Last Updated on February 1, 2024 by Henry @ The Getaway Lounge
This post is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure a high level of accuracy.
Just how strict is Air New Zealand with carry-on?
It’s a question we hear all the time in the NZ travel community, and here’s the latest.
Air New Zealand now state that each ticketed guest is entitled to one carry-on bag and one personal item. According to them, your carry-on bag must fit in the sizer and so be placed in the overhead compartment, whilst your personal item must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you.
With that said, there are some things to consider if you happen to have a bag over their limits, although we always recommend taking precautions.
Besides, who knows just how strict they are going to be on the day you travel!
So, to ensure you’re fully compliant with Air New Zealand’s latest carry-on rules, we recommend this great value suitcase on Amazon which fit nicely.
Air New Zealand’s carry on size is calculated by measuring your bags length, width and depth and then adding the three together.
The total can be up to 118cm, or 46.5 inches (the bag above totals 45 inches).
These dimensions include any wheels and or handles.
There is also a weight limit of 7kg or 15lb attached to this bag.
Air New Zealand also allow a smaller personal item on board to accompany your main bag.
They simply state that your item must be small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you.
They use examples such as small laptop on their website, but in reality, you can take a lot more than that!
We therefore highly recommend making the most of this space.
Besides, there is a lot more space than you think underneath the seat in front of you, so this is a great opportunity to pack some further essentials for your trip!
For more details on your overall allowance free of charge please check out this page on their website.
Liquids, gels, aerosols or pastes are allowed in your carry on in containers no larger than 100ml in volume.
They must be placed in a transparent bag no larger than 1 litre.
In addition to your carry on and personal item, you are allowed other items which do not count towards your overall allowance.
Examples include:
For further information please head to this page which covers exclusions and restricted items in detail.
It’s rare for airlines to investigate the weight of your carry-on bag.
With that said, it’s worth weighing your bag just in case – as you should try and stick within the 7kg where possible.
To be honest, we wouldn’t worry too much if it’s slightly over.
Just be prepared to have a repack and wear some of your heavier clothing to bring the weight down if required to!
Certainly – by checking-in online it’s more likely you will get away with a slightly overweight bag.
By not checking-in online, you give yourself a better chance of being asked questions at the Air New Zealand desk!
Plus, this approach gives you more time to get through security and relax before your flight.
From our own experience and what we hear in the travel community, Air New Zealand is fairly strict when it comes to the size of your carry on.
There’s a fairly good chance they will checking bags to ensure they fit in the sizing devices.
Besides, the dimensions are there for good reason and the airline can get themselves into trouble if too much luggage is in the cabin.
We therefore recommend making sure you are fully prepared with a compliant bag.
The only time we would say it’s potentially worth the risk is if your bag is soft-sided and only slightly oversized.
After all, as long you can just about fit it into the sizing device then there shouldn’t be a problem.
Conversely, if your bag is a hard case you probably won’t be able to fit it into the sizing device.
This may result in a big fee for putting your luggage in the hold last minute.
What’s more, you’ll have to wait around after landing, and we all like to keep an eye on our carry on if possible!
If your bag is deemed overweight or oversized, fees may apply.
You can find information regarding all of Air New Zealand’s baggage fees on this page on their website.
If you’re looking for a carry-on bag which is the perfect fit for Air New Zealand and many others, we recommend this great suitcase of suitcases on Amazon.
They have been designed to be carry-on friendly with the vast majority of airlines, and there’s plenty of styles to choose from.
All come with Aerolite’s 5 year guarantee and offer a range of attractive features.
In conclusion, Air New Zealand are fairly strict when it comes to carry-on.
With that said, there are ways to mitigate the risk of being caught out – as discussed throughout this post.
For peace of mind however, we do recommend investing in a fully compliant bag and sticking within the weight restrictions.
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