Jetstar Exceeding Baggage Max Weight

Zar1 on 22/10/2017 - 07:19
Last edited 22/10/2017 - 16:13

Edit: We're moving to Australia for couple of years and our flight from Bangkok to Melbourne is one day after our first flight to Australia (we ask for a 24 hrs break between the flights).

My family and I (2 adults + infant) have a flight with Jetstar from Bangkok to Melbourne with extra baggage.
From what I understand the max weight allowed is 40kg per passenger and we have more then that - 5 suitcases of 110kg total or so.
Did anyone ever had to deal with this kind of baggage overweight?
Will they really won't let us get that extra baggage on the flight?
Any ideas what can we do?

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Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 22/10/2017 - 08:05

    Holy cr@p! What did you buy over there?

    • try2bhelpful on 22/10/2017 - 08:44

      Reminds me of the old joke. "A friend will help you move, a true friend will help you move a body."

      I think you need to seriously think about going through everything you are taking and repack. You can actually buy stuff in Bangkok. Admittedly we didn't have an infant but we just did 5 weeks round the world including Hong Kong, Europe (including up mountains in Switzerland) and America and our packs were 18 Kg each; we had way too much stuff in the end even so.

    • Zar1 on 22/10/2017 - 15:50
      +1

      We're moving to Australia for couple of years and our flight from Bangkok to Melbourne is one day after our first flight to Australia.

    • Lil B on 22/10/2017 - 16:55

      Cocaine.

      Bricks on deck.

    • GaryQ on 24/10/2017 - 17:41

      To clarify :

      The family is moving TO Australia from 'elsewhere' for 2 years.

      Their first flight lands them in Bangkok. They opted to terminate there, and stay 1 day to cope with jetlag

      Then, they are flying to Aus via Jetstar. Their first leg allows them to bring 110kg (2 years worth of belongings)
      Jetstar fares do not have the same allowance

  • Lukian on 22/10/2017 - 08:12

    Is the infant allowed a suitcase? You're inside the limit then :P

    Jetstar should let you pay for excess baggage.

    • ronnknee on 22/10/2017 - 10:02

      Pretty sure generally, only paid seats would have baggage allowance. Since OP had mentioned that they have an infant, it's possible that the infant could travel without a paid seat (and since this is OzBargain, if we could get away with paying more, then we would right?). In this case, no - the infant does not get baggage allowance and therefore OP and his family would be over by 30 kg.

      I would recommend OP confirming with Jetstar.

  • bobbified on 22/10/2017 - 08:57

    Any ideas what can we do?

    If you've exceeded your combined allowed weight, then simplest thing is to buy extra luggage - either pre-buy by "Manage my booking" (cheaper) or paying more at the check-in counter.

    If you don't buy it, you may get a nice check-in agent who'll let you through or you'll be one of those people on your hands and knees on the floor trying to repack your suitcases and looking for things to throw out.

    • PissLUR on 22/10/2017 - 10:46

      I think you are not understanding OP.
      The max per person is 40kg. You can't buy more.

      • bobbified on 22/10/2017 - 11:23

        eeek! Ive never had to buy extra luggage, let alone hit the max allowed per passenger.

        The only other thing I can suggest is, before you the the airport, organise a courier to ship the excess back.

  • Iamnotcheap on 22/10/2017 - 09:04
    +1

    Pre-buy your additional weight through the online website. It’s well known for international flights you will get a per kilo charge.

    You will get no sympathy at the gate unless you within a few kilos.

    http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/help/articles/excess-baggage-ch…

    It appears you’ll be charged $B600 per kilo above any pre-purchased weight allowance. Best you login to your “manage booking” and check if you can buy before you arrive.

    • JimmyF on 22/10/2017 - 09:19

      Correct!

      $B600 is $23AUD/kg….

      From what I understand the max weight allowed is 40kg per passenger and we have more then that - 5 suitcases of 110kg total or so.

      Assuming the OP has booked 80kgs (Which I find hard to believe), that still means 30kgs excess or $690 AUD excess ;)

      OP - Is the stuff in the suitcase worth $690? If not, dump it.

      and no Jetstar won't give any, even with your 'infant'.

      • Lukian on 22/10/2017 - 10:04
        +2

        Booking another seat + 40kgs might be cheaper.

        • PissLUR on 22/10/2017 - 10:47

          Yes, buy an extra seat for the infant.

        • Iamnotcheap on 22/10/2017 - 10:47

          Love the logic! However it sadly doesn’t work.

          It’s a security policy not to let bags through without the accompanying individual. Don’t think you can book yourself on the same flight twice ;)

          “Damn you airlines, I see you called my bluff”

        • Lukian on 22/10/2017 - 11:13

          @Iamnotcheap: I don't see why you can't book two seats for yourself. I'm sure people would love to do this for extra space.

        • Iamnotcheap on 22/10/2017 - 12:51

          @Lukian:
          You can book a spare seat so no one sits next to you, however it doesn’t allow you the benefits. Unless OP has booked for the infant then different story.

          I personally have not booked an extra seat, but have friend in Qantas that has helped us with travel and often no shows in the booking don’t have benefits passed into the rest of the group. All they do is blank the seat out so no one gets allocated next to you.

        • JimmyF on 22/10/2017 - 20:22

          Booking an extra seat on jetstar doesn't give you 40kgs of checked in luggage…. The default is 15kg, you still have to prebook and PAY to raise the limit.

  • Ughhh on 22/10/2017 - 09:37
    +1

    Wear as many shirts and pants as you can, until you can't bend your knees 5 degrees. Put underwear in your pockets, wear them as scarf or as breast/butt implants.

    • TransportPosters on 23/10/2017 - 08:24

      This is a good method. I did it almost to this degree on a flight to Perth.

    • Peck on 23/10/2017 - 09:42

      Pick out extremely heavy things, like books, computer, paperwork, and carry 'in the hand' in a small pouch. I always carry 3.5 kg like this! Get some good baggage scales. They are cheap and will always come in handy.

      • GaryQ on 24/10/2017 - 17:56

        My camera bag is a backpack that holds a laptop (Two SLRs and 2 x 2.8 lenses)

        It often weighs 10kg by itself, but we check in online and it never leaves my shoulders.
        Then I shove other heavy things like batteries, chargers, souvenirs etc into a laptop bag, and carry a coat and book and duty free

        I've made it onboard with around 17kg of hand luggage, and my checked suitcase was 19.8kg (for a 20kg allowance)

        Always pack an empty backpack

  • RockyRaccoon on 22/10/2017 - 09:39
    +1

    You dont indicate if the infant seat is paid for, given that you are concerned about the 110kg my guess is its not paid for.

    Given also that Jetstar 's website says the Max you can pre buy is 40Kg per person

    One way to reduce "weight" is to wear the heaviest items, in pockets of a jacket, but it looks like you are 30Kg over so thats not going to be easy to save all the excess baggage

    From your other posts it looks like you are travelling one way. As JimmyF said dump any excess if its not worth the $690

    If you must take this stuff, the consider paying the childs fare for your child. Checking fares this would be around half the cost of the excess luggage you are to pay now.

    You gain the KGs and also get a spare seat check bag etc which will make the trip more comfortable

    • JimmyF on 22/10/2017 - 20:25
      +2

      Oh OP is going one way? Then just post the excess to yourself. Its going to be WAY cheaper than jetstars excess rates.

      I would post stuff I want to keep, but don't need NOW, that way it'll arrive not long after the OP gets there. Then only take what I'll need for a few weeks as luggage, and post the rest.

      Cheapest way!

      • GaryQ on 24/10/2017 - 17:57

        We did this in Japan - made up a box every week and posted it home with souvenirs, brochures, menus and things we didn't need to carry. Made the final pack so much easier

  • chrisd262 on 22/10/2017 - 10:01
    +5

    How about sending one bag as cargo?

  • Randxyz123 on 22/10/2017 - 10:38

    How… have you managed this ?

    What do you have in the suitcases??

    • Iamnotcheap on 22/10/2017 - 10:49
      +1

      “I’ll take one of every $1 trinket you have sir…” would be the suggested answer from me…

      Or possibly 100,000 copies of legitimate blue rays.. (I kid!)

    • bobbified on 22/10/2017 - 11:19
      +2

      What do you have in the suitcases??

      Those earphones were much heavier than expected…

    • GaryQ on 24/10/2017 - 17:59

      The family is emigrating to Australia for 2 years with a stopover in Bangkok. They aren't flying over there and back for a holiday

  • c0balt on 22/10/2017 - 12:24
    +1

    Is it possible to post some of your things back to your address?

    Thailand post offices have boxes you can buy there and it's pretty cheap to post back to Australia via boat mail.

    I had to do this a bit in 2012 when I kept buying stuff I didn't need. I know how easy it is to go a little crazy with the spending in Bangkok - possibly the best shopping experiences in the world from the opulent malls to the incredible Chatuchuck market.

    • original15 on 22/10/2017 - 16:47

      Agree. Post stuff back

    • Zar1 on 22/10/2017 - 19:14
      +1

      We're buying anything. We're moving to Australia and we needed some of our things for the first few weeks. All of our stuff have been shipped to Australia and will only be arriving two months after us, so we had to take extra baggage with us

  • minniethemoocher on 22/10/2017 - 12:29

    Check the baggage policy regarding infants, I'm pretty sure strollers and car seats don't count towards your allowance. I'm not sure about nappy bags.

    • GaryQ on 24/10/2017 - 17:59

      Fill the nappy bag with excess baggage!

  • aretsa9 on 23/10/2017 - 07:46

    This jacket might help with a few kilos. http://www.bagket.com

  • [Deactivated] on 23/10/2017 - 10:02

    Ring the airline and ask.

  • lainey13 on 23/10/2017 - 10:35
    +1

    I would have said call up and explain you're on a one way and you're moving countries as I've been given an extra 10kg on top of my allowance to facilitate the move HOWEVER… you said Jetstar.

  • ceeto on 23/10/2017 - 12:03

    I'm unclear whether your flight is from Bangkok to Melbourne or is within Australia as you say the flight is one day after your first flight to Australia. Domestically you may end up with more options because Jetstar have more capacity domestically I would think, but not sure.

    Remember that things like a pram, portable high chair, portable cot and baby capsule are often carried free as checked baggage, and are not supposed to be included in the allowances.

    I would suggest you talk to Jetstar as soon as you can, politely explain your circumstances and ask their advice (and make sure you don't come across as sounding "entitled" :) They may suggest you freight part of it, or indeed you may discover your infants bits and pieces (above) may be free and reduce your weight enough - whatever they suggest see if you can get a confirmation email.

    Oh, and one last thing, make sure you don't exceed the individual bag weight limit (which I think is 32Kg for OH&S but check).

    Good luck with the move!

  • pandabun on 23/10/2017 - 13:32

    I very much doubt Jetstar will be lenient with that much extra kg.

    You can always post a box to australia if you already have a postal address. It should work out cheaper than paying excess baggage with Jetstar.

  • Brendoo on 23/10/2017 - 15:28

    Just to clarify, you are flying to Australia twice in 2 days?

    You said you have your first flight to Australia (where from?). Then 24 hours later you will fly from Bangkok to Melbourne.

    So I assume you are flying to Australia (from Bangkok?), then will fly from Australia to Bangkok, then the next day fly from Bangkok to Melbourne. How much luggage are you taking on your first flight to Australia? Can you split it between your first and second flights to Australia. Or have you maxed out your luggage allowance on the first flight too?

    I very much doubt any airline will let you take that much luggage, unless prebooked as cargo. They need to carefully account for the weight on the plane.

    Seems you are already doing 2 runs back and forth to bring luggage. Your cheapest option would be to do a couple more runs back and forth between Aust and Bangkok on the cheapest tickets you can find. It will still be cheaper than shipping the cases or paying excess.

    It's only a small amount of time until your container of belongings arrives. I think the smarter move would have been to put all this excess in there.

    I have travelled for 4 moths with just one suitcase and had more than I would need in that. I think you just have too much stuff, leave most in Bangkok and get it later.

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