Overweight baggage, what to do ?

[firebird]

Hello all,

 

I have a 20kg baggage allowance.

I expect they will be almost happy if I dont turn up at the check in desk with more than 25kg.

 

But I have way more kg,

 

I have 3 smallish suitcases, with, 10kg, 11gk, and 15kg. weight,

plus 2 back packs, with about 8kg and 5kg in each

 

I was going to check in the some bags what add weight to about 25kg

Then carry the rest as hand luggage.

 

So what happens if I get to the gate with nmy 15kg siut case ?

and the back pack ?

 

and the big, but light 2kg , box of toys for the kids?

 

Will they take the 15kg bag off me at the gate, and put in the hold?

 

I really dont want to pay overweight charges.

I was planning on my other travel mate with me at the airport also, to just keep sit down, adn mind my additional bags, so the girl / guy at the check in dont see them ?

 

vette

[Bookworm]

1 - Depends on who you are travelling with, but if it's one of the budget ones, don't count on them "being happy" with the extra weight, they will charge you for every gram over, and it is expensive.

 

2 - You need to make sure your hand luggage complies in size with the regulations stated on your ticket or they WILL make you check it in. ANd you're only allowed ONE bag, including handbag, so that if you have both a flight case and a handbag, you'll have to put the handbag in the flight bag.

 

3 - You are allowed up to 20 kgs hold luggage in ONE suitcase. If you have more than 1, you need to pay for that, but it doesn't add to your weight allowance! You are paying for extra luggage, NOT extra weight!

 

4 - If you try to do what you say, they will be aware of it as you try to board the plane if not before, and you could get some serious flak from the staff as well as other passengers if you delay the flight by your actions.

 

The good news is that you if have kids travelling with you and they have a ticket each, then they have a luggage allowance too, so as long as the number of flight bags doesn't exceed the number of heads, you'll be ok, BUT you must check the dimensions AND you must be able to lift the hand luggage and place it in the overhead luggage without assistance.

 

Be very careful, and buy one of those hand scales thingies to check, because if you have to pay for extra at the airport and not booked ahead, they will clobber you with really high charges.

 

Another solution would be to repack taking 1/2 the stuff you're planning on taking. ;-) In my experience of travel, people always take more than they need to and still leave behind the one thing they could really have done with! ;-)

[buzby]

Depending on airline, you may be able to 'pool' your allowance across all travelling with you - don't expect this on the budget airlines. An alternative is to ship the case by a specialist service to your foreign destination, and arrange a pick-up for the return. It is expensive but nothing like the airline charges.

Edited May 27, 2010 by buzby

[jack1966]

wear lots of layers of the clothes from the cases ,

 

just a thought

[farmlama]

im travelling in june and have a 5kg weight limit on my hand baggage, so you most likely wont be able to put your extra there

[buzby]

im travelling in june and have a 5kg weight limit on my hand baggage, so you most likely wont be able to put your extra there

 

If you only get 5Kg in hand luggage, you'll probably get a fair amount for checked in baggage, so not much of an issue?

[farmlama]

we each have 15k each and 10k for the baby so a total of60 if you include hand luggage

[buzby]

Pretty good - don't forget, carry on baggage needs to FIT into the overhead lockers, you'd not be allowed to go through security then to the ramp with something that wouldn't fit - push chairs and boosters excepted.

[londonaffair]

If you are travelling with Virgin or BA, you can pay 32 pounds for each additional luggage when you check in online. That way you can check extra luggage which allows you another 23kg in weight.

[firebird]

Well, I packed as best as I could, and put all the very heavy things into a smallish suitcase that I can 'carry on'

It weighed 17,5 kg, but looked light.

Then I had 12kg, in my rucksack, that nearly broke my back.

I was glad to get it off me.

 

Then I checked in 2 suitcases, with a total weight of 29kg.

The girl didnt make any question, as my limit was indicated on my ticket as 20kg.

 

So, all in all, a good flight.

 

'f'bird