How do people get around luggage weight restrictions?

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Elpie

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#154610 2-Nov-2014 15:24

I have a conundrum. I will be flying out from Auckland next month with a luggage allowance of three suitcases up to 32kg each and two carry-on bags of 12kg each plus a personal carry-on.

However, the regional AirNZ flights allow one carry-one of 5kg (I usually ignore this and get away with 7kg), plus personal bag, and two suitcases of 23kg each. AirNZ has told me they can't take a third suitcase but I could send it up as unaccompanied baggage although it still has to weigh no more than 23kg.

Driving up is not an option as I will be seriously time limited. The costs AirNZ quoted are close to what it would cost for me to fly up with two bags, store them, fly back and return with another two bags and this seems plain ridiculous.

Does anyone know of a service that will get my bags to Auckland in a cost-effective, fast manner?

(Don't suggest travelling light. I am leaving NZ and taking the last of my worldly goods on my flight is significantly cheaper than shipping them.)

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#1166920 2-Nov-2014 15:30

Air NZ's 23kg allowance is an interesting one - they insist it's a health and safety issue (which it is really) and they can't take bags more than 23kg as they are required to be a 2 person lift for staff.

They do however handle luggage for other airlines such as Singapore who feature a 32kg allowance so clearly have process in place to deal with this.

As to an actual solution, I don't really have one..

hairy1

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#1166921 2-Nov-2014 15:34

When you book a domestic flight continuing to an international doesn't the higher baggage allowance count? I am on mobile so can't check the air nz site.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

sbiddle

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#1166923 2-Nov-2014 15:39

I'm assuming Lynne isn't flying Air NZ internationally due to her past dramas.

MikeB4

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#1166940 2-Nov-2014 16:12

We courier stuff, so if we are going to say Sydney and have the Hotel already booked etc we courier to the Hotel and tell the hotel what we are doing and ask them to hold it.

timmmay

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#1166967 2-Nov-2014 16:43

Mainfreight. Estimate here. I took a VERY rough guess, 3x32kg suitcase 1m x 25cm x 70cm = $130 if you drop it at the depot in Palm Nth, not much more if you don't. You'd have to make arrangements to have it held somewhere in Auckland, or collect it at their depot. The hotel at the airport might receive and hold the bags for a fee.

rscole86

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#1166968 2-Nov-2014 16:57

hairy1: When you book a domestic flight continuing to an international doesn't the higher baggage allowance count? I am on mobile so can't check the air nz site.

This was my assumption also, if you are booked on one 'ticket' from start to final destination then the greater baggage allowance is the one that applies all the way through. (Tho I think inside the US they will revert to the lower and make you pay the difference).
As for getting around it if you are on separate tickets, not sure sorry.

Elpie

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#1166971 2-Nov-2014 17:05

sbiddle: I'm assuming Lynne isn't flying Air NZ internationally due to her past dramas.

You assumed right :-)

Besides being totally put off AirNZ, they charge more while offering less for my destination.

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sbiddle

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#1166980 2-Nov-2014 17:15

rscole86:
hairy1: When you book a domestic flight continuing to an international doesn't the higher baggage allowance count? I am on mobile so can't check the air nz site.

This was my assumption also, if you are booked on one 'ticket' from start to final destination then the greater baggage allowance is the one that applies all the way through. (Tho I think inside the US they will revert to the lower and make you pay the difference).
As for getting around it if you are on separate tickets, not sure sorry.

It's not quite as simple as the greater baggage allowance carrying all the way through. There are a couple of IATA and DoT (for the US) rules that talk about luggage on interline or codeshare tickets and it all comes down to the definition of the most significant carrier (MSC), who's baggage allowance will apply, but even then there are some of exceptions to this rule.

tchart

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#1166987 2-Nov-2014 17:49

Yup I had to pay for a second bag when I was in Canada for the internal leg of my flight back to nz. This was in spite on air nz allowing me 2 bags with koru.

Batman

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#1166992 2-Nov-2014 17:57

Two ways. Get an airline that checks you in from your domestic. But yours might not.

Pack 23kg bags and repack in akl.

sbiddle

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#1166993 2-Nov-2014 18:00

tchart: Yup I had to pay for a second bag when I was in Canada for the internal leg of my flight back to nz. This was in spite on air nz allowing me 2 bags with koru.

An extra bags with Koru (or Gold / Gold Elite) is an Air NZ benefit that you'll only get flying on Air NZ metal - you won't get it on any other carriers even if it's an interline or codeshare flight on a NZ ticket or NZ flight number. You will however get an extra bag if you're Gold or Gold Elite (but not Koru) and flying on a Star Alliance carrier as this is a Star Alliance Gold benefit.

Elpie

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#1166995 2-Nov-2014 18:05

tchart: Yup I had to pay for a second bag when I was in Canada for the internal leg of my flight back to nz. This was in spite on air nz allowing me 2 bags with koru.

Air Canada is one of those airlines that AirNZ partners with where the second carrier dictates the baggage allowance.

Sadly, AirNZ has no control over what Air Canada does with a booking either. We found that out the hard way when my man was on his return to NZ and found he had been bumped from the Air Canada flight. I spent three hours on the phone with AirNZ and my partner on IM in the early hours of the morning while AirNZ escalated things as far up the line as possible with Air Canada's head office to try to get him on the flight (the only one that could connect to AirNZ to get him home). There was nothing AirNZ could do except apologise. They said it wasn't an uncommon experience. He was ticketed with AirNZ all the way.

Elpie

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#1166997 2-Nov-2014 18:09

joker97: Two ways. Get an airline that checks you in from your domestic. But yours might not.

Pack 23kg bags and repack in akl.

Only Qantas and AirNZ do this from my provincial airport. The airline I am flying only tickets from Auckland.
Packing 23kg bags isn't a solution when AirNZ won't allow additional bags. I'm taking 3 x 32kg plus another 18kg in carry-on over 2 bags. I'd have to take five suitcases of <23kg to get everything to Auckland.

timmmay

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#1167012 2-Nov-2014 18:24

Did you see my suggestion of mainfreight?

afe66

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#1167014 2-Nov-2014 18:26

Can't be too provincial if Qantas fly there.

Try getting extra luggage on a propeller plane from a province where only air NZ fly...

A.

At the end of the day... Pay for extra bags, ship by courier, or drive.

I flew back from UK with single twenty odd kg bag and waited 2 months for the rest to arrive by sea.
You might be surprised how little you actually need day to day.

Probably too late now but ship the stuff you won't need a month or two before you leave to minimise delay until it arrives after you leave.

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