Travel alerts

Travel tips for the school holidays

Schools out and bags are packed – Let the holiday adventures begin! 🐇

Airports will be busier than usual during the April school holiday period, so to help you prepare, here are our top travel tips:

 Get ready for take-off

Prepare for your trip in advance so you can relax as soon as you check in.

• Download the Air NZ App to stay up to date and check in 24 hours before departure. 
• Make sure the contact details in your booking and Airpoints account are correct so we can keep you informed of any changes. 
• If you’re travelling with a little extra baggage and your flight is eligible, plan ahead and prepay extra bags online before you check in. 
• You can also request a seat or treat yourself to an upgrade. 
• Check that you have travel insurance - whether you're travelling around Aotearoa or internationally, make sure you're prepared for the unexpected. 
• Make sure you know what's in your bag. Find out more about what you can and can't pack here: What can I pack? - Baggage - Plan | Air New Zealand
  
   

🧒 Taking care of your precious travellers and equipment

If your tamariki or furry whānau are travelling with us these holidays, they're in great hands.  We're also here to help if you need extra assistance.

• Our Airband service keeps whānau informed when children travel alone. Don't forget your photo ID and be sure to allow an extra 20 minutes to complete check-in. The adult dropping off your tamariki must remain at the airport until the flight has departed.
• The safety and comfort of your furry and feathered friends is important to us. Be sure to double-check our updated cage requirements before you get to the airport. Your pet's cage must allow them to naturally stand, sit up, turn around and lay down, and should be fitted with a small water container that is easily fillable from the outside. 
• Let us know beforehand if you're travelling with a wheelchair or walking frame. When you check in, get the team to add a bag tag so you can take it through the airport - the same goes for your stroller. When you reach the boarding gate, let our ground staff know, and they'll take it from there. When you arrive at your destination, your walking frame or stroller will be waiting for you on the baggage carousel. For those with wheelchairs, please be guided by the crew on board.

🎒 Heading to the airport and boarding your flight

We're excited to welcome you on board. Make sure you've got everything you need so you can breeze through check-in and security.

• Double-check traffic conditions before you leave home to allow enough time to get to the airport.
• Don't forget your valid ID for domestic travel or passport and all required documentation for any international journeys.
• Make sure you don't go over your carry-on allowance. Each customer can take a 7kg carry-on bag along with a small personal item. Find out more about weight and size allowances.
• Checking in a bag? Ensure it's no more than 23kg and is within our size requirements. If you are traveling with more than your allowance, see here for further information.
• Get to your departure gate early - we recommend 30 minutes before your domestic flight and at least 45 minutes for an international journey. Some gates are further away than you might realise, so please ask for help if you’re worried about making it to the aircraft in time. 
• If you’re travelling out of New Zealand, here’s a quick reminder of AVSEC’s powder, liquids, aerosols and gels restrictions. This also applies to your favourite snacks you wish to travel with.
• If you need assistance to board, arrive at the gate early and let an Air New Zealand team member know. They'll be happy to help.

💜 We're here to help

• Remember to check your seat pocket for personal items before you disembark. If you realise you've left something on board, let us know by completing our aircraft lost property form.
• If you’re travelling over the school holidays and need any support, whether it’s over the phone, through Live Chat or another messaging channel, our Customer Care team is here for you 24/7. 

Disrupt Reimbursement Consideration

If your journey has been disrupted for a controllable reason, e.g. engineering, or crew shortages, and your new itinerary requires you to stay overnight in a place you do not reside, our airport team will be working hard to secure accommodation for you.

Over peak travel periods, availability is extremely limited and you may be required to source your own accommodation.

As a guideline, we recommend $250.00 per room and $90.00 per person, per night for meals. This is a recommended amount only, and all expenses must be reasonable and supported by itemised tax invoice receipts. Please retain all itemised tax invoice receipts, as they are required for reimbursement consideration.

To submit your reimbursement request, please visit here to do so. Alternatively, you can visit here for details on how to submit your claim through our messaging channels.