combined domestic/international luggage weight restrictions?

[foraner]

Does anyone know how the differences in luggage weight restrictions are handled if one is travelling both domestic and internation airlines.

We are flying America West from NYC to LA, and ATN from LA to Tahiti. The restriction is 50 lbs. on America West and 70 on ATN. Will we be charged by AW if we are closer to 70 than 50?

[pmcrusta]

Is this a Princess air arraingment? You may be able to get a waiver. But I rather doubt it. I
was in a simular situation Southwest and United.
But they both do 70 lbs. American West can give
what a penalty would be if you hit 70 lbs. When I returned I made sure I had a few hours and UPS'd my stuff I bought. But I'd doen a lot of
planning to swing it. And it sounds like you already have your flights.

[foraner]

I did book my air through Princess. Never really gave the problem any thought until today. But for me packing for 12 days and keep the weight under 70 lbs. will be extremely challenging. I had just assumed we'd be considered international travellers until I realized the two airlines may indeed have different weight restrictions. Bummer http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif !

[NEW YORK LADY2]

Your AW flight will indeed charge you for being over 50 lbs. We had the same problem in March when we travelled from New York to Tahiti. We flew American Airlines and the limit was 50 lbs. Then ATN from LAX to Tahiti and the limit was 70 lbs. We both took two suitcases (each under the 50 lb limit) rather than two suitcases each 70 lbs. This worked fine for us and we weighed the suitcases at home to make sure we were under the weight limitations, then made adjustments as needed (i.e. shoes which are heavier than clothes - we put those and toiletries in one suitcase and we were well under the 50 lb limit - about 38 lbs). Then if we had items we bought in the islands we could include them in this lighter suitcase.

Good luck with your packing. Remember that you will be in bathing suits/pareos most days in Tahiti so you don't need to bring as much as you may think.

Jackie

[wander]

On four different international trips involving domestic flights as well within the past 10 months I can tell you from experience it gets confusing and tricky to manage.

We found each airline upheld their own regulations, period. On our last trip to South America in January, not only was there a difference in the checked weight allowances but also the number of carry-on bags. (Domestic - one plus a purse, briefcase or laptop, International on our carrier - one, period. No purse add on.)

We had to pack for the 50 lb. limit for the US and then moved some stuff from a carry-on into the checked bags so that we could meet the (at least then) very strict rule of only one carry-on in South America. A purse was considered a "bag" by our international carrier and had to be absorbed into the checked bag, period. Other airlines might be more flexible - I don't know.

Coming home was easier for us. Although the rules had not changed we checked one of the bags we had carried on going to South America as they were clothes we could do without once we were home. Of course we did not want to lose them, but they easily could be replaced at home - but not so easily small town Argentina.

Check with your specific carriers and believe what they tell you. Going to South America on both our domestic and international flights they were charging for as little as 5 lbs. overweight. Sometimes they don't - but I would suggest that you be prepared.

[caribcruzin]

Thank you so much for this thread. We are traveling in July to Europe and had not given any thought to the baggage allowance being different once we left the USA. A call to our airlines this am verified what you said....there are differences and the airline you are on at the time will be using their own guidlelines. Thanks again as now we can prepare and pack accordingly.

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[woodofpine]

I first encountered this stateside on a January ski trip out west. I travel with a spouse and 4 fairly small kids... It is more convenient to travel with 1 or 2 large bags and a couple smaller with this family configuration. The airlines wouldn't hear the rationale that with 6 ticketed passengers we were well within our combined weight; NO NO NO we had an over weight bag... Bummer.

Funny to... sort of... the tightest security I've ever seen (except London) was there in Montrose Colorado. Tiny airport with fireplace... and a explosives chemical swab spectometer, they were swiping and analizing individual bags and passengers (incl. mine) on the spot. Interesting what some airports can afford...

[foraner]

Thanks to all of you who responded to my question. Glad to have the info, but sorry that the responses were contrary to my best hopes. Will have to rethink my wardrobe changes, for sure.

[3minzies]

As far as I understand, the 50 lb weight limit is for wholly domestic itineraries, flights within the US. Even if you are flying on a different carrier internationally and even on a seperate ticket than the domestic portion, you get 70lbs per bag

[mattinla]

If you were booked on the same airline, or transferring to your domestic airline's foreign partner, then you would more than likely be able to get the 70 pound limit the whole way. But transferring from American West to Air Tahiti Nui means AW is going to ding you. But generally, it's only $25, and for that little money I would rather deal with one bag rather than two.

And there are tricks to try, such as curbside check in and tipping the porters well.. they're not as prone to giving you a hard time about the weight of your bag since they want the tip.

I am flying to Athens in June. I have a United flight to Boston to pick up my parents, then switch to Lufthansa to get to Frankfurt, and then to Lufthansa intra europe to get to Athens. Because United and Lufthansa are partners, and because I originate in the US, the highest bag limits apply to all parts of the trip, even though the beginning and ending flights would normally be more restrictive.

And any of you who fly to Europe and think you can save a ton of money by taking a major carrier to London or something and then switch to one of europe's ultra cheap discount airlines.. beware! Those airlines like easyjet and ryan air have really low baggage limites, charge by the pound/kilogram for excess. People have arrived and then been told they have to pay $400 or more in excess baggage fees to get to their final destination. When flying to europe with a connection in europe, it's almost always best to stick with one airline or their partners.

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[foraner]

bump

[mlbcruiser]

Mattinla, that is very good advice! Though I read Budget Travel and many travel mags and sites, I have never seen any of them mention the weight issue when recommending ways to save $ by using the cost cutting airlines like Ryanair, etc. Thanks for the tips!

[Bob]

Hi Don't remember the exact weight, but having done a pre-cruise land tour, we flew from Geneva to Barcelona and we got whacked for over weight it cost well over a $150.US. As we had not allowed for the extras we would be buying, another thing to remember don't have anything in your carryon that is even remotely sharp, it will be taken, and you'll have to under go a stricter security check good luck.

[katisdale]

If you stay within the same airline "family" or partnership the higher 70 lb international limit is applied. We were fine taking a 70 lb bag on our flight from NC to JFK and then on to Rome. We just returned from London on 5/22/04 after our cruise on the Royal Princess.

[Sandy R]

It is my understanding that if your flying through on one ticket, although 2 airlines, you are allowed the international baggage limit of 70 lbs. We flew Lufthansa last year to Frankfort. Lufthansa put us on a different airline to Dublin, Ireland. that had a different baggage limit. I found out in advance that Lufthansa off-loaded our luggage to the 2nd airline so we never touched our luggage, nor was it weighed. You didn't mention if you're staying overnight in L.A. You might want to call America West and find out if they automatically transfer your luggage to America West... if not, then ask about the baggage limit differences and how much they charge per pound you're over. Each airline has their own extra baggage charge. Maybe America West's isn't so bad. Since we were away for 4 weeks, we found it very difficult staying within the 70 lbs. limit, including the weight of our luggage! Oh, there was also a ridicuously low weight limit on our one carry-on each, which we adhered to. And, wouldn't you know it, no one ever asked to weigh our carry-ons. Go figure!

[mlbcruiser]

I booked my ticket to LAX through American Airlines AFTER I booked my ATN flt. on a discount travel site. Tonight I called AA to ask about the luggage wt. issue. The agent said that as long as I could prove (by showing my ATN ticket) that I would be connecting for an international flight, the 70 lb. limit would stand for all of my flights. Since AA is a partner, code sharer, or whatever w/ATN, that might be a factor. And I know sometimes the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing, but she SEEMED to know what she was talking about.

[Sandy R]

Great news... hoped you got the agent's name and extension number. If it were me, I'd call again and if I got the same info, I'd ask to speak to a supervisor to be sure... then get both their names. Once you're at the airport you just might need those names!

Sandy