Air Niugini Website

[reubencahn 2]

We're travelling to PNG this coming summer, Cairns/Port Moresby/Hoskins returning Rabaul/Port Moresby/Cairns. I can book on Air Niugini's website saving about $600 USD for the three of us. Travel agent says webfares aren't changeable whereas tickets booked by agents would be and using the agents would give us the 2pc/70lbs baggage limitation whereas the webfare would be subject to Air Niugini's normal 30 kg limit. (We normally carry with one 30 kg checked bag each, and one carryon plus "personal item" each. Of course, the camera bag "carryon" exceeds any allowed limits. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with Air Niugini's webfares and any recommendations.

[okuma 64]

Not sure any one is still giving the 2pc/70lb any more.

If you use international interline transfer, you probably would get by.

 

Air Niugini is well known for squeezing the last kina from you for baggage charges.

[reubencahn 2]

Not sure any one is still giving the 2pc/70lb any more.

If you use international interline transfer, you probably would get by.

 

Air Niugini is well known for squeezing the last kina from you for baggage charges.

 

What are their excess bag charges? I can't find them anywhere on their website.

[expatdiver 0]

I booked online with them a few years ago and had no troubles. They were actually quite responsive on some emails I sent with regards to obtaining receipts, and I didn't pay any baggage charges (even on my domestic flights). I travel with 40+ kg in two checked bags, and two 10+ kg carry-ons, but I was on the SIN-POM, which I think gets an extra dive equipment allowance.

 

You should be able to change you tickets if need be. Are you going out from Walindi (Star Dancer/FeBrina)? When I was there they were on top of every guest's arrival and departure from Hoskins with Air Niugini. The domestic flights get canceled/delayed regularly, but the staff made sure that everyone got to where they needed to go. They got my departure changed to a day earlier to make sure I made my connection to SIN.

[underwatercolours 0]

What are their excess bag charges? I can't find them anywhere on their website.

 

Its different for domestic vs international. When we went in Sept. we were allowed two bags at 70# each for the int'l part on both Singapore Airlines and Air Niugini. They will generally do the same deal as your connecting int'l airline offers, but the rules all change once you arrive in PNG. I found a PDF on their website that listed baggage allowances and fees to be different for every flight. I can't find it now, but I saved a copy. http://www.bonniepelnar.com/wetpixel/DomExcessBag.pdf Prices may have changed since I was there in Sept. I suspect this is to prevent the locals from overloading the plane with sweet potatoes.

 

On my most recent trip we had no problems at all traveling with a group, but I had major problems on a previous trip when traveling by myself. I think a lot of it has to do with luck.

 

For the ticket price, travel agents and wholesalers don't all have the same contract with Air Niugini so the prices you get from agents may not all be the same. We booked our tickets with South Pacific Island Travel and were very happy with the price and the service.

 

Also, if you buy and e-ticket make sure you carry your e-ticket receipt with you. In some areas they still don't get the concept of the electronic booking.

[reubencahn 2]

I did end up purchasing off the website. Saved about $ 1000 for the three of us. No problems with checked baggage. I showed our transpac itinerary and Air Nugini would have allowed us two 32 kg bags each since that's what Cathay allowed. Carryon baggage was a problem leaving Cairns. The Air Nugini check-in desk in Cairns is run by Qantas personnel who are baggage Nazis. Was forced to essentially empty my ThinkTank Airport International into my son's daypack and a plastic carry bag that Qantas provided in order to come in under 7 kg. And someone was waiting on the jetbridge to make certain I hadn't repacked everything back into the camera bag. At the same time, any non-roller bag seemed exempt from scrutiny. I was carrying a large computer bag w/ my laptop, reg, several books, two strobes, etc. It weighed at least 25 or 30 lbs but was never checked. Same for my son's backpack. The same issues on our flight from Cairns to Sydney. On the other hand, flying from Rabaul to Port Moresby to Cairns, there was no problem. As long as we were dealing with Air Nugini not Qantas personnel, everything was fine.

[Steve Williams 0]

Was forced to essentially empty my ThinkTank Airport International into my son's daypack and a plastic carry bag that Qantas provided in order to come in under 7 kg. And someone was waiting on the jetbridge to make certain I hadn't repacked everything back into the camera bag.

 

Hey Rueben,

I'm confused. What were you supposed to do with the plastic carry bag?

and to the important question, how many great shots did you come home with?

 

Cheers,

Steve

[reubencahn 2]

Hey Rueben,

I'm confused. What were you supposed to do with the plastic carry bag?

and to the important question, how many great shots did you come home with?

 

Cheers,

Steve

 

We moved some of the camera gear to the plastic carryon. I'm not sure what this accomplished. Diving was great. This is a great wide angle trip with decent macro. A good photographer would have gotten lots of truly great shots. Me, I'm not so sure. But, once I dig out from under, I'll post a trip report with some shots.

Edited August 4, 2009 by reubencahn

[chavala 0]

I got this from Reef&Rainforest re baggage: (good luck. I get a headache when I read it)

 

<On PX flights issued in our office the international PX flights allow pc system – this would be same as the over the water carrier which these days seem to be 2 pcs at 50 pounds each. If international flight is bought from WEB or any other point of sale then only allowed MAX 44 pounds total weight on international legs.

 

Domestic flights on PX if bought in our office then its at this time still 70 pounds or 32 kgs max – this is shown on eticket last column as 32 KG. If bought off web or any other source the internal weight on first connecting flight from international flight would be max 44 (20kgs) pounds and all other flights would be max 35 (16 kgs) pounds. If arrive on any carrier other than PX international then only receive 16kgs all flights 35 pounds.>

[reubencahn 2]

I got this from Reef&Rainforest re baggage: (good luck. I get a headache when I read it)

 

<On PX flights issued in our office the international PX flights allow pc system – this would be same as the over the water carrier which these days seem to be 2 pcs at 50 pounds each. If international flight is bought from WEB or any other point of sale then only allowed MAX 44 pounds total weight on international legs.

 

Domestic flights on PX if bought in our office then its at this time still 70 pounds or 32 kgs max – this is shown on eticket last column as 32 KG. If bought off web or any other source the internal weight on first connecting flight from international flight would be max 44 (20kgs) pounds and all other flights would be max 35 (16 kgs) pounds. If arrive on any carrier other than PX international then only receive 16kgs all flights 35 pounds.>

 

Reef & Rainforest, whom I also used, sent me an identical email. I decided to take a chance nevertheless and book on the website. In fact, we were given the piece allowance and allowed two 32 kg bags because that was our allowance on Cathay whom we had flown to Australia.

[gecko1 12]

I was in PNG in May of this year. Air Niugini flights were booked with Reef and Rainforest. I had 2 70 lb bags and wasn't given any trouble at any point on the journey. Itinerary was SIN->POM-HKN (with the inbound flights to SIN from SFO via UAL). The people at the checkin counter at SIN took a long time to check me in but never actually said anything. A guy in line next to me who didn't look like his luggage was that overweight apparantly got charged something insane like $400 Singapore for his luggage which lent credence to the idea that I'd gotten a different baggage allowance by booking with an agent.

 

Of course, as with anything having to do with PNG, YMMV.

 

Clinton

[chavala 0]

Just back.

 

Checking-in in Manila they had a guy with a large scale at the beginning of the line. My bags were only 30 pounds each, but he said they were overweight. I told him Dive gear and he went behind the scenes and came back, scribbled something on my ticket and let me thru. When I got to the counter same thing. After that (on domestic flights and returning home), I said the magic words "scuba gear" right away, and no problems. odd they always wanted to know which bag it was.

 

Now someone I met at Tawali had an extra pelican case with a huge video camera. He showed them the ticket where it said [sorry can't remember the exact kilos, but equaling] 70 pounds each, and they wouldn't budge. They charged him a set fee of $100usd. That was in Cairns. He wasn't charged again even after an o/n in POM or on the way back from Gurney. Don't know about the return international flight from POM.

 

Also, when flying back my flight was canceled due to the typhoon in the Philippines. Next morning checking in I asked for an upgrade to first class and got it. (OK, maybe I batted my eyelashes a little).

But it was pretty empty (and economy was full), so I think it can't hurt to ask!