Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Restricted baggage to Philippines over Christmas

I've never seen this type of warning from CX before:

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_HK/helpingyoutravel/traveladvisories?refID=28b242e80600e110VgnVCM62000 007d21c39____

Baggage restriction on passengers from Hong Kong to Manila or Cebu during Christmas peak seasonPassengers who plan to travel during the Christmas peak season, 18 December 2008 to 01 January 2009, from Hong Kong to Manila, or Hong Kong to Cebu should be informed that there will be a restriction imposed on excessive baggage during that period.

Passengers holding economy class tickets and carrying excessive checked baggage that exceeds the allowance should take note that the extra baggage can only be accepted on “standby” basis.

Standby baggage is to be forwarded on to the next available flights to the destination.

Is this because they expect Filipinos travelling back home for Christmas to take lots of baggage with them?

You've obviously not seen Xmas flights to the Philippines! Yes - pretty much everyone will take at least their full "free" baggage allowance. Largely in the big red white & blue stripy nylon bags.

I've never seen this type of warning from CX before:

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_HK/helpingyoutravel/traveladvisories?refID=28b242e80600e110VgnVCM62000 007d21c39____



Is this because they expect Filipinos travelling back home for Christmas to take lots of baggage with them?

It is a Latin heritage thing (http://www.aa.com/aa/viewPromotionDetails.do?itemDescriptor=PromotionCo ntent&fileName=box_bag_embargo.xml&type=MarketingMessageTeaser&anchorLocation=index.jsp&url=box_bag_embargo.xml&_locale=en_US&repositoryName=PromotionContentRepository&repositoryId=16018587).

You've obviously not seen Xmas flights to the Philippines! Yes - pretty much everyone will take at least their full "free" baggage allowance. Largely in the big red white & blue stripy nylon bags.

Yes! It is quite amazing to watch actually, they really know how to pack things in. Also, they have their carry-on baggage which is never light. You must remember that many of these passengers haven't been home in a year, so they have plenty of things to take back.

Yes! It is quite amazing to watch actually, they really know how to pack things in. Also, they have their carry-on baggage which is never light. You must remember that many of these passengers haven't been home in a year, so they have plenty of things to take back.

At the HK airport express station, PAL literally used to errect pens and herd the fillipinas there as if they were livestock, which i thought was unfiar and degrading as they were paying passengers and should have been treated as other passengers are. The ladies did however have tonnes of stuff (literally) to take home to their families.

I've seen this at YVR as well on PAL flights. Extreme amounts of luggage. Although the tendancy is to use cardboard boxes - one travel agent who specializes in this trade gives out one free box with every ticket bought. Each member of the family flying (including children) has their max luggage limit. The carry-on luggage is also pretty heavy. I understand that a number of airlines that fly to Manila have tightened up on the rules - either due to limiting luggage generally or simply enforcing them where they generally don't.

I've often seen Filipinos check-in large boxes regardless of which airline they are taking. So not surprising that they often travel heavily.

this doesn't really apply to philippines, but i didn't really want to open a new thread. i'm flying tomorrow and i'm quite sure that my baggage is overweight. i'm mpc green, and i know we can get xtra baggage redemption, but exactly how much extra baggage and what does it cost/how many miles?

Generally you can take up to 25 kg in Y class without excess charges. Check asiamiles.com for the mileage redemption details.

The funny thing is tht in the Chinese version it stated Manila and Surabaya instead of Manila and Cebu. (o well, the Indonesian domestic worker does the same as Filipinos, ship things back to their home)

maybe it's becoz they always carrry way too much tht force CX to impose such rule. (personally i like the practice of domestic workers, as they often get those stuffs which the local families was going to throw, but still in good conditions- especially clothings... environmental friendly^)

I've often seen Filipinos check-in large boxes regardless of which airline they are taking. So not surprising that they often travel heavily.

The boxes are called balikbayan boxes- and they come in a number of standard sizes. Many courier services can deliver unaccompanied baggage straight to addresses in the Phils.

Yes! It is quite amazing to watch actually, they really know how to pack things in. Also, they have their carry-on baggage which is never light. You must remember that many of these passengers haven't been home in a year, so they have plenty of things to take back.

Those red, white and blue bags are amazingly strong. They're used by other nationalities, too; on HK they're often associated with mainland visitors or recent migrants. Call it the "third world Louis Vuitton". if you need cheap and durable luggage, they're great, but expect to receive dirty looks from immigration & customs officials.

Okay people, lets just stick with the title thread of having restricted baggage to Phillipines over Christmas shall we?

Any comments relating to any particular group of people or terminology will be removed or edited (as I have done so on some posts above).

Thx for your cooperation!

Guy Betsy
Cathay Pacific Asiamiles forum moderator

The savvy travelers to MNL or CEB will have the reusable box covers (http://www.filgifts.com/view.asp?xitem=Bal002.9) so that they can easily transfer items in and out to meet the weight requirements at check-in.

CX has been, IME, fairly by-the-book on the weight and size requirements, even for F and J pax.