How do people get around luggage weight restrictions?

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#1167282 3-Nov-2014 08:48

Where is it coming from Elpie?
You may be able to find a truck doing a backload that will take your cases. Check backloads4u.co.nz or backloadmoving.co.nz. If you had a hotel or somewhere that they could drop it at it may work, but I think a courier would be the best bet (apart from buying another seat on your flight, or shouting someone else a return trip just to carry your bags).

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#1167297 3-Nov-2014 09:07

Courier/Mainfreight to somewhere trusted to hold your bags still sounds like the best/easiest way to me. Like I suggested, Mainfreight it to the airport hotel if they'll hold them for a fee.

gnfb

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#1167320 3-Nov-2014 09:39

I worked for several years on the other side of this problem on the International counters and the lounge in Wellington.

The baggage issue is no fun. Its also not helped by some anal check in staff. "Your bag is half a kilo over ,you will need to remove that from the check in luggage and put it in the carry on" because that makes sense!. Part of the other side is the person who comes to the counter and checks in with one piece of carry on and arrives at the gate with two ,with a combined weight of 30 kilos!

The bottom line we all forget when we are traveling The airline in this case Air New Zealand is there to do one thing and one thing only MAKE A PROFIT! because they are a business. They have been adding all the extras they gave for "free" for years now. They will continue to look for every way possible to extract as many dollars form you as possible for each and every flight. Why not? If you don't like it fly with someone else! what there isn't anyone? Thats right!

Don't know if its changed but you could always become an all black or one of the other sporting blacks they didn't pay for excess luggage! The one that really got me If you had a set of skis that were excess, you weren't charged, if you had a musical instrument that was excess you were charged! go figure! (Ok by the way some of this may have changed as I havnt worked there for several years now) BTW

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MikeAqua

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#1167362 3-Nov-2014 10:30

I often think of exactly this issue when I see the Hawaiian Airlines advert '32kg bags'.

I would freight the excess - many couriers won't accept +25kg items.

Can you freight to somewhere conveniently accessible from AKL airport, and make arrangements to collect in between your domestic and international flights?

You might have to make a commercial arrangement with someone to do this. Most freight outfits have depot within striking distance of the airport.

As you say though probably cheaper to buy a second fare.

Mike

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#1167365 3-Nov-2014 10:32

Can you upgrade your ticket to one that allows you multiple bags

Elpie

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#1167443 3-Nov-2014 11:08

joker97: Can you upgrade your ticket to one that allows you multiple bags

I'm paying the top fare, which allows two bags of 23kg. It's the extra bag & weight thats the issue. I'm calling mainfreight today and will see what they can offer.

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#1167453 3-Nov-2014 11:13

buy the same ticket for another person? then you have 4 bags, purchase one extra (or if that other person is koru - you can use mine if you like - one bag free)

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#1167455 3-Nov-2014 11:15

if you decide to do that - i'd pack all your 32 k bags. then get each down to 23.4 and note what came out of it (so can be easily put back in) and bring extra bags you can just donate away (really cheap $2 shop sack ones will do)

Elpie

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#1167461 3-Nov-2014 11:24

joker97: Any way to reschedule something and hire a one way drive a suv up to akl?

I would, if I could. My schedule is not really going to allow it though. House settlement is the Friday 4pm. Monday is the day for finalising bills, concluding the last things with IRD, selling my car, and organising closure of bank accounts. All this to be done here. Tuesday midday is surgeon's appointment in Auckland. First thing Wednesday I am up for four hours surgery. In Auckland. All going well, I will get the all-clear to fly within a few days and I will be off. Six months recovery and I will be rockin'.

I am very nervous about the surgery and I'm already exhausted. By the time I sell off/dispose of everything in the house and hand it over to the new owner I doubt I will have any more reserves to run on. This whole thing has been 15 months of hell, on my own, dealing with tradies with painting and new driveway, working hard physically through screaming pain, hours spent at the hospital while they shove my insides back in so I can keep going, then the stress of selling, and preparing to move on. In the midst of this, I found myself involved in a really horrible situation that is causing a great deal of stress (actually, terrified). I've considered taking care of all the business on the Monday then jumping in the car to drive through the night to Auckland but it's a risk too far. I suspect I will be too tired to be a safe driver and it would be the wickedest irony if, after all this stress, I was to take myself out before starting my new life with my husband.

I can reschedule the surgery but the next available date is three weeks later. I want to get this over and done with and be in Canada before Christmas. I've already had one Christmas on my own, don't want another.

Sidestep

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#1168132 4-Nov-2014 06:39

OMG- Poor you!
At least you can see the finish line.
Just stagger those last few steps, and you can fall into that airline seat, headphones on, heading for a new life..

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#1168133 4-Nov-2014 06:43

I'm lost for words. Hope it works out!

afe66

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#1168296 4-Nov-2014 10:31

4 hours of sugery then flying a few days later seems like tempting fate.

If anything goes wrong, wound infection for example, you would be overseas and you might get strife from your travel insurance.

Talk to your anaesthetist about DVT prophylaxis on plane. Ie Sub cut heparin injections.
At least keep your TEDS stocking you will be given during surgery and put them on for the flight.

A.

PS spoken to friend who is an ENT surgeon who said he wouldn't do an operation bigger than grommets on a patient if he knew they were going to fly to Canada a few days later. (this takes 5 minutes per ear)

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#1168325 4-Nov-2014 11:19

Forget drugs, if excess baggage keeps increasing in price like this I'm going to start smuggling my suitcase in a place where the sun doesn't illuminate.

Thought that might give you a dry laugh given your situation Elpie. Good luck!

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#1168461 4-Nov-2014 13:49

afe66: 4 hours of sugery then flying a few days later seems like tempting fate.

If anything goes wrong, wound infection for example, you would be overseas and you might get strife from your travel insurance.

Talk to your anaesthetist about DVT prophylaxis on plane. Ie Sub cut heparin injections.
At least keep your TEDS stocking you will be given during surgery and put them on for the flight.

A.

PS spoken to friend who is an ENT surgeon who said he wouldn't do an operation bigger than grommets on a patient if he knew they were going to fly to Canada a few days later. (this takes 5 minutes per ear)

The surgery is all keyhole and my surgeon will advise afterwards on how quickly I can fly. It depends on how much bleeding and how I am on discharge from hospital the following day. I will be having post-op follow-up in Canada so the only concern is my safety with the flights.
I am doing a long haul, Auckland to Seoul, overnight in Seoul, then on to Toronto, followed by 7-8 hours drive to Montreal (depends on how much snow is around and what the weather conditions are like, it could be a longer drive). If road conditions aren't great we will stop for an overnight along the way.

Heading west to go east makes it a long trip but Korean Air is a brilliant airline to fly with and has very good luggage allowances. The flights don't seem that bad either when the trip is broken by an overnight stay in Incheon.
All going well with the op, the surgeon sees no reason why I can't fly quickly.

afe66

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#1168540 4-Nov-2014 14:53

Air NZ (because they were first one I looked at).

Ok to fly
10 day after major abdominal surgery
5 days after laparoscopic surgery
5 days Open appendix.

Have you checked the conditions of the web site of the airline.
What about terms and conditions of your travel insurance..

Yes I am a pessimist.

A.

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