Family of 4 with 15kg luggage allowance each - separate cases?

pretzelnut

You may have just got someone new, who deosnt really know much about anything yet.

They may have just read 15kg bagage allowance and just assumed that each bag must weigh no more than 15kg per person, easy mistake for a newbie to make.

Just ring TC tommorrow and double check.

uncovered

this combined suitcase mullarkey is one o fmy bugbares. Each airline has different policies and some change their policies mid year.

A couple of years ago I flew with Jet2. I travel with them every year, we are a family of 4, 2 adults 2 kids. We got 20kg each allowance and on their website it clearly stated that if you booked as a group you could 'pool' your weight allocation, obviously the case has to be under the 32kg weight as had already been mentioned.

We never had a problem with this for a couple of years, then we turned up at Alicante to head home and were first in the queue. Put the suitcases on the scales, no problems. One was 22 and the other 23, I had an allowance of 80kg so great. But no, the spanish checker inner said I was overweight as the limit was 20kg a case and that I should pay 30 euro or something. I tried to explain about the pooling business but just got a shrug o fthe shoulders. The whole queue behind me were looking, no doubt thinking I was overweight and kicking up a stink. I was kicking up a stink, because they were trying to con me, I had paid for 80kg wieght allowance, the kids paid a full adult price ticket, and I was only using 45kg of that yet they wanted extra. Anyway she wasn't backing down so we were pulled to one side to open up the cases to try and get shot of 5kg, very embrassing.

As we were unpacking I heard another conflab at the check in. The next family were having the same problem, and the mother of the group was giving the same argument as me. I chipped in explaining I had the same problem. A supervisor got involved and it was all washed over and we were allowed to check in with no extra charge. I write to JET2 complaining, got a letter back which lead me to believe they did not actually understand what my problem was.

Went with Easyjet last year and the check in at Newcastle said there was no problem with pooling our allowance, but I think the problem lies on your return journey. So we now have these electronic scales and normally take two cases and a holdall, just to make sure the cases are underweight and the holdall holds the excess.

cazcam

thanks for the details of your experience "uncovered". Very interesting. Think we will pack 2 spare holdalls just in case the agent at Thomas Cook proves to be right. I will be checking my tickets when they arrive and may contact TC before we fly for their advice on the combined allowance. I hope this doesn't happen and catch a lot of people out when they are checking in.:eek:

sal-ad_daze

uncovered wrote: »

this combined suitcase mullarkey is one o fmy bugbares. Each airline has different policies and some change their policies mid year.

A couple of years ago I flew with Jet2. I travel with them every year, we are a family of 4, 2 adults 2 kids. We got 20kg each allowance and on their website it clearly stated that if you booked as a group you could 'pool' your weight allocation, obviously the case has to be under the 32kg weight as had already been mentioned.

We never had a problem with this for a couple of years, then we turned up at Alicante to head home and were first in the queue. Put the suitcases on the scales, no problems. One was 22 and the other 23, I had an allowance of 80kg so great. But no, the spanish checker inner said I was overweight as the limit was 20kg a case and that I should pay 30 euro or something. I tried to explain about the pooling business but just got a shrug o fthe shoulders. The whole queue behind me were looking, no doubt thinking I was overweight and kicking up a stink. I was kicking up a stink, because they were trying to con me, I had paid for 80kg wieght allowance, the kids paid a full adult price ticket, and I was only using 45kg of that yet they wanted extra. Anyway she wasn't backing down so we were pulled to one side to open up the cases to try and get shot of 5kg, very embrassing.

As we were unpacking I heard another conflab at the check in. The next family were having the same problem, and the mother of the group was giving the same argument as me. I chipped in explaining I had the same problem. A supervisor got involved and it was all washed over and we were allowed to check in with no extra charge. I write to JET2 complaining, got a letter back which lead me to believe they did not actually understand what my problem was.

Went with Easyjet last year and the check in at Newcastle said there was no problem with pooling our allowance, but I think the problem lies on your return journey. So we now have these electronic scales and normally take two cases and a holdall, just to make sure the cases are underweight and the holdall holds the excess.

This exact same thing happened to us!
We were a party of 6 adults and knew the cases must be lighter on the way back as they had no sunlotions, shampoos, books etc.as they had all been used/left behind. We had no duty free cigs and only one bottle of spirit but the cases were all overweight (oh they'd been fine outbound) we got stung for a very hefty excess charge!

Endora_2

Hubby & I got a holiday to Cyprus booked in May with Thomas Cook and will be flying with Thomas Cook Airlines. Initially we were told by the travel agent that our max allowance was 15kg each, when we asked if we could combine the 2 allowances together into one suitcase of 30kg they said no but then I emailed Thomas Cook Airlines and finally they emailed back a reply which states that we CAN indeed have 1 suitcase for the both of us not weighing more than 30kg in total. On mentioning this to TC travel agent when collecting tickets last week they were suprised and said they tell all their customers that the baggage allowance is per person and not to combine it. We have therefore printed off the reply email from TC Airlines to take with us when we depart from Gatwick just in case they try and charge us for the one suitcase being 30kg. Always best to be safe than sorry.:A

Pollycat

Endora
I'd never ever take just one case between 2 of us.

If it goes missing, you're up the proverbial creek without a paddle (or any clothes :cool:).

To me, that's being safe rather than sorry.

I've also noticed (can't remember which airport or airline) that after checking in, some heavy bags have to be taken to another area of the airport to be handed in, instead of going off down the usual route behind the check-in staff.
That's fine if you've got plenty of time but may be a bit of a hassle if you're running late.

Murphy_The_Cat

Endora wrote: »

I emailed Thomas Cook Airlines and finally they emailed back a reply which states that we CAN indeed have 1 suitcase for the both of us not weighing more than 30kg in total. :A

But did it also categorically state that you wouldn't get charged a surcharge, for an 'overweight' item, for both legs of your journey ?
If not, be very wary.

*Chattie*

personally I'd be more concerned about lifting and lugging round a 30kg case myself let alone the baggage handlers when it comes to stairs in your hotel, in and out of car/taxi/bus?

spiro

More and more airlines appear to be moving to the 'no pooling' rule. I suspect this is more about extracting extras from the customers like 'excess baggage'.
I also agree about putting 2 peoples luggage in one case is more problomatic in the even of lost or delayed luggage. If you travel as a couple a mix you luggage between the 2 cases at least loosing one case is not a complete disaster.

itsakidsworld

Keep an eye on the weight of your hand luggage as well as certain airlines have reduced this weight from 10k to 5k- ouch!!!! Package holiday reps are terrible at in-resort airports for stinging you for anything they can make a few quid on- all bonuses so be careful of that rep who is the guy with the deep tan and white teeth- he is the worst!!!!!!!!!