Where in the world you can take excess baggage at no extra cost

In some parts of the world, airlines are getting even stricter about luggage, but there's one country that is particularly passenger friendly.

Passengers arriving from the US walk with their baggage through Terminal 3 of the Guarulhos International Airport in Guarulhos, Brazil. Paulo Fridman / Bloomberg

Cecilia Ribeiro Sainz Trapaga, her daughter and a grandson each lugged two 31kg suitcases for travel to Sao Paulo last month from Orlando, Florida, on United Airlines. And they did so at no cost.

Had they been travelling to almost anywhere but Brazil, they would have had to pay for being at least 10kg overweight on each bag and as much as US$100 for their second checked piece. But Brazil’s consumer protection rules make it one of the most passenger-friendly places to fly, forcing airlines to handle extra luggage at no extra cost, put stranded travellers on competitors’ planes and face lawsuits for delays of as little as 30 minutes.

As a result, Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes, American Airlines Group and other carriers cannot offset such expenses with additional revenue from fees that buoys profits in the US and Europe. Airlines have been lobbying the government for years to tighten luggage weight limits because heavier planes burn more fuel.

“It’s a way of doing business that you have to be cognizant of,” says David Neeleman, the founder and chief executive of Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras. “It’s just a very consumer-friendly place and people expect a lot and the government perpetuates that.”

In other parts of the world, airlines are getting even stricter about luggage, from carry-ons to suitcases bound for the cargo hold.

That means planes flying outside Brazil are lighter and more fuel-efficient, says Jay Sorensen, who runs the aviation consultancy IdeaWorksCompany.com.

In Brazil “they’re messing with the economics of airlines”, Mr Sorensen says, adding that Brazil risks bankrupting its airlines by dictating what they can charge for.

Air Canada and WestJet Airlines said last month they would charge C$25 (Dh81) for the first checked bag on US and domestic economy tickets. Europe’s low-cost carriers are famously restrictive with baggage allowances. On Ireland’s Ryanair Holdings, travellers can’t bring on board any bag weighing more than 10kg. Beyond that, a first checked suitcase of 15kg will set you back at least $20, according to Ryanair’s website.

Brazil’s aviation regulation agency, known as Anac, is in the process of reviewing the country’s luggage restriction.

The disparity between Brazil and the rest of the world puts Brazilians in costly situations when they try to change planes in Europe and the US, adds Mr Jenkins. “You get to the States and you’re going to take a connecting flight and the guy’s going to charge you $500 in excess baggage.”

Q&A

Is paying extra for baggage the norm when flying?

Many travellers are now accustomed to having to pay extra for many things that were once taken for granted, including choosing a specific seat that might have more legroom and free snacks. Airlines are using fees from perks to boost the bottom line. Ancillary revenue rose to US$16 per person last year from $6.99 in 2007, according to IdeaWorksCompany, which specialises in frequent flyer programmes. Baggage fees are the most significant source of ancillary income.

How do the UAE carriers compare?

UAE carriers are considered among the most generous in the industry. On both Etihad and Emirates, passengers can pack 30kg in economy, 40kg in business and 50kg in first class. However, if a passenger starts or ends their journey on a different airline they may have different baggage allowances.

Does the destination you fly to affect the allowance for UAE carriers?

Yes it can. Emirates passengers heading to Canada and North America, for example, are allowed two bags of up to 23kg each in economy class, and two bags of up to 32kg each in first class or business class.

Hasn't Emirates introduced some changes to its baggage policy?

Yes, the airline has introduced new rulings on the size of the bags it will accept. From November 15, individual items with total dimensions exceeding 300cm cannot be transported as checked baggage. Instead they must be sent as cargo or freight.

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