Originally Posted by
username
However, you might have a case based on their poor website...
I read both the English and Chinese versions:
CSN will issue an overweight baggage ticket for overweight baggage. The overweight baggage will be charged based on 1.5% of economy class airfare on the day when overweight baggage ticket is issued. The charge is calculated in CNY, with the mantissa rounding.
The English version did not include the key words - per Kilo!
Since this is history, I think "how much was carried by whom" can't be traced other than based on the receipt(s) you have. If they lumped them together into 1 passenger, then it might help your case. (Then of course the poor agent who did you a favor might get penalized.)
I worked briefly at an airport in Asia for an Asian carrier. The SOP for passengers on EB: beg first then get mad. The SOP for agents: charge first then discount and compromise.
Definitely not trying to get an agent penalized at all! I don't believe anyone working for the airline had any ill will towards me - I just didn't like the charge and felt like I was not being informed of WHY I was charged it.
I do think you're right though - the English website is terrible for informing me at all of what the charges will be, and it may bring me a successful case.
Originally Posted by
trooper
I have often found that a printout of an airlines own rules tends to come in handy...
Agreed!! The rep spoke next to no English, and couldn't explain in any way how the charges worked. She even botched the math on our baggage total 3x on paper, and I had to fix it for her - another reason I think I have a case for baggage refunds.
Originally Posted by
TerryK
Baggage over weight allowance is charged at 1% per kg of one way first class fare. Since OP is 28kg overweight, 28% of one way first class fare is charged, which should come out to around $2700, depending on exchange rate used.
I was only 17kg over after we re-sorted things and carried on more bags. The website also states 1% of ECONOMY fare, not first class. The economy fare was $485. I'm not familiar with these rules, so maybe it meant a higher priced economy flight? The flight was pretty empty though, to be honest.
Originally Posted by
sawan
Further, you could've tried to talk to the CZ station manager to see if they could do something otherwise.......
So please be more kind to them by showing your respect, for not packing so heavy-ly!!
I couldn't talk to the station manager b/c the line at Tokyo airport was all the way out the door (literally) due to earthquakes recently, and this hold up already made us board the flight during last call. We got there 5 hours before our flight too if that shows you how hectic it was!
Any longer delays to save $1,200, and we would have missed the flight. We were put in a sticky situation.
In regards to weight - most of the weight was business commercial products left over from Japan, that we were taking to Australia, and there was no way we could leave them behind, or I would have gladly!
Originally Posted by
LHR/MEL/Europe FF
the price charged was 1.5% of the [full IATA published] economy fare, which would be many thousands of dollars.
You cannot argue a 'mistake' because the charts they show are for europe and the USA. Assume all other destinations the 1.5% applies.
We were in economy and it was $485, not thousands of dollars. What is IATA? Maybe, I'm mis-reading the "full IATA economy fare".
I didn't agree to anything - I was forced into it if I wanted to make it to Australia in time for an important tour for our business. Thousands of dollars on the line here. Had I had 5 hours to dispute, I would have been in and out of offices, or argued buying a 7th ticket for $485 and checking the luggage on that ticket.
Originally Posted by
jiejie
Back to the OP. If you can prove that you were overcharged for the luggage, you might have a case for getting a refund of the difference. However, you'd need to first have the appropriate CZ basis for the calculations, run the math according to the situation as it presented in real time, and know that you have a sound basis for a claim. Meaning that they overcharged you, even when applying their own CZ rules.
Unfortunately, with the language barrier, it may be extremely difficult getting someone on the phone who knows how/why I was charged what I was charged.
Originally Posted by
jiejie
An above poster may have hit upon another issue--you may have had not only a total weight overage, but the way the weight was distributed might have hit you with heavyweight (individual) bag charge as well.
Agreed - but they didn't explain it in ANY way, even when I asked. I just got the shrugged shoulders "sorry" look over and over..
Originally Posted by
jiejie
A problem if you decide to pursue this: refunds with any Chinese Airline can be quite a long-winded process, even if a claim is honored and agreed upon.
If you paid the excess weight fees by credit card, you could file a dispute. In any case, you need to be sure you are on solid ground before proceeding, should you decide to do so.
Agreed, agreed. Thank you all for your input and trying to help.
Glad I fired off my rage here first instead of straight to the airline, only to make me look like an un-educated fool!
Either way - living, and learning. Next time on airlines where I'm unfamiliar with their baggage fees I will DEFINITELY know all info in advance.