Thread: Thumbs Up Air New Zealand

I took 3 flights with my rifle and 4.93 kg of ammo last month and they all went smoothly.

Essentially, check the gun in and pick up with your firearms licence, which you are carrying anyway.

The requirements are easy to find from the "conditions of carriage"
https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/trav...-or-ammunition

There are lots of FAQ, just what you always wondered:
The bolt can go in a checked luggage with the ammunition, not in your carry on bag.
Ammo must be in a container that separates them so they are not touching eg manufacturers packaging or specialty containers Yay ! we can carry them in our solid, safe reloading boxes and don't need to dig out those old dog eared "original boxes" for a plane flight.
Empty brass are not treated as ammunition.

A couple of points did need brief consultation with the boss, but generally it was quicker and less trouble than it has been in years gone by.

Yes I had similar experience two weeks ago with both Air NZ and Jetstar.
One thing to remember is that at the destination you will not be able to collect your firearm at the baggage claim belt together with other passengers. The airline will transfer any firearm to their service desk, and that's where it can be collected.
So don't spend 30 minutes waiting at the belt for nothing.

All very relevant as I'm going ammo shopping in Wellington, also known as a work conference. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing..

I travel with a firearm on Air NZ at least once a year and never had a problem at either end.
You do need to pay for an extra checked bag though, best to do that on line, if you wait until you are at the airport you will be stung for extra charges

Why do we praise these companies for doing their job?

Originally Posted by Sasquatch

Why do we praise these companies for doing their job?

While I haven't praised them, I have very low expectations, so am pleasantly surprised that the OP and others have been able to travel with guns and ammunition with minimal hassle. Besides, Air New Zealand can do whatever they like. They might just decide that catering to hunters/shooters is just too much trouble and there would be fuck all we could do about it.

I traveled south with my bow a while ago and when I checked it in (in a full hard case) the woman said to me "It's not one of those dangerous ones is it?"
She sounded concerned so I told her, "No. It is totally harmless". I suspect she was referring to cross bows.
Otherwise travelling with my rifle has been pretty straight forward.

Originally Posted by Sasquatch

Why do we praise these companies for doing their job?

Because it gets a bit lame when all people do is complain.

Originally Posted by MB

All very relevant as I'm going ammo shopping in Wellington, also known as a work conference. Thanks.

Not a lot of choice in Wellie unfortunately.

Originally Posted by vulcannz

Not a lot of choice in Wellie unfortunately.

More choice than Whangarei and I will pre-order for collection.

Originally Posted by Sasquatch

Why do we praise these companies for doing their job?

NZ gun owners have developed a mentality where they expect their views to be treated as less relevant and expect inconvenience in most services. The result of corporate press BS and post Christchurch and general pussification of society. I don't blame them for this but it is annoying sometimes.

I see people are waiting 4 plus hours on their 0800 number attempting to change bookings. Basic customer service is still run by bean counters, not anyone actually interested in customers.

A friend was on hold from 2200 until 0300 the other night due to Air New Zealand cancelling her original flight at very short notice. Pretty poor.

Yes, their 0800 number wasn't much chop. At one point trying to do online checkin I followed a 'hole saying "let us know if you're taking a firearm" and it was a long wait answerphone.

In the end, you can't check your firearm or ammunition in on line, so turn up an hour before the flight time, go to the auto kiosk and as soon as you give the option that you are checking in prohibited items you get a printout to take to a real person who sorts you out.

I found that printing out their FAQ before going and highlightering key points helped me focus on what was a requirement and what was in the imagination of the staff. They are just ordinary people trying to follow a new process and under stress we all make things up but a written word on paper is reassuring.