Korean Job Discussion Forums

Free World · Joined: 01 Apr 2005 Location: Drake Hotel

Does anyone have experience with Korea Air? I can't seem to find out the luggage restrictions (weight or size). Any help would be appreciated.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

International
20 kilograms baggage check-in

8-10 kilograms carry-on.

However you can get away with a bit more than this but make sure you show up early.
Don't roll up with 30 kilos though(I have got away with 32 kilos on Japan Air before ...but my friend got busted for 23 kilos another time).

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

All in all though don't cheap out on checked luggage. An extra bag over the limit might cost you an extra $50. Odds are what you have in that suitcase are worth a lot more than $50 and will cost a lot more to buy in Korea.

Free World · Joined: 01 Apr 2005 Location: Drake Hotel

Thanks so much, that was very helpful!
Have a good night.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

Swiss James · Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Location: Shanghai

yeah I've always found excess baggage to be pretty damn expensive, they seem to treat it as equivalent to you airmailing the extra stuff

Koreabound2004 · Joined: 19 Nov 2003

When my friend and I came via Korean air, one of our suitcases was 36kg, and the other was 38kg. We knew we were way over limit, but we were super nice to the guy at the counter, and I think it made all the difference b/c he didn't charge us extra, just slapped a "Heavy" tag on it...and told us to be more careful coming back. Also, they did not weigh our carry on bags at all, so you can probably get away with having a heavier carry-on.

You are allowed 2 bags/cases, and each one cannot weight more than 32kg if you are travelling from Canada.

From the Korean Air site:

http://www.koreanair.com/local/na/eng/gd/is/gi/is_baggage_new.htm

Other folks were told to leave stuff behind or shuffle their stuff into less heavier bags/suitcases...and some did have to pay extra.

Also, a word of advice when flying with them...bring some drinking water(very dry on the flight, and the servers avoided us like the plague). Also, don't dress too warmly, flight was very stuffy, and I felt like I couldn't breathe for a lot of the flight. You may also want to bring some snacks, food wasn't so hot.

Free World · Joined: 01 Apr 2005 Location: Drake Hotel

Ya, I heard that if you were over the limit it was cheaper to send stuff that was not needed right away through Canada post. Have you found this?

Koreabound2004 · Joined: 19 Nov 2003

trevorcollins · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

To and from Canada are different to the rest of the world. Generally works out if you're going to those places you can pack about twice as much.
Actually last time I flew Korean Air to Australia it had a baggage allowance of 24kg marked on the ticket, so it may be a little higher on that airline than some others.

Freezer Burn · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Location: Busan

My friend and I flew from Brisbane Australia last month, my bag weighed 25kgs, and the allowance was up to 30kgs.

Free World · Joined: 01 Apr 2005 Location: Drake Hotel

Thanks a lot for all of the info and advice! It helps a lot. I really appreciate the water and snack tip because I am flying direct from Toronto to Seoul so I couldn't stock up during a transfer. That is a long haul to be thirsty.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

You could try contacting Korean air and pleading your case for more room. Singapore and Thai have given me an extra allowance because I was moving overseas.

However some airlines use being over weight as an excuse to charge ludicrous amounts. Air New Zealand pinged me an extra $200 for being just 5kg over the 20kg limit.

As for carry ons it depends on who is policing sometimes the airlines are strick sometimes not. I got told to get rid of some stuff when I went through one checkpoint. So I just go in queue at another guard and I started crying to the middle aged women women who was checking the carry on stuff and she just flagged me through. (sometimes it's good to be a women)

Swiss James · Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Location: Shanghai

A lot of it is down to the checkin agent, sometimes they'll let you off because they're in a good mood, or you don't have much hand luggage, or the flight is only half-full, or you're pretty skinny anyway or blah blah...there's a lot of luck involved.
The one thing you have to remember is that you can't complain if you get stung for the excess just because you've heard an annecdote about someone who got away with even more, and whilst you might get away with being 6 Kg over the limit, if they arbitrarily decide to pull you up for being 7Kg over, you pay for each one of those 7 Kgs.