AA Oneworld luggage allowance

[lisemare]

Hi all ,

My husband and I are both ( Qantas Gold) OW sapphire and upon checking into LAX for an AA flight to Vancouver we’re asked to pay $100USD each ( 1 suitcase each ) as our bags were both 25kgs , 2 kilos over the allowed 23kgs I queried this and they advised on AA only OW emerald get extra weight up to 32kgs . Flying AA back and just want to clarify this ?

 

[sudoer]

My husband and I are both ( Qantas Gold) OW sapphire and upon checking into LAX for an AA flight to Vancouver we’re asked to pay $100USD each ( 1 suitcase each ) as our bags were both 25kgs , 2 kilos over the allowed 23kgs I queried this and they advised on AA only OW emerald get extra weight up to 32kgs . Flying AA back and just want to clarify this ?

From the oneworld website:

Extra baggage allowance for Sapphire frequent flyers*
As a Sapphire frequent flyer, the following special baggage privileges will apply when you fly on oneworld airlines;

• On international or domestic itineraries using the baggage allowance "weight" system - 15 kgs in addition to the ticketed Economy baggage allowance.
• On international itineraries, that include domestic sectors, using the baggage allowance “piece” system – one additional bag*, weighing up to 23kgs, up to a maximum of two pieces.
• On purely domestic itineraries, using the baggage allowance "piece" system, for tickets with no ticketed baggage entitlement - the assurance of one piece of checked baggage, weighing up to 23 kgs.

What is the baggage allowance on your itinerary? Is it a weight-based or piece-based allowance?

If weight based - I think you have been incorrectly charged.
If piece based - I think you have been correctly charged, as you are entitled to 2 pieces up to 23kg each.

In any case keep the receipt in case you have been incorrectly charged so it can be argued and hopefully refunded later.

 

[defurax]

The agent was correct, overweight baggage between 23 and 32 kg is only free for Emerald:

Overweight baggage
We don't accept checked bags over 100 lbs / 45 kgs.

First and Business Class, Executive Platinum and oneworld Emerald members can check baggage up to 70 lbs / 32 kgs at no extra cost.

But you are allowed 2 free bags as Sapphire, so just get check in another bag for free!

1st and 2nd checked bags are complimentary for:

• AAdvantage® Platinum Pro
• AAdvantage® Platinum
• oneworld® Sapphire members
• Confirmed Business Class customers*
• Confirmed Premium Economy customers**

 

[Himeno]

According to their website, what they told you is right (Sapphire gets 2 free bags, however an overweight charge if over 23kg).
However, there is an extra allowed allowed to Sapphire and Emerald members on top of what the airline normally provides (which has been quoted above while I was checking)

AA only mentions a Emerald extra allowance on their site.
Based strictly on what is said on both AA and oneworld sites, it appears that you should get the extra allowance as QFF Gold, however AA could argue that they already accounted for the oneworld extra in the baggage allowance lists.

I'd go for getting a 2nd bag (even a box).

 

[JohnM]

They are correct. AA is tight on the weight limit. Even as OW Emerald, I sometimes get nervous if I go a couple of kg over the 23kg but it was all good at around 22-25kg on six AA flights on my recent DONE5.

I did see one pax checking in at the premium check-in right in front of me get told to unload 2 or 3 kg, which made me twitchy, but I was OK at about 25kg. I assume it was a status thing but I did not delve into the reasons.

It's a bit of a pain as most other OWA airlines allow heavier bags, so it becomes a matter of fitting to the AA lowest common denominator, especially on RTW trips like I regularly do.

My understanding is that when they instituted 23kg (in fact 50lbs - which is actually a little under 23kg), it was an OH&S issue forced by the union.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was a couple kilos over a few weeks ago for an AA domestic. The check-in agent told me to take out a couple kilos to avoid the $100 charge.

I just carried it in the cabin.

 

[justinbrett]

The AA limit only applies if you book your AA flight on an AA ticket.

If you booked it as part of a QF international ticket (or other ow carrier such as BA) then normally the ticketed carriers baggage limit will apply.

This catch is, they only have to match the allowance for your ticketed cabin, not the extra allowance for ow status.

Ie, if you fly Y SYD-LAX-YVR, AA will match the QF Y allowance of 2x 23Kg, even though QF gives you 3x 23Kg.

If connecting to a QF international flight I have managed to get them to give me the extra allowance - their systems will charge excess all the way back to Australia which is unfair (their systems won't isolate just the AA legs) - so in my experience they just waive the cost.

Also - if you're pushing the limit, AA will weigh in pounds, not kilos, and you get 50 pounds, which is 22.68Kg.