Airline Weight Restrictions (Rant)

B

bildo

Suspended / Banned
Messages
606
Name
Bill
Edit My Images
Yes
I've managed to secure a job in Dubai for next week for a two week trip, everything was going well until the company booked the flights for me. Turns out that I've got a 20kg hold limit, and 7kg hand luggage limit.

Bare in mind that it's a motorsport event, so it involves much more heavy gear than I'd like. I'd also planned to take some lighting but I've already ruled that one out.

I figured I'd check the website to see if I can add on another 10kg or so, shouldn't be too expensive. Their 'special online deal' for 10kg is £375 each way, compared to the £500 each way that you'd get charged at the airport. For £750, I'm not quite so tempted to take that extra 10kg now.

I figured I'd just get as much in my hand luggage as possible, hand luggage never gets weighed, right? Well, it seems that on this airline it does, and at the gate too (from what I've read), so you're then screwed if you're over since you can't just shove it in your suitcase.

At the moment I'm intending to put my 300mm 2.8 in the hold luggage (normally when flying EasyJet/Ryanair I can take this on-board for £0 with Ryanair and about £15 with Easyjet.)

I've then weighed up my Lowepro bag with 70-200 2.8, 35 1.4, 50 1.4 and 24-70 2.8. The only lens I feel I could do without is the 50, but it weighs next to nothing. Putting all that together with 2 bodies comes to 8kg, with the laptop 10kg.

I'd put more in the hold, but since I'll need 2 weeks worth of clothing, a secondary laptop I need to take to somebody, chargers, plugs and general essentials for 2 weeks in a warm place, I'm left with very little compromise!

It's so frustrating that they price these things so ridiculously and make it virtually impossible for photographers who have a fair amount of equipment to take.

If you're taking Snow and/or water skiiing equipment, angling equipment, surfing equipment or bowling balls, you get another 5kg. Golf, bikes and diving stuff gets another 12. I e-mailed asking if photographers get anything additional, but nope.

At least I'll be able to take 5 litres of holy water outside of the allowance, that's really useful.
 
The costs of the extra luggage should have been written into your quotation.
 
Would a business class flight have better luggage allowances?
 
Get back onto the company that booked the flights and explain they have made a mistake when booking the flights as you need the extra weight for the equipment you need to bring with you for the job
 
Which airline is that with, so I know never to book with them ?

I've got pretty much the same kit as yourself and I've not had problems taking my bag on as hand luggage (just make it look as though the bag doesn't weigh much) plus a separate laptop bag (if permitted).

As has been suggested above, there are a number of options:

1) Put a few of the smaller lenses into jacket pockets - you don't need to be able to wear the jacket - the airlines will let you carry it.
2) Hire some of the heavier kit once you get out there (bit risky if they don't have what you want in stock for when you need it).
3) Don't take two weeks worth of clothes with you, but instead get some washed whilst you are out there. Most hotels have laundry facilities and you could claim it on expenses for far less than it would cost to carry clean clothes with you.

I would say that getting clothes washed out there is the cheapest and easiest option. I once did a 10 day trip with hand luggage only (advised by the client due to the habits of the local customs staff).
 
Send your equipment and clothes by express courier to your hotel. Take some essentials on the plane just in case the stuff gets lost.
 
I'd echo Ryan's suggestion...rental.

Less hassle, lower risk of gear loss or damage in transit, probably cheaper than extra baggage or shipping and your client should pick up the additional expense.
 
Standard is usual 23kgs and 12kgs

Most will allow 23.5

Change your airline if you can

As suggested a big pockets thin anorak is useful and a camera around your neck with a 70 200 never seems to bother them... I have even carried the 300mm f2.8 vr with TC over my shoulder
 
Last edited:
Ricardodaforce said:
The costs of the extra luggage should have been written into your quotation.
Click to expand...

Sadly the company I'm working for doesn't have a very big budget. Getting me to do the job alone was pretty much the limits of what they could afford. Pushing them anymore would mean that I'd lose 24 international jobs this year. I hear what you're saying but I feel that when you're making such a long-distance trip for two weeks then certain allowances should be made. 7kg is just ridiculous, however you look at it in my opinion.

srichards said:
Would a business class flight have better luggage allowances?
Click to expand...

Yup, but sadly falls into the bracket mentioned above, tickets are over twice the price.

jondc said:
Get a coat with big pockets, I think they're called ryan air jackets.
Click to expand...

I did look at these, and I'm considering one at the moment. Just annoying that a lot of the parts are so big and bulky. I reckon I could get the 35 1.4 and maybe a camera body or two in them though.

JonathanRyan said:
Rent a lens when you arrive. Far less hassle than taking one.
Click to expand...

This might be a good shout actually, only problem is that we're heading straight from Dubai to a much smaller Emirate when I get there at 3am! I might see what options are available though.

JohnStewart said:
Which airline is that with, so I know never to book with them ?

I've got pretty much the same kit as yourself and I've not had problems taking my bag on as hand luggage (just make it look as though the bag doesn't weigh much) plus a separate laptop bag (if permitted).

As has been suggested above, there are a number of options:

1) Put a few of the smaller lenses into jacket pockets - you don't need to be able to wear the jacket - the airlines will let you carry it.
2) Hire some of the heavier kit once you get out there (bit risky if they don't have what you want in stock for when you need it).
3) Don't take two weeks worth of clothes with you, but instead get some washed whilst you are out there. Most hotels have laundry facilities and you could claim it on expenses for far less than it would cost to carry clean clothes with you.

I would say that getting clothes washed out there is the cheapest and easiest option. I once did a 10 day trip with hand luggage only (advised by the client due to the habits of the local customs staff).
Click to expand...

I guess our minds think alike with kit and ideas!

1) I have already found a coat with zip-pockets so that's one of my ideas right now. (As long as I don't chuck it on the floor haha.)
2) Possibility.
3) Already planned to take one week and agreed with another person in a similar situation that we'll find a way of getting them cleaned.

Thanks for the advice, top reply. Oh, and the airline is Royal Brunei, they seem to be a budget airline and offer the best prices, but it's pretty easy to see how they make their money back!

nilagin said:
Send your equipment and clothes by express courier to your hotel. Take some essentials on the plane just in case the stuff gets lost.
Click to expand...

This could be a decent shout, thank you.

BillN_33 said:
Standard is usual 23kgs and 12kgs

Most will allow 23.5

Change your airline if you can

As suggested a big pockets thin anorak is useful and a camera around your neck with a 70 200 never seems to bother them... I have even carried the 300mm f2.8 vr with TC over my shoulder
Click to expand...

Haha, fair play to you for carrying a 300 2.8 with TC onto a plane! I might try that just to annoy them, but if I lose the battle I'll be pretty screwed haha.
 
BillN_33 said:
Standard is usual 23kgs and 12kgs

Most will allow 23.5

Change your airline if you can

As suggested a big pockets thin anorak is useful and a camera around your neck with a 70 200 never seems to bother them... I have even carried the 300mm f2.8 vr with TC over my shoulder
Click to expand...

No such thing as "standard" with airlines!

My vote is for a lot less clothes:D
 
Does anyone EVER get their hand luggage weighed on the big carriers? Mine's always about 12kg but in backpack form.. maybe they assume it's light (as I strain a smile at check in ;))
 
purpleclouds said:
Does anyone EVER get their hand luggage weighed on the big carriers? Mine's always about 12kg but in backpack form.. maybe they assume it's light (as I strain a smile at check in ;))
Click to expand...


I had mine weighed at Melbourne last year (Singapore Airlines) 14.5kg!!!!!! :oops: :$

I did explain that my camera bag was in there and would be taken out once onboard...no problem! (They were only concerned about having one piece of that weight in the overhead locker.)

....neglected to mention the concrete Kookaburra also in there...:D
 
When I went on a trip to Canada recently I had my 150-600, 70-200 f2.8 & 300 f4 all in their various cases wrapped in my clothing in the suitcase in the hold. Everything was fine there & back. Just make sure it's all cushioned and can't move about.
 
I'm still baffled by the idea that buying a seat on a plane leads some people to think they can take as much freight with them as they like.

But then I'm still angry that fat people don't have to pay more so I may not be the most rational person to comment on this.
 
purpleclouds said:
Does anyone EVER get their hand luggage weighed on the big carriers? Mine's always about 12kg but in backpack form.. maybe they assume it's light (as I strain a smile at check in ;))
Click to expand...

I searched about on Google and these do seem to randomly check. The worst part is that they sometimes check at the gate just as you're about to board, so putting stuff into the hold is therefore impossible. Ridiculous, and a complete money-grabbing tactic.

JonathanRyan said:
I'm still baffled by the idea that buying a seat on a plane leads some people to think they can take as much freight with them as they like.

But then I'm still angry that fat people don't have to pay more so I may not be the most rational person to comment on this.
Click to expand...

If you're baffled by that idea, then could you explain why Easyjet (a budget airline) will allow you on with no weight limit in your hand luggage, yet a strict 7kg is obviously a requirement for this airline, yet isn't for identical airlines travelling identical routes?
 
Tigger.ufo said:
I had mine weighed at Melbourne last year (Singapore Airlines) 14.5kg!!!!!! :oops: :$
Click to expand...
Seems to be a regular thing at Melbourne airport for some reason - a guy standing just as you enter through security. I just smile and pretend not to understand ;)
 
The last time I flew Emirates, I was given a 50kg checked luggage allowance for some reason...
 
bildo said:
If you're taking Snow and/or water skiiing equipment, angling equipment, surfing equipment or bowling balls, you get another 5kg. Golf, bikes and diving stuff gets another 12. I e-mailed asking if photographers get anything additional, but nope.
Click to expand...
Thoroughly wrap up and pad your lenses and put them in a golf or diving bag then!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top