[Oregonkiwi]

Hi everyone
I was reading the thread about people getting their baggage allowance increased on Singapore Air (and other airlines) because they said they were migrants.

We're flying one way, US- NZ, on Air NZ. Has anyone ever been able to get their baggage allowance increased on Air NZ? Or even heard of anyone doing that?

(We're not shipping a container, so a few extra suitcase would really make a difference!)

[jubjub]

You get two cases of 23kg per person anyhow coming from the states, so thats quite a lot, and they are strict on the two peices of luggage per person too, but I guess its worth asking them, then you can bring two bigger cases each!

dunno if anyone has bothered asking for an increase cos they do give such a good luggage allowance

[Oregonkiwi]

You get two cases of 23kg per person anyhow coming from the states, so thats quite a lot,

True...but you should see how many books & CDs hubby wants to bring! :D

[jubjub]

True...but you should see how many books & CDs hubby wants to bring! :D

Oh dear..... :roll and you will need some clothes too.... I suppose you have looked into courier/unaccompanied baggage services?

I reckon ask 'em if they will let you have the old allowance of 2x32kg each.... they can only say no...

[jo-and-jeff]

Are you flying out from Oregon on AirNZ, or using a US carrier for the connexion?

We booked our tickets through United (a Star Alliance partner, as is AirNZ), and we were able to bring extra luggage when we checked in at United, but we paid for it. Jeff checked 3 or 4 suitcases and I checked 4 suitcases and a large box; for the extra pieces and overweight we probably paid a total of $500USD. But they were checked through to Auckland, and AirNZ didn't give us any static about them.

(Another thought: consider using United Cargo (http://www.unitedcargo.com/) to send your extra boxes/luggage.)

[Oregonkiwi]

We're flying direct from San Francisco (staying in No. Cal. with family), and are planning to take one or two extra pieces as "excess baggage" and pay the charges. I've read a couple of things on the forum today that I need to call Air NZ about (I actually only came online to get the Air NZ phone number but somehow ended up in the forum again :D ) so I may as well ask them - the worst they can do is laugh at me, right?

[Oregonkiwi]

Thanks for your advice, Jo&Jeff and Sal.
Ok, so I called Air NZ, spoke to the very helpful Bev, we had a nice chat about my moving home. No go on the migrant allowance. Excess baggage costs $80 per bag with no limit on the number of excess bags. She suggested I call Air NZ cargo, which I'll do later.

[Oregonkiwi]

If anyone else in the No Container Club is interested...
I called Air NZ cargo and said that the Air NZ customer service person had suggested I call. The cargo guy said, "they keep doing that...". He said that under the post-9/11 TSA rules, no cargo carrier may take cargo from "unknown shippers". Meaning they can only accept cargo from companies, not individuals.

[jo-and-jeff]

Then you'll just have to take your extra luggage to an intermediate company to do the air cargo shipment for you.

Craters and Freighters
Shipping Center:
San Francisco Bay Area
S. San Francisco, CA 94080
650-583-8555
800-452-9151
Fax: 650-583-8572
BayArea@cratersandfreighters.com
http://www.cratersandfreighters.com/consumer.php

Freight and Crate
Physical Address:
300 West Robles Ave., "L"
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
Toll Free Phone: 800-949-1268
Toll Free Fax Phone: 800-949-1278
Phone: 707-584-2750
Fax: 707-584-2749
customerservice@freightncrate.com
http://www.freightncrate.com/aboutus.htm

:)

[Oregonkiwi]

I hadn't thought of that - thanks so much!

[just5me]

This is good info for us too! I have to figure out how much we are going to take on the plane as we fly out of Wash DC to L.A. then NZ Air. Well it gets more complicated, we want to stop in Phoenix to see friends for a few days. As I try to figure how many carry ons & checked bags 2 adults & 5kids will have plus any excess boxes & musical instruments - my head starts too spin thinking of how to lug all that around!

[Oregonkiwi]

Well, "excess baggage" is still looking like the best option.

The companies Jeff linked to don't give prices (you have to call them for a quote) but I found other companies that specialize in shipping excess baggage, eg Luggage Free, which does door to door international delivery for $6 per pound plus pick up fees, mimimum charge $250.

Air NZ excess baggage works out to less than $2 per pound ($1.60 per pound at the max 50 lb weight) and it's on the same plane or the next one available.

We've also been mailing boxes of books to NZ. Surface mail is around $2 per pound ( 24 lb costs $48.80 = $2.03 per pound, 50 lb costs $84.45 = $1.68 per pound.)