Monarch Airlines & Wedding - Help/Any Tips/Advice?

PennyPincher_6

Hi MoneySavers,

My partner and I are getting married in Florida soon and are travelling out with Monarch Airlines. We have been told that we have 20kg luggage allowance and we will not get any more. I have my wedding dress to take which is heavy enough but this contributes to my 20kg. They are not budging on giving us extra allowance. They even said we CAN'T PAY for extra allowance as it's not their 'policy'. When I said that on their website they give Vantage Club Silver and Gold members a FREE hold baggage allowance of up 30kg they just we are not entitled to that. They also state on their website that the maximum weight of any hold baggage must not exceed 32kg which must mean there is room for negotation surely?

This is about to spoil our wedding before we even set off. Can anyone help or provide information\advice\help?

Thanks in advance...

blindman

Have you booked through a Travel agent or with Monarch direct?
Are you flying Charter or Scheduled.

If Charter
looks like they're correct

If Scheduled
you get more allowances.

If you are only just ove the limit then smile sweetly and be polite and you may be lucky.

waster_2

PennyPincher wrote:

Hi MoneySavers,

My partner and I are getting married in Florida soon and are travelling out with Monarch Airlines. We have been told that we have 20kg luggage allowance and we will not get any more. I have my wedding dress to take which is heavy enough but this contributes to my 20kg. They are not budging on giving us extra allowance. They even said we CAN'T PAY for extra allowance as it's not their 'policy'. When I said that on their website they give Vantage Club Silver and Gold members a FREE hold baggage allowance of up 30kg they just we are not entitled to that. They also state on their website that the maximum weight of any hold baggage must not exceed 32kg which must mean there is room for negotation surely?

This is about to spoil our wedding before we even set off. Can anyone help or provide information\advice\help?

Thanks in advance...

The 32kg is a health and safety requirement imposed last year by BAA and most other UK Airports. Above this weight is deemed to expose the baggage handlers to unacceptable risks to back and similar manual handling injuries.

Whilst I have some sympathy, why did you not check before booking what your allowance would be? Perhaps the easiest option now is to send your wedding dress and any other similar items ahead using either airfreight or a service like DHL or UPS? Then you will need to worry about whether you want to bring them back! That would normally work out cheaper in any case than paying excess baggage charges.

Have a great wedding.

barber1982

Why dont you just wear it on the plane then change after take off! Obviously your other half will need to be blindfolded so he doesnt see you

Woby_Tide

is there no option for a premium seat on the flight, they normally offer an increased baggage allowance. I know on our honeymoon(I think it was a monarch flight) we had whatever their premium section was called, think it was about £150 extra per person but for flight length and extra luggage/food/drinks/occasion it was worth it

bluemorph

When i got married abroard, i carried my wedding dress on board the plane in a covered dress carrier so my husband to be couldnt see it, and got the stewerdess to hang it up, i was worried about my cases getting lost and not having anything to get married in.

HLK

Have you an option to cancel .. and just fly with someone else. Continental give each person 2 pieces of luggage (up to 32kg each piece) so a whopping 64k.. I've used them before and have already booked for later in the year..

alternatively I would try an email their MD ? surely it would be good PR..

PennyPincher_6

Hi All,

I would like to that you all for your advice, information and help. Looks like I'm still stuck and will have to smile politely. We are on a chartered flight BlindMan, thanks!.

Waster: I hadn't thought of going through airfreight or a service like DHL or UPS. I may post out my clothes and then just pack my wedding dress in the case so that I have it in my possession. Thanks. We were told by Thomas Cook 'not to worry' with the baggage allowance before we booked with them but now they have our business I guess that's out the window! - Granted we should've double checked!

Great idea barber1982 but if I put a blindfold on my man he thinks he's getting lucky ... ;-)

Woby_Tide: I asked about upgrading on the flight and the travel agent is getting back to me but I won't hold my breath.

bluemorph: I was told by Monarch that get this ... there is nowhere on the plane to put it. However I can wait until everyone had boarded the plane and take it to the people putting the luggage on the plane and ask them to put it in last so that the chances of it getting crushed, damaged are reduced! - Thanks for your input though!

HLK: Too late to cancel. But I will write a letter, thanks.

Thanks again to all who replied, I just feel Monarch are not helping in the slightest especially when we are willing to pay for extra allowance and this is such a big day for us. Thanks all!

blindman

You could of course use up your intendeds baggage allowance as well, as a bloke all he'll need is one pair of pants and a pair of socks for a honeymoon

Hope it all works out.

Woby_Tide

socks? for a honeymoon?

blindman

Just in case he has to get dressed up to go out;)