Luggage rant

Flying to Cyprus this Summer I was well within my 20kg limit. I had 2 hold bags though and was charged for the second. This was the first time I'd been told 'Yes, but you've only paid for 1 bag each.' I wonder what will happen if I try to board below 20kg but with my boots in a separate boot bag?

The airlines get craftier every month.

It doesn't help that you get 3 different descriptions of what's allowed. I think the next crackdown on the airlines bending the truth should be the variety of differences in 'rules' and their refusal to write to confirm when challenged.

I don't mind if I have to pay the going rate for a purchase. Just be transparent about that going rate and 'surcharges'. Airlines and insurance companies seem to be loathe to do this.

OldAndy wrote:Ridiculous suggestion Iceman and I take offence at your suggestion.
:evil:

Actually I tend to take one of my private physicians with me and let them carry all the medical kit :thumbup:

Phew, thought there was a sense of humour failure there :roll:

Nelly - what do you go dressed as in your fancy dress ;)

Mekka wrote:Flying to Cyprus this Summer I was well within my 20kg limit. I had 2 hold bags though and was charged for the second. This was the first time I'd been told 'Yes, but you've only paid for 1 bag each.' I wonder what will happen if I try to board below 20kg but with my boots in a separate boot bag?

The airlines get craftier every month.

Sorry to rain on your parade, but its crystal clear that you have a weight limit of 20kg in one regulated sized case when you fly. You are entitled to pool the weight of 2 cases with some airlines to the 40kg between you, but you cannot assume that 20kg means 4 bags weighing 5kg each, think about it as they are charging you to handle each additional one.....!!!
I guess my best suggestions would be:
1. Actually read what the weight limits are
2. If you can't find confirmation, phone or check online
3. Buy yourself a standard sized case that will weigh 20kg when full

As for boot bags, its also usually clear that your checked in hold limit of 20kg includes ski boots, if you choose to run the risk of losing them/having them battered by packing them in their own bag?
Therefore, 20kg suitcase = pack your boots in the case.
Otherwise, if your boots weigh 5kg you have 15kg left for your suitcase.

I'm not sure how much clearer than that it really needs to be to be honest. No offence intended, so please don't take any. :-)

Hand Baggage

All passsngers receive a hand baggage allowance of 5kgs when travelling on a Thomas Cook Airline flights. This cannot be combined together with other passengers or with any hold baggage.

Each person is allowed 1 item only. The size of the item cannot exceed 43 cm x 28 cm x 23 cm (17 x 11 x 9 inches) in size as recommended by Thomas Cook Airlines.For information on items that are not allowed in your hand baggage please click here.

Childs Trunki Cases are accepted as hand baggage as long as this is associated to a child travelling. This cannot exceed 5kgs in weight. If the weight limit does exceed this the Trunki will have to be checked into the hold. This will then be part of your hold baggage weight limit.

Please note, at some UK airports a charge for a Gate Bag will now be applied. This means if customers arrive at the boarding gate with more then one item of hand baggage (excluding airport shopping) the extra item/s will be taken and put into the hold. There is a fee of £40.00 per bag that will be charged.

Hold Baggage

There are no size restrictions for your hold baggage, however there is a weight resrtiction. No single case can weight any more then 30kgs. This is due to Health and Safety regulations for the baggage handlers.

Hold baggage can be combined between passengers providing they are all confirmed on the same booking reference. If passengers are travelling together but have separate booking references, you cannot combine the weight allowance.

I don't think that the one bag only hold luggage rule is made clear above. The site I checked before I flew. It is made clear for hand luggage. If it's the same for hold luggage why is it not mentioned.

I have been lulled into a false sense of security by airlines 'allowing' 'excesses' and now deciding to dot every I and cross every T. This is no reason for airlines to email one set of weights and dimensions, state another on their sites and then have a different view at the check in desk.

I did read the weight limits. They didn't mention that it was only one bag per person.

I have sought confirmation and found differing information. When I have phoned I have been told that I can't have a straight answer because it depends on 'security'. So I ring the airport. They say security restrictions are clearly stated, anything exceptional to that is down to the airline who won't answer my question.

I have a standard, light case. I have hand luggage that conforms to almost every airline's restrictions. I'm not a numpty who never travels. I work within the limits and usually well within.

Whether I choose to take my boots in my bag or pack them in my case and use my boot bag for clothes is hardly the relevant part of the argument. Will Thomas Cook now charge everyone on flights this winter if they have 17Kg of luggage in a suitcase and a boot bag? I doubt it. It would take too long. They enforce when it suits. Hardly providing clarity. But muddy waters make for more gullible folk to be chargable.

just becareful you can sometimes get away with scretching the rules in UK, but the return flight they are gonna get ya.

Iceman wrote:

Nelly - what do you go dressed as in your fancy dress ;)

There's always my birthday suit :lol:

Noooooooooo.......

Yes :)

My daughter has her own boots, the rest of us are relative novices so still hiring. Her ski boot bag is just a teeny bit wide at the base and does not fit in the damn green boxes so we have to split them and carry in our hand luggage!!!! Makes me furious tho when at Toulouse airport ( my that's a great airport..not)you see people with hand luggage that you could smuggle a child in with! You can bet that if I tried that I would get caught and charged their extortionate charges.