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Baggage allowance ripoff - or not ?

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Baggage allowance ripoff - or not ?

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Old 10th May 2009, 09:22
  #21 (permalink)  
 
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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 ?
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Old 10th May 2009, 11:45
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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.
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Old 10th May 2009, 15:02
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Have you considered a nudist holiday destination, that'll save packing all those clothes.
Just a thought
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Old 10th May 2009, 15:21
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Unless I am reading it wrongly, it is 20kg on easy.
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Old 11th May 2009, 09:41
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It is 20.9 kg, to allow for a small error.
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Old 11th May 2009, 10:44
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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.
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Old 11th May 2009, 14:42
  #27 (permalink)  
 
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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.
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Old 11th May 2009, 15:09
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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?
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Old 18th May 2009, 07:57
  #29 (permalink)  
 
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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 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 aish 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.
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Old 19th May 2009, 03:30
  #30 (permalink)  
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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.
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Old 19th May 2009, 12:58
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B.Sousa

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

I think you mean busload = shedload.
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Old 19th May 2009, 13:37
  #32 (permalink)  
 
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in San Franciso they say busloads.
I think you mean busload = shedload
No, I think the appropriate UK term would be "cottageload"
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Old 30th Jun 2010, 06:46
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Angry baggage ripoff

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.
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Old 30th Jun 2010, 09:57
  #34 (permalink)  
 
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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.
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Old 30th Jun 2010, 12:12
  #35 (permalink)  
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Cool

rolfemaine
it is obvious that airlines are ripping passengers off
I 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 too
Doubtless, 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) free
Airlines 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.

dazdaz
Have you considered a nudist holiday destination, that'll save packing all those clothes. Just a thought
Yes, 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.
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Old 30th Jun 2010, 12:45
  #36 (permalink)  
 
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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!
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Old 30th Jun 2010, 14:56
  #37 (permalink)  
 
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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.
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Old 30th Jun 2010, 15:12
  #38 (permalink)  
 
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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
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Old 1st Jul 2010, 12:07
  #39 (permalink)  
 
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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.
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Old 1st Jul 2010, 16:20
  #40 (permalink)  
 
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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!
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