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Guest

It is now only about 6 weeks until I leave for my visit to Australia. I already have one suitcase which weighs at least 20 kilos and I have not yet begun to pack my clothes. That first suitcase is full of presents for the folks in Australia. My own case with the clothes in it will not be light as it will be winter in Australia and I have to take heavier clothes.

I am now starting to worry about excess baggage. It is 80 rmb per Kilo? Does anyone know? Whatever it is, I am going to be up for a lot of loot. I first fly from Shanghai to Beijing and then Beijing to Brisbane (via Osaka) so I will be hit twice with excess.

I will also have excess baggage on the trip back here to Zhangjiagang in August as I am bringing more clothes from Australia plus presents for the "0" kids - so I will have more bl**dy excess baggage to pay!

I have LOST 16 kilos in weight! I wish they would take that into consideration - ha ha

Teacher Lindsay · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 393 Location: Luxian, Sichuan

Rhonda

There are so many variables involved.

First and foremost, it depends on which airline you are flying. In my experience, Qantas is the worst offender for slugging passengers with excess baggage charges. I don't fly with Qantas anymore. Thai Airways have never hit me in 20+ flights.

Also, it [apparently] depends on the overall payload of the plane for the particular flight. If the plane is half empty most airlines are more lenient towards excess baggage.

I arrived in China in January. I did Bangkok - Melbourne (27 kgs / Thai Airways), Melbourne - Bangkok (35 kgs / Thai Airways) and Bangkok - Chongqing (35 kgs / Air China - being the only airline flying direct to Chongqing).

The Air China ticket species a 20 kg allowance for economy. The check-in clerk told me they always allow up to 25 kg but because I had 35 kg I would have to pay 170 baht (about 42 yuan) per kg, a total of 1,700 baht (about 425 yuan).

When travelling I always keep almost all of my cash in a travellers' money belt. I keep only a little cash in my wallet.

I opened my wallet and showed her I had only 900 baht on hand. I told her I didn't have a credit card (which is true) and that I would have to go and find an ATM machine.

I should add that the check-in clerk had already processed my check-in, as in printed out a boarding pass and attached "stickers" to my bags.

So anyway, there was a long queue behind me. As is human nature, the other people in the line are trying to see what the hold-up is and what's going on. The check-in clerk was showing signs of discomfort. She called over her supervisor and they adjusted my excess baggage charge down to 5 kgs, or 850 baht.

I can't be embarrassed; I didn't give a sh1t about the mumurs from people in the queue.

So, there's a tactic in there somewhere.

Check-in when it's crowded. Hide your credit cards and excess cash and "act dumb".

Cheers

Guest · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 12:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advice. I am flying China Airlines to Beijing - I think I will be hit there and then Japanese Airlines to Australia.

I do not have to "act dumb" as I am blonde - so it comes naturally.

I do not have any credit cards - or any money as a matter of fact, but I WILL take RMB with me in anticipation of having to pay excess baggage as I think my two cases will weigh around 40 kilos.

So, worst senario, if it is 80 rmb per kilo, I should have to pay around 1,600 rmb on the flight to Beijing and then about the same to Australia.
I hope not, as 3,200 rmb is nearly one month's salary for me! Still, it is better to be prepared.

Irish Blood English Heart · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 1:08 pm Post subject:

Could you not post or ship some of the stuff back instead? Might be cheaper

Guest · Posted: Fri May 07, 2004 2:08 pm Post subject:

I did think about that, but the ONLY parcel which has ever gone missing in the nearly 9 months I have been here, is one I sent to Australia.

I have received HEAPS of parcels from all over the World while I have been in China and not one has gone astray.

However, three months ago I sent a small box of babies clothes to a workmate who is having a baby in Australia, and that did not arrive. I paid $23 Australian to send it by snail mail but I could have walked there by now!

Joachim · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Posts: 311 Location: Brighton, UK

Hi Rhonda,

I'm not sure how ethically comfortable you'd feel about this, but you could always play the "orphanage" card, explaining to the check in staff that you are working in an orphangae and the contents of your bag are essential due to a lack of funds or something........

Or else, if you can see a nice person in the check in queue who only has hand baggage......

Or else demand that they check your backs through to your final destination, the airlines all have deals with each other, and will be keen to avoid a fuss, so at least then you won't have to face the possibility of charges twice.

hesterprynne · Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 386

Definitely negotiate. Your excess is very...excess, but my friend who came here with a 90-pound suitcase had to cry poor on her multi-stop flight at each airport, successfully getting the charges cut in half.

Guest · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 2:39 am Post subject:

90 pounds! Good grief! I expect to have 20 kilos of presents and 20 kilos of my luggage. Now that I am no longer returning to Australia to live, I will not have to take back anything extra of mine on the trip. In fact, I will be bringing more clothes etc. from Australia back to China with me, so I fully expect to have excess on the way back also. I have to buy some Christmas presents for my kids in Australia also.