We have a flight booked on Helvetic Airlines and it says we are limited to 20 kg (40 pounds) per checked luggage. Do you know if this means PER BAG or is this the TOTAL per passengers?? This sounds like a very limited amount of weight!

Do you know if this is strictly enforced? There is an extra charge for excess luggage but it doesn't say the amount charged...?

Yes - 20 kg (Maximumdimension: 203 cm), handluggage 5 kg (Dimension: 45cm x 35cm x 20cm)is the max limit and only one peace of luggage per passanger is included in the airfare.

You have to pay an extra fee of 5,00 EUR (Excess luggage
Excess luggage costs an extra EUR 5.00 per kg for each flight. Detailed information can be found in General Conditions of Carriage (GCC)).

Special rules apply for sport equipment.

Thank you! Not what I was hoping to hear.....This is REALLY tough when you're going on an extended Europe trip from the USA. Thank you!

I've seen on other planning posts here, people deciding to use the trains instead of budget airlines for exactly that reason.

The solution for your problem is to extend the ticket for your flight from USA to the final destination (no separate ticket).

In this case the rules for international flights apply (for luggage 2 peaces) until you have reached the final destination. If you want to include a stop during your trip, ask for stop-over tickets.

Too late now as I'm using up all my stopovers. Isn't flying one way from Switzerland to Italy considered an International flight?

Helvetic is not a member within an airline alliance and they can make their own rules. Some of the low cost airlines have announced, not to allow any luggage for passangers in the future. They want to reduce the handling costs for the airlines and you can be happy, that they allow one peace.

You are right a flight from Switzerland to Italy is an international flight. But the 2 peace concept is only applicable for intercontinental flight from USA to Europe until you have reached your final destination on the same ticket (not valid if you have separate tickets).

"Some of the low cost airlines have announced, not to allow any luggage for passangers in the future."

Thanks for the information Tom. I can't imagine any airline NOT allowing any luggage. That sounds like an airline that is destined to fail!