*Actual* luggage weight limits

earthman · Post by **earthman** » 21 Apr 2006, 02:16

Does anyone know at what point airlines actually start charging for excess luggage? The airlines usually state 20kg, but when you put your suitcase on the scale at the check-in counter, and the thing shows 21.8kg, they don't even blink, but stick on the tag, and wish you a pleasant flight. Is there some kind of courtesy margin, to avoid discussions with people saying 'I weighed it at home, and it was only 19.8kg!', as a matter of airline policy?

And once you actually do have to pay for excess luggage, do they actually make you pay for everything above the 20kg? Or do they also consider that the first 2-3 kg above the 20kg would have been let on board without any additional fee?

EBAW_flyer · Post by **EBAW_flyer** » 21 Apr 2006, 12:14

Depends on the airline really. For example with SNBA they go until 25 kg (5kg extra) and they let you pay for each kilo above 25 kg but with vueling you have to pay for each kilo over the 20kg. Lufthansa extra allowance is 3 kg; Royal Air Moroc has standard weight of 30 kg etc... Really depends on the company. Safest thing is to take the allowance shown clearly on the ticket.

earthman · Post by **earthman** » 21 Apr 2006, 17:03

So, does anyone know what the actual limits are for KLM, LOT and SWISS?

And does this also depend on the ground handler? LOT does the ground handling for KLM at WAW, which rules will they use?

PH-RVG · Post by **PH-RVG** » 21 Apr 2006, 23:04

earthman wrote:So, does anyone know what the actual limits are for KLM, LOT and SWISS?

And does this also depend on the ground handler? LOT does the ground handling for KLM at WAW, which rules will they use?

KLM is totally unpredictable: it depends on a combination of how full the flight is and the mood of the person checking you in.
Official allowance is 20KG pp in Europe. On transatlantic flights are 2 pieces which cannot be heavier than 24 kgs.
Overweight is charged at 10% per kg of the first class rate on the route.
Golf bags have special rules.
Frequent flyers can take more luggage.

LOT and Swiss I do not know.

EBAW_flyer · Post by **EBAW_flyer** » 26 Apr 2006, 15:31

LOT has an extra free allowance of 5kg here in Brussels (and should be like that all over the European network). Now, about the handling question; allowances are decided by the operating carrier, nothing else (so not by the handling agent or also not by the codeshare carrier i.e. a SNBA pax on a AA flight has to follow the AA rules). So KLM rules are respected on their flights, even when the handling agent is LOT.

Jense · Post by **Jense** » 26 Apr 2006, 15:52

What about the dimensions of the hand lugguagge? Begin July, I'll travel to Lanzarote again (Thomas Cook) and my aim is to take my Photocase with me.

Now, it's a big case (LowePro Computrekker Plus), so I fear that it won't be accepted as hand lugguage because of:
a) the dimensions
b) the weight (Body, lenses, portable PC, extra's, ...)

Some insiders with accurate information?

SN_fan · Post by **SN_fan** » 26 Apr 2006, 15:56

If it's to big for hand luggage you can always by a seat for it and then you can take it with you just the same as with big instruments like a cello

Jense · Post by **Jense** » 26 Apr 2006, 16:28

These are the dimensions of the backpack:

lowepro.com wrote:Size (Main): 13W x 5.3D x 18.9H in. / 33 x 13.5 x 48 cm

I'm really annoyed about it because no way I'll let it check in as cargo with the other bags...!

SN_fan · Post by **SN_fan** » 26 Apr 2006, 16:42

if this is a normal backpack it' won't be a problem just the weight max (6kg)

Stanning · Post by **Stanning** » 03 Jun 2006, 19:45

PH-RVG wrote:
earthman wrote:So, does anyone know what the actual limits are for KLM, LOT and SWISS?

And does this also depend on the ground handler? LOT does the ground handling for KLM at WAW, which rules will they use?

KLM is totally unpredictable: it depends on a combination of how full the flight is and the mood of the person checking you in.
Official allowance is 20KG pp in Europe. On transatlantic flights are 2 pieces which cannot be heavier than 24 kgs.
Overweight is charged at 10% per kg of the first class rate on the route.
Golf bags have special rules.
Frequent flyers can take more luggage.

LOT and Swiss I do not know.

I guess this goes for basically any airline, in principle the allowance is set to 20 kilo's so we should stick to that

.

Important note about the piece-concept: For KLM this is only applicable to the USA, Canada and Mexico and a few other countries (a.o. Ghana, Nigeria), so NOT ALL transatlantic/intercontinental flights. Per piece the weight may be 23 kgs maximum. For exact info you can check KLM.com, all specifications can be found there.

Stepha380 · Post by **Stepha380** » 23 Jun 2006, 11:19

Weight limits for AF

to and from the U.S
2 luggages of 32kg
1 carry-on luggage of 12kg (L + l + H <1m) + 1 computer bag

In Europe
1 luggage of 20kg
(extra allowance luggage are awarded to FF)

I have no idea concerning Asia, South America, Africa..

Easy 20kg

BA in Europe 23kg

Ryanair (Paris-Dublin) 7€ per kilo above 15kg

Post by **sn26567** » 23 Jun 2006, 11:35

Jense wrote:Begin July, I'll travel to Lanzarote again (Thomas Cook) and my aim is to take my Photocase with me.

My daughter left to Lanzarote with Thomas Cook last Saturday with a suitcase weighing 32.6 kg and two large handbags. The check-in lady let her go without even blinking, even though the plane was full.

SN_fan · Post by **SN_fan** » 23 Jun 2006, 12:17

and your daughter was she travelling allone or with someone else because otherwise it a big mistake of the check-in agent

Stij · Post by **Stij** » 23 Jun 2006, 12:37

When I was studying in Italy (already 8 years ago, d*mn, I'm getting old) I travelled always with Sabena, sometimes even with 35 or 40kg. I always said that I was a student and then no questions were asked anymore. Not even that time that I stood there in Linate with two big bags, a pair of ski's and boots, a laptop a briefcase with books and a backpack! I even got an upgrade!

With Ryanair on the other hand pay attention!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Dublin the scales sometimes indicate 0.4kg or something else , even when nothing is on. But when Ryanair measures the weight they FORGET to deduct this 0.4kg. And this is not a story I heard, this is own experience.

Cheers,

Stij

P.S. Actually Ryanair is really beginning to bug me, last flight I did with them there was no more paper in the lavatory. So I went to the galley and informed the magazine reading cabin attendant about this. The response was "I know", and she continued reading. They used te be OK, value for money, but now prices are going up, and service is going down, way down.

744rules · Post by **744rules** » 23 Jun 2006, 12:45

Mind that in case of loss, you only will be refunded the weight of your bag. If no actual weight is mentioned on the ticket, the maximum allowed wgt will be refunded. This weight is dependant of the kind of ticket, the class, the sector (piece concept vss weight concept), the airline, .......

earthman · Post by **earthman** » 23 Jun 2006, 15:10

744rules wrote:Mind that in case of loss, you only will be refunded the weight of your bag. If no actual weight is mentioned on the ticket, the maximum allowed wgt will be refunded. This weight is dependant of the kind of ticket, the class, the sector (piece concept vss weight concept), the airline, .......

I thought the lost baggage rules were recently changed? At least in the EU?

DAT202D · Post by **DAT202D** » 23 Jun 2006, 15:38

Jense wrote:These are the dimensions of the backpack:
lowepro.com wrote:Size (Main): 13W x 5.3D x 18.9H in. / 33 x 13.5 x 48 cm
I'm really annoyed about it because no way I'll let it check in as cargo with the other bags...!

Not sure how it's arranged on charter flights but I have the same thing. I'll be leaving for Thailand next week and i'll be carrying my lowepro bag + my laptop bag. My travelagency just called Emirates to check and they said it wasn't a problem at all, now they've put the details into my file.

Maybe you should do the same?

744rules · Post by **744rules** » 23 Jun 2006, 15:59

earthman wrote:
744rules wrote:Mind that in case of loss, you only will be refunded the weight of your bag. If no actual weight is mentioned on the ticket, the maximum allowed wgt will be refunded. This weight is dependant of the kind of ticket, the class, the sector (piece concept vss weight concept), the airline, .......
I thought the lost baggage rules were recently changed? At least in the EU?

Sorry, could be. It's too long I'm out of the pax-related stuff. Anyway, this is how it used to be.

DAT202D · Post by **DAT202D** » 30 Jun 2006, 00:03

Anyone that can help me here?
I'm all packed to leave tomorrow (friday) with lufthansa to frankfurt, then with emirates to dubai, again emirates to bangkok..

My main baggage weights 27,5 kg... which i'm only allowed 20kg.. but i'll be going to Thailand for 12 months so I really hope I'll not be charged for this..

Anyone with advice? I do need all the stuff i'm taking

Also, if they let me through at BRU, will the luggage be reweight at FRA and Dubai? Or will it go directly on the planes heading for Bangkok?

Thanks for helping me out.. it's kinda urgent :p

earthman · Post by **earthman** » 30 Jun 2006, 02:29

I don't know about BRU, but in AMS nobody ever bothers to weigh your hand luggage, so I suggest you put all heavy items in there.

And remember to pretend it's easy to lift at the airport. Keep smiling.

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Actual luggage weight limits

Actual luggage weight limits