The cost of overweight and additional baggage depends on:
— The site works fully online via web browser and email;
— The destination you are flying to;
— Passenger’s participation in the airline’s bonus programm and their status in it.
You should always check the airline’s website for specific figures.
You can usually pay for excess baggage during online check-in either on the airline’s website or at the airport. Payment is often cheaper if it is available on the airline’s website.
Baggage overweight under the weight system
In this case, each kilogram of overweight is paid. Depending on the airline’s policy and the total flight, the cost of overweight can be calculated:
— based on the highest economy class fare. With this approach 1 kilogram of overweight costs 1.5% of the fare.
— based on a fixed amount set by the airline. On different flights this amount may be different, but, as a rule, from 5 to 15 euros per kilogram.
For example, let’s calculate the cost of overweight baggage on a Turkish Airlines flight from Moscow to Paris.
Allowed baggage weight in ECONOMY class is 30 kg. The weight of a passenger’s suitcase is 35 kg. Overweight is 5 kg.
On the section Moscow — Paris the fare for excess baggage is 7 euros/kg. Thus, the excess baggage fee will be 5*7 = 35 euros.
Baggage overweight under the seat number system
As we have already written above, in this case the restriction concerns not only the weight, but also the number of baggage seats. With the system of number of seats Payment is made for extra kilograms and extra baggage seats.
It is better to consider this on a concrete example: Aeroflot flight Moscow — Rome. The allowable weight of baggage on this route is 1 seat weighing up to 23 kg.
Example #1:
The passenger has one suitcase weighing 29 kg. Excess weight only. Under the seat number system, overweight baggage is not paid for each kilogram, but according to the established fare. In the case of Aeroflot, the surcharge for overweight from 23 to 32 kg is 100 euros, regardless of how many kilograms you exceeded the norm. Thus, the passenger will pay 100 euros for the overweight, according to the airline’s fares for that route.
Example #2:
A passenger has two suitcases weighing 19 and 15 kg. In this case, the number of seats is exceeded. It is necessary to pay for one more seat of baggage. Its cost on the route Moscow — Rome is 50 euros.
As you can see, it is better to pay for an extra seat than for extra kilograms.
Just in case, always have a small bag, where you can move some of your things in case of overweight. It is much better to pay 50 euros than 100.
Example #3
A passenger has two suitcases, one weighing 26 kg, the other 15 kg. In this case there is an excess both in the number of seats and weight. The passenger will have to pay 100 euros for the excess weight and another 50 euros for the extra seat, i.e. the total payment for the overweight will be 150 euros.
In such situations, the best option is to move some of your belongings from a 26 kg suitcase to a 15 kg suitcase, then you will only have to pay for the extra seat.
Please note that the maximum weight of one seat of baggage cannot exceed 32 kg.
A suitcase weighing more than 32 kg is considered oversized. Many airports will either refuse to accept it for transportation — and you’ll have to find a free bag to move some of your stuff — or they’ll process it as cargo, which is more expensive than overweight. According to the rules that apply in many airports around the world, a baggage handler cannot lift suitcases weighing more than 32 kg.
Please note one more thing: transportation of oversized baggage must be agreed with the airline in advance. If you did not call the representative office and did not inform them that you are carrying an oversized suitcase, the carrier has every right not to accept it for transportation.