Excess baggage

Jay, a Getaway viewer from Melbourne, wants to know the ins and outs of paying airline fees for excess baggage.

Well, in the past you would have had no choice but to pay up or leave your luggage behind, but we have found a company that can move heavy gear at a much lighter price.

World Baggage acts as a courier for oversized luggage such as surfboards or really heavy gifts.

If you have 30kg of excess that you want moved from to London, normally an airline would charge around $40 a kilogram. World Baggage charges $6, so with 30 extra kilograms the cost would be around $180, versus a sky high $1200 through the airlines.

The only catch is there are some service charge fees and World Baggage needs to collect your items 10 days before you leave.

But they will pick up from anywhere in Australia and deliver to anywhere on the planet.

You can contact them on 1800 010 388 or log on to www.worldbaggage.com.au

Families hit by 'unfair' baggage charges

A study has found that many airline baggage allowances are inadequate for families travelling with infants.

Families are unfairly penalised by restrictive airline baggage allowances, according to Co-operative Travel.

A study by the independent travel agent found that on average an infant requires essential items weighing between 14kg and 15kg. Despite this, only two of the top seven airlines used by British holidaymakers provide an additional baggage allowance for infants, leaving parents of young children subject to high excess-baggage charges.

With its baggage allowance of 15kg and no extra allowance for infants, the no-frills airline Ryanair was found to be the worst for families. The airline also charges £32 return for children under the age of two to sit on a parent’s lap, while extra items are subject to an excess charge of £12 per kg.

Virgin and British Airways were found to be the best carriers for families, offering an allowance for infants in addition to generous normal baggage allowances (23kg). However, their excess baggage charges were found to be among the highest, ranging from £30 to £120 per bag depending on the route.

International
(Australia to / from Asia)

International             (to/from Europe and Africa)

International
(USA & South America)

Total Economy / Premium Economy Class allowance 23kg (50lb)

Total Economy / Premium Economy Class allowance 23kg (50lb)

Total Economy / Premium Economy Class allowance 2 pieces at 23kg (50lb) per piece

Additional Charges if over 23kg

A$35/kg

A$50/kg

A$50 per piece

Additional Charges for additional bags

No charge if within allowance

No charge if within allowance

A$150 per piece

Additional Charges for Business Class passengers over 30kg

A$35/kg

A$50/kg

A$150 per piece
(For additional pieces over the 2 piece allowance at 32kg (70lb) each)

Additional Charges for First Class passengers over 40kg

A$35/kg

A$50/kg

A$150 per piece
(For additional pieces over the 2 piece allowance at 32kg (70lb) each)