Excess baggage

I am now packing my merchandise sample items and clothings for Frankfurt and am quite worry as my baggage exceeds the limit. My bathroom scale shows 25kg when I weigh my baggage and I am so worry because I cannot afford to have an excess as I had spent quite a chunk paying for the tax for my flight tickets. But nonetheless, I am very thankful that Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has sponsored me the flight tickets which would cost me RM2160. Thank you MAS!

Do you know what are your baggage limits when you travel from Malaysia to your international destination? If you don’t, below is a list of baggage limit:

All locations except USA (weight system)
– First class: 40kg (88lbs)
– Business class: 30kg (66lbs)
– Economy class: 20kg (44lbs)
–  Infants (on 10% tickets): 10 kg (22 lbs) as check baggage plus either one of the following items:
. Fully collapsible stroller, Pushchair, Carrycot, Infant car seat

To and from USA (piece system)
–  First & Business 32kg (70lbs)
– Economy 23kg (50lbs)

And do you know how much it will cost you if you exceed the above limits?

International flights (Weight System)
Varies according to the destination or sector you are travelling to.
The charge is 1.5% of the highest normal direct one-way Economy Class (in local currency) for each kilogram in excess of the free allowance. Exceptions:1% from Austria, Bulgaria, Israel; from Australia, New Zealand (except 1.5% from Australia, New Zealand to South West Pacific); from Europe, Middle East to Australia, New Zealand.1.35% within Europe (except 1% from Austria, Bulgaria, Finland).

International flights(Piece System)
For Economy Class, baggage weighing over 23 kg (50 lbs) and up to 32 kg (70 lbs), passengers will be charged USD25/CAD25 per piece for the first 2 pieces. When a passenger has an excess of the two (2) pieces allowed free baggage allowance within limitations (in dimension and weight for class of travel) the charge is 100% or single charge of published rate.

I did the calculation but the figure seems not right (oh my Math!), so I called MAS and asked what is the excess baggage rate to Frankfurt on 7th October 2012. The rate is RM168/kg.

MAS does not publish any excess baggage fees for international route, if you need to check what is yours, the number to call is:
Within Malaysia  – 1 300 88 3000
Outside Malaysia – +603 7843 3000

For more detailed information about baggage, please visit this link:
http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/content/dam/mas/master/en/pdf/book-plan/Baggage-Information.pdf

(Credit: Malaysia Airlines. Information is used with permission.)

Panicking about my excess baggage, I confided in Linda via e-mail as she is already in Frankfurt. She replied and told me that it is quite weird that I have that weight to carry as hers was only 17kg with thick heavy books and what not. I checked again my baggage weight and had a very BIG LAUGH just now!!! Silly me, I looked at the pound weight instead of kg. So my actual baggage weight is 11.3kg!! I have extra 8.7 kg!

But…my baggage is not that big (buying new baggage is not an option) and it cannot fit more things. The only option I have is to put some of the things in my small baggage (that I intend to take with me as carry-on) and have it checked in too so that my hands will be free from carry-on baggage except for my laptop backpack which will be carrying my cameras, sketchbooks, watercolour  laptop, personal items and what not. These will not exceed the limit of 7kg, of course.

Phew, I rest my case.

P/S: You might want to check excess baggage rate here. I checked and it was around USD50 from Zone 8 to Zone 4. Around RM165 considering the USD day rate of 3.3 for today. This is quite near to the amount that I have to pay for an excess baggage to Frankfurt. Maybe you can use this site for calculation guidelines. But to be really sure, do call MAS.

And go and buy bathroom scale to weigh your baggage beforehand.