Skip the check-in queues, but at a price

[Dave Noble]

Not sure that there are really going to be many customers for this, but who knows...

Personal Porter vows to eliminate airport delays and lost baggage by using what it considers the superior infrastructure of cargo delivery companies such as DHL.

But avoiding queues and lugging heavy bags around the airport, skipping the baggage carousel and an assurance your luggage will arrive at your hotel or home in one piece will come at a price.

To send one large bag from Sydney to London will cost $445.92 on top of your airfare, and it will have to be collected four days before your flight.

Full story at Skip the check-in queues, but at a price - Travel - smh.com.au


Dave

 

[spiggy_topes]

It can be worth it. Last year I found myself in London with a 30kg suitcase and a week of city-hopping in the US ahead before heading back to Australia. I ended up packing a single carry-on for the US visit and shipping the suitcase back to Brisbane, using a luggage delivery service at one of the big railway stations.

For about $500 it definitely saved my sanity, but getting the suitcase out of Customs at Brisbane was something else...I seem to remember there were three separate payments needed. It definitely took all morning!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I've heard of such services before. I can think of circumstances where it may be worthwhile (eg travelling to/through US with lots of stuff).

 

[JG1]

Its the way the industry will be heading. The cost to the airlines managing checked-in luggage tis completely out of proportion to the benefit.

Some airlines already actively encourage their passengers to use this type of service, whilst Northwest and US have partnered with such companies.

With luggage allowances reducing, excess fees increasing, the industry initiatives being implemented by IATA, and security issues becoming increasingly stringent, it will only be a matter of time before you will have to send your luggage ahead. Taking it to the terminal may not be an option.

Hoenstly, in 5 years time....the landscape will be fundamentally different.

Heathrow at the moment is just chaos and with the impending luggage restrictions from BA (23kg per bag - no matter which class you fly in), the passenger will be penalised further.

I'd be interested to know your views and opinions on this subject.

 

[Dave Noble]

Heathrow at the moment is just chaos and with the impending luggage restrictions from BA (23kg per bag - no matter which class you fly in), the passenger will be penalised further.

This is factually incorrect in most cases. The only people being penalised are those on Transatlantic itineraries in Y/W

Under the old regime, luggage allowances on BA for weight based routes were 23/23/30/40 Kg for Y/W/J/F . Under the new regime they are 1/2/3/3 pieces each of 23Kg. The Economy passenger is entitled to the same weight as before, just restricted in volume. Those in WT+ or above have a gain of 23/16/6 Kg given the number of pieces permitted

On Transatlantic routes , J and F passengers are better off with 3PC @ 23Kg vs 2PC @ 32Kg, so a gain of 5Kg

Economy and World Traveller Plus drop from 2 @ 32Kg to 2 @ 23Kg

There are a lot more passengers on non-Transatlantic itineraries than those travelling to North America , so most passengers are no worse off weightwise

Dave

 

[JG1]

This is factually incorrect in most cases. The only people being penalised are those on Transatlantic itineraries in Y/W

Under the old regime, luggage allowances on BA for weight based routes were 23/23/30/40 Kg for Y/W/J/F . Under the new regime they are 1/2/3/3 pieces each of 23Kg. The Economy passenger is entitled to the same weight as before, just restricted in volume. Those in WT+ or above have a gain of 23/16/6 Kg given the number of pieces permitted

On Transatlantic routes , J and F passengers are better off with 3PC @ 23Kg vs 2PC @ 32Kg, so a gain of 5Kg

Economy and World Traveller Plus drop from 2 @ 32Kg to 2 @ 23Kg

There are a lot more passengers on non-Transatlantic itineraries than those travelling to North America , so most passengers are no worse off weightwise

Dave

I think you misinterpreted what I said. I was not referring to actual weight allowances per class which are detailed as per your post.

What I was referring to was the new luggage weight allowance for individual pieces of luggage being no greater than 23kg.

 

[drron]

Yes but I could easily walk out of the airport dragging 2 32kg bags behind me but 3 23kg bags is going to be a real problem.Fortunately having travelled a few AA J segments i am finding it easier to cut back to 2 23kg bags.

 

[Dave Noble]

I think you misinterpreted what I said. I was not referring to actual weight allowances per class which are detailed as per your post.

What I was referring to was the new luggage weight allowance for individual pieces of luggage being no greater than 23kg.

Fair enough. You did state "impending luggage restrictions from BA (23kg per bag - no matter which class you fly in), the passenger will be penalised further." though. Most BA passengers are not being penalised though with the new restriction i would say and I would suggest that premium passengers are better off

Goin LHR-SYD for example, on QF/CX et al, the allowances are 20/03/40 Kg whilst BA allows 23/46/69/69 Kg plus BA allows another 45Kg for 1 piece of sporting goods

On a full QF 744 to London, the average allowance per passenger is 22.04Kg whilst on BA the average is 29.64 Kg and even economy is allowed more than QFs average

Dave

 

[simongr]

At this point I am thnking lugagge shipping is a very good and cheap idea...

 

[JG1]

Fair enough. You did state "impending luggage restrictions from BA (23kg per bag - no matter which class you fly in), the passenger will be penalised further." though. Most BA passengers are not being penalised though with the new restriction i would say and I would suggest that premium passengers are better off

Goin LHR-SYD for example, on QF/CX et al, the allowances are 20/03/40 Kg whilst BA allows 23/46/69/69 Kg plus BA allows another 45Kg for 1 piece of sporting goods

On a full QF 744 to London, the average allowance per passenger is 22.04Kg whilst on BA the average is 29.64 Kg

Dave

The irony with BA's new policy is that if you do carry excess luggage you might as well do it properly. Absoltely no point being a kilo over when you could be 23kg's over for the same price!

 

[Dave Noble]

At this point I am thnking lugagge shipping is a very good and cheap idea...

or taking more direct routings?

Dave

 

[JG1]

It can be worth it. Last year I found myself in London with a 30kg suitcase and a week of city-hopping in the US ahead before heading back to Australia. I ended up packing a single carry-on for the US visit and shipping the suitcase back to Brisbane, using a luggage delivery service at one of the big railway stations.

For about $500 it definitely saved my sanity, but getting the suitcase out of Customs at Brisbane was something else...I seem to remember there were three separate payments needed. It definitely took all morning!

If you choose your luggage delivery company carefully (ie find someone that specialises in door-to-door luggage delivery, as opposed to a freight forwarder or shipper for example) all paperwork is completed for you, the price you are quoted is the only price you pay so no additional payments and you just wait for your luggage to be delivered back to your home/office or wherever you requested.

 

[JG1]

Its the elderly passengers that will suffer the most. Managing 1 suitcase is difficuly enough for them, managing 2 will be impossible...espceically at the destination airport.

Either that or they change their packing habits...and have you ever told your granny that she can't do something that she's been doing for the last X number of years!

 

[trooper]

Personally I find 32kg suitcases a real cough to handle under most circimstances....two lighter ones are easier than one heavy if you ask me...YMMV of course....

I travel almost exclusively to the US, so get the benefit of the "piece" system... but these days I manage just fine with 2x23kg... and I take 15kg of sporting equipment within that allowance each time....


When I hit *G I suspect my extra allowance will be used to help out the ladies I travel with.....they can SHOP!!!!:shock: (Actually they are that good at it they could TEACH on the subject!! )