If you are carrying extra luggage on your trip, then be aware, because you may be charged with additional fees at the airport check-in desk. Airlines impose several regulations which cannot be ignored, since there are prices you have to pay in doing so. Thus, there are a couple of things which you should take note of, especially when planning a pleasant trip to your favourite destination. Among these, the one important thing is the bag(s) that you will be carrying.
In this blog, we are going to take an in-depth look at checked excess baggage, fees charged by airlines and other things that you need to know.
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What is Excess Baggage?
When travelling by air, airline carriers have strict policies with regard to luggage which passengers are and are not allowed to carry on the aircraft. These restrictions include dimensions (length, width, and height), size and quantity of items contained inside the luggage. Airline carriers also count the wheels and handle of trolley suitcase in the dimensions or measurements of your checked baggage.
Thus, if your baggage (or luggage) exceeds these limits, then your checked baggage will be considered an “excess baggage”. What’s even worse is that the airline carrier can charge fees, if your baggage allowance is beyond their standards.
What are Excess Baggage Fees?
Passengers whose baggage/luggage exceeds the standard allowed limits stated by the airliner’s travel policies, are charged additional fees in the form of penalty. The extra fees for excess baggage varies from one airline carrier to another.
Usually, airliners already include checked baggage fees. But, if you are carrying luggage that does not meet the airliner’s allowed standards, then you will end up paying extra money i.e., fees.
For example, Delta Air Lines clearly states in their excess baggage guidelines that there are separate fees for each limitation you exceed. This includes size, weight, and quantity. So, if an extra piece of your baggage exceeds the weight and size limits, it will be subject to three fees:
(i) One fee will be charged for the extra bag,
(ii) One fee will be charged for exceeding the weight limit, and
(iii) One fee will be charged for going over the size restriction
It is also important to note that Delta charges fees for each additional bag each way.
How are Excess Baggage Fees Charged?
Airline carriers can charge excess baggage fees determining various factors, such as:
- Size of baggage
- Weight of baggage
- Travel route
- Destination
The travel route can be either one-way or round-trip, or both.
How Much Excess Baggage Fees Do Airlines Charge?
As already mentioned above, the excess baggage fees that is charged to passengers can vary with airline carriers. In addition, certain flight routes and destinations may also include restrictions. Therefore, it is critical that you carefully read the travel policy and baggage guidelines of the airline carrier you are travelling.
Now, let’s again take Delta Air Lines as an example here. The cost that you have to pay for bringing excess baggage on your trip when flying domestically within the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, are given below.
- $150 USD (each way) is charged for a 3rd checked bag.
- $200 USD (each way) is charged for quantities 4 and up to 10 bags.
In case of an overweight bag:
- $100 USD is charged (each way) for baggage of weight 51-70 lbs. (23-31.75 kg).
- $200 USD is charged (each way) for baggage of weight 71-100 lbs. (32-45.36 kg).
Delta does not allow passengers to carry bags that exceeds 100 lbs. (45.36 kg).
Also, in the case of oversized bag, $200 USD is charged (each way) for baggage of size 63-80 inches (161-203 cm).
Again, Delta does not permit passengers carrying bags that are larger than 80 inches (203 cm).
On the other hand, if you are travelling from Canada or Europe, the amounts are charged as per their travel regulations.
Here is a list of various airline carriers and their excess baggage fees.
- Aer Lingus charges €10 per kg and €75 per bag on long-haul flights.
- Air France charges €75 and up to €250 per bag.
- British Airways charges £36 and up to £65 per bag, depending on route and travel class.
- Delta Airlines charges $100 USD and up to $200 USD per bag, depending on weight and route of travel.
- EasyJet charges £10 per kg.
- Emirates Airlines charges from £26 per kg.
- Etihad Airways charges from £14 per kg.
- KLM charges €55 per bag, depending on route and travel class.
- Lufthansa charges €50 up to €150 depending on travel route.
- Norwegian Air International charges £9 per kg, per leg of flight’s route.
- Qatar Airways charges 91.03 – 200.24 Qatari riyal ($25-55 USD) per kg online, while $30-70 USD at airport.
- Ryanair charges £11 per kg.
- Turkish Airlines charges from €4 up to €32 per kg, depending on route.
- Virgin Atlantic charges £65 for each overweight bag, while £40 for each oversized bag.
- Wizz Air charges €10 per kg per bag over the six bag allowance (if bag weighs between 20 kg and 32 kg).
For flights that are operated by Loganair, a fee of €13 is charged per bag, if it is in excess of 20 kg.
What You Can Do to Avoid Paying Excess Baggage Fees
Generally speaking, nobody likes to pay additional fees for their belongings at airports. However, here are a few basic things that can help keep your costs down when travelling.
Weigh you Bag after Finished Packing
It is necessary that you test the weight of your bag(s) right after you are done packing them. You can do so with the help of luggage scales or weight monitor equipment which are easily available in stores.
This also keeps you in check as to which items you really should carry along and what items to leave behind. A general rule when travelling is to travel light. You can also save yourself from a lot of burden and hassle throughout your holiday or business trip.
Prefer Paying Additional Bag Fees Online
If you might need to carry many bags on your trip, you can save some money by booking extra hold luggage online in advance. Some airlines may allow you to buy extra baggage online in either kilos or by piece, and they usually offer discounts on prices. You can purchase them at the time of booking your flight or simply add this option to your ticket before your flight’s scheduled departure.
Conclusion
Travelling with excess baggage can be inconvenient, and not to forget the weight which you have to drag behind you. It is, therefore, a good idea to always keep your luggage as light as possible, and avoid penalties at airports.
