Any trip is exciting even for experienced tourists, to say nothing of those who do not leave their homes too often to face adventures. Wherever you go, your trip needs to be well thought out and planned. Naturally, the most issues are air travel. After all, tourists need to find the cheapest tickets on the Internet, convenient connections, find out all the necessary information about the air carrier and the rules of baggage transportation.
It is the last point that most often becomes a stumbling block for novice travelers. They can’t figure out which luggage is included in the price of the flight, and which must be paid.
Also questions are caused by baggage payment at the airport. How is the amount calculated? Does it depend on the place of departure? Can I make a payment in advance when booking a ticket? All these questions excite the minds of tourists, and often they have to learn from their mistakes, many of which are expressed in significant amounts of money. In our article you will receive the most comprehensive information on how baggage is paid at the airport and beyond.
Hand Luggage and Baggage: Differences
For inexperienced travelers, everything that they take with them on a trip is considered luggage. However, when we are talking about air travel, you need to know very well the features of such a term. Indeed, your expenses during check-in directly depend on this.
So, remember that those things that you can take with you to the cabin, fall into the category of hand luggage. This includes handbags, backpacks, gadgets, appliances and other items. Also, as a hand luggage, you can carry a small bag with things, not exceeding the established dimensions.
But the term “baggage" means things that need to be checked in and checked in for a special compartment of the aircraft. Each bag is carefully weighed, measured before loading onto the airliner, and only then a luggage tag is attached to it. The second part is given to the passenger, it is on it at the point of arrival that he will look for his bag on the transport tape.
It seems that everything is simple, right? But in fact, this is just the tip of the iceberg, leading us to an understanding of how baggage is paid at the airport.
Paid or free baggage: how and where to get information
Every traveler, buying a plane ticket, sees how many things he can carry with him for free. To be more precise, a certain amount is already included in the ticket price, and therefore you can safely pack your bags and not worry about surcharge. However, such information should not be sought in the airport’s information desk or at its employees, but on the website of your airline.
The fact is that each carrier himself sets the rules and rules for baggage. At the same time, no one forbids companies to change them periodically. Therefore, even experienced tourists should from time to time be interested in innovations in order to insure themselves against problems.
So, back to the baggage payment. At the airport, your bags must be weighed and checked against the rates indicated in the fare. This is where the whole secret lies - airlines today often sell tickets with three or more tariff options. The level of comfort and the permissible amount of luggage depend on their cost.
When booking and making sure to carefully review this item. After all, there are tariffs that generally do not include free baggage allowance. In this case, you will have to pay for baggage at the airport. For S7, for example, a similar tariff is called “Basic Economy” and is the cheapest. It is very beneficial for business travelers, who mostly carry carry-on baggage with them in small bags.
Large airlines and low-cost airlines: different approaches to baggage
When you are looking for a ticket for one route or another, be sure to pay attention to the airline itself selling it. The fact is that the rules of baggage allowance for reputable carriers and budget low-cost airlines vary significantly.
This can be seen in the example of a small Victory company. Baggage payment at the airport in case of buying a ticket for the flight of this low-cost airline will be mandatory. After all, such carriers always earn on carrying hand luggage and other things. Their tickets have such a low cost due to the fact that almost all additional services, except the flight itself, are paid. That is what the company makes its main money.
But large carriers are more loyal to their passengers. On most flights, tourists are sure to be fed free of charge, cold drinks are delivered and they can carry quite impressive bags by weight. Therefore, if you can’t imagine yourself without a lot of things, then initially choose between large air carriers, despite the fact that their tickets can be a bit more expensive than budget companies.
Excess Baggage
So, you already know what tickets you need to choose in order not to get into an unpleasant situation with luggage. However, even in this case, a nuisance discovered already at the airport can overtake you - an advantage.
We have already indicated earlier that air carriers themselves regulate baggage allowance. But in most cases they are identical. A passenger can take on board a bag weighing no more than 10 or 12 kg as hand luggage and hand over a suitcase, the weight of which does not exceed 23-25 kg. Everything that falls within this framework is considered the norm and will be carried free of charge. Of course, if the tariff provides for this .
But sometimes tourists cannot properly pack their bags and refuse something, and therefore an advantage is found at the reception. In this case, the baggage falls into the category of "excess" and is paid extra. This procedure itself is not so difficult. An airline employee points you to an advantage and reports the amount. At Domodedovo Airport, baggage payment, for example, is provided at special desks that are not related to the air carrier. They are located in the center of the terminal, and finding them is quite simple.
However, take your time. After all, the amount billed can be very, very significant. What does it consist of? Let's get it together.
Baggage systems
Each airline itself sets up not only baggage allowance, but also the system by which it is determined. For a long time, all carriers of the world use one of two systems depending on their preferences:
- Weighted. In this case, airline employees do not focus on how many bags and suitcases you have with you. The main thing is that they fit within the established weight limits. For example, you are at Vnukovo Airport. You will not have to pay for baggage if your ticket contains a weighted baggage standard of 20 kg, and you have four bags of 5 kg each. After weighing, tags will be attached to them, and you will see them after arrival. You don’t have to pay a single ruble.
- By the number of places. Such a system is more rigid. It regulates not only the weight, but also the number of bags. If there is an advantage, the passenger will have to pay extra pounds and a place for things. A tourist will be put on a flight only after full payment of baggage. At Pulkovo Airport, for example, this can be done right at the check-in counter, without leaving your excess suitcases.
It is difficult to say which of the systems is more convenient and beneficial for the traveler. In any case, the airline will receive its profit, and the passenger will be forced to part with the money.
Surcharge for the weight system: calculation of the amount
If a similar system is indicated on your ticket, keep in mind that you will pay extra for each kilogram of overweight. In this case, the amount can be calculated in two ways:
- As a percentage of the cost of the tariff. For calculations, the most expensive of the economic tariffs is taken. 1.5% of its value and will be the price of each kilogram overweight.
- Like a fixed amount. In some cases, air carriers set a specific fee for an extra kilogram. It may vary depending on the country of departure and the airport. On average, this figure varies between 5 and 50 euros per kilogram overweight.
Knowing all these nuances, an experienced passenger can always calculate the amount of baggage payment in advance at the Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo airport or at any other airport terminal in the world.
Number of seats system: surcharge for overweight
Such a system has its own characteristics and nuances of calculations. However, it is worth considering that you will have to pay based on two parameters: an advantage and an excess of the number of places. If during check-in you have an excess in weight, then the payment will be fixed. That is, you do not have to pay for each kilogram, the amount will be the same, regardless of whether you exceeded the norm by 1 or 5 kg.
Sometimes situations arise when a passenger pays for only one thing. Sometimes he has to part with a significant amount of money, since excesses are noted for both parameters.
Where to pay for luggage: options
Suppose you are not happy with baggage at the airport. Are there alternatives to simplify the procedure? This question is asked by many travelers, because we could not ignore it.
Most often, passengers learn about the advantage at the check-in desk. The news is a surprise to them, and they have to hastily solve the problem so as not to be late for their flight. In this situation, they have to arrange immediate baggage payment at the airport. In Domodedovo, S7, for example, has its own racks. Here you can make a payment very quickly and without having to worry about it anymore.
If your airline does not have its own counter in the terminal building, then the one located in each hall is suitable. Its location will tell the employee of the air carrier, issuing you for the flight. However, there may be queues, and the payment process will be delayed. Some companies accept baggage surcharges right at the time of check-in. This greatly simplifies the process and saves the passenger time.
Sometimes travelers know in advance that they will have an edge. In this case, they can pay for it on the airline’s website. For many, this option is much simpler and more convenient, but it is suitable only for confident Internet users. If you consider yourself to be such, then you can safely go to the website of the air carrier, enter your ticket number and pay with your credit card for your planned advantage.
Buying extra baggage
There are situations when tourists do not plan to take their luggage with them and purchase the cheapest ticket with only hand luggage included in the price. But then something changes, and changing the tariff to a more expensive one does not work. What to do in this case?
If you arrive at the airport with this problem, then you will most likely be offered to pay an overweight, and the amount will be quite significant. However, the situation can be changed at the time of electronic registration for the flight. A line with a proposal to purchase an additional piece of baggage will certainly come up before the passenger, and the cost will not be an unpleasant surprise for the tourist. If you pay by credit card, you can come to the airport absolutely calmly and check your already paid bags into your luggage.
Rubles or currency?
At Batumi Airport, payment for baggage, for example, takes place in foreign currency. This practice is typical of international flights. Therefore, going to Paris or from Rome to Moscow, be prepared that you will have to pay for the preponderance in euros.
Moreover, the airline fare on such routes can be significantly more expensive than on domestic ones.
What to do if payment is not possible?
This also happens. Sometimes a tourist flies out of his native airport, the registration process is in full swing, and paying for the advantage is not possible for one reason or another. Many in this situation begin to lament that they will have to throw things out of their suitcases.
But take your time. Leave these radical methods for later. After all, extra items can be checked-in in a special compartment. Upon return, you will freely receive them back safe and sound.
As you can see, it is not so difficult to deal with the issue of baggage payment at the airport. The main thing is to be extremely careful, and then your journey will pass without a hitch.