Maximum Baggage weight for an international flight

[celestia]

I'm not familiar with all the abbreviations for each airline yet so apologies in advance.

I'm travelling from Melbourne to Copenhagen around December this year for three months, travelling with Qantas and Finnair (both on economy class) The maximum baggage check-in allowance for Qantas is 32kg- but 20kg for 'other international flights'. Since the table on the website hasn't been filled in, the space above it suggests that for international flights to USA/Canada, "2 pieces" of luggage are allowed "per piece". Is this 20kg TOTAL weight limit? or is it "per piece"

For the Finnair flight, the 'schedule flight' lists 20kg. Does this mean for the entire duration of my trip I will have maximum check-in luggage set at 20kg total at any given moment? Or is it in fact 32kg? and do i get one piece or two? Especially since the Finnair flight is also the longer flight.

I am not apart of any frequent flyers program nor have I any accumulated points that can be transferred to me from other relatives etc etc

 

[simongr]

The piece system only applies to itineraries that contain US flights.

You have a limit of 20KG for your QF and AY flights.

 

[celestia]

Thanks heaps for the response.

I'm aware of the Qantas (QF) baggage policy hence the question was
" Is this 20kg TOTAL weight limit (for check-in baggage)? or is it "per piece" since the site did point out international flights to the US were xxkg counted 'per piece' and were allowed 2 instead of 1.

However, I don't seem to be able to find the '32kg limit only applies to US flights' on the Finnair website. And I asked the same question here as well. Is it 20kg in total weight limit for check-in baggage or is it 'per piece' ?

 

[NM]

Baggage Limits Clarification:

There are two baggage allowance systems used by airlines. These are:

• The Weight system - a total checked baggage weight per passenger
• The Piece system - a maximum number of pieces of checked baggage

All flight to, from or within the USA (and some counties in South America) operate on the piece system. Its normally two pieces for non-status economy passengers. Each airline using the piece system will set their own maximum weight per piece. Currently Qantas sets the limit per piece to 32kg. Some other airlines using the piece system set their limit to 23kg per piece.

Airlines/flights using the weight system set a maximum total combined weight for checked baggage per passenger. For international flights operating under the weight system (such as Qantas flights to Asia and Europe), the maximum weight per passenger is generally 20Kg 9total for all checked baggage for each passenger).

I assume you are flying QF to somewhere in Asia, then AY (Finnair) to Helsinki and then on to Copenhagen. So your total checked baggage weight limit on the Qantas flight is 20Kg (international flight operating on the Weight limit system) and will be 20Kg in the Finnair flights as well.

When you have connecting flights, it is common for the airline checking you in for the first flight to apply their baggage weight limit. But in your case this does not matter since both Qantas and Finnair set the same limit of 20Kg for non-status economy class passengers for the flights concerned.

 

[trooper]

...and it bears repeating that when "32kg maximum" is mentioned that is not necessarily an indication that you can check a bag weighing that much for free...

(The 32kg/70lb limit is an baggage handling OH&S thing IIRC.. anything heavier should theoretically be sent as "Cargo"...)

Many airlines allow bags up to that limit... but charge extra for every kilo over the actual "free" allowance of 20/23...and that can be $$$$

As NM says.. your allowance on those flights will be 20kg.....

 

[Skyring]

Checking in at Charleston a couple of weeks ago, my main bag was 53 pounds, and they wanted me to pay a hefty dollarage for the extra poundage.

However, I was able to transfer some stuff to my other bag, which was well under the limit, and that was OK.

It's not just the counter staff being weightnazis. Heavy individual bags inevitably lead to injuries amongst the baggage handlers. As a cabbie hoisting bags into the boot on a daily basis, I'm always careful when I spot on of those "heavy bag" tags.

You get twenty kilos checkin, seven kilos carryon, and a small item such as a handbag or camera. They don't weigh what you've got in your pockets.

 

[celestia]

Thank you so much everyone for responding!
I really appreciate it. I'll be better prepared on my trip than last time.

 

[drron]

An upcoming flight(hopefully) on BA and came across this on Manage my booking-
From 26 November 2008, a flat fee of GBP 25 will be applied to any checked bag weighing more than 23kg (51lbs). Any item weighing more than 32kg (70lbs) cannot be accepted as checked baggage.
All baggage in excess of the standard allowance will be charged for
Purchase excess baggage online in advance and receive a 20% discount on airport charges