Airline to charge $8 for bags

Pacific Blue will become the first New Zealand airline to charge domestic passengers to check in their bags from September.

Passengers on the budget airline who buy cheaper fares will pay $8 for checked-in bags which can collectively weigh up to 23kg to help cover the rising cost of fuel. One carry-on bag weighing up to 7 kilograms will be free.

The maximum weight allowance will increase by 3 kilograms to 23kg. But any excess over that weight will cost $8 a kilogram.

Air New Zealand said yesterday it would introduce a bag charge later in September. Head of short-haul airlines Bruce Parton said the first bag weighing up to 25kg would be free.

A second bag up to the same weight would cost $10 to $20, with a final price and some details yet to be finalised.

House of Travel retail director Brent Thomas said Pacific Blue's fees would affect the vast majority of its passengers.

Though the fees were not expected to put off leisure travellers, it would make booking tickets more complex.

Baggage fees were common overseas and were something New Zealand travellers would have to adapt to, Mr Thomas said.

Airlines were also enforcing excess baggage charges more strictly.

Some items were exempt from the fees on Pacific Blue, including baby equipment such as prams, portable cots and car seats, as well as wheelchairs and specialised medical equipment.

Up to 5kg of sporting equipment such as bikes, surfboards, skis and tennis bags could also be carried free.

Pacific Blue spokesman Phil Boeyen said a limited number of special fares would be introduced. These would be up to $20 cheaper and help offset the baggage charges.

Since launching domestic services between the main centres last November, the airline, owned by Australia's Virgin Blue, has carried more than 600,000 passengers.

Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said the airline had tried to seek a "reasoned and balanced approach to recover costs associated with punitive fuel prices and the direct effect on our business".

Introducing the baggage fees and reducing some cheaper fares were expected to increase revenue and demand, Mr Godfrey said.

Pacific Blue has indicated it will soon announce expansion plans.

- © Fairfax NZ News