Tips on best airline for excess baggage UK to Sydney, anyone?

(preferably with a stop over)

thanks

Air New Zealand I think.

BB

They stopped using the piece system which gave 2 x 23kg.

The best economy standard baggage is Emirates at 30kg.

However, both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will allow extra bags at 23kg a bag for a relatively small fee if pre-booked. That represents excellent value. Virgin Atlantic fly into SYD via HK and would be my personal preference over British Airways.

If flying Virgin Atlantic it's worth signing up to Virgin Blue's Velocity and earn points that way that you can use on a domestic flight later on.

Go via the US and get 2 x 32KG in economy.

We went Brisbane-> singapore-> London with Qantas/BA and had 1 x 23kg bag each. Went London -> new york -> LA -> Brisbane and got 2 x 23kg each!

Go figure! reference http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Bri...ys/baggage.php

" Checked Baggage Allowance

If traveling within the U.K.:

* Free baggage allowance: 1 piece
* Maximum Dimensions: 62 linear inches/158 cm* (length + width + height)
* Maximum Weight: 51 lb/23 kg*

If traveling to/from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana:

* Free baggage allowance if traveling in First and Club World: 3 pieces
* Free baggage allowance if traveling in World Traveller Plus or World Traveller: 2 pieces
* Maximum Dimensions: 62 linear inches/158 cm* (length + width + height)
* Maximum Weight: 51 lb/23 kg*

For all other international destinations each passenger must adhere to the below weight requirements:

* Free baggage allowance if traveling in First and Club World: 3 pieces
* Free baggage allowance if traveling in Club Europe or World Traveller Plus: 2 pieces
* Free baggage allowance if traveling in World Traveller or Euro Traveller: 1 piece
* Maximum Dimensions: 62 linear inches/158 cm (length + width + height)*
* Maximum Weight: 51 lb/23 kg*

*Size and weight restrictions are per bag.
"

check out Singapore Airlines. They offer 20kg additional to your standard allowance if you are on an unvalidated migration visa.

2nd 23kg bag with BA only around £30 and you can take more but jumps up to c£70 a bag (think you can take up to 10 bags at that, still great value when Emirates/ Singapore etc charge about £500 for extra bag!

Also if you take an infant BA give them full 23kg allowance and hand luggage where as others restrict infant checked in luggage to 10kg.

My concern is how to handle 5 suitacses, hand luggage, duty free, baby, pram etc etc!!!????

One note about the BA extra baggage allowance - yes, it is exceptionally cheap compared to the others, but I've spoken with them this morning & it only applies to BA flights, not with flights booked through BA with other airlines.

So be careful of your connections, if you end up on QANTAS you may be charged their excess fees which are very expensive!

We are going with Emirates for a family of four that is 40 kilo extra...which equates to two extra suitcases....

also consider airfreight we had ours included in very small print with shipping quotes so we dont have to pay... Takes upto 3 weeks

I was enquiring about opening an account in NZ with ANZ and got this in my reply:



Might be worth seeing if they offer something similar for Australia. If you are looking to open a bank account it might be worth it.

So someone flying on a two leg journey from London with BA, stopping over and then continuing on with Qantas is stuck with a single 23kg hold baggage item.

So does Malaysia airlines. On unvalidated PR visa for one way ticket. I got this deal today flying from India to Sydney.

Yes by the sounds of it you have to make sure you fly BA all the way. Completely sucks if you're trying to get to Perth as BA don't fly there any more and you have to go on a codeshare flight with Qantas. Still, better to know about it now I guess then to find out at the airport!

I called Qantas to double check and the person I spoke to said that it was correct, and that BA would take the Qantas payment on check in at Heathrow.

Annoying really. My son wanted to take his guitar along but now it looks like he can't.

Other stuff: well there's always this option.

Thanks for highlighting this issue

Qantas might allow your son to take the guitar on as carry on luggage, but he'll need to call them well in advance to arrange it. I've copied this from their site: "Items such as diplomatic or courier bags, musical instruments, artworks or technical equipment that exceed the above limits may be accepted at the discretion of the airline but arrangements must be made at least two days before you travel. You may need to purchase an extra seat." I wouldn't think a guitar would be so big he'd need to pay for an extra seat (they're probably thinking of cellos and the like) so who knows, he might be able to take it on board for free.

Thanks for that, I'll see what I can arrange.

Must admit, this is the first time that the number of hold items has been an issue for my family and I. We've flown mostly with middle/far eastern airlines these past several years and our focus has been just on keeping the weight within limits. Will think long and hard before we fly with BA and Qantas again.