On Tue, 8 Oct 2002 13:49:51 -0400, Michael Doelle
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Bob wrote:
>
>>I need to verify whether it's true that QANTAS charges only $6 for
>an EXTRA (beyond allowable) 70 lb piece of checked luggage of regular
>size!  That's what the Qantas agent on the phone told me.  Can anyone
>attest to the truth or bollocity of that "$6 charge"?<
>
>Don't think that is for an extra *piece* but rather an extra Kilogram.Then
>it seems about right. 5 - 6 Euros/Dollars per Kilo is a figure I've heard
>from various airlines in the recent past.

$6 per extra kilo sounds much more reasonable than what I was told.
I was first surprised that the Qantas webpage didn't have the extra
charge info, and then heard what the Qantas agent said and he seemed
as surprised as I was at what he apparently READ from somewhere online.

>And I've gotten away with as much
>as 14kg over the limit without actually being charged (on a monkey-class
>ticket).

You mean peasant-class?  :-)   On Qantas, a First Class passenger is
allowed THREE 70-lb bags, whereas peasants are allowed only ONE.  I
now forgot the technical reason why my First/Business First booking
for the entire CO trip wouldn't extend to the one extra leg on
Qantas, and I didn't bother to have to pay a large extra sum on a
separate ticket for the 'short hop' between Cairns and Sydney.

But I share your excess luggage weight experience, though mine was
seldom over, let alone by 10 or more kilos.  The USA airlines
started to crack down after 9/11.  On one occasion on First, I was
allowed TWO 70-lb pieces, but I had only ONE 75-lb piece.  My
argument that it was 65 lbs LESS than my allowance didn't work. :-)
But the agent waved me through as they did you.

I always learn the rules first, before deciding whether to take my
chances that they are not enforced.  Just like speeding in driving. :-))

-- Bob.