OWE (LONE4) Baggage Allowance

[tuapekastar]

I have just received an e-mail from 2 friends travelling on a Oneworld Explorer LONE4 ticket, issued by AA. They say (I'll paraphrase here) that they had an issue with the weight of their luggage on a flight from LHR to SIN. The e-mail is not exactly awash with detail (I have asked for more) but I believe it was QF10 (on the QF flight number), and they were asked to pay excess baggage. The e-mail says 'we believe we're entitled to 32 kgs each' which implies to to me that they (or at least one of them) had something less than 32kgs and were asked to pay excess baggage fees. They argued, and didn't have to pay, but were looking to me (I booked the tickets ) for something definitive that they could thrust in front of any future checkin person (they have SIN-BKK on AY, BKK-HKG on CX, and HKG-MEL on QF left) who may question them, to back themselves up.

My searching here and at FT finds that, as far as I can tell, the 'piece system' applies to all xONEx fares. However an unequivocal definition of the 'piece system' is elusive (my best understanding is 2 pieces, each not exceeding a certain size, and each not exceeding 32kgs). Unsure if this varies with class of travel.

So just wondering if anyone can:

1) Confirm what the allowance for my friends should be, and;
2) Provide any link that I can pass onto them showing that this is so (and that they can print and carry as 'proof').

Thanks

 

[Dave Noble]

The OWE ticket has an allowance of 2 pieces

Typically this is 2x32 Kg ( though on AA and according to rumour, soon on BA it is 2x32Kg )

It is detailed in the fare rules

"BAGGAGE REGULATIONS - THE PIECE SYSTEM APPLIES TO PASSENGERS TRAVELLING ON A ONEWORLD EXPLORER FARE."

If they had more than 2 pieces , then they were correctly charged excess fees, if they only had 2 pieces each then they should be able to claim it back

Dave

 

[aus_flyer]

Typically this is 2x32 Kg ( though on AA and according to rumour, soon on BA it is 2x32Kg )

Dave, not sure what you mean here.
(I know it's 2 bags, each not exceeding 32kg, but not sure if that's what you're saying?)

 

[ColinP]

http://www.oneworld.com/partner/baggagepolicy.cfm

 

[NM]

Dave, not sure what you mean here.
(I know it's 2 bags, each not exceeding 32kg, but not sure if that's what you're saying?)

I think Dave was referring to AA's policy that they charge a fee for bags between 50lb and 70lb. They will not accept any single piece that weighs more than 70lb (32kg), but do charge an extra fee which I think is US$25 for bags between 50lb and 70lb. However, on OWE I have checked a bag between 50lb and 70lb on AA and not been charged.

I believe the AA policy is supposed to apply to AA domestic flights only and if the flight is in conjunction with a OWE fare than the weight fee should not be applied. However, people have reported being charged this fee when on OWE.

But in the OP case, the passengers are entitled to two pieces each up to 32kg when on a OneWorld Explorer. If they had a paper ticket, it would show 2PC in the baggage allowance field on each segment.

If you purchase a separate ticket for segments within a OWE, the OWE baggage allowance does not apply to the extra segments.

 

[tuapekastar]

Thanks for the responses, which confirmed what I suspected. Think I'll just provide them a link to the fare rules (copy of relevant part of star files).

 

[Dave Noble]

I believe the AA policy is supposed to apply to AA domestic flights only and if the flight is in conjunction with a OWE fare than the weight fee should not be applied. However, people have reported being charged this fee when on OWE.

Nope. The AA allowance applies to AA flights. The OWE allowance is 2 pieces, the weight of the pieces is dependant upon that which the carrier allows; there is no pre-defined weight for a piece

Note: BA have announced today that from 11 October their limit will also drop to 23Kg per piece ( see http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagpolicy/public/en_gb )

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

Dave, not sure what you mean here.
(I know it's 2 bags, each not exceeding 32kg, but not sure if that's what you're saying?)

I was saying that the allowance is 2 pieces. Most carriers allow each piece to be 32Kg , but AA and soon BA allow 23Kg per piece

If they had 2 pieces and did not exceed that carriers piece weight limit, then they should not have been charged excess. If they were on a QF flight, then the allowance should have been 2 x 32 Kg ,

Dave

 

[NM]

Nope. The AA allowance applies to AA flights. The OWE allowance is 2 pieces, the weight of the pieces is dependant upon that which the carrier allows; there is no pre-defined weight for a piece

Note: BA have announced today that from 11 October their limit will also drop to 23Kg per piece ( see http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagpolicy/public/en_gb )

Dave

In many cases, this is actually going to cost the airlines more in both handling and weight. For example, if I need to carry 28kg, I am now going to spread that between two bags, so that with the weight of the extra bag included my total weight is likely to now be over 30kg and they need to handle 2 bags instead of one.

In fact, this is exactly what I did on my last flights. I could have fit everything into one single bag and been under 70lb (32kg). But I knew I would be over 50lb (23kg). So I split it into two bags which meant more volume and more handling at both ends and the interim connections.

I understand the 32kg (70lb) limit per item for OH&S reasons. But changing the weight limits for people travelling on the piece system is just a way of finding more revenue in my opinion.

I also notice that BA's new "simpler" policy states that they will not carry any bags in excess of 23kg. At least AA will carry up to 32kg but will just charge you a fixed fee for anything between 23kg and 32kg.

 

[Dave Noble]

In many cases, this is actually going to cost the airlines more in both handling and weight. For example, if I need to carry 28kg, I am now going to spread that between two bags, so that with the weight of the extra bag included my total weight is likely to now be over 30kg and they need to handle 2 bags instead of one..

Personally I think that the changes are an improvement. For those flying UK-OZ for example, QF allowances are 20/30/40Kg , travel on BA and the allowance is 23Kg in economy and 46Kg for WT+, J and F

Adding to that a 23Kg allowance for the piece of hand luggage, BAs allowance is far more generous than QFs

With the removal of the 6/9Kg hand bag limit, those excess 5Kg could have gone in your hand luggage

Dave

 

[NM]

With the removal of the 6/9Kg hand bag limit, those excess 5Kg could have gone in your hand luggage

I prefer to keep my carry-on luggage light .... so I can add my duty-free purchases along the way :mrgreen:.

 

[aus_flyer]

I think it starts to defeat the function of universality among OW carriers - particularly when travelling on a OWE ticket.

I imagine there will be many pax who will start they trip with QF at 32kg a piece, and then get stung by BA and AA along the way.

And AA certainly aren't flexible - not long ago I saw an elderly couple who were less than 10kg over the limit get fined $100USD for overweight baggage - they had multiple bags, each were slightly over the domestic limit.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

And its not just AA and BA moving to lower weight limits. A number of *A airlines have also moved to 23kg piece allowance (still 20kg ++ where weight concept applies). Has caught a number of people out since the change isnt being communicated well and the tickets merely say 2PC.

I would guess within a year that most airlines will have 23kg allowance on the piece concept.

Fortunately some airlines still provide extra for elite pax. While I don't normally need it, it is nice to know I can carry up to 40/60/80 kg on SQ for example.

 

[serfty]

Dave Noble: "The OWE ticket has an allowance of 2 pieces

Typically this is 2x32 Kg ( though on AA and according to rumour, soon on BA it is 2x32Kg ) ..."

Dave, not sure what you mean here.
(I know it's 2 bags, each not exceeding 32kg, but not sure if that's what you're saying?)

I was saying that the allowance is 2 pieces. Most carriers allow each piece to be 32Kg , but AA and soon BA allow 23Kg per piece ...

I was a bit confused as well until I released Dave had transposed the 2 and 3 as I bolded in red above ...

 

[Dave Noble]

Ooops, yup I had meant that AA and, from Oct 11, BA limit to 23KG

Dave