Air New Zealand Air Points - NZ's Baggage Interline Policy

I recently travelled AKL-LAX-LHR-FRA.

AKL-LHR was on a ticket with NZ and the section to FRA on a separate ticket some hours later with LH. NZ refused to check my luggage through.:td:

On the way back LH made no fuss about checking my luggage through all the way, even onward to SYD.^

I was very surprised about this policy of NZ. I though interlining baggage would be one of the basic services of any alliance airline and that it is even done with many non alliance members.

Alliance or not, some airlines are reluctant to tag it through if it is on a seperate ticket as the first airline is liable for any compensation if it gets losts (or similar)

BMI are also another STAR airline that will only interline if it is on a single ticket... even if you have 2 x bmi flights on sep tix they will not tag it thru

Not sure about with seperate tickets but the last airline is usually responsible to the traveller for lost/delayed bags. Only makes sense given this is who the customer has the last contact with.

Welcome to Flyer Talk :) JoFMO

I was very surprised about this policy of NZ. I though interlining baggage would be one of the basic services of any alliance airline and that it is even done with many non alliance members.

Only the case for single tickets. When on separate tickets interlined baggage is entirely discretionary. Some airlines do (in certain situations) and some don't - but none have any obligation to do so.

How long was your transfer in LHR? If it was under 3 hours I can understand why NZ wouldn't through check.

Welcome.
I'm suprised your not complaining about the transiting both LAX & LHR in order to get to FRA!

How long was your transfer in LHR? If it was under 3 hours I can understand why NZ wouldn't through check.

It was 6 hours. But they not even asked how long it is.


Welcome.
I'm suprised your not complaining about the transiting both LAX & LHR in order to get to FRA!

Well, thats my own choice. When you are desperate for the miles, than you such stupid things....;)



The interesting thing is, that in May the people in Sydney checked my luggage through. But in Sydney they are all outsourced guys from QF. They might not care that much about NZ's policies. But my e-mail to NZ confirmed that their staff in AKL handled it following NZ's procedures.

I've been on the receiving end of this interlining issue to on a very simple transfer from HKG to TPE. NZ from LHR to HKG and then CX onwards.

I thought it was just the UA handlers at LHR being beligerant.

Tried to do a search on this but came up with only an old-ish tread. I'm soon travelling HKG - LHR (arriving T1, on NZ) followed by LHR - ARN (departing T3, on SK). Both legs were on 1 BMI redemption PNR and on J class.

Will NZ check luggage through to ARN, in which case I can just cross terminals at LHR with my hand baggage, or do I have to claim my luggage on arrival at T1 and lug it to T3 to be re-checked in? I do have enough time to make the connection (4 hours) but with a child in tow, I would've preferred not to.

To be honest, at both LHR and LAX I would prefer to uplift my bags and recheck them with the other airline.

If you do it that way, there is a distinctly higher probability of your bags getting there when you do. ;)

NZ will check bags through. While you do increase risk, given that there are a number of LHR/ARN flights each day, as long as there is nothing urgent or valuable. I would just interline them and not worry.

I have only lost bags when doing something unusual such as a AA to UA connection at ORD. Or AC to BA at LHR.

Mark

Thank you much for your feedback. Guess the convenience of checking through (albeit with a little risk) is worthwhile because I really don't fancy having to go through immigration twice and wasting my time at the luggage carousel... when I could be in the lounge with my family! :rolleyes: