Checked Baggage Pooling and Carry On Size Enforcement

[jase]

My wife and I are flying to NZ next week and we'll be taking our mountain bikes. Given that 23kg is the max checked baggage that you can purchase ahead of time, we're hoping to be able to pack our (limited) clothes and helmets in our 7kg of carry on.

Firstly, when booking in a family, is the weight allowance transferrable between family members? (eg: Passenger 1: 26kg, Passenger 2: 20kg)

Secondly, we have duffel bags that when fully packed are over the allowed 105cm size by around 20cm. If we don't pack these bags tightly (allowing them to theoretically be squashed down to 105cm) and under the 7kg limit, would we have any trouble taking these on board?

I am a Silver Velocity Member but my wife is not, although I'm not sure if that makes much difference.

Thanks in advance.

 

[obrienja]

Jase I can't answer the first question but I've got a backpack that I occasionally travel with that's but oversize if full - but never is. Noone's ever looked twice at it and as long as it scrunches into the cabin baggage box or the door shuts on it I doubt anyone would care. I can't remember having my carry-on luggage weighed in Australia in years (last time was in Perth in the early 2000s) & from talk on here I think everyone would agree airlines seem particularly lax about enforcing carry-on baggage limits at the moment.

 

[Wayne Herring]

Just be careful, the one and only time I've had my carry on weighed on Virgin was flying back from New Zealand to Australia.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

when fully packed are over the allowed 105cm size by around 20cm. If we don't pack these bags tightly (allowing them to theoretically be squashed down to 105cm) and under the 7kg limit, would we have any trouble taking these on board?

Good luck!

I don't think VA would have any problems, but the last trip to AKL I did, I had the NZ immigration chick from hell. This was boarding the plane home, checked in downstairs, went upstairs and entered the immigartion queue waited, waited, waited finally got to a point where a short, fat and exceptionally ugly lady (not that that had any bearing at all) weighed (and possibly sized) my carry on and declared I was over 7kg. I took out my work folder (leather foolscap size, writing implements, calculator, business cards stc...@ 1.5kg) and said I'm allowed to carry on two articles (I'm still not sure if that's correct) and she begrudgingly allowed me to continue. But we debated for a good few minutes before that. She wanted me to go back downstairs and check my fairly small carry on.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that if VA allows you, all will be sweet!

 

[jase]

Thanks for the input everyone. We're currently scouting around the family seeing what small carry on size bags we can find. The current plan is to fit two bike frame and forks in one box and the wheels and some other parts in another, along with our clothes. So far the first box is 25kg (approx, bathroom scales from the 50's), so I'll have to see what weight I can pull out. I should easily have everything packed in the second box under 20kg.

 

[youngqueen]

Unless you know anyone else going & can get them to hold some of your stuff til the other end, and ideally (this might be hard) they be coming home same time as you. This gives you plenty of margin for error and allows room for stuff coming home (shopping, gifts).

 

[misstam]

To be on the safe side, I'd be aiming to get both of the bags/boxes under 20kgs - save some space for souvenirs and pressies on the way back. Put some heavier items into your carry-on to even it out if need be. The 7kgs of carry-on is a fair amount - in addition to this, you can take an overcoat separately. If you really need to get it down, wear your heaviest clothes/shoes on the plane.

Re: 26/20kg split... generally I've found that if one's slighter over and one's slightly under (but still within combined limits), it's ok... but be prepared to shuffle gear between boxes if the check-in person happens to be a stickler for individual bag weight.

Being a Silver member means you get 23kg (69kg if traveling premium econ or business) included in your fare, whereas you would've paid the extra for your wife's 23kg baggage allowance. Everyone gets 7kg for carry-on.

Have a great trip!

 

[dandandan]

On my 1pm flight from SYD - OOL last Sunday, 1st April, I witnessed a flight attendant checking carry on suitcase bags as people boarded. She would compare the size to hers and then check the weight by lifting hers in one hand and the passengers in the other. Good luck if she tried it on me, I bring a bag not a suitcase anyway so probably wouldn't happen. Heaps of people had to leave their bags to be checked as a result of this little test!. This then resulted in a delay of 25 minutes as boarding was slow as a result of this process with passengers who had their bag checked having to be re-ticketed. What a joke this was, I suppose it was April fool's Day but this process needs to be done at check in or if they want to crack down on this they should call over all passenger's with a carry on suitcase about 10 minutes before boarding and perform this check and place a special sticker or tag on bag so that it can be seen when boarding. This girl seemed to be new as the CSM watched her most of the flight and watched her perform this ludicrous boarding procedure so do not know what the story is here.

 

[deejo77]

why are you packing your helmets in your carry on? put them on your heads - people wear hats - if anyone asks just say you are prepared for the worst

 

[marks]

why are you packing your helmets in your carry on? put them on your heads - people wear hats - if anyone asks just say you are prepared for the worst

Especially if you get in first and sit in brace position as everyone else boards...

 

[GladstoneTim]

Especially if you get in first and sit in brace position as everyone else boards...

LOL that would be so hilarious to see. You would need a sense of humour though.

 

[jase]

Well, according so some probably-not-so-accurate bathroom scales, I have both bike boxes down to 23kg, we'll carry on a helmet each in a super thin helmet bag as one piece, and have a larger duffel each with everything else, that has been folded down to approx 105cm cubed. Total carry on is about 6.5kg each, including our laptop which I believe is excluded. So here's hoping we don't have any trouble, but after reading the rules about 20 times I think we'll be ok.

 

[LovemyCC]

I've had carry on bags weighed at check in by DJ staff. But I'm the type that always goes safely under the limit. I can't stand the thought of paying excess baggage at extortion rates. Can't wait for the drama when I travel with a little one.

 

[misstam]

Jase, sounds like you've got it sorted! The laptop is excluded from your 7kg limit if it's carried separately in a thin case/bag, but if you're under anyway with it in your duffel bag it's all good.

 

[whatmeworry]

From the sounds of it, you guys are going for a while. So also remember to exclude unnecessary things that you can buy there, like toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner etc. Basically anything item that can be brought there for similar price to here and has a bit of weight. Also as mentioned before, wear your heaviest clothing, this includes your heaviest shoes!