Hi All

This may be better in another forum but as a BA Silver member thought best to initially post here. Mods please feel free to move if required.

A coupleof days ago flew on CX from PEK-HKG-SUB.Decided to take (not full) advantage of the extra baggage allowance and had a total weight of 30kg (5kg under the total allowance).
Checked in at the business class desk and all was going well until the Check in Agent said my bag was overweight. I politely informed her that as OWS I was entitled to extra baggage free of charge and showed her a printout of the OW page. She looked at it then spoke to her colleague on the next desk who shook her head and said no also .
I then pulled up the appropriate page on the OW site and after looking at this started trying to make some calls. She wasn't having any luck on the phone and was eventually able to get the attention of the CX/KA rep. He muttered something after looking at the printout and another check in agent took hold of the printout and made her way to the ticket desk where a CX/KA ticketing agent had just arrived. The CX rep just walked away .

To summarise, 45 minutes later, I was allowed to get my boarding passes (and was asked to lift my baggage back on to the belt). Proceeded hurridly to departures and the lounge to have some breakfast as i hadn't eaten anything in nearly 24hrs. Wasnt left feeling too happy about the experience and when the check in agent tried to give me the OW printout back I suggested that she would be better off keeping it for future reference.

As I realised very quickly that the CX/KA rep was of no help, I sought out a supervisor in HKG and explained the scenario. She asked if the rep was male in PEK then proceeded to shake her head when I confirmed this. She was also a bit shocked that they were not aware of the OW rules and said she would get a telex sent to station to remind them. Very pleasant, helpful and understanding.

So advice to others, make sure you have a copy of the rules (although not helpful in this scenario) and stand your ground.

I have to be honest and say that I wasn't expecting this of CX at such a large hub (even the ticketing agent saying there was no relationship with BA) I flew QR a few weeks ago from PEK and they were the ones I was expecting problems with and had initially got the printout for those flights. Luckily still had them in my bag.

Anyways, Safe & Happy Travels

S

I�ve moved this thread over the Cathay Pacific forum where the topic is better placed to discuss CX�s baggage policy.

Prospero
Moderator: BA forum

I must say CX are usually excellent regarding baggage and turn a blind eye when I check in extra items/a couple of kgs overweight. I am also a BAEC member, but primarily based in HKG.

Perhaps with it being PEK they are slightly more militant, with mainland passengers trying to bring the kitchen sink with them if allowed.

Kitchen sink? Its like they�re trying to take refuge across the world.

Wonder if CX/KA has their own staff or contracted-out the check-in service at PEK?

CA do the actual check in so that I can forgive but the actual CX/KA Rep and ticket agent were also blissfully unaware of the rules to the extent that the rep read the page, turned his back and walked away.

S

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All in all, all the peking staff are terrible. Had worse experience there but would be deemed ot. They simply love to interprete their own rules.

My dad, who flies PEK at least once a month, has no negative comment against them.

Except he mentioned that he need to "fight" with others to get a seat on an "earlier" flight in case of the regularly happened IRROPS.

Given CX has almost an hourly departure from PEK, wonder why they dont have their own team. Another thing is the poor quality of the lounge, even worse than the plaza premium lounge in HKG.

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Ur father doesnt run on the allowance limit does he

And owe bennies had been long there

I don't think Ill be travelling from PEK anytime soon again on CX/KA but hopefully the HKG Supervisor has done what she promised and sends an appropriate message.

On the note of the lounge, I didn't get an awful lot of time there due to the hold up but they hadn't even filled the coffee machine ready for passengers and this was at 06:15hrs. The first flight was due to start boarding at 07:00hrs. So that contributed to the grouchiness.

S

My checked luggage is usually below 10kg anyway, but I never had any problem on anything at PEK.