Abby

I am traveling to Beijing on United Airlines. Throughout China we are flying on China Air and Dragon Air. The weight restrictions on baggage on both carriers is 40lbs with a limitation of 1 piece of checked baggage. Does anyone know if the airlines are really strict with the weight allowance? Has anyone gotten charged a fee? A packed suitcase for a 3 week vacation (before shopping)weighs 50-60lbs.

Jen

Watch out if you are taking a small connecting flight into an international airport before you head out. We've had more troubles at those. When we moved to Asia all we brought was our maximum baggage allowance, and left from a small airport to get to Vancouver International. They got all uppity because one bag was a bit overweight and made us shuffle everything around (or pay ridiculous fees). They turned a blind eye to our way too heavy carry-ons, though (they are supposed to have a max weight, too - 10lbs, I think). Airport envy, we decided.<BR><BR>But our bags were over when we came back to Asia from a recent visit home (shopped up a storm) and nobody said a word when we checked in at Vancouver International Airport. Go figure. They were only a couple of pounds over, though.<BR><BR>For actual travelling my bags NEVER weigh anywhere near the maximum weight limit (usually higher than what these airlines you're using have), so I'm not sure where you get your packed suitcase weight from. I've taken four to nine week trips and my bag never weighs more than 30lbs. What the heck are you packing?!

Jen

Wait a minute. Who gave you those baggage limits? I just looked up China Airline's webpage and their limits are the same as any other airline:<BR><BR> Economy Class<BR>Two pieces of baggage (measured together) of which the sum of the greatest outside linear dimensions does not exceed 107 inches (269cms), provided the sum of the outside linear dimensions of each bag does not exceed 62 inches (158cms), and that the weight of each does not exceed 70lbs (32kgs). <BR> <BR> <BR> Unchecked baggage <BR> In principle, only one piece of unchecked baggage, of which the sum of the greatest outside linear dimensions does not exceed 45 inches (114cms), is allowed. <BR><BR>?????<BR><BR><BR>

Hanuman

On flights originating from or with destination to the United States you are under the 2 bag rules. Each additional luggage will cost $100 + tax per piece. If you fly domestic in China with out going to the US as the final destination you will be under the 20 kg luggage limit for economy, 30 kg for business class and 40 kg for first.

Abby

JEN<BR><BR>I did read the airlines web sites. The restrictions on baggage are different if you fly from the US or Canada to China. Then it changes if you are taking China Air or Dragon Air within China. I am taking China Air from Beijing to Xian and Dragon Air from Shanghai to Hong Kong. And it even changes further if you are taking China Air or Cathay from the US and then take the same airlines intra China. Then it stays with the same baggage weights and restrictions that applied from the US or Canada. I went to Bangkok, Singapore, Bali and Hong Kong for 3 weeks last summer and my baggage (29inch) weighed 50 pounds before the trip started. When I got to Hong Kong I had an extra duffle the suitcase and a carry on. The suitcase weighed the same because the duffle now weighed 25lbs.

idah

Does anyone know what the fee is for overweight luggage? I am flying to Beijing from the US, then taking 3 flights within China, all on China Air. I am concerned that I will purchase items while on the trip that will put my checked bag over the 44 pound limit. Paying $100 for an extra bag (assuming that is still the price) on three separate internal flights is not my ideal solution. Does anyone know what the fee is for an overweight bag?

Kathie

I think the international standard is 1% of the full first class rate per kilo overweight. That can add up pretty quickly. For flights within an Asian country (not an international flight) check the airline's website.

sandi

One would think that if a visitor has spent money in a country purchasing souvenirs, that a surcharge for overweight luggage is double-dipping. If only a few pounds over the limit any charge is a sham.

When returning on a trip from a humid island resort, nothing ever dried... naturally we were overweight on our return. When the reservations agent checked the weight, I just said &quot;if items would only dry in this environment, and maybe if the hotels provided dryers, I'd be within the limits&quot; - it got a good howl out of everyone, and no extra charge.

But the airlines do what they do and we are held captive to some of their excesses.

Marsh

Unless you have a personal porter going on the trip with you, you should try to pack more lightly! I learned my lesson about that on my first trip to Europe with a 30&quot; Samsonite hard bag. Lifting it on and off trains a few times (before joining the tour) plus going up and down stairs and escalators cured me of over-packing to a great degree. In 2001 I did a 4 week tour of China and Vietnam with one rolling 22x14X9 bag and a travel purse.