Excel Airways / Excess Baggage

[Steve Parry]

My wife and I (Both BS-AC divers) booked a last minute Package
deal to dive Sharm in October 03. The carrier was Exel Airways.
We were slightly over the 20 kg baggage allowance by 3-4 kg each.
We got hit for ?50 at Gatwick and were told we were getting of lightly by a very obnoxious check-in girl. On the way back from Sharm we were weighted exactly as the outbound trip but did not get hit for excess baggage. We mentioned our unexpected bill to other couples who had flown out with Excel. They knew they were a few kilos over, but did not get charged.

I wrote to Excel when we returned from Sharm and asked them to
confirm thier policy re. divers/ sports equipment/ excess baggage as thier snotty check-in girl did not know but charged
us anyway.

Excel have now confirmed they did not have a policy at the time but were justified in charging us excess baggage if they
felt like it, even if others with excess baggage on the same flight did not get charged ! Why did we not get charged excess baggage on the return trip ? Excel advise we were charged for both trips at Gatwick ! I was not told this at the time- what if our kit had been lost or stolen in Egypt ? we would have
been coming home with less than 20 kgs each but paying excess
baggage.

Excel say they have now got a policy that allows divers an extra 10 kg baggage allowance, but no, they don't think I was
treated unfairly and no, I can forget a refund of my ?50.

So EXCEL, if you think i'm going to book a trip that involves your airline again, no chance. I'll save my money for annother day and fly with an airline that appreciates divers
are not light travelers.

[Dave]

Excel have now confirmed they did not have a policy at the time but were justified in charging us excess baggage if they
felt like it, even if others with excess baggage on the same flight did not get charged !

Which is perfectly correct. If you are over your allowance they are perfectly eithin their rights to charge you. Their not charging someone else is irrelevant


Why did we not get charged excess baggage on the return trip ? Excel advise we were charged for both trips at Gatwick ! I was not told this at the time- what if our kit had been lost or stolen in Egypt ? we would have
been coming home with less than 20 kgs each but paying excess
baggage.

In this situation, I would suggest checking what the precise charges are for that journey though ?50 feels about right for 4Kg over on that sort of journey. They cannot charge you excess fees in advance of check in however for the return journey. Just becuase they decide to charge you one-way doesnt mean that they have to charge you the other; plus of course the fees can be quite different depending on the direction you are travelling

Excel say they have now got a policy that allows divers an extra 10 kg baggage allowance, but no, they don't think I was
treated unfairly and no, I can forget a refund of my ?50.

But they didn't have it at the time you travelled

So EXCEL, if you think i'm going to book a trip that involves your airline again, no chance. I'll save my money for annother day and fly with an airline that appreciates divers
are not light travelers.

Given that Excel is a charter carrier and never had you actually as a customer, I am sure that they wil not be overly concerned

To be fair, if you turn up to the airport with more luggage than permitted, you cannot reasonably complain if they charge you for it

Dave

[Steve Parry]

:=Excel have now confirmed they did not have a policy at the time but were justified in charging us excess baggage if they
:=felt like it, even if others with excess baggage on the same flight did not get charged !

Which is perfectly correct. If you are over your allowance they are perfectly eithin their rights to charge you. Their not charging someone else is irrelevant


:=Why did we not get charged excess baggage on the return trip ? Excel advise we were charged for both trips at Gatwick ! I was not told this at the time- what if our kit had been lost or stolen in Egypt ? we would have
:=been coming home with less than 20 kgs each but paying excess
:=baggage.

In this situation, I would suggest checking what the precise charges are for that journey though ?50 feels about right for 4Kg over on that sort of journey. They cannot charge you excess fees in advance of check in however for the return journey. Just becuase they decide to charge you one-way doesnt mean that they have to charge you the other; plus of course the fees can be quite different depending on the direction you are travelling

:=Excel say they have now got a policy that allows divers an extra 10 kg baggage allowance, but no, they don't think I was
:=treated unfairly and no, I can forget a refund of my ?50.

But they didn't have it at the time you travelled

:=So EXCEL, if you think i'm going to book a trip that involves your airline again, no chance. I'll save my money for annother day and fly with an airline that appreciates divers
:=are not light travelers.

Given that Excel is a charter carrier and never had you actually as a customer, I am sure that they wil not be overly concerned

To be fair, if you turn up to the airport with more luggage than permitted, you cannot reasonably complain if they charge you for it

Dave

Dave, Sounds like you work for Excel airways ?

[Dave]

Dave, Sounds like you work for Excel airways ?

Why? Just because I do not agree with you?

To complain about being validly charged excess baggage is unreasonable imo. I do a lot of travel and know that when I travel with excessive amount of luggage there is a risk of being charged for it. Often they do not, but when I do get validly charged, I do not whinge about it, sulk and threaten to never fly that airline again.

What I do agree with, is that if they claimed that they charged you for both ways and you were not over allowance on the return, then you are entitled to a refund for that.

Dave

[Paul Leyland]

:=Excel say they have now got a policy that allows divers an extra 10 kg baggage allowance,

But they didn't have it at the time you travelled

And... it excludes Eygpt!!! So, still only 20Kgs or use the VISA Card!

paul

[fionab]

I have booked a trip for next year which includes air travel by Excel. I have also checked out their website which clearly details excess baggage costs. They do as you say allow an extra 10kg for divers for all destinations except for Egypt. Excess bagagge is charged at if I can remember about ?5 per kilo so be prepared to be charged. I never pack within 20kg so if they charge me that is my hard luck. If your post is anything to go by, you were probably as aggressive with the checkin staff, my advice would always be check in early and be polite.

FB

[ray carlisle]

I have just returned from Sharm ( on the 14th ) travelling with Monarch. they have a 20kg limit and I manged to stick with that and have everything I required in the suitcase. Just what do you guys need that I dont.

[alison boler]

Must say, that we normally manage to keep within the 20k limit too but it does mean thinking about it when we pack. For instance, we take out of our regular dive bags anything that we might use in the UK but won't in Egypt ie gloves, all but most vital spares, hoods. We also pare down the "lost diver" stuff and remove large reels etc - just go with mini ones on a dsmb. It's amazing what you find in a well used dive bag that you really don't need on holiday in warm clear water!!! Sharm is just about dive central so even if something goes wrong you're not going to be stuck without equipment.
Also, if we are near the limit, we remove the dive torches and carry themy by hand, as we do with the computers and chargers. I know that the hand luggage has a limit too, but unless you are very obvious with it, ie staggering around bent double at the weight, it is seldom weighed in my experience.
From experience, I always find I take too many clothes on holiday unless I make a real mental effort and end up not wearing half of them. On liveaboards in particular you really don't need that much, and Sharm itself is very laid back isnt it? Too many pairs of shoes are also another big weight culprit. Wear your heaviest pair (eg trainers) and just take a pair of sandals or flip flops.
Personally, travelling often with two teenage daughters, (also divers, so 4 sets of kit to take) one of our greatest weight eaters is the toiletries/medical bag. It can weigh an absolute ton if fully laden with "vital" hair conditioners etc. Again, we really pare down and pack it into a shoulder bag which is carried as hand luggage by one of us.
The people who are really in trouble are the unavoidably heavily laden photographers and rebreather divers who probably need to live in just the one pair of shorts for the week!!!
Allie

[Dave]

For those living away from London and travelling with BA, it is often possible to get extra baggage in at provincial airports. Travelling from Manchester , I have used Online check in up to 24hrs prior to departure, collected my boarding pass from a machine and then gone to the Fast Bag Drop point on arrival at MAN to drop off the luggage. The staff there didnt bother about the weight at all. Their only concern was that the cylinder was empty and the valve was open

Dave

[james parrott]

I ran into this Aug 2002, flying from Manchester to Sharm, got hit for ?4/Kg at the time. I had been verbally told by the holiday company that there was a 10Kg addition for divers. There wasnt, and I was over that anyway. My tough luck.
It comes down to what do you really need, some dive bags can weigh 4kg.I had spare mask, straps, tools, reg(I was on a livaboard and wanted to cover all eventuallities.After seeing some red sea diving, is a brain required??)
Even the hand baggage was weighed.
The comparison I made was with the years that I dragged skis and boots around europe, skiers dont travel light either and I never paid excess baggage.
Dont Know how true it is, but I believe that a camera can be carried on to the plane in addition to hand luggage unweighed.May try this out, very heavy strobes :-)

[Frank Spooner]

I don't follow this. I have been to the Red Sea twice a year for the past 3 years and never once been over weight. How can a BCD, mask, fins, 3mm wet suit, boots, snorkle, a couple of T shirts and shorts plus underclothes, a toothbrush and razor weigh more than 20Kg. Regs, computer and camera are in your hand luggage and bits can be carried in your trouser/jacket pockets.

We are going diving for crying out loud - not on a 'Sandles - I must maitain my image - Package Tour'. It's the easiest trip to pack for and if you follow the rule of thumb 'if your wife can't lift your bag (note the singular) easily with one hand' it's too heavy and you are going to pay for it.

Travel light, its the only way.

Frank

[fionaB]

I don't follow this. I have been to the Red Sea twice a year for the past 3 years and never once been over weight. How can a BCD, mask, fins, 3mm wet suit, boots, snorkle, a couple of T shirts and shorts plus underclothes, a toothbrush and razor weigh more than 20Kg. Regs, computer and camera are in your hand luggage and bits can be carried in your trouser/jacket pockets.

We are going diving for crying out loud - not on a 'Sandles - I must maitain my image - Package Tour'. It's the easiest trip to pack for and if you follow the rule of thumb 'if your wife can't lift your bag (note the singular) easily with one hand' it's too heavy and you are going to pay for it.

Travel light, its the only way.

Frank


I always pack my regs in my main bag. Also depends on the weight of your bag I used to have a ND big wheely bag and they are not light. Also pack torch plus backup small tool kit two masks. I can go on.

Fiona

[fionaB]

OK, hope this helps as the same query is also on Divernet. Excel's website says they allow 10Kg of extra baggage for divers EXCEPT those travelling to Egypt, someone then said the rules have changed. So I have just emailed Excel and have had this reponse:

"Thank you for your recent email to the pre flight department. We are now pleased to announce that on all our flights even Egypt divers can now take an extra 10kg diving allowance on top of their 20kg.

Hope this is of some help"

So well done Excel

Fiona

[Dave]

So well done Excel


Nice of them to do that, though tbh, I find this whole weight thing a bit of a non issue. I travel with my dive gear (including 15l cylinder) about once every 3 weeks and the only issue I have is deciding whether I want to take an earlier flight if I get to the airport ahead of schedule. Total weight of luggage is about 60Kg.

Dave

[Frank Spooner]

:=I don't follow this. I have been to the Red Sea twice a year for the past 3 years and never once been over weight. How can a BCD, mask, fins, 3mm wet suit, boots, snorkle, a couple of T shirts and shorts plus underclothes, a toothbrush and razor weigh more than 20Kg. Regs, computer and camera are in your hand luggage and bits can be carried in your trouser/jacket pockets.
:=
:=We are going diving for crying out loud - not on a 'Sandles - I must maitain my image - Package Tour'. It's the easiest trip to pack for and if you follow the rule of thumb 'if your wife can't lift your bag (note the singular) easily with one hand' it's too heavy and you are going to pay for it.
:=
:=Travel light, its the only way.
:=
:=Frank
:=

I always pack my regs in my main bag. Also depends on the weight of your bag I used to have a ND big wheely bag and they are not light. Also pack torch plus backup small tool kit two masks. I can go on.

Fiona

Fiona, I almost agree with everything you say. I have a BG wheely bag so bining every ounce that is unnecessary is the key. One thing I would never do is put regs in 'the bag' - damage to depth guage from low pressure, and possibly 1st stage. Even the cabin pressure is less than 1 bar so what is the hold pressure? Weight saved 2K. Whilst we're at it, remove dry suite hose and, if you have one, swap 3 unit console for 2 unit - who needs a compas out there, more weight saved. Spare mask? Loop a bit of string from mask to Jacket or hose. Weight saved 1/2Kg. Tool box? Every boat and centre I've been to has more tools than you could possibly use. Why take a 3Kg torch and charger when one can be hired for 7 euros (?5.00) - unless you do a lot of night diving on holiday instead of rehydration :-) Weight saved 3Kg at least. Take a small bcd knife or scissors and leave the meat cleaver at home. Weight saved again. No gloves or hood are needed (Red Sea diving forbids the use of gloves anyway) but I do take a lycra hood (lightwieght)to stop water slop in my ears. No reel, no DSMB, no goody bags and no spare anything, just enjoy the luxury of diving in warm water with 20-30mtr viz. I can't think of anything else that is needed. Total of unnecessary weight bined - about 6Kg at least. Do the same with clothing and you're well below the limit - and it is easier to get on to the bus, the security scanners, carousels, car etc.

If you do NEED anything for a specific dive it is easily, and cheaply, hired.

Must admit that when my daughter, also a diver, comes with us, you can't lift her bag, and most is not diving kit. Why take three brushes when one will do. The hotels have hair dryers, and why do you need half of the Boots make up counter, nad the Next stock room in your case? By the time I've finished, her bag is lighter than mine - and the funny thing is, she has never ever NEEDED something left behind.

You'll be surprised at just what you can ditch.

Have fun

Frank

[Dave]

Fiona, I almost agree with everything you say. I have a BG wheely bag so bining every ounce that is unnecessary is the key. One thing I would never do is put regs in 'the bag' - damage to depth guage from low pressure, and possibly 1st stage. Even the cabin pressure is less than 1 bar so what is the hold pressure?

It is the same. The hold is pressurised to the same level as the passenger cabin. It's even nicely heated if there if someone has brought rover or tiddles with them

Dave