Pay Per Bag, Costs for Checking In
and Excess Baggage

Airport Parking and Hotels (www.aph.com), the long stay airport parking specialist, has updated its useful baggage allowance table on the Know Before You Go section on its website. Travellers can log on to www.aph.com/news/excess_baggage_charges and check luggage limits, check-in costs and sporting equipment allowances for the leading scheduled airlines before leaving home. At a time when some airlines are changing weight limits, adding extra charges for baggage and new hand luggage restrictions, this information helps to take the baffle out of baggage costs.

The comparison chart reveals luggage rates for 23 of the leading airlines and compares costs and weight limits for checking-in luggage, excess charges for economy passengers, hand luggage restrictions, and costs for transporting heavy or bulky items such as pushchairs, surfboards, skis and golf clubs. The research has found that weights for checked-in luggage in economy range from 15kg - 23kg and check-in fees vary from free to as much as £40 per piece of luggage per way with Ryanair! Travelling parents will be glad to know that there is no charge for pushchairs on any aircraft, not even Ryanair.

However, sporting travellers need to be careful as the majority of airlines charge for transporting water sports equipment. Unfortunately for surfers, charges for surfboards and windsurfing equipment are generally high and subject to available space on the aircraft. Skiers, snowboarders and golfers are welcomed by most airlines and many will carry sports baggage for free, unless it exceeds the maximum luggage allowance. Virgin Atlantic and British Airways came out on top as they transport skis, snowboards and golf bags free of charge in addition to the checked baggage allowance.

Charges for other equipment:

Golf Clubs
Ski Equipment Charges
Surf Equipment Charges
Pushchairs

Airline	Checking In	Luggage Economy	Carry on Luggage	Luggage Business Class	Excess Baggage
Air France	No Charge	Flights to Europe Europe: 20kg US: 2 bags, 23kg each	Economy, Europe: 7kg -One bag and one handbag, briefcase* Economy US 12kg – One bag and one handbag, briefcase* Business, Europe: 12kg -One bag and one handbag, briefcase* Business, US: 18kg - One bag and one handbag, briefcase*	Flights to Europe: 30kg Flights to the US: 2 bags, 30kg	The price per kilo varies depending on the destination
Alitalia	No Charge	Flights to Europe: 20kg Flights to Americas and Central Africa: 2 bags, 23kgs each	5kg	Flights to Europe: 30kg Flights to Americas and Central Africa: 2 bags 32kgs each	Excess baggage on international flights is calculated at fixed rates per kilo over the allowed baggage rule. Rates vary from £13 per kilo to £27 per kilo depending on destination**
American Airlines	No Charge	23kg	18kg	23kg	Over 23kg but less than 32kg - is subject to a $50 (£34.17) overweight baggage charge (Maximum of three excess pieces will be accepted.) Over 32kg - will not be accepted Checked baggage weighing over 32kg but not more than 45kg Checked baggage which is larger than 62 in/157 cm will be charged at the rate of $150 (£102.50) per piece
BMI	Check in at the airport: £6 per person Check in through the call centre: £6 per person Check in online: £3.99 per person If travelling with hand luggage only, you can check in online and you will not be charged a fee. If you check in at the airport there is a charge of £6 per person	18kg A baggage fee is charged for the carriage of each item of checked baggage. The fee varies depending on the length of the flight. It can be prepaid at the current discounted internet rate of £7.99 or £8.99 per item of baggage per one way flight when making your reservation online. Items checked in at the airport or through the call centre cost £12 per item	Dimensions: 56 x 45 x 25 cm	30kg	If you exceed the total checked baggage allowance of 18kg* per person, there will be an additional charge of £8.00 per kilo on UK & Eire flights and £9.00 per kilo on International flights
British Airways	No Charge	Flights to Europe: One 23kg piece Flights to the US: 2 bags, 23kg each	One bag measuring 56 x 45 x 25cm plus a briefcase, laptop or handbag	Flights to Europe: 2 bags, 23kg each Flights to the US: 3 bags, 23kg each	£25 per extra bag on domestic flights, (online discount £20 per bag) £35 per extra bag on European flights (online discount £28 per bag) and £90 per extra bag on long haul flights (online discount £72 per bag).
Cathay Pacific	No Charge	20kg	Economy: 7kg Business: 10kg	30kg	£38/kg on London to Hong Kong flights
Continental	No Charge	2 bags, 23kg each item	18kg plus a briefcase, laptop or handbag	3 bags, 32kg each item	Checked baggage over 23kg but not exceeding 32kg will be charged £34.50 per piece. Baggage weighing over 32kg will be an additional piece of luggage charged at £103 per piece
Delta	No Charge	23kg free of charge A second bag costs £34.50	18kg	3 bags, 32kg each	If the baggage weighs between 23-32 kg there is a charge of £34.50
Easyjet	No Charge	20kg. There is a charge of £8 each way for luggage placed in the hold Extra weight may be purchased at a discounted rate online	No weight limit but the bag must be no bigger than 55x40x20cm and the passenger must be able to carry it and fit it into the overhead lockers	n/a	Excess kilos purchased at the airport costs £9/kg Excess kilos purchased through the call centre or online cost £21 for 3kg
Emirates	No Charge	Flights to Europe: 20kg Flights to the US: 2 bags, 23kg each	Economy: 7kg Business:12kg	Flights to Europe: 30kg Flights to the US: 2 bags, 32kg each	£25.00 per kilo based on London - Dubai
Flybe	No charge	20kg	10kg	Economy plus: 30kg	£10/kg for the first 3kg, £15/kg for between 4 and 6kg and £20 for every kilo above 6)
Iberia	No Charge	23kg To/From USA: 2 bags, 23kg each	10kg	30kg To/From USA: 3 bags 23kg each	£8.00 per kilo for European flights
Japan Airlines	No Charge	20kg	10kg one piece	30kg	£48 per kilo based on a flight from London to Tokyo
KLM	No charge	20kg	Economy Class: 12kg World Business Class: 12kg and a second piece of luggage. Total weight of two pieces can not exceed 18kg	30kg	Check in online and get a 30% discount on the standard fee charged for excess baggage at the airport. The fee varies depending on the destination and can be found on the KLM website
Lufthansa Group	No Charge	23kg	8kg	32kg	The price per kilo is individually calculated according to the destination
Qantas Group	No Charge	23kg (based on a flight from London to Australia via Asia) Baggage allowance varies depending on the destination	7kg	30kg (based on a flight from London to Australia via Asia) Baggage allowance varies depending on the destination	£24/kg depending on destination
Ryanair	£10 per person per one way flight when booked online Airport check in: £40 per person per one way flight.	15kg Online checked baggage fee: £10pp per one way flight. Airport/Call centre checked baggage fee: £20pp per one way flight	10kg	n/a	Any passenger exceeding their 15kg personal checked baggage allowance will be charged the prevailing fee on the day of travel. The excess baggage fee is currently charged at the rate of £15/ kg
SAS Group	No Charge	20kg	8kg	30kg	Ranges from €100 (£90.50) to €500 (£452.50) for each baggage item depending on destination, luggage weight and size
Singapore	No Charge	20kg 40kg for loyalty club members	1 piece not to exceed 7kg each 2 pieces for Business class	30kg	Excess baggage costs depend on the destination and the weight of the baggage. The cost varies from £5/kg to £41.27kg. On a London - Sydney flight, the cost is £41 per kilo
Thai Airways	No Charge	20kg	7kg	30kg	Surplus weight over the baggage allowance will be charged at the standard excess baggage rate
United	No Charge	2 bags weighing 23kg each	Dimensions: 23x35x56 cm	2 bags weighing 32kg each.	Fees for baggage weighing more than 32kg or exceeding the maximum linear dimensions vary by destination. Contact United prior to your trip for details.
US Airways	No Charge	23kg free There is a $15 (£10.31) for a second bag	Max 18kg – 2 pieces	2 bags free, each 23kg There is a $15 (£10.31) for a third bag	£30 – for overweight luggage of 23-32kg £48 for an additional excess bag
Virgin Atlantic	No charge	2 bags weighing 23kg each	6kg	2 bags weighing 32kg each	Baggage weighing more than the allowance of 23kg varies depending on the destination

Hand baggage rules

Passengers may carry small quantities of liquids, but only within separate containers each with a capacity no greater than 100ml.

These containers must be brought to the airport in a single, transparent, re-sealable plastic bag, which itself must not exceed 1 litre in capacity (approximately 20cm x 20cm). The contents of the plastic bag must fit comfortably and the bag sealed. Each passenger may carry only one such bag of liquids.

The bag must be presented for examination at the airport security point.

Liquids that can not be placed inside the re-sealable bag must be packed into the hold luggage and checked in. Liquids of any amount can still be carried in luggage checked into the aircraft hold.

Remember that 'Liquids' includes:

All drinks, including water, soup, syrups
Creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara etc
Sprays and pressurized containers including shaving foam and spray deodorants
Pastes, including toothpastes
Gels, including hair and shower gel
Any other solutions and items of similar consistency

Medicines

Essential medicines and baby food may be permitted in larger quantities above the 100ml limit, but will be subject to authentication.

Laptops/electrical items

You are allowed to take electrical items (such as laptops and hairdryers) in your hand baggage, but they will need to be removed and screened separately.

Baby Food and Milk

You are allowed to take baby food, baby milk and sterilised water in your hand baggage.

*Weight applies to passengers seated in the Tempo cabin on Air France planes

** It is possible to purchase excess baggage allowances with a 20% discount on the normal price from all Travel Agencies and Alitalia Ticket Offices in Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Japan until the 30 June 2009.

All prices in the table are based on the exchange rates on the 24^th April 2009

Airport Parking and Hotels Ltd has over 20 years' experience as a retailer of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. It offers parking at 24 UK airports, ports and Eurotunnel terminals plus airport hotels packaged with parking, airport lounges, travel insurance, car hire and holiday taxis.

For further information visit www.aph.com or call 01342 859515

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Press information For further press information contact Sarah Falkingham or Katherine Regan at gosh pr on 020 7430 7910 or email sarah@goshpr.co.uk.

Pay Per Bag, Costs for Checking In and Excess Baggage

Pay Per Bag, Costs for Checking In
and Excess Baggage