I have spoken with at least 20 Lufthansa representatives in reservations, customer service, and baggage and I just keep getting different responses. The situation is as follows:

1) My husband is flying on Lufthansa in business class from JFK to PEE (yes, someone who does not speak English must have come up with this code for Perm, Russia).

2) He needs to bring as much luggage as possible because his grandfather is turning 100. Between the medical supplies he needs to bring and the presents we want to bring - it adds up.

3) My husband has status on AA only - no UA status.


So, my questions are:

1) Does he get any additional baggage allowance for flying business class?

2) Is there any way to quickly attain United status (within one week or so) that would allow him to bring extra baggage?

PS - I tried posting on the Lufthansa Board already but got no definitive answer.


Anyone?

[This message has been edited by timetotravel (edited Jan 22, 2004).]

Anyone?

Call United and ask them

As of my last count, I have called United about 15 times. I just cannot get any consistency from United or Lufthansa, so I was hoping that someone from FT might know definitively.

AFAIK, Business class doesn't get extra allowances on UA. Don't know about LH, though. Rather than finding a quick way to get UA status, why not just pay the extra baggage fees? Or better yet, FedEx the bags so your husband doesn't need to worry about it.

Fed Ex costs well over $100 per letter, so a package is out of the question. US Postal Service would be about $200 and takes two months. We could pay the extra baggage fees, but we were hoping that there may be a status matching program on United or some other shortcut that would help.

Here's the LH official word on baggage allowances.

UA might match your husband's AA status, do a search on "status match" and there's plenty of info to be found.

UAL_Rulez, that was an excellent, straight forward link!
Timetotravel, have you checked with UPS? When my kids were in Moldova (former USSR country) UPS had special 10 and 25 Kilo boxes & rates for shipping to them. Not cheap, but once a year it was do able.
Good luck!
Kate

In my experience it's best to just pack each bag up to 68lbs using a bathroom scale (the maximum permitted is 70lbs). Then take as many bags as you need. You might get away with one or two extra, and even if you don't, it will be cheaper than almost any other method.

Do not ever pack a bag over 70lbs. The charges for overweight luggage are much higher than for excess luggage. On my last trip I saw a couple who had to pay US$300 because their baggage was too heavy and they couldn't find a luggage store to let them break it up.

Also, in business you get to take two carry-ons. Make them roll-aboards of the maximum size permitted. If you want you can even try checking one or both of them some time after you've already checked in - but this is definitely a bit dodgy and not really recommended.

If you do as Joe Slater suggests above, be sure that you check the bags all the way through to PEE from your USA origination. If you stop and collect your bags at FRA, and then try to check the bags from that point, there's no way that LH will allow 70 lbs per bag.

Are you certain that you can take two carry ons? (I have received so many different answers over the phone) Will he make it through with two in Frankfurt? Can you really take two rolling cases or is there a smaller size limitation for the second carry on?


And most importantly, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO EVERYONE FOR ALL THE HELPFUL INFORMATION! I hope to repay the favor some day soon!

Just brought 6 bags (relocating cross-country this week) on a UA flight. Charge was $185 for the extra bags (took one carry on).

Just pay the extra $$ - that way you'll make sure you get the bags there. The cost is minimal re: the hassle of not getting them there. One other note: if the supplies, etc. are important (as it sounds like they are), then I would make sure that all of the medical supplies are in my carryon that I take with me on the flight.

The charge depends on where you are going. I was quoted $255 per extra bag on this route.

I find this hard to believe unless you have already weighed the bags and they are quoting you based upon weight. Each airline shows that the extra bag is about $50 per bag unless it is overweight (over 70 lbs is the cutoff I believe). Again, it is probably better just to wait until you get to the airport and see what they have to say since you're having so much difficulty seeming to get the correct answer.

That does seem to be a little high. When I returned from Taiwan (after living there for five years) I had a ton of items to bring home. I found the cheapest way was to just pack them in my luggage (NEVER over 70 lbs/31.5kg) and take the with me to the airport. Depending upon the mood of the agent, the load of the flight, and how many bags you have what the outcome may be. I usually pay around $110 from Taiwan to Florida for each bag over my allowance. Sometimes they will give me an extra piece for free...but then again...that really depends on the mood of the agent at check-in.

You have my best wishes...there's nothing like having a lot of luggage and having to go to PEE!!