Auckland airport + carry on luggage

[smckay]

I've realised that at Auckland airport they are particularly fussy over the weight of your carry on bag.
I normally zoom over for a few days so only bring a cabin bag, stuffed with socks and jocks.
Sydney they don't really care; no weighing or questions just the routine " did you pack it yourself" questions.

However, come through Auckland and I was weighed twice. Both times I was a tad over and it was like I was airlines worst enemy. Second time was just by Customs and my ticket was recorded, I was interrogated by the nice native lady and was an all round bad scene.

Anyone else had an issue or know the reason for this excessive policing?

 

[harvyk]

I've never had a problem, my last trip earlier this year they weighed my carry-on bags (only because I had no checked luggage) and it came in around 8.5kg... The check in agent asked if there was a laptop inside to which I replied yes... He then said if challanged about the weight simply remove the laptop and and carry it seperately...

He then sent me on my way no further comment...

I was (am) PS + QP, and flying Y.

 

[tuapekastar]

There are 'self-use' scales in front of the general checkin area, at least you would know whether you're likely to encounter problems or not, and may be able to place a couple of heavier items in your coat or upon your person just to get through the check.

 

[VirginiaF]

Ditto OP's experience in 2007. Strange, because we were travelling as a couple and the pooled weight would have been easily under the limit, but no, we had to remove stuff from one bag and put it into the other. Net result ... same weight being carried on in any event. I guess we have to take precautions in the unlikely event of baggage stowed in overhead lockers moving during flight ...

I must say, I always use the same carry on bag and in all flights all around the world (including triple security conscious heavily TSA staffed post 9/11 times domestic travel) this has been the only occasion.

"Enjoy the journey, not the destination", right?

 

[Flashback]

Ditto OP's experience in 2007. Strange, because we were travelling as a couple and the pooled weight would have been easily under the limit, but no, we had to remove stuff from one bag and put it into the other. Net result ... same weight being carried on in any event. I guess we have to take precautions in the unlikely event of baggage stowed in overhead lockers moving during flight ...

I must say, I always use the same carry on bag and in all flights all around the world (including triple security conscious heavily TSA staffed post 9/11 times domestic travel) this has been the only occasion.

"Enjoy the journey, not the destination", right?

There is a good reason for that. If you have 3 bags, 3x 10kg vs 3 bags, 1x7kg 1x8 kg 1x 15kg ; if the 15kg bag falls out of the damage it is going to cause a lot more damage than a 10kg bag.

 

[VirginiaF]

There is a good reason for that. If you have 3 bags, 3x 10kg vs 3 bags, 1x7kg 1x8 kg 1x 15kg ; if the 15kg bag falls out of the damage it is going to cause a lot more damage than a 10kg bag.

Hi Flashware - I am well aware of the dangers of 15kg flying around the overhead bin during turbulence. In my case, the excess was only a matter of a kilo or two and then well under when combined.

As for on-going vigilence at AKL, I flew out of there on Tuesday, and there were two staff equipped with electronic scales and bag measuring frame bailing up people BEFORE they went through Emigration/Customs. They had detained a young pax who had a day pack AND a duffle bag (at least a 30 litre job), and one of the vigilants was on the phone looking very serious. Add to that, a queue of others awaitng the same fate.

There is a crowd herder at the Emigraiton/Customs line who also has a secondary responsibility of identifying possible bag offenders, so along with the two vigilants, that makes three oversize/overweight spotters. I'm sure the staffing costs are well defrayed by the excess baggage fees reaped.

Caveat emptor - keep to or close to the bag limits in size and weight when flying from here. I guess that should be a general rule no matter where you're flying from.

 

[smckay]

Same here - 3 folks ensuring you were funnelled into the scales (which, btw were reading 800 grams more than the check in counters).

Suspecting that any funds they recoup from said heavy bags probably doesn't go to the airline in question one has to wonder about the mentality. Although UnZud has always been a bit backward so maybe it par for the course

 

[serfty]

OT: AirNZ premium check-in skips these altogether ; a lift take you directly to special emigration desks and the WTMD's.

The Qantas/oneworld "Customs Pre-Cleared" BP sticker enables you to bypass the bag checkers as well; even though you use the normal emigration area entrance, stay left and straight ahead. (Make sure your BP is showing with the sticker clearly visible).

 

[HardieBoys]

"...nice native lady..." ?

 

[kpc]

The Qantas/oneworld "Customs Pre-Cleared" BP sticker enables you to bypass the bag checkers as well; even though you use the normal emigration area entrance, stay left and straight ahead. (Make sure your BP is showing with the sticker clearly visible).

How do you get one of these stickers? Can a QF plat travelling on QF in Y get one?

 

[serfty]

How do you get one of these stickers? Can a QF plat travelling on QF in Y get one?

Use the immigration desk located inside the Qantas premium check-in area.

Available for PS, QP, SG, WP, Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby and LAN/Qantas/Cathay Pacific Business class passengers.

 

[clifford]

"...nice native lady..." ?

NZ has no "natives".

 

[MikedOut]

Admittedly I've only been through AKL twice in the last 2 years but have not had my carry on weighed either time. Funnily enough though a colleague with a smaller carry on had hers weighed (and was marginally over) but they let her through. My bag was bigger in size than hers (but still within the size limits) but they never looked twice at me. Go figure.

 

[guybaxy]

Admittedly I've only been through AKL twice in the last 2 years but have not had my carry on weighed either time. Funnily enough though a colleague with a smaller carry on had hers weighed (and was marginally over) but they let her through. My bag was bigger in size than hers (but still within the size limits) but they never looked twice at me. Go figure.

I was flying LAn J class a few weeks ago, also I ma a QF Plat, but you cannot use the Qantas premium check in counter as their system is not linked to LAN (Air NZ does the check in for Lan) , which is a bit rich as NZ is start Alliance. Anyway the bag lady upstairs weighed my bag (9.6kgs) and asked if I was packing a laptop and said yes, showed her my J class boarding pass. LAN J cannot use the pre clearance lanes.

 

[serfty]

... LAN J cannot use the pre clearance lanes.

Why not? It's very little effort to check-in, get your BP and take this with your documents to the customs pre-clearance desk in the one-world premium check-in area. Do that, get your sticker and head upstairs.

 

[kpc]

I was flying LAn J class a few weeks ago, also I ma a QF Plat, but you cannot use the Qantas premium check in counter as their system is not linked to LAN (Air NZ does the check in for Lan) , which is a bit rich as NZ is start Alliance. Anyway the bag lady upstairs weighed my bag (9.6kgs) and asked if I was packing a laptop and said yes, showed her my J class boarding pass. LAN J cannot use the pre clearance lanes.

At the back of the Lan J BP, it states you are allowed 16 kg (IIRC) of carry on luggage as a J passenger:mrgreen:. When I was stopped by the said lady, I told her I was entitled to carry on 16kg, and showed her my BP where it stated that J passengers can bring aboard 16kg of carry on. She then asked how did she know I had a J BP:shock:; I pointed to the large "Business" font on my BP and so I was waved through with a scrowl, and did not get my bag weighed. Next time I'm through AKL, I must go through the QF premium area that serfty mentioned to avoid this "dreaded" lady!

 

[christinam]

Those women are utterly horrendous. I've had three altercations with them;

1) had to throw away some brochures I was bringing home
2) Told them if they didn't let me through, I'd just put on all my clothes and then the bag would weigh ok, then they would HAVE to let me through. Did exactly that, went to the ladies, put on masses of clothes and returned to weigh my bag giving them a sweet smile.
3) Didn't even bother to argue, just packed up my bags and said "I'm not listening to your nonsense anymore" and boarded the plane. Was ready for the Federal police to grab me, but it didn't happen.

Then........I realised I could have avoided all the grief by going to the Qantas Premium check-in and getting a 'Customs Pre-Cleared' sticker on my boarding pass. All that aggro for nothing!

Christina

 

[pauly7]

In another thread being discussed right now, it appears Virgin Blue have cloned this approach and have brought it to domestic airports in Aus too!

Would post the link but I'm on the phone. Will try and remember to later.