Air New Zealand Air Points - Possible to Check or must I carry-on? WLG - AKL ticket then AKL - KUL -onwards ticke

Hello,

I have booked a Northwest Airlines Business Class Award ticket round-trip from Geneva to Auckland. My Final Destination is Wellington. My flights are:

Nov 4:
GVA - AMS - KUL - AKL (Northwest Award Business Class Ticket on KLM & MH)
AKL - WLG (Air NZ NZD49 smart saver booked in March 2009)

Nov 15:
WLG - AKL (Air NZ NZD119 smart saver booked today - cheapest I could get for the day; everything else was NZD200+!)
- Arrives AKL at 12:30PM
ALK - KUL - AMS - GVA (Northwest Award Business Class Ticket on KLM & MH)
- Departs AKL at 1:50PM on Air Malaysia

For what it is worth I am a Lufthansa Senator and a Delta Platinum Medallion (*Alliance Gold and SkyTeam Elite+)

My questions for the Air NZ Forum sages are - particularly for the November 15 travel:

- is there some way I could check a bag from WLG all the way through to GVA even though this is on two separate tickets on two separate airlines?

- is it safer to travel with a carry-on because of the tightness of connections and all the flights involved? What are the Air NZ carry-on size/weight restrictions and do they waive them for *Gold?

- Does WLG have a lounge I may use as a *Gold on Nov 15? Would I have any time to use the one in AKL? If I checked a bag just from WLG to AKL Nov 15 would I have time to pick it back up and make my flight to KUL?

- Does Air NZ allow a standby for an earlier flight?


Thanks and am looking forward to your responses.

Beofotch

it has to do with interline agreements.....generally, i have been able to check bags thru w/multi tickets and airlines.....usually, you have to go thru customs w/bags, then drop them off at a bag pickup after customs.....it wouldn't be a big problem even if you could only check to akl....you could call either dl or air nz if you want an answer before going to the airport.....

coming back might be a bit more difficult if they won't do it...

show both tickets when you check in....good luck...

1:20 for dom->int connection at AKL on separate tickets and involving separate airlines is risky.

You will need to check in for the MH flight at AKL. Even if WLG-AKL is right on time it will take 15 minutes to reach the international terminal (if get lucky with the inter-terminal bus or walk very quickly along the path).

With such a short connection and separate tickets Air NZ may be reluctant to through check your bags as they will not want to be liable for the bags missing the onward flight.

As for the other questions.

GVA-WLG you should be able to through check, but it doesn't matter since you must collect any checked bags at AKL and take them through customs. Redeposit at the domestic transfer desk just to the left when you arrive landside at AKL.

NZ domestic cabin baggage (http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/before-you-fly/baggage/cabin-baggage.htm) for AKL-WLG & vv is 2 pieces (1 standard + 1 extra for *G) at 7kg each, plus personal items (which can include a slim laptop bag). Note the 7kg limit means anything big/heavy looking is liable to be rejected for carry-on.

At AKL on the way to WLG you can use the domestic koru club. You haven't given your connection time so I'm not sure how long you will have. Allow at least 90 minutes to clear immigration & customs, deposit any checked bags, get to domestic terminal, then back through security. At the time of day MH arrives immigration is busy.

At WLG on the way to AKL you can use the domestic koru club. At AKL MH uses the NZ international lounge, but you don't have time to use it.

Since I don't travel with checked bags I have no idea how quickly they arrive at the domestic baggage claim.

NZ allows standby only on the fully flexi fares (ie the expensive ones, not the smart saver you purchased). On other fares if you want to take an earlier flight you need to pay the change fee (usually NZ$50) plus any fare difference. Sunday is normally a busy travel day so there is no guarantee there will be seats available on earlier flights (usually okay on WLG-AKL route unless there has been weather or other disruptions).

1h20m would be a scary connection at AKL.

The domestic bag transfer desk at International closes 60minutes before hand, So you will have to cart you bags to the domestic checkin.

1h20m would be a scary connection at AKL.

The domestic bag transfer desk at International closes 60minutes before hand, So you will have to cart you bags to the domestic checkin.

The 1h20min is arriving AKL Domestic from WLG then travelling to the International Terminal.

You will get priority tags for the WLG-AKL flight. Even then, you could be waiting 5 - 10 min for luggage to arrive.

Then it is a 10-15 min walk to the International Terminal.

There are free transfer buses and taxi's (last resort as they can charge $30).

Not sure what is minimum check in time for Malaysian!

It will be RISKY.

Also note that overhead space on the 733 is very limited when there are 133passngers onboard.

Even though you are allowed two carry on bags, there is always the chance that 1may have have to be stored in the hold.


Some taxis will refuse you to take you between the terminals, Its illegal for them to refuse you.

- is there some way I could check a bag from WLG all the way through to GVA even though this is on two separate tickets on two separate airlines?
I have made the WLG-AKL-KUL connection many times. In my experience NZ will not through check onto MH when departing WLG. That said you will get priority tags at WLG (*Gold) and arrival of baggage at NZ domestic is usually pretty fast.
- Does WLG have a lounge I may use as a *Gold on Nov 15?
As *Gold you will be allowed into the Wellington Koru Club. It is pretty good in the world scheme of things (although they run out of newspapers early in the day).
If I checked a bag just from WLG to AKL Nov 15 would I have time to pick it back up and make my flight to KUL?
The 1:20 connection in AKL is tight. If your domestic ex WLG is on time, yes you can make it. You can pick up your bag, put it on a trolley (free in New Zealand airports), and I would recommend a fast 10 minute walk to the International terminal.
- Does Air NZ allow a standby for an earlier flight?
On the tickets you have purchased, no. They are strict about this. If you wish to pay significant extra charges they will look at changing you to an earlier flight.

- Does Air NZ allow a standby for an earlier flight?
On the tickets you have purchased, no. They are strict about this. If you wish to pay significant extra charges they will look at changing you to an earlier flight.

Very true.
Think of the Smart Saver fares as being like a budget airline ticket

Also note that overhead space on the 733 is very limited when there are 133passngers onboard.

Even though you are allowed two carry on bags, there is always the chance that 1may have have to be stored in the hold.
I've never seen that happen.

To the OP, I think you're cutting it very close with 1h20m. I've done such a short connection WLG-AKL-SIN with NZ/SQ and made it, but it has been close.

Anecdotally, MH rarely seems to go out on time (because of late pax) and rarely seem to close check-in early because of this... but they are very strict on carry-on. Anecdotally since I've never traveled them, but used to watch someone commuting AKL-KUL.

I've never seen that happen.

I have seen it (usually on the flights AKL-WLG or AKL-CHC that connect with the bank of longhaul arrivals into AKL), and came very close to experiencing it myself. I was last to board due to late connecting flight and my little bag had to be jammed in a space right down the back.

I have seen it (usually on the flights AKL-WLG or AKL-CHC that connect with the bank of longhaul arrivals into AKL), and came very close to experiencing it myself. I was last to board due to late connecting flight and my little bag had to be jammed in a space right down the back.
It must be very exceptional. I used to do a lot of AKL-WLG-AKL flying on peak flights (including connecting off international sectors) and I've never seen "gate-checking" occur.

Lockers very full and the closets being used yes... but I think this must be a 1% likelihood!

Have definitely seen gate checking on WLG-AKL. Mostly they look for large sized roll aboards. If you carry it I think they figure it can not be that heavy.

It must be very exceptional. I used to do a lot of AKL-WLG-AKL flying on peak flights (including connecting off international sectors) and I've never seen "gate-checking" occur.

Lockers very full and the closets being used yes... but I think this must be a 1% likelihood!

Not exceptional in my experience on those particular flights (and seems to be happening more often this year than last year).

Thank you for all the prompt and helpful responses everyone.

Once I walk from the domestic terminal to the International Terminal in Auckland - will I have to go through security again or I will be dropped off plane-side in Auckland and can go right to the KUL flight gate? If this is the case I will just bring carry-on bags and check-in to MH flight on-line to make this risky connection considerably more probable.

Additionally - On my GVA - AMS - KUL - AKL - WLG journey - I have large connection times at each airport (3 hours+). Thus since I am not in a rush I don't care too much if I check bags or carry-on. I understand from your responses that I will have to pick up checked bags in AKL and clear customs and then recehck at the transit center. Along this journey - Where do you think I will find the cheapest duty free liquor (I will be purchasing it in Swiss Francs or USD denominated credit cards)? Could I buy it in the AKL international terminal on arrival or is KUL my last chance to buy it before arriving in WLG? Would MH or NZ add duty free liqour to my carry-on / personal item count/weight? After I buy it, could I even check it?!

Due to the tight connections - I don't care to purchase any on the WLG -GVA return flights.

The 1h20min is arriving AKL Domestic from WLG then travelling to the International Terminal.

You will get priority tags for the WLG-AKL flight. Even then, you could be waiting 5 - 10 min for luggage to arrive.

Then it is a 10-15 min walk to the International Terminal.

There are free transfer buses and taxi's (last resort as they can charge $30).

Not sure what is minimum check in time for Malaysian!

It will be RISKY.

Thank you for all the prompt and helpful responses everyone.

Once I walk from the domestic terminal to the International Terminal in Auckland - will I have to go through security again or I will be dropped off plane-side in Auckland and can go right to the KUL flight gate? If this is the case I will just bring carry-on bags and check-in to MH flight on-line to make this risky connection considerably more probable.


There is no airside connections between any of the terminals in Auckland. One reason is that you are still allowed to take liquids onboard domestic flights (Aircraft with less than 90seats are not even screen on domestic).

The domestic & international terminals are about a 15minute outdoor walk around the side streets of the airport. Once you reach the international terminal you will have another 5-10minute walking time to the gate. You will most likely have to visit the check-in desks to have your passport swiped. Not sure if MH gets it business class passengers pre-cleared for customs at check-in. If not that will be a another nice long que (you also have to fill out a departure form).

Expect to find a Que at aviation security, this time of the day is always busy, from there it will be a good 8minutes walk around the maze to your gate.

You can get duty free at DFS on arrival

On arrival at AKL domestic you go landside. The transfer between terminals (by walking or by bus is outside), and check in for Malaysian will be landside. Then through immigration and security.

For GVA-AMS-KUL-AKL-WLG liquids rules apply at GVA, AMS and KUL. This means you can only get large duty free liquids at either KUL or on arrival at AKL. There is no liquids rule for domestic flights in NZ. In this direction you will not be able to check duty free liquids other than on the AKL-WLG leg but no point. 1 bag of duty free bottles + a carry on is okay for the AKL-WLG flight.

I imagine (but am not at all sure) that booze will be cheaper to get in KUL than at AKL. Check out Regency Duty Free (http://www.regency.co.nz) and DFS Galleria (http://www.dfs.co.nz) for AKL's 2 duty free stores. Compare the prices with those at KUL.

I imagine (but am not at all sure) that booze will be cheaper to get in KUL than at AKL. Check out Regency Duty Free (http://www.regency.co.nz) and DFS Galleria (http://www.dfs.co.nz) for AKL's 2 duty free stores. Compare the prices with those at KUL.
As well as these you can pre-order your duty free from here as well.
www.dutyfreestores.co.nz (http://dutyfreestores.co.nz/Home)

As well as these you can pre-order your duty free from here as well.
www.dutyfreestores.co.nz (http://dutyfreestores.co.nz/Home)

and join the Frequent Buyer Club and you save 20% on many purchases (alcohol, fragrance and cosmetics) http://dutyfreestores.co.nz/frequent%20buyer%20club

you need to organize your purchases a few working days in advance though

Thanks for the helpful information.

I feel well prepared for my first time coming to NZ now!

Best regards,

Beofotch