Back in the old days, writes Alex McWhirter, the rules on airline baggage allowances were simple. Economy class passengers could check in 20kg, while people in First class were allowed 40kg.
Those days are gone. Over the years the differences have blurred thanks to the arrival of different classes and the advent of loyalty schemes. To cap it all, the picture has become even more confusing as some carriers now use their baggage allowance as a marketing tool.
The chart overleaf is our guide to some of the major airlines and their baggage allowances in different regions, including how much you might have to pay if you exceed them. It is thoroughly researched, but is not definitive.
It is generally accepted that check-in staff will turn a blind eye if your baggage weight is only a few kilos over the limit (that may not be the case with some of the budget carriers). But be aware that there is no hard and fast rule concerning airline generosity, especially today, when carriers are trying to cut costs and grab revenue.
Bear in mind that a plane’s fuel consumption – and hence the flight’s operating cost – is related to the weight on board, although much depends on the route, how well loaded the flight is and, crucially, which staff are on duty.
Where airlines do seem to crack down on excess baggage and charge almost without exception is on the abundant “worker” routes between the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. That is because charging for large amounts of excess baggage (on a route where passengers take along bulky consumer items as gifts or for local resale) is a nice money earner. At gateway airports such as Dubai and Bahrain, it’s routine to see staff at adjacent counters happily collecting their tolls from passengers. It can be a similar scenario when flying out of Europe to certain countries in Africa.
Frequent travellers receive more generous allowances because they have status in loyalty schemes (see panel, right). For example, gold tier members of Star Alliance are afforded an extra 20kg when flying with member carriers, or an additional piece free of charge.
Even so, reader feedback suggests frequent travellers should be careful not to lose out when booking Star airlines and their partners. That is because not all Star carriers enrol partners in the same alliance. As reader Pete Rejchrt discovered: “Neither SA Express or Airlink would honour my extra Star gold allowance even though I had booked my flights through the South African Airways (SAA) website and those carriers operate within the SAA alliance,” he told Business Traveller. It could be a similar story when flying with Silk Air into Singapore Airlines’ city-state hub.
In other cases, you may be connecting between carriers who grant different allowances even though they are part of the same alliance, you hold one ticket and are through-checking. When reader Paul Forman, a silver tier member of Cathay Pacific’s Marco Polo Club, flew Economy class Hongkong-London-Manchester with Oneworld carriers, he assumed he was entitled to Cathay Pacific’s 30kg allowance for both ways. But on the return leg, BA staff at Manchester played by the rule book and would only grant the carrier’s regular 23kg for the link to Heathrow, so an excess fee was charged (see “Ask Alex”, Business Traveller, March 2010).
The crucial bits of advice are – when packing, if in doubt leave it out, and join a frequent flyer scheme. Following on from that, always double-check your entitlement and, when transferring flights, it’s best to allow for the lower limit.
Additional research by Alisha Haridasani and Divya Hiranandani
Frequent flyer scheme allowances
BRITISH AIRWAYS Gold and silver Executive Club members can carry two bags up to 32kg in total in all cabins on all routes.
Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club silver members receive an extra 10kg except on US routes. Gold members receive an extra 15kg and Diamond members get 20kg (only one extra piece of luggage on US routes).The maximum weight of First and Business class baggage is 32kg per item, while Economy class is 23kg – bags weighing 24kg-32kg carry an excess charge of US$25 per item.
Emirates Skywards gold members get an extra 16kg, while silver members get 12kg. Passengers may check in multiple bags up to this allowance, but a 32kg limit applies to each bag.
Finnair Platinum, gold and silver Finnair Plus members are allowed 40kg of baggage free regardless of travel class.
Singapore Airlines Krisflyer PPS Club members (and immediate family members on the same flight) are entitled to 100 percent more baggage allowance on SIA and Silk Air. Krisflyer Elite gold receive 20kg extra to all destinations except the US and Canada, where they get one piece of extra luggage weighing up to 23kg.
United Airlines Mileage Plus Premier, Premier Associate and Star Alliance silver members get two 23kg bags each. Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive and Star Alliance gold members get three 32kg bags. There is a 45kg per-bag limit to all checked luggage.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club gold card holders can take one additional bag of up to 23kg irrespective of class of travel.
Alliance Allowances
STAR ALLIANCE Gold members get an extra 20kg or a third piece of luggage.
ONEWORLD Airline specific
SKYTEAM Airline specific
Click here for full details of baggage allowances for all airlines and regions. Adobe Reader required.
