New Luggage Policy at NW
 

Just got this on e-mail and thought I would pass it on.

Please excuse any formatting problems as I am cutting and pasting and do not know how it will turn out.

DD

SUBJ: NORTHWEST AIRLINES CHANGES LUGGAGE WEIGHTS AND FEES
UNCLAS

THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR RELEASE BY LT COL DARCY L. LILLEY,
HQ AMC/LGTP, DSN 779-4592.

FROM: HQ AMC/LGTP

PAGE 02 RUEOMFN2988 UNCLAS

TO: AIG 590,591, 8521, 8332
ML 590, 591, 8521, 8332

SUBJECT: NORTHWEST AIRLINES CHANGED LUGGAGE WEIGHTS AND FEES

PLEASE ENSURE WIDEST DISSEMINATION OF THIS MESSAGE TO OUR MILITARY
TRAVELERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

1. EFFECTIVE 15 DECEMBER 2002, NORTHWEST AIRLINES REDUCED THE
DOMESTIC (U.S., CANADA, CARIBBEAN, MEXICO) FREE WEIGHT ALLOWANCE FOR
PASSENGERS' CHECKED LUGGAGE FROM 70 POUNDS TO 50 POUNDS PER PIECE.
ANY LUGGAGE WEIGHING OVER 50 POUNDS WILL BE ASSESSED EXCESS LUGGAGE
CHARGES DEPENDING ON WEIGHT. LUGGAGE WEIGHING BETWEEN 50 AND 70
POUNDS WILL BE ASSESSED $25 PER PIECE AND LUGGAGE WEIGHING BETWEEN
70 AND 100 POUNDS WILL BE ASSESSED $50 PER PIECE. LUGGAGE WEIGHING
OVER 100 POUNDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS CHECKED LUGGAGE. THE
MAXIMUM TOTAL LINEAR DIMENSION (LENGTH PLUS WIDTH PLUS HEIGHT) PER
PIECE OF CHECKED LUGGAGE IS 62 INCHES. EACH PERSON IS ALLOWED TO
CARRY ON-BOARD THE AIRCRAFT ONE PIECE OF LUGGAGE. THIS PIECE MUST

PAGE 03 RUEOMFN2988 UNCLAS
NOT EXCEED 45 LINEAR INCHES (9 INCHES BY 14 INCHES BY 22 INCHES) AND
MUST NOT EXCEED 40 POUNDS. THERE WERE NO CHANGES TO THE
INTERNATIONAL LUGGAGE POLICY.

What a deal! At DL, I regularly get taken for $225 for a 73lb computer case. The going rate = 3 x total_weight + taxes for all baggage over 70 lbs and under 100 lbs. And lately, they are not willing to 'look the other way' for the extra 2.75 lbs http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

GMF

Miles buzz?????????

Looks like they are matching AA.

Maybe TravelBuzz?

It's quite hard to imgaine that their scale is accurate enough to make it impossible for you to wiggle out of.

I've had baggage weighed at several different scales at checkin with a variation of 4-5 pounds (ca. 10%!), but that was overseas someplace.

And nothing weighing >= 3 pounds will detach and fit in your pocket?

The airlines are "unbundling" some of the costs associated with handling passengers.
So, for example a hockey team with 2 large duffel bags per player that weighed more than 50 lbs each would pay more than a business traveler with a 35 lb rollerbag.

we must alway remember that airlines aren't a charity and they have to cover costs or they will eventually go bankrupt.

Good luck!

[This message has been edited by Radiocycle (edited 12-19-2002).]

I find it quite patriotic too:

PLEASE ENSURE WIDEST DISSEMINATION OF THIS MESSAGE TO OUR MILITARY
TRAVELERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

The people that are defending your butts, making sure you have an airline to operate.....good move NW!

Well, this USUALLY can be charged back along with other misc. moving expenses. And once you get on the C-141 or C-5 or whatever, to your final destination, it is no longer an issue in my experience.

Might be an issue is you had the option under your orders to choose a carrier, though. In which case, I'd acoid possible probs and pick an airline that didn't charge you as long as the bag weighed 70 lbs or less.

Please continue to follow this in TravelBuzz for a broad audience (rather then put it in NW, where the "regulars" may already be aware).

------------------
Craig6z
Buzz & United Moderator
[email protected]