Help with Baggage Rules please

Old Jan 11th, 2011, 06:16 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Help with Baggage Rules please

Hi All (esp kiwi_rob) who have been so helpful to me re: our Feb/Mar trip to NZ/AUS

I am trying to book flights within NZ and I am getting nervous about baggage rules. Putting aside the fact that you need an attorney to interpret the contracts of carriage on both JQ and NZ (hee hee), I would love some "real experience" advice! We NEVER check bags - to/from Europe, Asia, and within the US. I consider myself a good, judicious packer (one pair of black shoes only!) but am a little worried given the seemingly stricter rules.

Any difference bet NZ and JQ? We are Star Alliance Gold; makes me think NZ might be more tolerant in the gray areas?

Is a briefcase REALLY considered a "main cabin bag" as opposed to a "purse" or 2nd allowable carry-on? We pack our books, IPod, adapters, etc in a briefcase and would not want to check it.

NZ seems to note an "exception" to the 2 carry-on rule for international business class. (that being to/from the US) Is this the same as the UK rule in practice; i.e., is it strictly enforced? (We can easily carry on 2 bags pp FROM the US normally)

Thanks in advance for your help...not complaining about the carriers, just trying to be well-prepared.
brinks is offline  
Old Jan 11th, 2011, 07:26 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
kiwi_rob is offline  
Old Jan 11th, 2011, 09:20 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,758
Received 83 Likes on 5 Posts
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.
Melnq8 is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2011, 02:46 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
Susan7 is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2011, 06:08 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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!
brinks is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2011, 08:17 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 24,502
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
mlgb is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2011, 12:24 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
NZ airports seem to be enthusiastic enforcers of weight rules. We flew NZ from Queenstown to Auckland, and had to check a regulation size, light-weight rollaboard because it was a couple of kilos over limit when they weighed it. Bag was not that heavy, light enough for me to load into the overhead bin myself, and I'm a retired woman of average fitness... I just couldn't deal with repacking and shuffling stuff around at that point, so when checkin agent offered to check the extra bag for $20, seemed like a great idea to me!

When we flew out of Auckland back to the US, they had several sets of luggage scales between checkin and either passport control or security, can't remember which exactly. My bag did not get pulled aside for weighing this time, but a LOT did -- caused some folks a bit of delay and angst getting through.
SB_Travlr is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jldodge
Australia & the Pacific
9
Nov 2nd, 2014 10:27 AM
CHOCOLATE_WATER_ICE
Australia & the Pacific
10
Aug 24th, 2008 11:32 AM
Songdoc
Australia & the Pacific
7
May 12th, 2008 09:20 AM
likeswords
Europe
6
Mar 28th, 2007 05:51 PM
kleroux
Air Travel
4
Aug 29th, 2006 05:43 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -