Customers confused and frustrated by the level of excess luggage levies

A current unpleasantness for travellers is the forceful attitude of airlines applying penal charges for excess luggage. This anger stems from the confusion of how the luggage allowance is worked out and the scale of charges if these limits are beached. The airlines say it is up to the traveller to check the amounts and how they are worked out, so before you travel visit the carriers website for up to date information.

Another thing to keep an eye out for is the make up of the baggage allowance even though you may be well inside the allowed weight limit, you could still fall foul of the spreading of that weight. With some airlines there are different charges for first, second and third bags. Some companies also have different charging policies for hand luggage and checked in luggage. Some airlines class a handbag as hand luggage wheares other airlines don’t. The costs can vary depending if you payed online or via a call centre. The budget airlines claim that they are attempting to streamline their own costs by removing delays at check in desks and making the booking procedure cheaper..

All extra bulky items will attract a fee, which is understandable, but a further charge will be applied if you the go over the combination or single item weight limits. So if you are preparing to take other big items such as surfboards, hang glider, skis, golf clubs and musical equipment for instance look carefully at the single item allowance. For example you may have an overall allowance of say 50 kilos but you can’t have any item weigh more than 32 kilos. Breach of one or two of these limits will incur stiff penalties. When taking these bulky items on holiday make sure to check with the car park provider or airport hotel beforehand, that they are able to transport these items on their buses. If you are using a Gatwick airport parking facility for example it would make sense to drop the baggage and bulky item off at the airport terminal while the driver returns to the car park. If using a Heathrow hotel parking package make sure the hotel can house the item securely overnight, and transport the large item to the airport along with your baggage