Surfergirl

I booked my spouse on a tour to Israel and Jordan that departs from LAX next week. The tour includes business class on Turkish Airlines from LAX to IST to TLV; then from AMM to IST to LAX at the end of the tour.

Turkish Airlines website says for BUSINESS CLASS, his checked bagged allowance if 2 bags, 32kg (70 lbs) each.

However, the tour group ticket says 2 bags, 23kg (50lbs) each. But TK's website says the 23kg is only for Economy Class.

In questioning this difference with the tour operator, they said because the tickets "are ticketed through tour operator tickets than those available to the general public, it would be our recommendation for [spouse] to adhere to the weight allowance of 50 lbs for checked luggage".

My spouse always gets close to the weight line when he travels, but he won't have me on this trip to redistribute his stuff into my smaller, lightweight and never filled bag. I would tell him to take 2 bags to allow for the redistribution, but the tour requires only one big bag.

Your thoughts on whether I'm correct (more weight ok) or the tour operator is correct?

Sassafrass

Will the tour include some travel by bus?

janisj

Same question. Most tour companies limit the size and/or weight of luggage due to other issues that have nothing to do airline baggage allowances. He honestly can't manage with less than 50 lbs of stuff? He'll also have 10-20 lb carry on -- 60+ lbs is a lot.

Sassafrass

[QUOTE=Surfergirl;17447273
Your thoughts on whether I'm correct (more weight ok) or the tour operator is correct?[/QUOTE]

My thoughts are, does not matter.
Storage on buses is tight. The driver has to lift and stack all of those bags, then unload them. Many tours really limit bags and size for that reason. 70 pound bags is a lot to handle. The bus may not have space for everybody to have two bags.

I feel I pack too much, and hit 38 pounds once, so took stuff out. DH takes books, computer, shoes, but still under 45. Hard to imagine 70 pounds, but perhaps your DH wears clothing made of super heavy fabric? Heavy shoes? Some jeans and cottons are very heavy, we just don’t think about it most of the time, but that weight adds up. DH invested in some very light weight travel things.

Get a luggage scale and when your DH hits 50 pounds, he takes something out! Buy a super light bag too, if his are not. Does not have to be expensive, just something good enough for this trip. Nearly weightless packing cubes help with being more selective about what to take.

balthy

I believe the tour operator is correct. IT (inclusive tour) tickets form the basis for some tours that include air travel which might account for the difference between the published fare and the IT fare ticket baggage allowance. 2x23kgs per person is a generous baggage allowance as it is.

HappyTrvlr

I would call the tour company to check on this.

balthy

That is what the OP already did but doubts their answer. Yet it is common to use IT tickets as the basis for an organised tour that combines air + hotel + tours etc. and they are not available to the general public as the rules for this type of ticket state it has to be combined with other elements and could well have a difference baggage allowance as they are not paying the full business class fare.

>In questioning this difference with the tour operator, they said because the tickets "are ticketed through tour operator tickets than those available to the general public<

Board experts think it is wrong because they've never heard of the type of tickets the tour operator is referring to.and think it is something to do with the weight/size limit for ground transportation purposes.

Sassafrass

Balthy, I think you are correct. The tour company purchased the tickets as a bundle with different restrictions than individual tickets would be. The tour company knows what those restrictions are and informed the OP. In times past, they were somewhat lenient. Doubt they are now.

Surfergirl

Thanks all for your input. DH freaking out for no good reason. He did a trial pack and he's way under 50 lbs.

BTW the tour, for luggage under the bus, says one bag per person. That's why DH wanted to stuff all his crap in one bag. It isn't an issue for this trip because the tour group (university alumni tour) is less than 1/2 full, so there's plenty of room under the bus.