Piece vs Weight Baggage Concept
 

One thing that airline staff have been able to answer for me is why you get the piece luggage concept when flying to North America and certain other countries, whilst you only have the weight system on most other routes.

Certainly 20kg is nothing compared to two pieces potentially adding up to 64kg. Heck, with the piece concept, you get more luggage than some First Class passengers (lets be frank, the two piece limit is hardly a tough limit - if you really want to fit things in, just bring larger bags).

I'm guessing it's a regulatory imposition on the airlines, if so, what was the history behind it. A German friend said that Germans had to bring a lot of equipment to the US, so they needed large baggage allowances :D

There is a weight limit even on "Pcs" system as well.

Have a friend is moving back from FRA to USA and I was planning a MR to carry 3 bags for him. Called UA 1K desk this afternoon and this is what they told me.

1) As 1K & 1P, we can check in 3 bags each and maximum weight per bag is 70 pounds.
2) Over weight fee is US$381 per bag if under 100 pounds.
3) If bag is over 100 pounds, they will have to go via air-cargo and not as "check-in" bag with ticketed passenger.
4) If I check in 4 bags, the 4th bag will cost US$127 per bag for up to 70 pounds.
5) Bag allowence is based on seat, so if I buy 2 seats, I can check in 6 bags.
6) I will earn miles on the second seat purchased, but I will have to contact MP desk for the credit after completion of the trip.
7) Earn status mileage bonus and other promos with 2 tickets? 1K resv agent does not have the answer for this and I haven't check with MP desk.

Since the question really isn't about miles and points, I'm going to move it to TravelBuzz.

Regards,
Gary
aka gleff
MilesBuzz and Delta moderator

Ahh yes, I hinted at that with my comment about 64kg :)

32kg per piece. In some countries, airlines are legally bound to this for health and safety reasons (eg. UK).

I think 64kg is more than enough for most passengers. It's more then plenty compared to 20kg :D

Anyone run into problems with the piece rule?

I have a RTW ticket which says piece concept will apply for whole ticket.

I heard here awhile back that in Europe some carriers or checkin agents insist the 20kg rule is right instead.

I have acouple of intraeurope flights, and was wondering if I will face any problems. (All LH flights)

Flying with bmi from BRU, I had a checkin agent who wanted to charge excess baggage (had 53kg), despite the fact that my ticket said that I had the piece concept for all flights (PC).

The bmi ticket agent also wanted to charge me, but I insisted I was allowed two pieces and was going to show her the fare rules. After almost half an hour since the saga began, someone more senior at bmi said it was a RTW ticket and I was correct ;) The ticket agent was not impressed at having to eat humble pie at all.

But, strangely out of all my flights, the points for this one did not post automatically. I've had later bmi flights which posted, I suspect that ticket agent removed my frequent flyer number from the booking, as it was there when I checked in.

Tsk, tsk, tsk!

It is my understanding that this PC luggage allotment, and the 2*PC came from a thing called the Warsaw treaty, and is valid on transatlantic and continuing flights. 2 pieces of 32 kg each.

There is a standard fee for overage. There is a formula for individual PC (32kg), which I cannot find, but is in the neighborhood of $100 Italy-IAD.

There is a formula, which I have conviently forgotten, for overweight luggage(exceeding 32kg). It is related to weight units times some full class fare, and is very big bucks. I think around $7 per pound.

I have on more than one occasion carried back a number of 32kg packages, from Italy, and paid the around $100 fee. I do not know if it is calculated in euro or dollars, but I do know it is per under 32kg piece, and far and away the cheapest way to move cargo fast.