Air New Zealand Air Points - Linking two NZ itineraries

Hi all,

Currently I have a NZ SYD-AKL return ticket redeemed via Virgin Atlantic. I am planning to buy NZ AKL - CHC return ticket separately on airnz.co.nz. I don't intend to stop over at AKL at all.

Just wondering whether it is possible to link the two travel itinenaries so that I can check in my bags in SYD all the way to CHC, and have 2 boarding passes issued at SYD? Or do I have to take bags out at AKL then check in again? Like wise, is it possible to do it from CHC all the way to SYD via AKL?

You can check bags through (show the onward ticket at check in), but will not be able to get the onward BP as it is a separate ticket. In NZ all bags must clear customs at first airport arriving at (ie AKL in your case), so tagging bags through doesn't save much time.

On domestic only itineraries you can get boarding pass using OLCI and PYOBP at time of booking! So you'd only need to bag drop (which can be done at domestic transfer desk in international terminal just left of where arrive landside after customs, OR at domestic terminal).

In reverse you can tag bags through but to get the boarding pass check in will need to apply an override. They can do it, but generally won't. (The difference is here NZ check in staff but in SYD it is QF check in staff who cannot access your onward itinerary.)

You can check bags through (show the onward ticket at check in), but will not be able to get the onward BP as it is a separate ticket. In NZ all bags must clear customs at first airport arriving at (ie AKL in your case), so tagging bags through doesn't save much time.

On domestic only itineraries you can get boarding pass using OLCI and PYOBP at time of booking! So you'd only need to bag drop (which can be done at domestic transfer desk in international terminal just left of where arrive landside after customs, OR at domestic terminal).

In reverse you can tag bags through but to get the boarding pass check in will need to apply an override. They can do it, but generally won't. (The difference is here NZ check in staff but in SYD it is QF check in staff who cannot access your onward itinerary.)

Just wondering is it far to transit between Domestic/International terminals in AKL? How long is the customs queue? What is PYOBP? I don't think I have internet access to do OLCI when in NZ ......

My wife has another ticket (all in 1 itinenary) with the following itinenary:

SYD - AKL - CHC 25th December 2008
NZ 102 SYD - AKL 8:30AM - 2:30PM
NZ 547 AKL - CHC 5:00PM - 6:20PM

CHC - AKL - SYD 1st January 2009
NZ 556 CHC - AKL 2:30PM - 3:50PM
NZ 707 AKL - SYD 5:30PM - 6:00PM

I want to fly exactly the same time as her (of course!) but I am worried about missing flight (esp AKL - SYD leg) due to recheck in as well as immigration .... Is the transit in AKL enough?

Yr wife's itinerary is fine in both directions for connections, and so if you match up with her flights you'll be OK as well.

The only technical potential hiccup that you need to be aware of in the (very) unlikely event of a significant delay to your arrival in AKL which (say) results in a missed connection, then AirNZ will look after your wife' and book another later flight to CHC, but you could well be on your own as you have 2 tickets on different PNRs (Passenger Name Records). ie, because you have 'nested' AKL-CHC-AKL inside your SYD-AKL-SYD you are carrying any consequences of a missed connection yourself, ie AKL-CHC-AKL is NOT a part of the other ticket. Don't be alarmed, as it is very unlikely circumstances, and even if it did arise, AirNZ may still look after you - the point is that are not obligated to do so. To reduce risk, you could buy a more expensive (flexible fare) ticket. Buying a super cheap ticket saves money but at a higher risk if things go wrong....caveat emptor!

I have been caught out once in this situation, by buying a cheap BKK-SIN-BKK, and 'nesting' a SIN-HAN-SIN inside it. problem came when I missed the initial flight to SIN, and I had to buy another ticket BKK-SIN-BKK on the day (ouch) all because the cheap flight couldn't be altered in any way, and I HAD to get to SIN to catch my SIN-HAN flight, or else....

Just wondering is it far to transit between Domestic/International terminals in AKL? How long is the customs queue? What is PYOBP? I don't think I have internet access to do OLCI when in NZ ......

It is 10-15 minutes walk between terminals (not all under cover). Or 5 minutes by free transfer bus (runs every 20 minutes).

Immigrations and customs queues vary enormously by time of day. At the right time through in seconds. At the wrong time it can take more than 30 minutes.

When you book your domestic ticket online on www.airnz.co.nz, after the payment screen there is an option to check in online. At this point you can select seats and print your boarding pass (PYOBP) or email it to yourself.

Thanks for all your help so far!

CHC - AKL - SYD 1st January 2009
NZ 556 CHC - AKL 2:30PM - 3:50PM
NZ 707 AKL - SYD 5:30PM - 6:00PM

Just wondering if booking under 2 separate PNRs would I have trouble only have transit time of 1 hr 40 minutes in AKL, or should both of us catch earlier flight (CHC - AKL leg) to avoid this problem?

dom->int can be done in 80 minutes, so you have a 20 minute buffer in case of delays

Hi all,

Just wondering whether it is possible to link the two travel itinenaries so that I can check in my bags in SYD all the way to CHC,...

Or do I have to take bags out at AKL then check in again? Like wise, is it possible to do it from CHC all the way to SYD via AKL?

Since your wife is traveling all on one PNR why don't you check all bags under her name. this way they'll be tagged through for sure and there would not be any need to check the bags back in. all you need to do is get your boarding pass for AKL-CHC.

Since your wife is traveling all on one PNR why don't you check all bags under her name. this way they'll be tagged through for sure and there would not be any need to check the bags back in. all you need to do is get your boarding pass for AKL-CHC.

Good idea! But then each person is only allowed to carry 20kg ...... Hopefully we can squeeze everything in my wife's luggage ..... Maybe I will ended up buying stuff in NZ for aussie relatives so I still need my other 20kg anyway ....

Maybe the best is to actually leave some more gap in my transit in AKL to like 2:30 - 3 hrs each way to avoid any problems. But that means I (and especially my wife) will be bored in AKL transit ..... Anything interesting to do in AKL transit apart from duty free shopping? And no, I am not any alliance Gold member so no lounges for me ....

When checking in together on NZ and "pooling" baggage allowances I have (several times) ended up with all the bags in MY name... (as the NZ *G on the PNR presumably??)...

Not a question of allowances per se......

SQ did that for us SYD-SIN too.....