be warned, you will pay excess

Hey mate, how bad they slug you?

every kg over 23 both ways. $260 total plus freighted my 2 boards there and my 2 boards plus quiver bag back. Probally be around $500 in freight total.

Try virgin next time. The give you extra 5kgs for sporting, 28kg total. $10p/kg after that. If you pack light you can just make it under. I scored on the way back, they fell for the old quiver bag diagonally across the scales trick. Was under weight, scored an extra $100 for drinks. Sweeeet. Often wondered about buying extra ticket on short flights as you can get twice the weight for less money than the excess baggage cost.

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dan berry said...

Try virgin next time. The give you extra 5kgs for sporting, 28kg total. $10p/kg after that. If you pack light you can just make it under. I scored on the way back, they fell for the old quiver bag diagonally across the scales trick. Was under weight, scored an extra $100 for drinks. Sweeeet. Often wondered about buying extra ticket on short flights as you can get twice the weight for less money than the excess baggage cost.

And you can get to sit next to your imaginary friend

Not sure how the extra friend trick would work? You would need to have someone check in with you then not turn up for the flight. You would end up waiting on the runway waiting as they call for your imaginary friend.....

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Scotty Mac said...

Not sure how the extra friend trick would work? You would need to have someone check in with you then not turn up for the flight. You would end up waiting on the runway waiting as they call for your imaginary friend.....

And then when your imaginary friend isn't on the flight they will remove the bags checked in under that name as they wont let bags travel without people... something about bombs and terrorism ???

I was thinking more along the lines of booking 2 tickets under your own name. If the airline receives 2 tickets why would they care. Your still traveling with your luggage. Anyhow just an idea.

You can buy two tickets, not a bad idea in that scenario. big pax do it from time to time just for extra seat space.

I am always amazed to read when people are surprised about being charged for excess luggage. Don't you people ever read the fine print on the web site before you book an airline ticket?

The Qantas prices have been like that since July last year. The Virgin rates since November '08. BTW, if you a Qantas club member you will get 30kgs free plus they will sometimes let you get away with a few kgs over.

Sadly they days of being friendly with ground staff and getting away with not paying excess are long gone. You still get the od staffer who either can't be bothered to charge you or just wants to stick to their employeer but in general expect to pay up.

As a matter of fact if you don't call ahead of time and let them know you are bringing oversized luggage don't expect the bags to necessarily travel with you on the same plane either.

Dan, you make a valid point. I have sometimes wondered about buying a second ticket to get the extra baggage allowance myself.

You can do it Dan on VB,
just depends on where you are going, for Perth it would not be much cheaper, but if you got a $100 ticket it would certainly be worth it.

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dan berry said...

I was thinking more along the lines of booking 2 tickets under your own name. If the airline receives 2 tickets why would they care. Your still traveling with your luggage. Anyhow just an idea.

.. yep.. and fat people should pay more also.

Maybe a max allowable per weight per person including baggage. . Why does a 65kg pax get the same allowance as a 100kg pax???

Aussie airlines wont do it first, they are abit chicken. It will start overseas and spread here. Just like most airline cost saving measures.

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frpialoux said...

dan berry said...

I was thinking more along the lines of booking 2 tickets under your own name. If the airline receives 2 tickets why would they care. Your still traveling with your luggage. Anyhow just an idea.

.. yep.. and fat people should pay more also.

I've actually got away with that one a couple of times.

This has been covered before

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=58122&SearchTerms=qantas

Also, buying 2 tickets and only 1 person checking in does not work.
They (the airlines) simply cancel the booking, keep the money and on-sell the seat at check in!

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dan berry said...

frpialoux said...

dan berry said...

I was thinking more along the lines of booking 2 tickets under your own name. If the airline receives 2 tickets why would they care. Your still traveling with your luggage. Anyhow just an idea.

.. yep.. and fat people should pay more also.

I've actually got away with that one a couple of times.

Skinny people normally have big ego's, that weights on everyone else on the plane, so it evens out.

Why do these things always revert back to weight rob? If you spent more time checking the planes instead of playing on your phone you may lose a kg or 2 yourself. By the way did you realize I made no tetsing jokes at all the other night as you carried my gear thru the airport. At least you've stopped wearing gloves now ya big girl

Rob, can you buy two tickets on virgin? Yes or no?

just take your misses. make sure she fits all clothes in a carry on bag and take a good camera for her to take photos!! easy. then you get twice the weight. worked perfect for us. 56kgs exact.

Yeah right. Hell would freeze over before that would happen to me.

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Scotty Mac said...

Not sure how the extra friend trick would work? You would need to have someone check in with you then not turn up for the flight. You would end up waiting on the runway waiting as they call for your imaginary friend.....

just tell them you like to have 2 seats to stretch out on cos you have crabs

No crabs, how about fungus toes>

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Scotty Mac said...

every kg over 23 both ways. $260 total plus freighted my 2 boards there and my 2 boards plus quiver bag back. Probally be around $500 in freight total.

Scotty,
They hit me excess as well, $80 on the way over and $130 on the way back. Still cheaper than hiring your gear. Will go Virgin next time.

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Scotty Mac said...

every kg over 23 both ways. $260 total plus freighted my 2 boards there and my 2 boards plus quiver bag back. Probally be around $500 in freight total.

Scotty,
They hit me excess as well, $80 on the way over and $130 on the way back. Will go Virgin next time.

Just asked the girls(supervisor) at Virgin Blue check-in at Sydney airport and yes you can buy 2 tickets for yourself which gets you an empty seat next to you and doubles your checked luggage weight(2 by 28kgs with sporting goods).
Business people do it regularly so no one is next to them.
You just have to let them know when you check in that it is an extra seat for yourself.
It would have to be a cheap ticket to make it worth your while!
Give them a call to confirm yourself if you want to do it or are a bit dubious. (ph 136789)

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dan berry said...

Rob, can you buy two tickets on virgin? Yes or no?

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roberto said...

Just asked the girls(supervisor) at Virgin Blue check-in at Sydney airport and yes you can buy 2 tickets for yourself which gets you an empty seat next to you and doubles your checked luggage weight(2 by 28kgs with sporting goods).
Business people do it regularly so no one is next to them.
You just have to let them know when you check in that it is an extra seat for yourself.
It would have to be a cheap ticket to make it worth your while!
Give them a call to confirm yourself if you want to do it or are a bit dubious. (ph 136789)

dan berry said...

Rob, can you buy two tickets on virgin? Yes or no?

Nice work Rob.
I am waiting to hear back from Qantas regarding this method.

If you were traveling over with a fellow sailor you could always split the cost of the additional seat and then share the additional weight/shoulder room ? Half ticket price = half additional weight allowance ?

Kev

Nice work rob. I knew my cunning plan would work
keV, I thought you already knew qantas wouldn't let you do it?

Ps can everyone refrain from calling the airlines unless you are about to book a flight. Got a sneaking suspicion they may close the loophole once they realize one exists.

Just dragged all my gear down to Tassie on Qantas - they loved it. Just checked it on in Perth, no questions asked. And same again when I flew out of Launceston. I reckon it's all just random. Sometimes you pay, sometimes you don't.