Excess luggage allowance withdrawn

[laura c]

I just returned from Thailand with Emirates - I only found out about the change a few days before my return flight so gave them a call and they advised that they will be enforcing excess baggage charges for diving kit after 14 May.

That said, when I checked in at Bangkok airport with 27.5kg in my main bag plus 2 items of hand luggage (probably weighing about 15kg) they didn't even blink. Didn't even have to mention that I had diving equipment.

Air Asia on the other hand tried to charge me for being 800g overweight!!

[divebunnie]

I know, every time I go through customs, I come out in a cold sweat. It is not just the potential fine (I got busted big time on a flight to Korea waaay back in 1990… they asked to weigh my 20kg hand luggage!!! Well, I was going for a year.) it is the way they look at you like you have broken the law.

And like some of you, my argument is that I weigh only 45kg, so surely this cannot be an issue of the overall weight of myself and my luggage.

Since I have become a diver, it's even worse, so I too go on the plane with pockets stuffed full of batteries, my handbag big enough to hold a laptop etc.

I have discovered the joy of duty free though. Of course they are not going to limit you there, so I too go on board armed with about four bags of shopping, containing all sorts of essentials, like wine, perfume, soap, mozzy spray, bikinis, clothes, ipods, etc.

[sheepless]

Wow, I feel fortunate that I got away with a 21kg bag on SleazyJet a couple of weeks ago coming back from a dive trip to Cabo de Palos!

Lucky I didn't buy the stock of chorizo and olive oil that I had been planning.

[samui13]

Just got back from manado flying singapore. Our luggage came in at just under weight at 39kg for two of us so we didnt get charged. They actually did not seem to look at the weight at all. Hand luggage was also not weighed. I think if you are a couple of kilos over they will not make a charge. Fingers crossed!!!