Baggage reduction

Hi all,

Sorry if this has been posted elsewhere, I looked but didn't find it. Are they serious about the baggage reduction to 2 x 23k from 32k? Is it an early April fool? [:0]

The VA site isn't clear about the PE allowance.

Yes it does appear to be serious, rather than an april fools. Of course the "weight concept" allowance in Y increases to 23kg. However your point about the piece concept is understandable.

I quickly tried to find a link on this subject on the VS site, but failed. Do you have a link so we can all read up. As I understand it J stays the same, and I believe the W allowance on the 'piece concept'remains unchanged too (but ISTBC on this one).

I think this may be the link

Link

Jilly














Edit by mod to shorten link.......... Nick

Thank you Jilly. As I thought, the weight allowance for Y and W goes up to 23kg, so that is good. However for Y only the piece allowance goes down from 32kg per piece to 23kg, so that is clearly a reduction for Y pax. Looking on the bright side, I suppose it is another differentiation for W pax (although I accept that this has only been achieved by cutting back Y pax). We have to assume that the gold additional allowance remains the same I guess, although that is not clear. The announcement also doesn't make clear if there is any change to the excess charges to allow for this reduction in Y allowance from 2 x 32kg = 64kg to 2 x 23kg = 46kg.

I believe a number of US carriers have annouced similar changes recently - United springs to mind.

This is outrageous they have reduced there weight allowance by almost a third!!!

Can I assume the fuel surcharge will be reduced to reflect the substantial lightening of aircraft loads?

Is BA reducing its baggage allowance on these routes?

ISTBC but BA allowances appear to be unchanged at the moment. See here. This is of course higher than the new VS Y piece allowance, but the same for W and J. The new VS Weight concept brings it in line with BA in Y and W.

Just a quick question does the April 1st date mean anyone flying after that date is bound by the new weights or just tickets purchased on or after that date? I know when UA annouced this it was for tickets purchased after a certain date so if already purchased the old weight allowance stood.

Claire

I understand it is for tickets issued after 1st April. So if your tickets have already been issued, you are OK.

Delta reduced their limits last September, so looks like VS is bringing themselves in line with everyone else.

To be honest I think that this can tend to encourage people to take more, particularly on short trips. On my recent trip to LAS I thought that I'd be able to get away with only having one case, after all I was only away for 4 days, but it seems that I should really have taken 2 cases because I ended up being over the limit on the way back. Now had I taken 2 cases on the way out, this would have meant I'd probably have taken even more pairs of shoes and done more shopping Whereas if the limit had been 32Kg, I'd have been fine with just the one case.

The concept of packing light is not one that's sunk in with me yet[:I]

Originally posted by Jaydun
This is outrageous they have reduced there weight allowance by almost a third!!!

Can I assume the fuel surcharge will be reduced to reflect the substantial lightening of aircraft loads?

In fairness to VS Jaydun, the baggage allowance represents only a small part of the weight the surcharge is supposed to cover. The main parts being you and your percentage of the aircraft and fuel.

I can't believe that lightening a fully laden 747 by around 9kilo per Y passenger (about 2,700 kilo) will significantly affect the fuel consumption on an aircraft that weighs about 350,000 kilo fully loaded.

Phil

I take it PE still get the 2 x 32kg allowance? So now it is an extra perk for flying PE?

Claire

Just to throw in my 2p worth [:o)]

My understanding has always been that the 32kg was an absolute maximum per piece and NOT actually your allowance, this is due to Health & Safety ! I have previously had problems even in 'J' with work eqpt weighing in at more than 32kg ..... I was always under the impression (having checked old paper tickets) that the 'Y' allowance used to be 20kg x 1 piece....... the allowance now for 'Y' and 'W' - USA and Carib flights has therefore increased ? becacause you can now check 2 pieces at 23kg.

Regards

Mark

I don't know about anyone else, but when I travel I am mostly used to doing so around Europe and not transatlantic, therefore I find a 64kg weight allowance almost impossible to use. Add in the fact that I travel with the bf most of the time, 128kg between the two of us is just crazy. Even with the reductions, it's still up to 4 suitcases and 92kg (is that right?) for a couple, which is a crazy amount of luggage...What can you possibly pack that would use that up for a holiday/business trip?

[preiffer]

Originally posted by mas66
I was always under the impression (having checked old paper tickets) that the 'Y' allowance used to be 20kg x 1 piece.......

Hi Mark,

It entirely depends on the route.

Some have the 20kg allowance (which has now obviously increased), but all transatlantic traffic used to be 2 x 32kg for Y/W and 3 x 32kg for J (plus 1 extra 32kg piece for a Gold card holder)

[Nottingham Nick]

The VS website talks of BAA baggage restrictions, rather than saying that they are VS' own rules.

I do have an element of sympathy for the baggage handlers here. A 32K suitcase, or 70lbs in 'old money' is BLOODY heavy. :D

Nick

Not quite Mas66. VS operates two luggage allowance systems (known as concepts)dependant on the route. Before these changes the Y and W luggage allowances were:

1) Weight concept - up to 20kg
2) Piece concept - 2 pieces, each upto 32kg. So a total of 64kg.

You are correct that there is also a H&S limit on any one piece of 32kg what ever the class. This was to stop injury to baggage handlers. However that is separate to the allowances. For a more detailed description see the link posted by Jilly earlier in this thread.

What can you possibly pack that would use that up for a holiday/business trip?

Oh trust me it's easy Maybe not on the way out but once I've set foot in the malls and outlets in the US, the weight allowance is the only thing holding me back!

VS are just getting in line with all the other major carriers.

[preiffer]

Originally posted by mavrick
VS are just getting in line with all the other major carriers.

Yup - United switched to the 23kg limit in September last year.

[RichardMannion]

Golds will keep their baggage benefits.

For those travelling in Economy under the new piece system, you get upto 23Kg, anything over and upto 32Kg (which is the absolute maximum for a piece of luggage), there is an excess baggage charge of £20.

To be fair I can see why this is being done, certain routes are horrendous for what people think they can check in.

Thanks,
Richard

[fozzyo]

Originally posted by RichardMannion
To be fair I can see why this is being done, certain routes are horrendous for what people think they can check in.

And even scarier with hand baggage!

Have to admit that the only time I seemed to come close to the baggage allowance was on the way home from SFO the once when I bought a Massage Chair out there. I find it really difficult to get my luggage that heavy.

Will it make that big a difference to that many people?

Mat xxx

[:o)] [:o)] Sorry Guys .... Mis read the link before I started typing [:o)][:o)]

Mind you looking at the measurements you'd have to fill them up with concrete to reach the weight without exceeding the dimensions... mind you Mrs S always gives it a good go no matter what the limits !!!

Regards

Mark

Originally posted by Scott
What can you possibly pack that would use that up for a holiday/business trip?

I agree. I travel to the Far East and US a lot and do trips up to 10 days just with carry-on baggage. I find it hard to believe why people need to carry so much! My wife thinks I'm draconian when we go on holiday though!

Chris

Originally posted by RichardMannion

To be fair I can see why this is being done, certain routes are horrendous for what people think they can check in.

Yeah have you ever seen what the try to check in on the Nigerian flight? I once saw someone try to check in a dishwasher [:0] and that's no joke trust me.

The link has been updated this morning - wording is clearer and states that UC and PE allowances remain unchanged.

Jilly