The 29-year-old touched down in Dunedin yesterday with the Auckland and Wellington-based Black Caps ahead of the first test against the West Indies only to discover one of his bags was missing.
"It's the important one, too," he said.
"It's got all my gear in it."
So, in one of his first official acts for the national side he had to fill out a baggage claim form.
It briefly crossed his mind one of his new team-mates might have made off with his luggage while he was waylaid by the Otago Daily Times.
A quick look in the team van came up empty.
Unfazed, he headed back to the counter to start the paperwork.
On Thursday McIntosh will make his international debut at the University Oval.
He replaces Otago opener Aaron Redmond in the national team after an 11-year apprenticeship in domestic cricket.
"It is a really nice feeling to be among the side and I'm really looking forward to the challenge," McIntosh said.
McIntosh has played 75 first-class matches, scoring 3982 runs at an average of 34.03, including 13 centuries.
It is a similar record to the likes of Otago's Craig Cumming and Wellington's Matthew Bell, who have also been tried at the top of the Black Caps order this year.
Historically, the selection axe has been blunted lopping off openers' heads at a rapid pace, and McIntosh is well aware a run drought will not be tolerated for long.
"I'd love to get under way with a score or two and try and cement a position."
The selectors have asked for more of the same: dig in, show patience and score big totals.
Last week he scored 78 for Auckland against the West Indies in a warm-up match and had a look at the tourist's attack, which included strike bowler Fidel Edwards.
He has also scored two big 100s this summer, including an innings of 191 against Wellington, in which he batted for just over six hours.
He is one of six left-handed batsmen in the team.
The southpaws have taken over.
"It's the only way to bat," he said, chuckling.
