This is the first time I'm going actually need the extra baggage allowance. Unfortunately my trip involves 4 different * carriers, US, NH, TH, & SQ, so I'm not exactly sure where to post this. My goal is to avoid a preventable excess baggage charge.

I'm travelling on the following itinerary, in F & C (some flights are 2 class so those are C the rest is F), on a US award ticket. All of the baggage should be checked all the way through for each of the legs.

Leg 1
PHL->CLT->LAX (US) ->NRT->SIN->JNB (SQ)

Leg 2
JNB->SIN (SQ) -> BKK->NRT (TG)

Leg 3
NRT->LAX (NH) -> PHL (US)

I know I am supposed to get 1 extra piece for North American flights or 20kg for everywhere else.

On Leg 1, I'm going to be ok. I have 2 pieces and each one is 20kg or less. I've packed a smaller collapsable suitcase inside one of the larger pieces, for souvenirs.

On Leg 2, SQ's and TG's websites are telling me I am entitled to 30kg of luggage since I'm flying C. Based on the Star Alliance page, I get another 20kg on top of this, for a total of 50 kg.

On Leg 3, NH's website is telling me I am entitled to 2 pieces of baggage with each piece not weighing more then 32kg flying F. In this case, I get a 3rd piece as *G.

Is my understanding of the *G excess baggage allowance correct? Does it matter how many pieces the 50kg is spread across on the second leg?

Your understanding seams correct to me. I have heard that NH is the most strict about enforcing weight restrictions but you do not seem to have a problem.

My experience has been that the 50kg allowance can be divided up with as many peices as you desire.

Are all these segments on the same ticket?

If so, you will get 2PCs + 1PC (*G) at 32kg each on all segments.

Indeed, any ticket that includes north america will have this for all segments.

It's all on one ticket. Cool. I don't need quite that much, but it's nice to know it's available if I actually need it.

My understanding is that under the 'weight system' no single piece may be more than 32 Kgs.

That used to be the case but is no longer as simple as that. Some airlines have lower maximum single piece baggage weight.

These airports do not under any circumstances allow baggage over 32kgs.

MAN, LGW, GLA,LHR and all UK. LIS, MXP, ARN (started years ago with union at LHR and is spreading around Europe.)

Some airlines transport overweight through/to other airports at a fee.

23 kg is the max per peice allowance without fee now on US and UA and some other carriers. 32kg per *G bag. You do really have to take it on a carrier specific basis now.

I have traveled in Europe though with as many as 17 peices when moving and came to 56Kg total and I was ok. That is what I meant by deviding it up as you desire.