What can I expect flying Air NZ?

Pre-flight

Assuming you booked on an Air NZ website you will be emailed the e-ticket immediately. If the itinerary is domestic only then you will also have an opportunity to select seats and check in straight away.

To manage your booking, you will most likely need your Air NZ PNR (passenger name reference). This is a 6 character code that always ends in H. Since Air NZ uses their own CRS (called Carina) you cannot use such online sites as checkmytrip or viewtrip to look up your bookings. The only way is through the Air NZ website.

The Air NZ website has a page with generalised advice for international travellers. There are separate pages with specific information on New Zealand entry requirements and USA entry and transit requirements (this includes all passengers flying directly between London and Auckland (via Los Angeles).

Baggage rules

:-: From 1 October some minor changes to the rules, and introduction of bag drop on regional domestic flights. :-:

Checked baggage allowances vary according to itinerary, class of travel and Star Alliance status. Free baggage allowances can be pooled between those travelling together. If checking in with another airline to connect to an Air New Zealand flight, or in some circumstances if connecting from an Air New Zealand flight to another flight on a different airline, then other baggage allowances and rules may apply.

Air New Zealand checked baggage allowances are summarised as follows.

• Domestic only itinerary (piece allowance)
  • Economy - 1 bag to a maximum weight of 25kg
  • Star Alliance Gold and Koru Club - 2 bags each to a maximum weight of 25kg
• International itinerary including domestic connecting flights, no travel to or through North America or Tahiti (weight allowance)
  • Economy - 20kg total weight
  • Premium economy - 30kg total weight
  • Business - 30kg total weight
  • Star Alliance Gold - as above plus 20kg
• International itinerary including domestic connecting flights, with travel to or through North America or Tahiti (piece allowance)
  • Economy - 2 bags each to a maximum weight of 32kg and maximum total weight 46kg
  • Premium economy - 2 bags each to a maximum weight of 32kg
  • Business - 2 bags each to a maximum weight of 32kg
  • Star Alliance Gold - as above plus one extra bag

Cabin baggage allowances also vary by itinerary, class of travel and Star Alliance status. On Air New Zealand a small laptop bag is counted as a personal item, so can be additional to a carry-on bag. ^

Air New Zealand cabin baggage allowances are summarised as follows.

• Domestic
  • Economy - 1 bag to a maximum weight of 7kg, note there are size restrictions (which are smaller on prop aircraft -flight numbers above 2000 - than on jet aircraft - flight numbers under 2000)
  • Star Alliance Gold - as above plus one extra bag
• International, with travel to or through USA (this includes direct flights between London and Auckland via Los Angeles)
  • All - 1 bag to a maximum weight of 7kg
• International, no travel to or through USA
  • Economy - 1 bag to a maximum weight of 7kg
  • Premium economy - 2 bags to a maximum weight of 7kg each
  • Business - 2 bags to a maximum weight of 7kg each
  • Star Alliance Gold - 2 bags to a maximum weight of 7kg each

Excess baggage charges vary enormously. You can find costs on Air New Zealand excess baggage charges page and selecting the country you will be checking you bags in from the pull-down at the top.

Special rules apply to sporting equipment and oversized items.

Baggage issues

For items left onboard refer the relevant baggage services office. For items left at the airport (eg check in, lounge or gate) contact the airport.

For delayed, lost or damaged bags, refer information page.

Boarding passes

For domestic only itineraries there are several ways to get a boarding pass.

• online check in (OLCI) pdf - this is emailed to the input address
• at the airport using the self-check in kiosk
• at check in counter - for anyone at regional airports, elites at main cities, connecting international passengers at main cities, passengers for whom kiosk may be difficult to use, passengers with service issues
• mpass - pxt sent to NZ-based mobile phone
• epass - strictly not a boarding pass but the RFID tag fulfils the same function as one, given to NZ-based Gold Elite, Gold and Koru Club members

For international itineraries the only way to get a boarding pass is at the airport check in counter. Air NZ advises that kiosks will be available for Trans-Tasman flights within the next year or two. Passengers who were issued a boarding pass by another airline and are connecting to an international Air NZ flight will need to get the boarding pass reissued. This can be done at any airport check in desk, at airside transfer desk (some airports), at Air NZ lounge (some airports), or at the gate. Some boarding passes issued by Air NZ at regional centres (ie the skinny boarding passes) cannot be used on international flights and will need to be reissued.

The barcode on the boarding pass can be used to gain access to the lounge (if you are eligible) or board your flight for wholly domestic itineraries.