Air New Zealand Air Points - Luggage storage - ANZ & other ?'s

Greetings from Auckland (real cheap i-cafe on Queen St next to Louis Vuitton).

Ok, I packed WAY too much luggage forgetting that I was going to be in so many dif places. Going to buy a wheelie (one that you can put your luggage on) tomorrow & presumably that will help.

But - heading to WCaves & then Roto. Then down to SIsle. Just found out the Roto-CChurch is a VERY SMALL plane (not my favorite thing).

So may head back to Auckland & fly out of there to/from SIsle (which will also make the airfare somewhat more reasonable - my no planning ahead is catching up to me).

Am thinking of putting stuff in one bag & storing it at Auckland Airport if there's storage & just take the one to SIsle. Does Auckland Airport or ANZ have luggage storage, or am I stuck w/ schlepping everything (and if that's the case I'll accept it for being the dumb bunny who threw too much into - not sure my shoulders from schlepping are going to forgive me).

Any input on this or anything else related to flying to SIsle appreciated. And next time I won't pack so much - I was just in a hurry & started tossing things in, not thinking ahead (but I do look spiffy in my new outfits every day & evening).

PS - Was told that if I had booked my domestic tickets at same time as my F award to NZ, I'd have the upper baggage weight thing to use. So - am I stuck w/ 20kg per bag, both bags, does 1K *G have any bearing or help on this?


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Sharon

[This message has been edited by SkiAdcock (edited Jan 10, 2004).]

Hi Sharon,

First of all, if you consider an ATR or 733 a small plane, I'm glad you're not flying to the Bay of Islands!!

Unfortunately AKL no longer offers an overnight storage facility (for security reasons, naturally).

If you only purchased your domestic tickets on arrival in NZ and they are Smart Saver, Flexi Saver, or Fully Flexi fares, the baggage limit is 20kg and excess $5 per kg. This is strictly enforced, so travel light!!

Enjoy your trip - it sounds fabulous, Rotorua is one of my favourite destinations in NZ! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



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All my posts are my own personal opinions and experiences and in no way represent the opinon of my employer.

Hi Everyone

Glad your heading down this way Sharon.

Have a safwe trip

Give me a call.

Dave

[This message has been edited by MRSTARALLIANCE (edited Jan 11, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by SkiAdcock:

So may head back to Auckland & fly out of there to/from SIsle (which will also make the airfare somewhat more reasonable - my no planning ahead is catching up to me).

Am thinking of putting stuff in one bag & storing it at Auckland Airport if there's storage & just take the one to SIsle. Does Auckland Airport or ANZ have luggage storage ... </font>

Sharon,

The telephone number for the Baggage Services shop at AKL international is 09 256 8769. The shop is located ground floor of the intl terminal, landside. If they no longer store bags for extended periods they might have suggestions for an alternative.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">PS - Was told that if I had booked my domestic tickets at same time as my F award to NZ, I'd have the upper baggage weight thing to use. So - am I stuck w/ 20kg per bag, both bags, does 1K *G have any bearing or help on this? </font>

Officially, no. The cheap domestic fares on Air NZ allow you a total of 20 kgs (44 lbs) total for *all* your checked luggage combined. In the past, having a *G card or a separate ticket involving North American travel or an interesting accent could all fairly easily and painlessly get the domestic baggage limit overlooked by the domestic NZ checkin agent, but no more. It's still *possible* to get the 20 kg limit waived fee free (I managed it last week) but the limits and fees are being enforced more energetically.

If you end up flying to the South Island from AKL and wish to take all your baggage with you, the easiest solution may be to fly Qantas:

http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/home/qualifier-region-nz

Qantas domestic NZ fares are typically as cheap or cheaper than Air NZ and they have a 32 kg total baggage limit for NZ domestic flights compared to NZ's 20 kg:

http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/beforeYouTravel/baggageAllowance#jump1

When I've flown Qantas NZ domestic or trans-Tasman I've noticed their checkin agents in New Zealand pretty much ignore hassling pax about baggage limits.

airnzboy is right about the aircraft choice - the ATR72 is a reasonably sized aircraft (66 seats) and is comfortable to fly in, comparable to smaller jets. Also, some Rotorua to Christchurch flights are on the 737-300.

However, the comments on baggage allowance are not entirely true - as a Star Gold you get 40kg checked baggage allowance instead of 20kg. You are also allowed two pieces of cabin bags instead of just the one. Links from the AirNZ site here:
http://www.airnz.co.nz/travelinfo/baggageinformation/check_in_baggage.htm
http://www.airnz.co.nz/travelinfo/baggageinformation/cabin_baggage.htm

If you need to store some surplus baggage, the Hilton would probably do it for you quite happily...

BTW, how was the flight to NZ? Or should I be patient and await the trip report? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mad_atta:

However, the comments on baggage allowance are not entirely true - as a Star Gold you get 40kg checked baggage allowance instead of 20kg. </font>

Sounds like some agents need to be retrained then -- my NZ wine and Temuka pottery collecting travelling partner specifically asked whether *G had a higher baggage allowance with Domestic Express fares and was told explicitly "No" on separate occasions by both NZ TravelCentre and airport agents. [40 kg wasn't enough for my travel partner anyway - sheesh.]

I've found being *G also means weight limits less strictly enforced http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Quokka:
Sounds like some agents need to be retrained then -- my NZ wine and Temuka pottery collecting travelling partner specifically asked whether *G had a higher baggage allowance with Domestic Express fares and was told explicitly "No" on separate occasions by both NZ TravelCentre and airport agents. [40 kg wasn't enough for my travel partner anyway - sheesh.]</font>

You're probably right - it seems like the NZ domestic agents don't really seem to get trained much about Star Alliance gold benefits (as opposed to the entitlements of Koru Club members or Air NZ's own Golds & Silvers).

Ok, so I need to come over to this i-cafe really early in the am & print out the stuff about *G being allowed higher baggage weight (and more - 3 bags instead of 2 - at least for 1Ks from what I recall), which is how I remembered it.

Trying to do ANZ vs Quantas cuz of mileage (if any).

Will also try to call the # for the storage mentioned above (hopefully the not very well English speaking folk here at the i-cafe have a pen), as I'd rather store a bag. But if not, oh well. Accept responsibility.

Hey, I swam w/ dolphins this aft! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

PS - When I said really small plane it's because the guy at the ANZ travel centre told me it was a Beechcraft 19-seater. That & me is NOT gonna happen.

So - keep your fingers crossed & say big prayers - I'm renting a car tomorrow for the trip to WCaves & Roto, & will then head back to Auckland to fly on to SIsle, where I"m doing CChurch, Milford Sound, Te Anu (something like that), & Queenstown before heading back to Auck & then LAX.

Trip report when I'm back in the states.

Edited to add: anzboy, mad_atta is correct on his link. It shows (and it's ANZ site!) G* get 40kg, so I'm set.

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Sharon

[This message has been edited by SkiAdcock (edited Jan 11, 2004).]

Greetings from the Koru Lounge in AKL. (ANZ gets brownie points for having free i-terminals in its lounges!).

Went to Premium check-in & asked if *G could check in there. Said yup. I said cool; have 3 bags (weighed 34.5kg); not a blink. And 1 minute later checked in, 1 minute at security & then zoom to lounge - yeah. What a contrast to LA.

We'll see if that continues at CC & Qtown, but so far so good. And the agent said on the return Qtwon-AKL-LAX they should be able to check me/baggage in all the way through even if 2 tickets & to ask for a duty manager if the agent's not familiar w/ how.

PS - I did fine driving on the left side of the road http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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Sharon