Baggage allowance ripoff - or not ?

[anengineer]

We've just booked a fortnight in Cuba for the Mrs' 50th, and, trying to keep the cost down, have cut out as many of the 'extras' as we can. Flying Thomas Cook, we get 15kg baggage as standard, but they want another £180 in total for an additional 5kg each. I think that's extortionate - but - that's just a knee-jerk reaction. I know nothing about the cost to the airline of transporting those extra kilos.

What I'd really like to know is; seriously, do they even check ? I mean, the check-in desk operator is usually running flat out and I wonder how many of them will make extra work for themselves by checking the allowance on every ticket and holding everything up to take baggage excess payments everytime someone is carrying 20kg when they've only paid for 15kg, etc.

We can probably (well, I can - I can't speak for the Mrs !), get away with everything in 15kg each, esp if we put as much heavy stuff as we can in the hand luggage. I'm not paying £180 though.

[mutt]

Without knowing what airport you are departing from, it difficult to answer. But be advised that some airlines have excess baggage quotas for their check in staff, if they dont make a certain amount per month, they are in trouble! So if you are leaving early in the month, you might get away with the additional 1 kg, but not 5kgs!

Mutt

[SNS3Guppy]

I can't say what is that you might be able to get away with, but when I show up at a ticket counter in uniform as flight crew to airline into a trip...my bags get weighed and I get charged the overage, and the bag fees. You think you're going to get away with less?

My checked bags are always weighed.

[TightSlot]

Some check-in staff are also paid commission

[jojo82]

checkin staff may be busy but they have been trained to look for kilo allowences on tickets and i believe the majority of tcx flights are only 15kgs ticketed anyway and if you have paid extra there will no doubt be a comment next to your name to inform the checkin staff. I havent worked on tcx but checked in many other charter flights and they all work the same. Everything is weighed, even your handluggage because all the airlines want to do is get every last £ out of your pocket.
Take it from personal experience, if the checkin agent doesnt charge for the excess Kilos they can be in trouble from their employer. Many airlines also have incentives for the agents to charge - commission, prizes, standby tkts etc
It wont really cause a hassle at the desk because you are most likely be sent away to the ticket desk to pay for your excess, depending on where you are flying from. Some agents can be extremely strict, others will let 1 or 2 go, but 3+kgs will most likely you will have to pay for, also £180 for an extra 10kgs (5 per person) you mentioned seems abit steep, again i dont have any experience with tcx but most airlines only charge about £5-£7 per kilo excess from preivous experience.
Enjoy your holiday!:ok:

[MarkBHX]

Why not just upgrade to the 20kg through your travel agent? At the time of booking this is £25 each and they should be able to add this on still. I'm guessing your going through the airline to get that price which I'd assume is mainly aimed at those taking even more than the 20kg. Excess baggage for long haul flights on TCX is currently £10 per kg.

[Michael SWS]

No-one needs more than 15kg of luggage for a holiday. On my last (8-day) trip to Sri Lanka and Japan my luggage weighed 4.7kg going out and 4.3kg coming back.

[PAXboy]

For reasons not yet known, the carrier does not want you to take more than 15Kgs - so it makes a deliberately disproportionate charge for over weight. It wins both ways. Firstly, most people take less and so they carry less weight and those that are over pay a lot more money than it costs to carry the weight.

Those are the rules and when I came back from Europe recently with a 15Kg limit, there was a steady stream of people from the check-in desk to the cashier desk. Curiously, at that airport, they did not weigh hand luggage - but you cannot be sure of that in advance.

[IB4138]

Weigh your bags empty, as "lightweight" doesn't always mean that. Some weigh over 6kgs empty.

You may need to reconsider your baggage.

[BladePilot]

In this throw away world take the absolute minimum you need with you on the flight (your going out/dressing up clothes) and buy what you need when you get there, cheap T-shirts, underwear, flip flops, whatever. Many hotels will supply you with the basic toiletries. When you leave drop off what you bought at a charity shop or shelter facility for the needy. It'll cost you a damn sight less than £180 and you'll probably feel a whole lot better for:
1 beating the airline
and
2 helping someone in need

Enjoy your holiday:)

[bear11]

Generally speaking, I will go for the excess charge when booking if available if I'm concerned about weight on the way out - because I bloody KNOW I'll be well over that on the way back with all the tat you normally buy on hols. And, if you're going on hols with a female, you really shouldn't have to think about it any more.

And this is from someone who is vicious on what he takes when travelling for work.

[Katamarino]

Irritatingly of course, the fat b*****d who's next in line and weighs a good 50kg more than you also gets a 15kg allowance :* But I'm sure this has been discussed at length elsewhere :p

[rolfemaine]

monarch airlines own charters have 20kg hold allowance if the aircraft is chartered by thomas cook the baggage allowance is cut to 15kg and you have to pay extra for the other 5kg,people did not seem to be charged for excess baggage outward bound,but they were charged for any excess inbound another treasure island (UK) RIPOFF

[deltayankee]

Yes, you will probably have your bags weighed. The tougher the limit the more likely it is! Best plan is to stay within the 15kgs.


Weigh your bags empty...


Very sound advice or half your allowance goes just for a bag. Buy a cheap and very light bag then you can take more. Avoid bags with complicated handles and wheels. Be ruthless, too, in the packing. Don't carry things like spare batteries and other things you can buy while you are away.

Plus don't forget the old trick of putting heavy stuff like cameras in your pocket or around your neck when you turn up at the check in.

[DCS99]

I've done 1200 sectors, so I do know a little about packing a suitcase.
And now I've trained the wife.

We follow BladePilot's advice:

"When you leave drop off what you bought at a charity shop or shelter facility for the needy. It'll cost you a damn sight less than £180 and you'll probably feel a whole lot better for"

We take full baggage allowance outbound on our Longhaul Trips (eg Colombia, Miami, Hong Kong etc) old T-shirts, shorts, underwear, old everything including the kids' clothes. We give the lot away to charity as we leave.

15kg in a wheelie is easily sufficient. You're not going to be wearing winter clothes by the pool are you? Are you planning to tie the knot again and get married on every day of your stay in Cuba? ;)

[rmac]

Yes it is !

Rather than set reasonable ticket prices, they aim to look cheap while overstressing pax who should be enjoying their trip, not worrying about a couple of kg of t-shirts. :ugh:

[davidjohnson6]

rmac - depressing as it may seem, accountants in large companies do not care about whether the customers are stressed out or not. They care only about revenues and costs. I suppose that's why accountants are different from other human beings.... ! :}

[raffele]

Perhaps we shouldn't complain too much - regardless of it being a national past time. There are many airlines in the states that charge for checking in bags... Heck there are airlines here in the UK that charge for checking in bags! Perhaps the free baggage allowance is becoming a sacred thing we should cherish and take full advantage of?

[PAXboy]

macYes it is !Oh no it isn't !!!!!!
It used to be that there was a 20Kg weight allowance in the price of the ticket - now there isn't. In just a few years people will read how, back in ancient times, there used to be an inclusive weight allowance (not 'free' just included) and they will be amazed.

Why do carriers adopt this method? Because it works. Everybody wins, because you get what you pay for. Because the human race has collectively decided that money is something to be retained, they are naturally drawn to any process the helps them to retain it. If some individuals land up spending more than they planned - they can choose to amend their behaviour next time.

Times have already changed and you can change or not, as you wish.

[ImPlaneCrazy]

Its a win win situation for the airline definately, and as a business I would expect that! Through reducing the allowance from 20kg to 15kg the load is obviously reduced by 5kg per passenger:

Average 200 pax x 5kg = 1000kg / 1 ton

Must save a nice hit on the fuel bill! :ok:

[rmac]

Depends how fat the average pax is :}

If we want to go down this route of using fuel economy as an excuse, why not have a maximum total weight per passenger with excess charged on body weight as well as baggage ?

[davidjohnson6]

why not have a maximum total weight per passenger with excess charged on body weight as well as baggage ?

There are various bits of law which generally discourage discrimination against individuals. Ryanair have made noises about it on their website - but this is likely to be just a publicity exercise so as to get more mention by journalists (no such thing as bad publicity).

For those of a large physical size, airlines will usually provide a seatbelt extension for free. If however one's body size requires 2 or more adjacent seats, under certain circumstances (e.g. when the flight is fully booked) airlines sometimes require the passenger pays for *both* of those seats.

[dazdaz]

Have you considered a nudist holiday destination, that'll save packing all those clothes.
Just a thought:ooh:

[Avitor]

Unless I am reading it wrongly, it is 20kg on easy.

[bondim]

It is 20.9 kg, to allow for a small error.

[Desert Diner]

trying to keep the cost down, have cut out as many of the 'extras' as we can. Flying Thomas Cook, we get 15kg baggage as standard, but they want another £180 in total for an additional 5kg each. I think that's extortionate - but - that's just a knee-jerk reaction.

Simple bait and switch on the discount airlines part. An airline will either get its money from the front of from the back end.

They charge you a high ticket price and you may shop around. So they charge less and then hit you with extra charges when its to late to switch airlines.

[Lightning Mate]

For what it's worth.....

Airlines can impose any baggage weight limitation they wish, and charge as they wish.

Passenger weights are averaged. The following values are used in the EU (JAA, Joint Aviation Authority) for aircraft with more than thirty seats:

all flights except holiday charter - adult 84 kg
holiday charters - adult 76 kg, children 35 kg

Discrimination with reference to body weight is not permitted. Hovever, if a passenger is so large that two seats are required, then two seats must be paid for.

[GroundedSLF]

Lightning Mate - Do you know why the differance in weights between charters and schedule?

Heavier people only fly sheduled? - Dont think so. Also, wont chaters generally have more seats/bodies if full than a scheduled flight?

[MartinCh]

Please note the following important information regarding cabin baggage:

• Strictly one item of cabin baggage is permitted per passenger (excluding infants) weighing up to 10kg with maximum dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm (your handbag, briefcase, laptop, shop purchases, camera etc. must be carried in your 1 permitted piece of cabin baggage).

• If you arrive at the boarding gate with more than one item of cabin baggage or if the item exceeds the maximum permitted dimensions or weight we reserve the right to cancel your reservation without refund and to deny you boarding

This was added recently. Or within past year since I don't have to travel too often.
Looks like RYR are always very creative about how to pi:mad: off people while trying to extract more money. You don't feel like risking it? You pay for checked luggage. Hang on, you don't want to check your hand bag or laptop either.
If you do, yet another 'charge' for checking the usual way.
I especially 'like' that bit about denying boarding at the gate.
I guess it's a consequence of being able to check in online, save RYR money on ground staff. I'll have to get over it with RYR. Having light slim 12" for travel helps.

Let's hope easy don't copy this a:mad:ish attitude.
It may have been helped by all the tourists buying big bottles of booze, cartons of fags and other clutter, thus hitting people with reasonably sized briefcase or laptop bag.

[B Sousa]

Funny, this language. In the UK its said cartons of fags , in San Franciso they say busloads.

Either way if you travel today the best way to at least try and stay out of luggage problems is to check the Airline Policy on every leg of your trip PRIOR to travel. If you push it, prepare to pay.

[al446]

1 Carton = 10 packets = 200 ciggies. Just to clear up the confusion.

I think you mean busload = shedload.

[hellsbrink]

in San Franciso they say busloads.

I think you mean busload = shedload

No, I think the appropriate UK term would be "cottageload"

[rolfemaine]

it is obvious that airlines are ripping passengers off, if it was a genuine attempt to restrict weight then they would weigh people too,you have a 60 kg girl with 20 kg of luggage who pays more than an 80 kg guy with 15 kg of luggage, nothing to do with health and safety just another case of profiteering.

[ConstantFlyer]

A quick search shows that sending a 5kg package from the UK to Cuba by courier or post will cost anything from £49 to £104, with international tracking and delivery within 8 days. A 20kg parcel will cost from £212 to £232. If that's so, then the charges made by airlines seem comparably reasonable.

[PAXboy]

rolfemaineit is obvious that airlines are ripping passengers offI disagree.

It is well known how airlines charge for their services these days. They do so in this piecemeal way because people want to pay less. They learnt the hard way that if you present the full-up cost on your advertisement, not as many people will book. If you put a low price and then fill up later, people will by then have raised their expectations about making the trip on such-and-such a date and be excited. When they see the extra pricing - they work out that it is still cheaper than others or that it is worth it to make the trip. Some will drop out of the booking.

That has been the same with people buying goods and services for as long as human beings have been using barter and money. (The Neanderthals have been gone for 30,000 years but you can bet they used barter)

if it was a genuine attempt to restrict weight then they would weigh people tooDoubtless, you have read the posts in this thread where you would find that is illegal? If they stated it up front as part of their policy, they would have people booking but not reading that small print and then protesting when they got to the airport. The carrier would say "be weighed or lose all your money" and you can write the rest of the problems from there! Mostly, the problem would involve more money and time and people by the carrier. Have you any idea how much time it would take to weigh every pax? Just use averages it's faster and cheaper.
nothing to do with health and safety just another case of profiteering.On this point, you are essentially correct BUT for many carriers it is not profiteering but just trying to make a profit in the first place! There is a surplus of airline seat capacity in the world, following the boom of the last 15 years. Many carriers have already closed, others are consolidating, many are losing pax and facing increased costs. They must make money where they can or die.

In other words, carriers have adapted to the challenge of new entrants and the demands of 21st century pax. This is identical to the way that the following have all forced companies to change their way of working and making money (in no order):
Catalogue shopping
Department stores
Telephone shopping
TV shopping channels
Door-to-door salesmen (arrive and then disappear)
Internet
Shopping malls
Supermarkets that become department stores selling many of the things that department stores used to sell
Software was very expensive now it is often (genuinely) freeAirlines make an offer and you accept it or not. The reason that some people are upset about this change - is because they are witnessing the change. The generation now growing up would think it strange to be charged large prices for services they do not want and for luggage that they are not carrying.

dazdazHave you considered a nudist holiday destination, that'll save packing all those clothes. Just a thought http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/icon25.gifYes, often. I have been a naturist all my life and have not worn a swimming costume in years. My last such trip was by car to France (month ago) as friends offered me a lift but I have used a/c many times and hand luggage can suffice. :cool:

[BAAlltheway]

Also bear in mind, that there are very very strict rules on how much bags can weigh due to H&S lifting rules. So i think you will find that all responsible Checkin staff WILL weighbags to ensure they are within the limts and if they need weight tags. They will therefore also be able to see if you are over your limit, and with the economic squeeze on for airlines, every £1 helps so no reason for them not to charge.

The only possibility is to stand in the longest queue full of impatient looking people, and hope the agent decides its not worth the tutting and moaning from the queue. But you may just get charged having stood in a heinous queue and then getting abuse from the people behind you!

Best off just sticking to the 15kg!

[Avman]

15Kg is NOT a realistic limit! If I have to pack a suitcase I do not fly with an airline only allowing 15Kg as a base weight.

[Rob Courtney]

Simple solution dont fly TCX, we did last year but the tour operator (which is part of the same group) gave us 20kg included whereas people flying on the same aircraft but booked with another tour operator (also part of the same group!!) only got 15kg.

This year we shopped around now going Jet2 with 25kg luggage and prebooked seats cheaper than we could have flown with TCX with only 15kg and no seats

Airlines count on people not doing their homework, you wouldnt get your car fixed at the first garage you get a quote from so why wouldnt you compare details on what is one of the biggest purchases you make every year

[paulc]

Hang luggage is the same lottery particularly since the 1 bag only rule was introduced. It is difficult getting a laptop + camera + 2 lenses under most airlines weight limit and there is no way those valuable / fragile items should be going as hold luggage.

[jimma]

paulc,

That is always a concern of mine when I travel. I have an expensive camera with a few lenses but have to carry a laptop for work.

I have generally found Air Canada and BA to be very good when taking it on as hand baggage, in fact the bag I use carries the all the gear and is below the UK guidelines on hand baggage sizing. These airlines are somewhat flexible on the weight too, as long as your not taking th p**s.

Not sure I would want to try it with the likes of FlyBe, Easy, etc though! There would be no way I would put that in the hold!

[Wannabe Flyer]

On a recent trip, they weighed my bags, then the hand bags, then me and then asked me if I was going to eat that sandwich and drink that juice. When I replied in the affirmative they weighed that too!!!!!!!!!! :ok:

Guess all the above were within acceptable parameters.........

Oh did I forget it was a tiny airport with a small patch as an airstrip so had more to do with the loading of the aircraft......

Was a first and loved it :cool:

[paulc]

Jimma,

Flybe are one of the worst particularly at Eastleigh - so if travelling with my usual kit I try to make sure one of the other people I travel with has spare capacity so it is easy to even out the weight beforehand.

VS also has one of the lowest hand baggage allowances going at 6KG

[Gulfstreamaviator]

I hope you were permitted to validate after No 2.........

Always joked with my AME that I needed weighing after that event.

glf

[Wannabe Flyer]

GLF

Post No.2 no permission to validate or change seating arrangement :}

[TightSlot]

You bring your No. 2 on board and the weight never leaves the aircraft until the tanks are emptied - You brought it with you, you pay for it - the only adjustment required is to the trim.
:E :E :E

[sea oxen]

Gulfstreamaviator

In a former life, I was an industrial chemist. The boys on the floor would weigh in and weigh out, and boast accordingly. I was flummoxed when one said to another that he's cheated by having a wee as well. :\

I cannot fathom why someone would want to defecate on an airliner. There is the risk that the lavatory might malfunction (which happened to my former boss. Red faces and ire because of a 1/4 drop in WC availability. This is a family forum so I'll refrain of stating my other objections.

I work for an international company, with people flying back and forth. I never travel without my trusty Samsonite., which has been with me for twenty years. Any spare capacity upon landing is dealt with by the Heathrow departure semi duty free. I wonder about colleagues who manage a four-day trip with a wee hand-luggage thingy (which is invariably too large for the lockers). Do they change their clothes? Their shoes? Their underwear?

I flew WT+ back home last year, and was pleasantly surprised to learn that my allowance was 46kg. I thought - how the Hell can I do that (I have been J a few times and it's 32). I came back with 50. They let me off :)

SO

[Wannabe Flyer]

Tips on how to travel light

1) Get rid of hand baggage (carry a black berry, email presentations etc, no laptop, be green so no papers all loaded on the phone)
2) Buy clothes at destination (or flip undies if on a one day trip)
3) Choose vacation places where going "al fresco" is acceptable
4) Eat a lot of fiber 2 days before the trip (helps the airline more than you though)

How to speed thru security

a) No Laptop
b) Use your spare undies to hold up your pants so you don't have to wear a belt
c) Wear shoes without laces
d) Wear shoes with replaceable Dr Scholls foot odor soles eliminating the need for socks (note point 2 above where replacements to be bought at destination).
e) Ensure hotel you stay at provides amenity kit, alternate option the closest pharmacy has started carrying these
f) if you cannot afford to buy clothes at destination then buy soap and use the clothes line in your hotel.

Breeze on and Breeze off !!! :p