KEY POINTS:
Auckland - Domestic travellers flying on Air New Zealand will face new charges of up to $20 for a second bag.
The new charges were part of sweeping plans to overhaul airport check-in, the New Zealand Herald reported today.
One bag will be carried at no charge but a second bag would attract a fee of between $10 and $20, regardless of its weight.
Passengers with three or more bags would be charged at cargo rates.
Some items, including wheelchairs and other medical equipment, would be exempt from the new charges but items such as golf clubs would count as a second bag, the paper said.
The domestic luggage allowance would rise from 20kg to 30kg for each passenger.
The airline said the current excess baggage charge of $5 a kilogram started at 23kg meaning a 30kg bag would cost $35. Frequent flyers taking at least 14 flights a year, would get two free bags.
Air New Zealand said it was a profit-driven plan but aimed at speeding check-in times by 40 per cent and avoiding disputes over excess luggage.
The new system was due to be introduced in August.
- NZPA
