Vietnam Airlines will implement a new piece concept baggage allowance policy on all its flights from August 1.
The Vietnamese flag carrier’s free baggage allowance will thereafter be based upon the number of pieces of baggage (and a weight limit for each of those bags) a passenger is travelling with, instead of the total amount of weight of an unrestricted number of bags.
Airlines usually apply either a weight concept or a piece concept to their baggage allowance policies. The former allows passengers to check in bags up to a total weight stipulated by the airline, and this weight can be spread across as many bags as passengers like. The latter means that passengers may check in only a limited number of bags, and each bag has a maximum weight limit stipulated by the carrier.
For example, fellow Southeast Asian flag carrier Singapore Airlines applies a weight concept on flights to and from all destinations, except to and from the United States where a piece concept applies.
Applying a piece concept helps airlines reduce costs, David Yu, adjunct professor of finance and New York University Shanghai who specialises in aviation, told Business Traveller Asia-Pacific.
“Not only does this avoid very heavy individual pieces, making it easier for logistics, but also this should mean overall less cost in terms of weight for the airline,” he said.
“More airlines are moving towards baggage by piece versus by weight concept. In general with the by weight policy, rarely does the full capacity of the weight allowance for each piece get utilised by the passenger.”
Checked baggage
With Vietnam Airlines’ new policy, business class passengers will get a free allowance of one piece of checked baggage (32kg) on domestic Vietnam routes and the carrier’s Vietnam-Southeast Asia services, and two pieces (32kg each) on routes from Vietnam to Northeast Asia, Europe, Australia and the US.
Premium economy travellers will be entitled to check one piece (32kg) of baggage on the domestic Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route, and two pieces (23kg each) on flights departing from Vietnam to Northeast Asia, Europe, Australia and the US.
Passengers travelling in economy class will get free allowance of one piece (23kg) on domestic Vietnam routes and on those from Vietnam to Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Europe and Australia, whilst they will be able to carry two pieces (23kg each) on the airline’s Japan and US services.
From August 1 to December 31 this year, economy class passengers travelling to and from Europe and Australia will get an extra piece of baggage allowance (up to 23kg). Vietnam Airlines will also offer discounts of up to 50 per cent on pre-purchase and additional baggage charges.
Please refer to the two tables below for details of the new baggage allowance policy:
Baggage allowances for tickets issued or exchanged on or after August 1 for travel between August 1 and December 31, 2019:
| Routes | Business class | Premium economy | Economy class |
| Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City | 1 piece (32 kg) | 1 piece (32 kg) | 1 piece (23 kg) |
| Domestic routes (except Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City) | 1 piece (32 kg) | 1 piece (23 kg) | 1 piece (23 kg) |
| Southeast Asia and Indochina | 1 piece (32 kg) | 1 piece (23 kg) | 1 piece (23 kg) |
| China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea | 2 pieces (32 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) | 1 piece (23 kg) |
| Europe and Australia | 2 pieces (32 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) |
| Japan; and from Japan to Asia and Australia | 2 pieces (32 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) |
| The Americas | 2 pieces (32 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) |
| Other routes | 2 pieces (32 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) | 1 piece (23 kg) |
Baggage allowances for tickets issued or exchanged on or after August 1 for travel on or after January 1, 2020:
| Routes | Business class | Premium economy | Economy class |
| Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City | 1 piece (32 kg) | 1 piece (32 kg) | 1 piece (23 kg) |
| Domestic routes (except Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City) | 1 piece (32 kg) | 1 piece (23 kg) | 1 piece (23 kg) |
| Southeast Asia and Indochina | 1 piece (32 kg) | 1 piece (23 kg) | 1 piece (23 kg) |
| China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea | 2 pieces (32 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) | 1 piece (23 kg) |
| Europe and Australia | 2 pieces (32 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) | 1 piece (23 kg) |
| Japan; and from Japan to Asia and Australia | 2 pieces (32 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) |
| The Americas | 2 pieces (32 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) |
| Other routes | 2 pieces (32 kg/each) | 2 pieces (23 kg/each) | 1 piece (23 kg) |
In addition, the total dimensions (width + height + depth) of each piece of checked baggage must not exceed 203cm.
Currently, the Vietnamese flag carrier’s free baggage allowance on most of its flights is determined by the total weight of luggage with which passengers travel.
On flights to/from the Americas, however, a piece concept applies: both economy class passengers and business class passenger can bring up to two pieces of luggage weighing a maximum of 23kg each. The pieces also must have a maximum dimension of 158cm. The only difference between economy class and business class baggage allowance on these flights is that for economy class passengers, the total dimension of the two pieces must not exceed 273cm (107in). Although Vietnam Airlines does not explicitly say so, it would appear therefore that business class passengers may bring luggage with total dimensions of 316cm.
Passengers who have purchased tickets before August 1 are still eligible for the standard allowance shown on their existing tickets.
Hand baggage
As for hand baggage, the number of pieces allowed will remain the same, while the weight of each piece allowed will be increased from the current standard of 7kg per item.
The new policy will allow business class and premium economy passengers to carry two pieces (18kg total) with them on the flight, while economy class passengers will be entitled to one piece not exceeding 12kg. Meanwhile, the total dimension of a single hand baggage item must not exceed 115cm.
Implementing these changes to its baggage policy will “unify Vietnam Airlines’ policies with major airlines, therefore providing extra convenience for passengers having connecting flights with other airlines”, the airline said in a press release.
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific recently reported that the carrier has introduced a new “Superlite” hand baggage only economy class fare. There is no free checked baggage allowance for this kind of “Economy Super Lite” ticket.
We’ve also put together a handy guide showing the free hand baggage allowances of various major airlines serving the Asia-Pacific region.
Additional reporting by Michael Allen
