the roll aboard type, which tend to attract attention anyway - and in almost every instance we've had to remove items from our carry ons, put them into a shopping bag and then check the carry on. We pack pretty lightly, but some carry ons with wheels are heavy even when they're empty. Based on my flights with Air NZ, quantity seems less important than size.

We're Star Alliance PE, but that hasn't made a difference, although I don't recall any carry on issues when we flew Business Class on Air NZ.

The last time I got carry-on weighed at Auckland airport (which was last year) it wasn't only at the airline counter (I was flying Qantas). It was before customs, by some kind of airport official. Wellington always seems less vigilant--or maybe I've been lucky.

Why don't you just check your bags? That way you can take what you want and not worry about weight.

Thanks all for the input-very helpful.

Susan - I never check bags (maybe once in the last ten years?) I really don't NEED more than that which can fit in a standard roll on bag plus one small one. (kiwi_rob I do use the legal sizes) AND luggage does get lost and damaged AND I am not very patient with the wait to retrieve it (esp in my home airports.)

That being said, there are limits on the checked weights sizes per the NZ web site also (tho 23kg seems plenty big) so I agree it seems to be size/weight is their priority.

I weighed my roll-on and, indeed, it is heavy even empty so given a couple of trips to/from AKL, I am resigned to checking at this point but will likely use melnq8's "system."

Thanks again!

The last time I flew ANZ and tried to use a wheeled bag as a carry on, I had to remove and check half of the stuff in it. The next time I used a dufflebag and made the limit.

I find that ANZ does indeed weigh the international flight carryons, but maybe not as strict on domestic flights.