How strict is SQ with baggage allowances?

[JohnK]

My mother is flying SYD-SIN-ATH tomorrow and has more than the WHY allowance. Is SQ strict in enforcing baggage allowances?

Her suitcase is around 28kgs and her carry-on is around 10kgs. She had much more but after a few words from me she is now down to "essentials" only. She has some gifts as well which she does not want to leave behind. I have offered to take these over in August as I will have 46kgs allowance but she wants to take them with her now.

I have not been able to find SQs excess baggage charges. Anyone know what they charge per kg?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Assume she has no status with *A.

Usually give 5kg leeway checked bags = 25kg for economy. For carryon depends on what she can get past security in Oz and Europe (Europe excl UK tends to be strict with carry on weight).

IIRC charge is 1% full fare per kg.

 

[JohnK]

Assume she has no status with *A.

Correct. No status with any carrier.

IIRC charge is 1% full fare per kg.

Is that full Y fare? Or full fare on ticket?

I guess we will find out tomorrow at check-in and she can decide what she wants to do.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Full Y fare. Excess charge rate doesn't vary by fare paid (think how complicated that would be).

 

[JohnK]

Sorry. I didn't mean the actual airfare paid. I meant full fare as shown on the ticket, excluding any discounts passed on by TA or carrier through sale fares.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Nope - higher than that, YY fare normally used.

 

[simongr]

Is there a bag limit on SQ? Given the over weightedness is a known issue - instead of going hrough the rigmarole of unpacking at the airport - perhaps putting in one smaller bag all the essentials that arent quite as essential as the other essentials might be teh way to go - that way at least one bag and be ejected quickly and easily (and its already packed for your trip over there John )

 

[Dave Noble]

The lowest YY Y basis fare is $2327 one way, so expect the excess baggage to be around $23 per kilogramme if they charge

Dave

 

[ethernet]

Fly Emirates.
I checked about that much, plus had a bold abount of hand luggage.
Guess what. They said want to check that in too?
I said I might be stretching things a bit ( given I was on a $399 special).
She said, no, its fine, no extra.Dumbfounded I checked in my 2nd bag.

I breezed through customs.
Consequences:-
The plane was 99% full. Boarding went smoothly, and lockers above were mostly empty - filled faster as not a stuff-the-overheads-a-thon. Left the gate on time - no delays.

Much later, I realised this was the best, most effective safety and anti-terorist measure yet! Nothing to rattle in case of air turblence, better balanced plane, plus a discreet, highly effective way of sussing out bad persons, or tagging them for extra attention should they decline such a generous offer. Plus one super-happy customer, and goodwill.

Compare this with nickel and diming pax, plus badwill generated by a check-in sting operations. Plus the speed of loading meant no costly slot delays. Clever Emirates. I don't think I look like a bad person, and don't know how often they do this, but I love em for it. They can sell QF, I don't care anymore - they have competition.

 

[kpc]

If the flight is not that full, she will proabbly get away with up to 30kgs (although 29 kgs "looks" better) on SQ without being charged excess luggage. SQ do not weigh hand luggage....or more precisely, have never weighed mine!:mrgreen:

 

[JohnK]

Called SIA in Australia yesterday afternoon and was told that excess baggage charges are A$40/kg when flying from Australia. Not sure if this is tied into the YY fare but that is the going rate. Could not get an accurate figure for the return flight from ATH but hopefully mum will have less in her luggage in 7 weeks time.

I was told that she is allowed 25kgs from Australia not 20kgs as stated on the ticket or the website. I think the bag weighs 28kgs on our scales at home right now, and everytime I have weighed mine in the past it has come up around 1.5kgs less on the checkin scales. Fingers crossed. I think her carry-on is now around 8-9kgs.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Called SIA in Australia yesterday afternoon and was told that excess baggage charges are A$40/kg when flying from Australia. Not sure if this is tied into the YY fare but that is the going rate. Could not get an accurate figure for the return flight from ATH but hopefully mum will have less in her luggage in 7 weeks time.

I was told that she is allowed 25kgs from Australia not 20kgs as stated on the ticket or the website. I think the bag weighs 28kgs on our scales at home right now, and everytime I have weighed mine in the past it has come up around 1.5kgs less on the checkin scales. Fingers crossed. I think her carry-on is now around 8-9kgs.

The allowance is 20kgs. They waive any excess charges if only slightly over, hence can take 25kgs.

 

[JohnK]

I understand but the lady on the phone yesterday said that any excess charges are calculated from 25kgs not 20kgs.

 

[Dave Noble]

I understand but the lady on the phone yesterday said that any excess charges are calculated from 25kgs not 20kgs.

If you don't have that officially in writing then I wouldn't rely on it at all and be prepared to pay up to $320 in excess fees . Your allowance is that which is given on the ticket

The only safe way to be sure to avoid excess fees is to ensure that luggage is kept within the allowance

Dave

 

[Happy Dude]

It might be a moot point by now JohnK, but here's a tip for those a few kg's over the limit.....

Point to the nearest large person (pick a 100kg+ type) and enquire whether that person pays more. Then highlight to the check in staff the ridiculousness of charging a 70kg passenger the same as one who is 100kg+, and then quibbling over a few kgs of luggage.

Obviously, this doesn't work if you're the 100kg+ type.

:mrgreen:

 

[simongr]

Have you ever got that to actually work?

 

[Dave Noble]

Point to the nearest large person (pick a 100kg+ type) and enquire whether that person pays more. Then highlight to the check in staff the ridiculousness of charging a 70kg passenger the same as one who is 100kg+, and then quibbling over a few kgs of luggage.

What does the weight of the passenger have to do with anything? the allowance is for checked baggage. There is nothing ridiculous being pointed out other than the passenger's own stupidity

Dave

 

[kpc]

One of the reasons my parents travel on SQ is that SQ are relatively lenient with excess luggage cf to other airlines; in the psat, they have also been asked to remove some "heavy" items from thier checked luggage and place it in their "carryon" to avoid excess baggage fees...as far as I'm aware, SQ have never weighed their carry-on luggage as well!

 

[Happy Dude]

What does the weight of the passenger have to do with anything? the allowance is for checked baggage. There is nothing ridiculous being pointed out other than the passenger's own stupidity Dave

A simple lesson in maths Dave....

Passenger A weighs 70kgs and is allowed limits of 20kgs for checked luggage and 7kgs of hand luggage. The total weight liability for the airline is therefore 97kgs.

Passenger B weighs, say, 105kgs and is allowed the same checked and hand luggage limits. The total weight liability for the airline is 132kgs.

So you can see how ridulous it is for airlines to charge Passenger A for being a few kgs over the arbitrary, albeit well documented, baggage limits. To some extent though, I agree that "foolish is the traveller that shows up at the airport with too much luggage".

It was meant to be a bit tongue-in-cheek (and is untested Simongr), but now that I've spelt it out, don't you think it is a compelling argument that excess baggage charges are a rort?

For the record and slightly more on-topic, I have been gouged for being 23kgs over the limit by the very unsympathetic SQ staff at KIX, one week after the Kobe earthquake in 1995, which occurred one week after I arrived for a 12 month teaching gig. I was relieved of the last 20,000 yen I had in my pocket, because that's all I had!! Thankfully I was quick thinking and told them I didn't have a credit card. I was not charged on the way over for the additional 23kgs, and the plane was very very empty on the way back (both sectors).

 

[maninblack]

It might be a moot point by now JohnK, but here's a tip for those a few kg's over the limit.....

Point to the nearest large person (pick a 100kg+ type) and enquire whether that person pays more. Then highlight to the check in staff the ridiculousness of charging a 70kg passenger the same as one who is 100kg+, and then quibbling over a few kgs of luggage.

Obviously, this doesn't work if you're the 100kg+ type.

:mrgreen:

My recalcitrant brother loves this argument too, but he's a skinny bugger. Nevertheless the airlines have to have some sort of uniform standard that is easy to enforce, even if it's a stupid one!

Can someone tell me the correct reason why baggage limits are lower for Asia/Europe than North America.

There are many silly things about the baggage limits though, like the size limits that they never check, most large suitcases and duffels exceed the limit. And of course the suitcase weight, my larger Tumi and Victorinox pieces weigh 6-7kg empty. Bought a couple of Samsonite Pro-DLX in London on sale last year, they are only about 4kg which gives you a bit of an advantage. A cheap but ok duffel will probably only weigh 2kg.

So weigh your bags empty and swap for a more lightweight piece if you are going to be overweight.