Breaking the 32KG Baggage Limit...

Ran this through Head Office today and if I have a lot of luggage, I can apparently call their company Cargo Service and pay for the privledge of having more luggage allowance at a much more competitive per piece rate as opposed to the extortionate per kilo rate they charge at the desk...

Any one gone through this route before?

I will be visiting Hong Kong on "work" and I need at least 1 suit so in the least I will be needing 7 suits and all the other baggage that comes along with this... the 23KG that Economy allocates me is far from enough so what other options will you suggest?

There are a number of luggage moving companies, like:

http://www.firstluggage.com/

Though they tend to be expensive, and in some cases could cost more than a flight in Y.

Never needed to ship stuff so cant help you there..

another question though, on the topic of baggage:
Anyone know why VS offers 3x 32KG for US routes and only 30KG max for asia etc[?]

What difference should the routing make?

[preiffer]

Cargo, Jonathan.

I think the higher cost of fuel in the UK & Asia also plays a part. It's predominantly down to the greater profit they can make if they fill the hold up with freight instead of 140lb per passenger of baggage on routes to the far east.

I suspected it might have something like that, but surely cargo to the usa is profitable too[?] - or is it that the US is more saturated in terms of capacity than the far east?

Um its 23kg per bag 2 bags isn't it?

I think its still 32kg's for Upper.

[preiffer]

Originally posted by Monkey
Um its 23kg per bag 2 bags isn't it?

Not to South Africa, Australia, Asia and Dubai.

Check out the baggage policy.

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
I think its still 32kg's for Upper.

Nope - 30KG for Upper on those "piece system" routes.

[mitchja]

As these changes came in on April 1st, what about if you were ticketed before that date [:?]

Regards

A suit a day on a business trip? I take it that this might be your first long business trip and that you might be working in a trendy media company?

I would take a couple of suits a day and alternate but then I am a bloke. If female, then accessorise with different scarfs, jewellery etc. Be inventive especially if the business makes you travel economy.

Originally posted by kmhtkmhtkmht

I will be visiting Hong Kong on "work" and I need at least 1 suit so in the least I will be needing 7 suits and all the other baggage that comes along with this... the 23KG that Economy allocates me is far from enough so what other options will you suggest?

With due respect, _one_ suit and seven shirts will do fine. Add underwear, socks and wear your one pair of shoes and you can do it all in a carry on!

Chris

Hi Paul

Originally posted by preiffer
I think the higher cost of fuel in the UK & Asia also plays a part. It's predominantly down to the greater profit they can make if they fill the hold up with freight instead of 140lb per passenger of baggage on routes to the far east.

I thought this differential was simply a commercial decision related to maintaining competition with certain routes such as North American where airlines have traditionally used the piece rule rather than the weight rule.

Nigeria is always an interesting case: I dread to think what the excess baggage bill is on those flights, everyone seems to take the kitchen sink with them.

Cheers, Howard

Nigeria is always an interesting case: I dread to think what the excess baggage bill is on those flights, everyone seems to take the kitchen sink with them.

Howard, a friend of mine who runs part of the AA operation at LHR once told me this story ... a flight to Nigeria was fully booked, on boarding everyone took their seats but three people could not be seated, the staff thought this odd and went on board to check and found that the captain had had three seats taken out and a 'three piece suite' placed there to take home for his wife! My friend also said that you just had to stand and watch at check-in for the amount of cash handed over for excess ...

It grieves me how much cash I have handed over in the past for excess baggage [:(!]
Happily I have noticed today that China Eastern allow 30kg economy, 40kg for business and 50kg for First. I thihk i'll try to use them when i ship out to Seoul. Then I can take sooooo many more toys with me [:o)]

Though, I'm in the one suit and 5 shirts camp for 1 week business trips. In fact, trim it to 3 shirts and 5 ties... wear a differnt tie, and no one will notice it's the same shirt as yesterday

Originally posted by KenJohn
A suit a day on a business trip? I take it that this might be your first long business trip and that you might be working in a trendy media company?

I would take a couple of suits a day and alternate but then I am a bloke. If female, then accessorise with different scarfs, jewellery etc. Be inventive especially if the business makes you travel economy.

I am there for two months, not media, but Banking - I wouldn't feel right wearing the 2/3 Suits... I did that once and I felt terrible...

Is Virgin kidding with their Baggage Policies? No one can live with just 23KGs... What if they lose that one bag? Your done!

I was always advised never to pack just one bag - lease you can double your insurance claim!

Plus, My suits are expensive but I am cheap - in that I am "cheap" as in I wouldn't pay an extra 100 quid for premium economy but would pay 600 quid plus for a pair of shoes. I would dread to lose that one bag...

Ahhh, we all have our priorities ... my no. 1 would starve rather than deny a new purchase of Louis Vuitton!

Here's one key thing though - I totally understand your desire to dress smartly and have options, however why not slim down your luggage a little and have some suits made in Hong Kong. The tailoring can be superb, at prices which make us wince ... so save the space for a few pairs of John Lobbs for work and Tod's for leisure?

Um Get suits made in HK and then have them shipped back when you are done?

[Nottingham Nick]

Sorry, but IMHO I think your whole dilemma is summed up in one sentence.

Originally posted by kmhtkmhtkmht
I am "cheap" as in I wouldn't pay an extra 100 quid for premium economy but would pay 600 quid plus for a pair of shoes.

If you want something badly enough... you will pay for it.

Virgin aren't kidding anyone with their baggage allowances. They are MORE than adequate for 99.9% of economy passengers.... even my Wife ;).

If they were to raise economy allowances to the levels you are alluding to, then the loss of cargo space /revenue would mean a massive rise in fares.

I think you are going to have to bite the bullet, either follow the advice on here, and have some suits made for you in HK, or talk nicely to whoever controls your bank's travel budget.... failing that, as a last resort - stump up for a UC ticket yourself. :D[8D]

Nick

Originally posted by slinky09
Ahhh, we all have our priorities ... my no. 1 would starve rather than deny a new purchase of Louis Vuitton!

Here's one key thing though - I totally understand your desire to dress smartly and have options, however why not slim down your luggage a little and have some suits made in Hong Kong. The tailoring can be superb, at prices which make us wince ... so save the space for a few pairs of John Lobbs for work and Tod's for leisure?

John Lobb is too pricey for me and most people won't even recognize how special my shoes are and they certainly won't know that they cost upwards of 2500 quid...

Hong Kong Tailoring is vastly overated - I have two suits in the cupboard now from them and you get what you pay for, sure they were cheaper than Savile Row but no where near as nice and the cuts no where near as good.

I guess I am stuck here - I am probably going to have to go through Virgin Cargo which only charges 55 Quid initially and 4.80 Per Kilo

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
Sorry, but IMHO I think your whole dilemma is summed up in one sentence.

Originally posted by kmhtkmhtkmht
I am "cheap" as in I wouldn't pay an extra 100 quid for premium economy but would pay 600 quid plus for a pair of shoes.

If you want something badly enough... you will pay for it.

Virgin aren't kidding anyone with their baggage allowances. They are MORE than adequate for 99.9% of economy passengers.... even my Wife ;).

If they were to raise economy allowances to the levels you are alluding to, then the loss of cargo space /revenue would mean a massive rise in fares.

I think you are going to have to bite the bullet, either follow the advice on here, and have some suits made for you in HK, or talk nicely to whoever controls your bank's travel budget.... failing that, as a last resort - stump up for a UC ticket yourself. :D[8D]

Nick

The 500% price increase I have to pay for Upper Class nets me only a 11Kg luggage upgrade... That is really just a joke but I guess they gotta make that money...

I am travelling to MCO on May 19th and my last virgin flight was 3 years ago when 32kgs was the deal in economy.....I booked way before the April 1st changes and my cases will weigh less than the new 23kgs rule.The one thing I am worried about is the size thing...I am taking 4 cases for three of us and they are all the larger delsey kind....is this ok...they will be underweight (at least on the way out!).

[preiffer]

Hi cydara, and welcome to the site [y]

I've never known size to be an issue with VS. (That's what the "oversize luggage" belt is for ). The "official" limits are as follows:

When added together, the three dimensions of any piece of luggage must not exceed 158cm (62in).

How big is this bag we're talking about?

From memory, I've not seen a ridiculously huge Delsey suitcase (I have a couple), so I'm sure you'll be fine.

Originally posted by kmhtkmhtkmht
Plus, My suits are expensive but I am cheap - in that I am "cheap" as in I wouldn't pay an extra 100 quid for premium economy but would pay 600 quid plus for a pair of shoes. I would dread to lose that one bag...

I guess it's different strokes for different folks.

Please forgive me for this image I am conjuring up, I am sure this is my imagination running overtime! I always find it amusing when I see someone about to board a plane, dressed to the nines, with seriously expensive designer accessories like an LV tote bag and suit carrier, plus surgically attached over-logo'd diamante Chanel sunnies as if they're someone I should know, and then they turn right at the door.

Seriously, save a bundle and send your stuff by air cargo, FedEx or DHL.

Also while you're at it tell your bank to quit being tight butts and pay for you to go at the pointy end! What is the world coming to?

Cheers, Howard.

I think it's brilliant that you are preparing for this. So many passengers turn up with loads of excess luggage and expect it to be dirt cheap to pay for when in reality on the weight concept routes it's anything but.

Sending it cargo is the best way.

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by Howard Long
[Please forgive me for this image I am conjuring up, I am sure this is my imagination running overtime! I always find it amusing when I see someone about to board a plane, dressed to the nines, with seriously expensive designer accessories like an LV tote bag and suit carrier, plus surgically attached over-logo'd diamante Chanel sunnies as if they're someone I should know

Howard! You have seen me onboard and did not say hello??

Thanks,
Sarah