Thomson Hand Baggage allowance

purplestar133

I've just booked a holiday, flying from Manchester to Ibiza for 1 week.

I noticed after booking :mad: that their hand luggage allowance is only 5kg.

We have only flown with Ryanair before and only ever taken hand luggage and I'm sure their hand luggage allowance is 10kg. I thought this was more or less standard so I got a fright when I saw Thomson's.

With Ryanair, we checked in online and they never weighed hand luggage and were more interested in the size of the case.

My question is do Thomson usually weigh hand luggage? My heart is pounding now, scared I've made a big mistake!

NiftyDigits

You have made a big mistake. In fact more than one. Firstly, not bothering to read about to what you have agreed.
Then your assumption..

If you'd like to check-in any baggage to go in the hold, you can do this for extra charge based on the weight of the items being checked-in - up to a maximum of 25kg. Prices for checked-in baggage are shown below. If you've chosen a round-trip, the price shown is for your entire journey.

All passengers - except infants - get a 5kg hand luggage allowance as standard.

Please note, single items of luggage must not exceed 23kg so if you top up your hold allowance to 25kg, this will need to be split across 2 bags. Each passenger can check in a maximum of 5 bags.

You cannot move forward with your booking until you have ticked a box directly below that statement of facts.

Next to where you have to tick is written: I have read and accepted the Thomson baggage policy.

So, you'd better have a light looking bag, as you only have yourself to blame.
As to whether they weigh it or not...it's just pot luck isn't it?

I would usually be more sympathetic, but in this case it is clear that Thomson have you place ticks in boxes at every stage, to ensure that you understand.
For sure the next time you will read what it is to that you are agreeing.

Let's hope that you are lucky this time.

NFH

This is another reason why the European Commission is considering harmonising minimum cabin baggage allowances (size and weight) across all EU airlines. Airlines would be free to allow more than the legal minimum in order to offer a competitive advantage, but they would not be able to allow less than the legal minimum in order to catch out passengers like the OP who reasonably assumed that the allowance would be 10kg or more.

NiftyDigits

NFH wrote: »

This is another reason why the European Commission is considering harmonising minimum cabin baggage allowances (size and weight) across all EU airlines. Airlines would be free to allow more than the legal minimum in order to offer a competitive advantage, but they would not be able to allow less than the legal minimum in order to catch out passengers like the OP who reasonably assumed that the allowance would be 10kg or more.

Most airlines allow 7kgs. Ryanair and Easyjet are actually ununsual.

Reasonable assumption based on one airline? I don't agree. They agreed that they had read something that they didn't. I would have more sympathy if the OP admitted that they couldn't read.

Neil49

We went on a Thomson fly cruise recently (where you get a 7kg allowance) and, Yes, they did weigh the hand baggage.

In this instance we were checking in hold baggage as well but I presume you have to check in at the desk regardless of whether you have just hand baggage (which is where the difference is with Ryanair).

UKThingy

Just come back from a Thomson holiday, first thing they ask for is your hand luggage 5Kg. allowed one case in the hold 15kg.
Got checked in both directions.
Enjoy your holiday

NFH

As others have suggested, I think that Thomson check the weight of cabin baggage only when you check in your hold baggage. When I had the misfortune of flying with Thomson 4 years ago, we deliberately kept our cabin baggage out of sight when we checked in. They looked for it but couldn't see it. It worked, and in both directions we took "oversized" and "overweight" cabin baggage on to the plane (which would have been well within limits on BA or Easyjet and possibly even Ryanair). I see that Thomson have since increased the permitted size to reasonable dimensions but the weight restriction remains unreasonably low.

purplestar133

Thanks for (most of) your replies.

I don't mind paying an extra £30 or so to check in a bag. When I first flew with Ryanair I was adamant I would need to pay to check in a bag. I only decided against it when I found out that to do that I would also need to pay extra to check in at the airport too.

I have not seen any mention of online check in for Thomson, so don't mind - now that I have calmed down - paying to check in a bag.

I am a relatively inexperienced traveller and I am also a worrier. I always read the terms and conditions but I didn't this time. It was such a leap for me to be booking a holiday to start with, I told myself to lighten up and I'd read them later. I was trying the 'life's too short' route for once in my life. I did read the terms and conditions later, and that's how I found out my mistake. I am paying the price.

I was extremely upset when I posted my original message. I believe the words "my heart is pounding" would have made that clear. I don't think, NiftyDigits, that it was necessary for you to speak to me like that. You are right, I should have read the terms and conditions but I don't believe you needed to write in such a reprimanding tone. If you think I am an idiot for what I have done and have no sympathy and don't have an answer to my actual question, why post? Does it make you feel good about yourself to berate and belittle other people? Does it make you feel good to upset people? I think it does, I think you feel above people like me, and I think that is a horrible characteristic.

I won't be reading your response as I am sure it will be in the same vein as your previous replies.

NiftyDigits

In fact I did answer your question, perhaps you were too 'teary eyed' to see it.
What I wrote was that it was a lottery. Absolutely no point in telling you that they won't check or they will.

I don't think that I ever mentioned 'terms and conditions' in my post.

If the 5kg limit was hidden in the terms and conditions, I would be right behind you. But it was not. It was right in front of you, just above where you clicked on I have read and accepted the Thomson baggage policy. But you didn't.

So you've learned your lesson. The T&C are one thing, but at least read what is right in front of you.

Thomson charge £44 online for up to 20kgs on a return journey. So unless you are flying one way, your bill at the airport or call centre is going to be a bit more than £30.

I'm sorry that you appear to find reality so harsh, but my point was that you have no argument with Thomson, as they state the terms clearly and get you to agree to them. Admittedly they are not written in bold, but they are there, right in front of you.

Anyway, it would pay to read my post, otherwise you will end up making another big mistake.

Flight only bookings
Hand baggage

If you’re just booking a flight, you can carry 1 piece of hand luggage of up to 5kg for free. The maximum dimensions of your hand luggage can be 55x40x20cm and you must be able to lift your hand luggage into the overhead storage compartments yourself. Things like laptops, handbags and items bought at the airport must fit within your 1 piece of hand baggage.

Checked-in baggage

You can book checked-in baggage for an extra charge whilst you’re booking, or through our Flight Extras website if you’ve already booked.

Booking your baggage allowance online is cheaper than paying by phone or at the airport.

Flight Extras

Of course if you booked a package holiday, you would already have a 15kg hold allowance.

NFH

purplestar133 wrote: »

I am a relatively inexperienced traveller and I am also a worrier. I always read the terms and conditions but I didn't this time. It was such a leap for me to be booking a holiday to start with, I told myself to lighten up and I'd read them later. I was trying the 'life's too short' route for once in my life. I did read the terms and conditions later, and that's how I found out my mistake. I am paying the price.

This sums up the problem. Unlike the majority of people in this forum who are experienced travellers, new visitors to the forum are frequently inexperienced travellers, hence their need to ask for advice. While it may appear commonplace to experienced travellers to check the T&Cs and baggage policy, an inexperienced traveller would make a reasonable assumption that the baggage policy would allow a reasonable size and weight. In Thomson's case, 5kg is unreasonably low.

Some might consider that you made a mistake here; others (like me) would say that the airline is at fault for imposing an unreasonably low weight allowance. If the airline handled the item, then there might be justification for a low weight allowance, but given that only the passenger handles the item, there is no justification for such a low weight allowance, only a reasonable size limit to ensure sufficient space in the overhead lockers.

Neil49

This may be the answer to your problems although you won't be winning any awards in the fashion stakes!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelaccessories/8638096/The-flying-jacket-fooling-budget-airlines.html

And, yes, I have read many reports on their acceptability and no one has had any problems using one.

http://budgetairlinewatch.com/?page_id=311

They cost about £28

http://www.luggageexpress.co.uk/brands/rufus-roo.html?gclid=CPje-7_in7cCFfIPtAodpV8ADA

Have a nice holiday!