Why the 2 Piece Luggage rule for the Americas?
 

I have noticed that most non US airlines have different rules for checked luggage than they normally have when the itinerary includes travel to/from/within the US (& it's territories), Canada and South America.

Does anyone know why this is so?

Is it a legislative requirement, an IATA rule?

For example, look at these links to Ailine Baggage rules[Non US Y/J/F allowances]:

• Qantas[20/30/40Kg]
• British Airways[1/2/3Pcs]
• Singapore Airlines[20/30/40Kg]
• Lufthansa[20/30/40Kg]

I've always assumed it was competition. If your competitors offer two free checked bags and you offer one, people may go with your competitors just for that reason.

i believe it was due to some rule that was included in the airlines rights to fly into USA. you have to understand that every else in the world, people use the metric system of kg, cm and litres, not pounds, oz or mile.

Not everywhere else in the world. In the UK we still use pints and miles.

US airlines have traditionally allowed 2 pieces of checked luggage, now capped at 50 pounds each. (I'm ignoring additional allowances allowed for those with elite status.) That's 100 pounds, even if flying coach. If a European carrier limited luggage on a US flight to 20kgs or 44 lbs, it would be at a significant competitive disadvantage to a US carrier.

But how many people (apart from Americans) holiday with 100lbs of gear unless they are doing something specialist?

Well evidently some do, as I've watched folk (not American, btw) spread their belongings out & try to shift stuff from one suitcase to another, or in other cases have more than 2, in the check-in line. I've always felt a bit sorry for them. Can't be fun to do that in front of everyone & w/ the clock ticking for getting it all done before the check-in cut-off point.

And it's not really 100lbs of stuff btw. Luggage itself has weight. I was a bit startled when I realized the weight of my roll-aboard & other luggage.

Actually I expect more non-Americans to start getting close to the limit, as they buy up lots of stuff to take back home, courtesy of the US$ tanking ;) . I have some British colleagues who bring an extra suitcase to a US trade show & go shopping/fill it up before heading back.

But I agree w/ the competition theory.

Cheers.

I was just about to say the same thing as it has always been the case of Europeans schlepping tons of purchases back to Europe. This trend has only accelerated in recent years.

:rolleyes: Another pot-shot at Americans....

While standing in line to check in for trips to and from Europe, my experience has shown that the suitcases that Europeans use are consitantly about 1/4 to 1/3 larger than what I use...

Remember the 50 pound limit for international from the Americas is a recent occurance. I'm fairly sure there's more to it then competition as I remember NW setting a date to go down to 50 and then having to push that date back. Even so you, you still get 70 pounds and two bags to go to manila from the states no matter what airline you fly.

Such an innocent statement it's almost dare I say... cute.

To get you started, I invite you to watch Philipino, Nigerian, Pakistani and Indian ex-pats standing in a check-in queue the next time you are at an airport. These groups are the experts bar none at pushing the former 70 lbs / 2 pc rules and not paying excess baggage charges.

70lbs per piece is also the limit for passengers flying Qantas to/from the USA.

It still fascinates me after all these years when I'm in LHR T3, watching checkin for AI and PK. Three people struggling to pick up one bag to put it on the scales. :D

Well then perhaps you remember the days when it seemed like every third passenger at LHR was loading two originally boxed Sony 27 inch TV's on the scales (no flatscreens in the 80's - these were huge!). PK had to build a special section of the hold for TV's which doubled up nicely for transporting crates of mangoes on the return.

I also remember that suitcases were an optional extra back then. It was mostly those striped plastic mesh bags that market traders use, secured with two mens belts buckled together.

Today its wheelies big enough to fit two bodies in. :)