Increased luggage allowance with max no. of pieces..Starting from Sep 15
#61
#62
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Lowly CX & IHG
Posts: 382
Just phoned again and asked what the likelihood was that we would be asked to transfer weight to our hand baggage and was told that it really depends on the agent who checks me in, but unless I am lucky, I will probably have a problem with 68kg and they will probably ask me to move 8kg to our hand baggage.
Sounds like I am going to have to lug 8kg extra hand baggage around HKG for a whole day before our flight to SYD.
Definitely a D- from me for Cathay in terms of their appreciation of J class passengers
Sounds like I am going to have to lug 8kg extra hand baggage around HKG for a whole day before our flight to SYD.
Definitely a D- from me for Cathay in terms of their appreciation of J class passengers
The "(lack of) appreciation of J class passengers" is kinda frustrating, but you get what you bought as stated at the point of purchase; never could we blame when a store do sales afterward. I'd appreciate when CX is kind and flexible with rules though, just not to take waivers for granted.
she said she needed to asked about the 40kg one. Especially this clause:
"Any baggage that weighs more than 32kg / 70lbs or measures more than 203cm / 80in in total dimension must be repacked into split-up units within these limits. Your bag’s total dimension is the sum of its width, height and length."
"Any baggage that weighs more than 32kg / 70lbs or measures more than 203cm / 80in in total dimension must be repacked into split-up units within these limits. Your bag’s total dimension is the sum of its width, height and length."
#63
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
I did not know there was soft. I do know once, as DM, I had to stuff a luggage with 40 kg in C class. I was ready to pay a fee and even had my cc out. The agent said let me just call my supervisor, said something, and just slap a Heavy sticker on and told me no charge.
Now, my wife, a few years back, traveling alone as GR, was 0.5 kg over, and the agent told her to take something out or pay a fine. She was C class and was paying full fare due to last minute flying. Now she is a loyal EVA FF on her business trips.
Now, my wife, a few years back, traveling alone as GR, was 0.5 kg over, and the agent told her to take something out or pay a fine. She was C class and was paying full fare due to last minute flying. Now she is a loyal EVA FF on her business trips.
#64
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: BA
Posts: 19
Sadly not a recorded message, but a conversation with an agent.
I made it clear that I did not expect a definitive answer but was simply asking for an unofficial view of the likelihood of me having to move weight into my cabin baggage. Answer was 'depends on the agent, but the probability is that I will have to move weight to get down to 30kg per person.
Conversation was friendly and the guy I spoke to was sympathetic when I observed that it was frustrating to know that whilst I would probably have a problem with 68kg a non-status person with a recently purchased premium economy ticket would definitely not have a problem.
As you observe, I knew what I was getting when I booked my ticket, and had planned my work around. Just seems crazy to me to change the checked baggage rules on the basis of booking date and not on the basis of date of flying when the ticket cost did not change on 15th September.
#65
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
Sadly not a recorded message, but a conversation with an agent.
I made it clear that I did not expect a definitive answer but was simply asking for an unofficial view of the likelihood of me having to move weight into my cabin baggage. Answer was 'depends on the agent, but the probability is that I will have to move weight to get down to 30kg per person.
Conversation was friendly and the guy I spoke to was sympathetic when I observed that it was frustrating to know that whilst I would probably have a problem with 68kg a non-status person with a recently purchased premium economy ticket would definitely not have a problem.
As you observe, I knew what I was getting when I booked my ticket, and had planned my work around. Just seems crazy to me to change the checked baggage rules on the basis of booking date and not on the basis of date of flying when the ticket cost did not change on 15th September.
I made it clear that I did not expect a definitive answer but was simply asking for an unofficial view of the likelihood of me having to move weight into my cabin baggage. Answer was 'depends on the agent, but the probability is that I will have to move weight to get down to 30kg per person.
Conversation was friendly and the guy I spoke to was sympathetic when I observed that it was frustrating to know that whilst I would probably have a problem with 68kg a non-status person with a recently purchased premium economy ticket would definitely not have a problem.
As you observe, I knew what I was getting when I booked my ticket, and had planned my work around. Just seems crazy to me to change the checked baggage rules on the basis of booking date and not on the basis of date of flying when the ticket cost did not change on 15th September.
Don't worry, you will be fine.
#66
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Marco Polo Gold
Posts: 1,084
#67
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Marco Polo Gold
Posts: 1,084
I guess I should update my DM unpublished benefits list: go above and beyond weight-limits for our DM members.
#68
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: BA
Posts: 19
Sure hope you are right as I just decided to check on the additional baggage charges, I could potentially incur, with the result that I'm not sure that I want to take the risk.
What I discovered was that if we wished to take the full 40kg each, post 15th September allowance, then the additional charges for our round trip would be:
LHR-HKG 10kg x 2 atUS$35 per kilogram = US$700
HKG-SYD 10kg x 2 atUS$35 per kilogram = US$700
SYD-LHR 10kg x 2 at US$60 per kilogram = US$1200
Making a whopping additional US$2600 of additional baggage charges simply to get the current allowance!!
Even with our anticipated checked baggage of 68kg (34kg each), which would fall comfortably inside the allowance of a recently booked non-status couple travelling in Premium Economy on the same aircraft, I am potentially looking at additional baggage charges of over US$1000, all because we booked before 15th September.
Never ever before had to worry about taking three average sized (two 78cm Carlton Airtec and one 65cm Carlton Airtec) suitcases in J class and will make sure that I never find myself in this position in the future.
OK, maybe you are correct and we won’t get charged, but I’m not used to having to think about how heavy our three average(?) cases are and this is a whole new experience and introduces an uncertainty I could do without.
Whole thing makes me conclude that Cathay have sufficient regular (Marco Polo members) filling their Business class seats and are not really interested in new J class clients.
I genuinely now wish we had booked with BA via Singapore when I could have possibly used Avios to upgrade to First on the long run home.
Unfortunately, that is no longer an option. Although our Cathay tickets are 95% refundable, our hotel in Hong Kong is booked and, as we are leaving next week, availability and cost make changing at this late stage a non-starter.
Ah well you live and learn. What is certain is that, as a person who is happy to pay for a J class ticket, but doesn’t expect to worry about anything other than getting to the airport, we are less than pleased with our Cathay pre-flight experience.
What I discovered was that if we wished to take the full 40kg each, post 15th September allowance, then the additional charges for our round trip would be:
LHR-HKG 10kg x 2 atUS$35 per kilogram = US$700
HKG-SYD 10kg x 2 atUS$35 per kilogram = US$700
SYD-LHR 10kg x 2 at US$60 per kilogram = US$1200
Making a whopping additional US$2600 of additional baggage charges simply to get the current allowance!!
Even with our anticipated checked baggage of 68kg (34kg each), which would fall comfortably inside the allowance of a recently booked non-status couple travelling in Premium Economy on the same aircraft, I am potentially looking at additional baggage charges of over US$1000, all because we booked before 15th September.
Never ever before had to worry about taking three average sized (two 78cm Carlton Airtec and one 65cm Carlton Airtec) suitcases in J class and will make sure that I never find myself in this position in the future.
OK, maybe you are correct and we won’t get charged, but I’m not used to having to think about how heavy our three average(?) cases are and this is a whole new experience and introduces an uncertainty I could do without.
Whole thing makes me conclude that Cathay have sufficient regular (Marco Polo members) filling their Business class seats and are not really interested in new J class clients.
I genuinely now wish we had booked with BA via Singapore when I could have possibly used Avios to upgrade to First on the long run home.
Unfortunately, that is no longer an option. Although our Cathay tickets are 95% refundable, our hotel in Hong Kong is booked and, as we are leaving next week, availability and cost make changing at this late stage a non-starter.
Ah well you live and learn. What is certain is that, as a person who is happy to pay for a J class ticket, but doesn’t expect to worry about anything other than getting to the airport, we are less than pleased with our Cathay pre-flight experience.
Last edited by corfe mixture; Nov 23, 2016 at 10:01 am
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
The fact that they have made this change means they are trying to match higher industry standards for baggage allowance now. CX's mistake was to be "cheap" and not just give everyone who travels after a particular date the higher allowance.
However, it is not unprecedented. When QF increased their luggage allowances, they also looked at when the ticket was issued and applied the old allowance for previously issued tickets.
Is your ticket cancellable? If so, maybe you want to consider cancelling your ticket and buying again if you can still get the same fare?
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...c-flights.html
Both of you will get 2 x 32kg pieces each as there is no additional allowance for flights to/from USA for Ruby/Sapphire.
#72
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: BA
Posts: 19
Apologies to everyone if I appear to have come across as a 'moaning minnie'.
OK I should have taken more notice and thought about what 30kg per person meant before I booked, but we do not travel with masses of luggage and I am not accustomed to having to even think about weight when purchasing a J class ticket on a major airline and whilst I was mildly annoyed to realise that, because of my own lack of diligence, I was going to have to juggle weight, as you say that was my fault.
However ask me how I feel about the fact that the way Cathay has introduced the change and the answer is: Bitter. No - Very Bitter.
Why bitter?
Well we have paid more than double the amount paid by a couple travelling on the same flights in Premium economy passenger but who booked after 15th September and remember fares did not go up on 15th September.
Yesterday I decided that perhaps the easiest solution was to purchase the extra allowance only to discover that, if I wished to pre-purchase 10kg of extra checked baggage, in order to get the same baggage allowance as said couple in Premium Economy, I would have to pay an additional US$1300.
Sadly it is far too late to change, as you suggest, as we leave next week.
Yes I do have a workaround, as we normally travel with very little cabin baggage and can make more use of that. However, with an anticipated 34kg each checked baggage and only 5kg each genuine cabin baggage, playing games and moving weight between checked and cabin baggage should, IMHO, not be necessary.
To be honest, if Cathay had not changed the allowances, I would have accepted that any annoyance would have been my own fault for being less than diligent when I booked.
However, knowing that there will be non-status people paying far less than me and travelling on the same aircraft with the same baggage and who will not need to think about this matter and you might just understand why I say I feel bitter about the way that Cathay have handled the transition.
Well, I've made my point and banging on further is not going to change anything or make me feel any better.
So, end of moan. Life is too short to worry about these things, but Cathay have definitively come over to me as a penny pinching airline.
#73
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
I don't think you're whinging, however you seem to be slightly unduly stressing over a corner case.
In the past you would've just breezed through by using soft allowance. It's just the codification of soft and the non-update of your pre-change baggage allowance that got you trapped.
If I were you:
Plan A: Play dumb. Do nothing. Pack 34KG into airport as before
Plan A.1: Claim you've been let over last time
Plan B: Ask if you can pack 4KG back into hand luggage if they insist on charging on it. Go through the motions. Whinge about how you wished you issued after 15 Sep. See if agent will let you pass.
Plan C: Pre-identify stuff you really can hand carry.
I won't stress over the call centre agents. These are the same agents who insist you must cancel your ticket if you have one space left out in your ticket name or if you got firstname and lastname mixed up. CYA gods.
About the check-ins:
SYD: I really think you'll get away with it. IME they are very laid back.
LHR: Not as nice. But I only really been thru CX at LHR once and might have had a bad apple.
But - the agent in question did let me check in my wife's bag (the missus head started into restricted area to eat and get an early start on all that Chanel shopping).
In the past you would've just breezed through by using soft allowance. It's just the codification of soft and the non-update of your pre-change baggage allowance that got you trapped.
If I were you:
Plan A: Play dumb. Do nothing. Pack 34KG into airport as before
Plan A.1: Claim you've been let over last time
Plan B: Ask if you can pack 4KG back into hand luggage if they insist on charging on it. Go through the motions. Whinge about how you wished you issued after 15 Sep. See if agent will let you pass.
Plan C: Pre-identify stuff you really can hand carry.
I won't stress over the call centre agents. These are the same agents who insist you must cancel your ticket if you have one space left out in your ticket name or if you got firstname and lastname mixed up. CYA gods.
About the check-ins:
SYD: I really think you'll get away with it. IME they are very laid back.
LHR: Not as nice. But I only really been thru CX at LHR once and might have had a bad apple.
But - the agent in question did let me check in my wife's bag (the missus head started into restricted area to eat and get an early start on all that Chanel shopping).
#74
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Singapore
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hh Gold, NH*G, SPGP, SQ-CC
Posts: 1,381
If 2 pax travel together, 1 with OWE and the other without status, does the OWE baggage allowance apply for both or just the OWE?
I do remember CX applying the higher status benefits if booked together in PNR.
Is that still the case?
I do remember CX applying the higher status benefits if booked together in PNR.
Is that still the case?
#75
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
In lhr they are plenty strict
I don't think you're whinging, however you seem to be slightly unduly stressing over a corner case.
In the past you would've just breezed through by using soft allowance. It's just the codification of soft and the non-update of your pre-change baggage allowance that got you trapped.
If I were you:
Plan A: Play dumb. Do nothing. Pack 34KG into airport as before
Plan A.1: Claim you've been let over last time
Plan B: Ask if you can pack 4KG back into hand luggage if they insist on charging on it. Go through the motions. Whinge about how you wished you issued after 15 Sep. See if agent will let you pass.
Plan C: Pre-identify stuff you really can hand carry.
I won't stress over the call centre agents. These are the same agents who insist you must cancel your ticket if you have one space left out in your ticket name or if you got firstname and lastname mixed up. CYA gods.
About the check-ins:
SYD: I really think you'll get away with it. IME they are very laid back.
LHR: Not as nice. But I only really been thru CX at LHR once and might have had a bad apple.
But - the agent in question did let me check in my wife's bag (the missus head started into restricted area to eat and get an early start on all that Chanel shopping).
In the past you would've just breezed through by using soft allowance. It's just the codification of soft and the non-update of your pre-change baggage allowance that got you trapped.
If I were you:
Plan A: Play dumb. Do nothing. Pack 34KG into airport as before
Plan A.1: Claim you've been let over last time
Plan B: Ask if you can pack 4KG back into hand luggage if they insist on charging on it. Go through the motions. Whinge about how you wished you issued after 15 Sep. See if agent will let you pass.
Plan C: Pre-identify stuff you really can hand carry.
I won't stress over the call centre agents. These are the same agents who insist you must cancel your ticket if you have one space left out in your ticket name or if you got firstname and lastname mixed up. CYA gods.
About the check-ins:
SYD: I really think you'll get away with it. IME they are very laid back.
LHR: Not as nice. But I only really been thru CX at LHR once and might have had a bad apple.
But - the agent in question did let me check in my wife's bag (the missus head started into restricted area to eat and get an early start on all that Chanel shopping).