Luggage Weight Averaging

[ausi ski bum]

Most airlines average the weight between the group traveling ie my wife and I can have 64 + 23 kg on Qantas and they add this together (not that I ever carry that) but I had an issue with United a few years ago where they said that each person could carry 23kg and because my case had 24.5 and my wife 21.5 they wanted to charge me excess baggage or move weight from one case to the other.

I am flying Singapore Airlines to Singapore on Tuesday Premium Economy and we can each take 35kg, I have packed three cases for both of us totalling <65kg so 5+ under but we each have one that weighs 22-23 kg then one with all the bulky stuff like shows and cameras etc that weighs <20. Are they going to tell us that one of us has 42kg and the other 23 kg and charge excess baggage like United did or will they agree we are within our combined limits.

 

[marki]

Luggage is Double "g" unless averaged out

 

[straitman]

Luggage is Double "g" unless averaged out

Fixed.

 

[ozjuice]

How does this work with one passenger? 35KG's can be used in 2 bags without an issue?

 

[Sprucegoose]

My luggage issues have stemmed from check in agents having a bad day rather than policy

 

[ozjuice]

But putting 35KG in one case is a bit of a mission. surely you can spread that over 2 cases. Just confused why they do it that way.

 

[CaviAck]

Most airlines average the weight between the group traveling ie my wife and I can have 64 + 23 kg on Qantas and they add this together (not that I ever carry that) but I had an issue with United a few years ago where they said that each person could carry 23kg and because my case had 24.5 and my wife 21.5 they wanted to charge me excess baggage or move weight from one case to the other.

I am flying Singapore Airlines to Singapore on Tuesday Premium Economy and we can each take 35kg, I have packed three cases for both of us totalling <65kg so 5+ under but we each have one that weighs 22-23 kg then one with all the bulky stuff like shows and cameras etc that weighs <20. Are they going to tell us that one of us has 42kg and the other 23 kg and charge excess baggage like United did or will they agree we are within our combined limits.

The reason UA chucked an issue is (judging by the weigh allowance) because they were using a piece system for that flight. If a bag is even 1kg over the weight limit usually the computer will say no and require a manual override which is monitored as to why the agent is doing so. In that sense you had one piece of luggage, and your wife had one piece of luggage and ergo your allowance was used.

You'll be fine with SQ as they use a weight system and not the NA standard piece system.

But putting 35KG in one case is a bit of a mission. surely you can spread that over 2 cases. Just confused why they do it that way.

Not to mention OHS means there's a 70lbs/32kg limit to each bag anyway.

 

[peanutz]

The reason UA chucked an issue is (judging by the weigh allowance) because they were using a piece system for that flight.

Is this specific to UA or American's flights? I've never been to the States and might go there later in the year so it's good to know

 

[CaviAck]

Is this specific to UA or American's flights? I've never been to the States and might go there later in the year so it's good to know

North American based carriers as a whole generally use the piece system. There are a few exceptions based on destination but otherwise it's all based on how many pieces and depending on your status or COS how heavy each piece can be.

 

[Franky]

Fixed.

and travelling with l x 2 as well...

 

[Franky]

Most airlines average the weight between the group traveling ie my wife and I can have 64 + 23 kg on Qantas and they add this together (not that I ever carry that) but I had an issue with United a few years ago where they said that each person could carry 23kg and because my case had 24.5 and my wife 21.5 they wanted to charge me excess baggage or move weight from one case to the other.

I am flying Singapore Airlines to Singapore on Tuesday Premium Economy and we can each take 35kg, I have packed three cases for both of us totalling <65kg so 5+ under but we each have one that weighs 22-23 kg then one with all the bulky stuff like shows and cameras etc that weighs <20. Are they going to tell us that one of us has 42kg and the other 23 kg and charge excess baggage like United did or will they agree we are within our combined limits.

Are you chancing it putting cameras in the hold?..

 

[ausi ski bum]

OK well I called Singapore Airlines and was told we would not be allowed to spread our weight over the three bags as one person would need to check in two and would be over weight so I would need to divide the weight between four cases and not three however when I got to the airport I was told this was rubbish and he just added the cases up and as long as it was under 70kg we were fine. So we had repacked from three cases to four for no reason.

Had I arrived with the original three cases we would have had no issue, I know for the next time now at least.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK well I called Singapore Airlines and was told we would not be allowed to spread our weight over the three bags as one person would need to check in two and would be over weight so I would need to divide the weight between four cases and not three however when I got to the airport I was told this was rubbish and he just added the cases up and as long as it was under 70kg we were fine. So we had repacked from three cases to four for no reason.

Had I arrived with the original three cases we would have had no issue, I know for the next time now at least.

Unfortunately as I've mentioned many times before in other threads... airline reservation staff are rarely in a position of knowing what goes on anywhere else in the airline. Be it lounge access, baggage, visa eligibility (or visa waiver), seating etc etc. They simply don't know - not that it's any failing on their behalf - they're trained in fares and ticketing.