Oversized Items & Sporting Equipment

Oversized Items

If you are travelling with items that exceed maximum dimensions for checked baggage, these are classified as oversized.

Examples of oversized items are bicycles, surfboards, hang-gliders and wind-surfers. Since these are larger items, carriage will be subject to availability of space on the aircraft.

The following items may be considered as one standard piece of baggage:

• Any portable musical instrument not exceeding 100cm in length
• One bicycle
• One surfboard
• One pair of snow skis
• One snowboard
• One pair of water skis
• One golf bag containing golf clubs and one pair of shoes

Please note there is a maximum weight restriction of 32kg (70 lbs) per item and length restrictions also apply.

Sporting Equipment

Sporting equipment is defined as a bag or piece of equipment obviously dedicated to the pursuit of sporting activity.

For travel in New Zealand the checked baggage allowance is 1 piece up to 23kg.

> Domestic New Zealand flights

Sporting equipment is counted as a piece of baggage therefore once the allowance has been exceeded domestic piece charges will apply

> International Flights

Items of sporting equipment - for example golf clubs, skis, snowboards, bicycles and surfboards - are included as part of the standard piece allowance. The first piece of sporting equipment over the allowance will be charged at 50% of the first bag rate. Subsequent pieces will be charged at standard excess rates for baggage.

Bicycles

Bicycles can be checked in as part of your baggage allowance provided they are correctly packed. As a minimum, prepare the bike as follows:

• Turn in or remove the handlebars and pedals. On bicycles where the pedals cannot be turned in or removed, sufficient padding must be provided around the pedals to prevent the pedals damaging other customers' baggage.
• Wrap the whole bicycle in a plastic bag, corrugated cardboard or equivalent. Alternatively the bike may be packaged in a purpose built bike box
• If necessary, wrap the chain to prevent grease transferring to other baggage
• Deflation of the tyres is not necessary.
• Some bicycle items may be classed as dangerous goods. For example, CO2 cartridges for inflating bicycle tyres contain compressed gas and are not permitted as checked or cabin baggage.
• Mountain bikes may be fitted with struts containing compressed nitrogen gas. These bikes can only be accepted as checked baggage if the gas pressure does not exceed 200KPa (Kilopascal), or 29 PSI (Pounds per square inch).

Length Restrictions

The maximum length per piece on jet aircraft is 2.5 metres however this may be reduced depending on the width and height of the item.

If your oversized item is not one of the examples listed above and the width is over 1 metre, we recommend that you check with our specialist team at Air New Zealand Cargo to ascertain if your piece will fit on our aircraft. You will need to supply the length, width and height of your item.

Similarly the aircraft operated on Link services have a maximum length of 1.8 metres.  If your package dimensions exceed - Length 1.8m x Width 0.8m x Height 1.20 m, please contact your local Air New Zealand office for assistance. There may be occasions when items such as poles, skis, fishing rods etc may still be accepted on Air New Zealand Link aircraft up to 2.2m (7' 2") due to their minimal volume.

If you are travelling on a combination of aircraft, the smallest aircraft in your journey will determine the maximum length or width that can be accepted. Oversized items are still carried subject to space availability.

If you wish to travel with an item that exceeds the allowable package dimensions, you will need to consider making alternative freighting arrangements for this item.

Air New Zealand Cargo, or your local freight forwarder, can advise you on alternative arrangements. Applicable rates will apply and items sent via Air New Zealand Cargo or a local freight forwarder may not necessarily travel on the same aircraft as you due to space availability.

Please remember it is important to prearrange this with Air New Zealand Cargo or a local freight forwarder at least 5 days in advance of your travel. There may be occasions when Air New Zealand Cargo is unable to assist you with the carriage of your oversized item due to limited cargo space availability to your destination.