Air NZ to allow baggage trackers, 'loosen' cabin bag policy amid lost luggage chaos, MP says

Air New Zealand is now allowing baggage trackers to be used on its flights and has loosened its cabin bag policy in response to passengers’ concerns around losing their luggage, a National MP says he has been told. However, the airline has yet to confirm the information Dr Shane Reti has shared. The politician wrote to both the airline and Auckland Airport this week after he saw baggage piled up at the arrivals hall on December 26, offering suggestions as to how the situation could be improved. Reti said he received a response “within an hour” from Air New Zealand CE Greg Foran, who explained the steps the airline was taking. He said he was told the airline had “significantly” increased call centre and baggage handling resources, and that baggage trackers such as AirTags and Tiles are now allowed on Air New Zealand flights. Air New Zealand has yet to publicly confirm the change. On Monday, a spokesperson for the airline told Stuff they had sought approval from the Civil Aviation Authority for passengers to be able to use the devices and was waiting to hear back.<br/>Reti said Foran also responded to his suggestion that there needed to be more leniency in terms of baggage weight for customers wanting to travel with carry-on baggage only. Economy passengers are typically allowed one carry-on bag that can weigh up to 7kg. “He wrote back saying there was a looseness of policy in as much that there still needed to be safety – so you couldn’t bring 20kg up in the cabin, but they did have a looseness of policy to reflect this concern.”<br/>