New Fees for Excess Baggage and Nonrev Passengers

Hi folks. Really appreciate this forum/site. Found some gems wrt traveling tips and bizarre things that can (and do) happen to frequent travellers http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...R#>/tongue.gif .

I am preparing to make use of a Delta Nonrev/Friends and Family/Buddy Pass (I am not the employee, just a family member not on the PPR account) to fly one-way from the US to South Africa. I live in Bozeman, MT and just about all the Delta flights in/out here are CRJ which have quite small cargo holds and I had heard that sometimes they don't allow excess baggage. I went in to chat to our local desk agent at the airport to confirm that in fact I would be able to take a 3rd checked bag and she assured me it would be no problem. I then asked what the excess baggage fee was for a nonrev and, after several minutes of punching away at the computer (you could tell they don't deal with nonrevs too often) she said that they usually don't charge the nonrev the same fee as a revenued passenger and that it was likely to be about half the fee. I was ok with that because at that time (mid-July) that would equate to about $75.

Now, Delta (and all other airlines) have jacked up the excess baggage fees and I am curious if anyone has information as to whether these new fees apply to nonrevs? Especially since that fee is now an exorbitant $200 per excess bag.

I have been a full-time student in Bozeman for the last 6 years and am returning to SA which is my home. I came here 6 years ago with 2 bags and am leaving with 3 ... that is, unless I am told I need to pay $200 excess in which case Salvation Army is getting some great clothes http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/ohmy.gif !!!

I can't speak for Delta but I know that on Continental nonrevs pay the same as paying passengers, even the employee for excess baggage.

Are you sure about this IMEON32RED? (In referance to your handle here, are you playing the roulette table in Vegas?) I see you are jotted down as a reservationist for Continental Airlines. I'm getting different scoop here. I was under the impression that nonrevs are exempt from excess bagage fees at CAL. Are you sure about your earlier comment? Please check because the people I've asked around Continental tell me different. I never take more luggage than I need but I do believe we are exempt from excess bagage fees.

I am a Delta employee and I can tell you that your baggage allowance to Johannesburg or Cape Town is one checked bag. You are allowed one carry bag. Your one checked bag if over 50 lbs will incur the same baggage fees as a paying passenger. If you have a bag 51-70 lbs, the charge is $150. If your bag is 71-100 lbs, the charge is $300. Also, if your bag is oversize more than 62 inches, you will also be charged $175 on top of the weight charge. Non Rev travelers to South Africa are not allowed excess baggage so you will not be able to take more than one checked bag. The counter will require you to make arrangements for shipping the bag and there are no exceptions. I hope this has helped you with your question. Anymore questions concering baggage, refer to Delta.com under traveling and check in.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Marshelle @ Aug 17 2008, 07:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

---

I am a Delta employee and I can tell you that your baggage allowance to Johannesburg or Cape Town is one checked bag.[/b]

---

I don&#39;t think you mean "one checked bag" as this is an international flight and even according to Delta.com this morning, all international flights allow 2 free checked bags of 50lbs each (except to Brazil where the weight is 70lbs for each of the 2 bags). I have flown to South Africa from the US several times and have never heard of this one-bag rule.

Marshelle is correct--it&#39;s not on delta.com because this rule applies to employees and pass riders
beginning July 6--one checked bag limit for NR&#39;s
ATL/JNB
ATL/DKR etc
several markets are effected--some bump carry-on NR ahead of bag checking NR

I have also recently flown to both Cape Town and Joburg and I will not be surprised when the JFK flights restrict NR bags.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (29Palms @ Aug 17 2008, 06:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

---

Are you sure about this IMEON32RED? (In referance to your handle here, are you playing the roulette table in Vegas?) I see you are jotted down as a reservationist for Continental Airlines. I&#39;m getting different scoop here. I was under the impression that nonrevs are exempt from excess bagage fees at CAL. Are you sure about your earlier comment? Please check because the people I&#39;ve asked around Continental tell me different. I never take more luggage than I need but I do believe we are exempt from excess bagage fees.[/b]

---

I don&#39;t work until Tuesday night but this is what I found on the website:

Employees, their JA eligible pass riders and Buddy pass riders are subject to the same
baggage allowance and baggage fees as revenue customers. Pass riders are subject to all
baggage embargoes.

Pass riders traveling positive space on company business are permitted to check excess
baggage, including over-sized and extra piece free of charge only if the excess items
being checked are for Continental company business.

NEW! Pass Travel Baggage Policy Apr. 30, 2008
CO&#39;s new baggage policy that was revised for revenue customers will not be implemented for CO eligible Pass Riders on the Employee Profile. Eligible Pass Riders, regardless of which cabin they listed, will still be eligible to check 2 bags without charge, additional fees may apply.

The additional fees that may apply mean overweight or over sized baggage, excess baggage etc.

Buddy passes will be subject to the same rules as revenue customers:

The policy (Baggage) for Buddy Pass riders is identical to the revenue policy.

What if my Buddy Pass rider’s second bag is oversized and/or overweight?
The applicable overweight and oversized fees will be assessed in addition to the
second bag charge.

With that said what you are hearing may be somewhat right as well. Those working at the airport seem to be able to interpret policy in any way they choose. I&#39;ve seen more bizarre things happen than I would like to. In RES we just quote policy. As for my handle, yes, I used to play roulette quite a bit (I could count payouts quicker than the dealers).

Thanks for the scoop. That would have caught me completely by (nasty) surprise!

I have subsequently checked into this further and as I read the new regulations for NonRevs flying ATL-DKR-JNB, only 1 checked bag is permitted with a second bag being considered excess and being subject to a $50 fee and a third bag being subject to a further $200 fee. Excess weight in any of the bags is an additional $150 per bag.

Looks like I am doomed to pay out the $250 for now 2 pieces of excess baggage!

Are you one of those reservation agents around beltway 8 ELLA exit area in Houston? Been there for training a few times. I saw that link too this morning when I read your post, but must have missed that NEW! Pass Travel Baggage Policy Apr. 30, 2008

Thanks for posting it. I couldn&#39;t see why it would matter for non-revs to have to pay excess bagage fees when bagage has STANDBY TICKET tagged. If its too full for the luggage, it just gets put on standby until your other bags can make the run. I was checking out the roulette table in the ISLETA and MESCALERO Indian reservations in New Mexico but I stayed with the dollar machines. Only thing I hit good was the BUFFET.

Nah I work in RES in SLC. We are just West of the airport. I am actually going to work from home again in Nov. I have to wait until Nov. because once you switch from home to the office you have to wait a year to switch again. I wish they would just let you work wherever you felt like it because we have the room. Currently in SLC I bet we wouldn&#39;t fill all of the positions even if everyone worked the same shift.

I had to look into the baggage thing last year. I took 11 family members to Hawaii last year. We returned with 22 bags and they counted them twice to make sure we didn&#39;t have too many!!!

That&#39;s a pretty neat gig to be able to work out of your home, (Despite the lower pay.) I wish I could do that with MX but changing a tire or brake from the home don&#39;t work too well.

The pay really isn&#39;t that much different unless you are topped out and you have to have worked at CAL for 11+ years to do that. Then the pay cut is 3 or 4 dollars an hour. You do take a pay cut but either way the pay "sucks". Like a lot of airline employees I work part time for the benefits not the pay. I more than make up for it with the flight benefits.

I am sorry if I confused you but I was referring you to Delta.com for excess/overweight baggage fees in answer to your question about nonrev only paying partial fees. Nonrev pay the same fees as paying passengers. The information on how many check bags you are allowed is an internal memo for us so we can inform our pass riders and buddy pass travelers. Also, just a reminder the internal memo also states they will not accept more than one bag at check in. If you bring more than one, you will be held up trying to find a way to ship it to South Africa. There are NO exceptions.

This is just insanity! It&#39;s not bad enough we&#39;re having to pay exorbitant excess baggage fees on domestic flights, but now Delta are dictating how much baggage we&#39;re allowed to take and not giving the option of paying for it?! What kind of a business tells its customers "No thanks, we don&#39;t want your business".

OK, ok. I hear you telling me that I should not be complaining because afterall, I am being afforded a "priviledge" in using the nonrev Buddy Pass. Well, nonrev or not, I am still paying for this priviledge so why not give me the option of paying for excess baggage like a revenued passenger?!

Enough of my ranting and raving ... Please, nobody get personally offended.

Let me pose another question then:

Suppose I were to fly JFK-CPT instead of ATL-JNB. Does this baggage embargo still apply? Is there no way I can leave the US with South Africa as my final destination on a nonrev reservation with 3 bags?!

No, the only way to get the extra 2 bags to South Africa is to ship them. The baggage restrictions apply to going into South Africa no matter what departure city. I know DHL ships to South Africa.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Stewbob @ Aug 17 2008, 08:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

---

OK, ok. I hear you telling me that I should not be complaining because afterall, I am being afforded a "priviledge" in using the nonrev Buddy Pass. Well, nonrev or not, I am still paying for this priviledge so why not give me the option of paying for excess baggage like a revenued passenger?![/b]

---

Normally embargoes apply to everyone not just nonrevs. I guess the message they are sending is if you want to travel to JNB buy a revenue ticket.

Good luck with your trip!

hey stewbob--that&#39;s a pretty clever idea about 3 bags originating JFK to JNB but it still won&#39;t work since they count each leg as separate. Sounds like something I&#39;d consider as an option, but would never try to get away with!

The loads have been so heavy that some flights go out with empty seats and leave nonrevs--emps and buddies due to cargo--that&#39;s the way to make money in this business. My husband flies that route frequently and unfortunately they often have to leave NR pax in DKR. Not fun. Bags or not. The DHL idea is a pretty good option--I&#39;d take everything heavy in my carry and ship anything light, cram as much into your one checked bag--in vaccum bags (as long as the weight&#39;s ok) and make it as stressless as possible. Good luck with your move and stay in touch with us with SA info.

DHL is definitely too expensive. I have already checked into that option and since I have 2 excess bags, I cannot afford the $1000+ charge. I checked into another shipping company called Seven Seas Shipping and they were more reasonable at $480 for the two bags with a shipping time of 10 weeks.

On speaking with yet another ticketing agent, I found out that the embargo applied to all passengers, not just non-revs. At least, that was her interpretation of the internal Delta memo. Makes me think that if everyone can interpret that memo so differently, that there is something inherently wrong with the decision itself?

In regards for Delta REVENUE passengers there is NO EMBARGO TO SOUTH AFRICA...
This page is from DELTA.COM and lists the International markets where there are baggage embargoes (applies to REVENUE AND NON-REVENUE) http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/bag...ggage/index.jsp

In regards to DELTA NON-REVENUE travel there are more markets where there are Baggage Embargoes that apply ONLY TO NON-REVENUE passengers to locate these areas you have to have access to DeltaNet...Here is some excerpts from that page...


One checked bag limit applies to travel in either direction for routes listed below:

Atlanta and Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB)
Atlanta and Lagos, Nigeria (LOS)
Atlanta and Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL)
Atlanta and Guatemala City (GUA)
Atlanta and Dakar, Senegal (DKR)
Atlanta and San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)
Atlanta and Managua, Nicaragua (MGA)


New York (JFK) and Cape Town, South Africa (CPT)
New York (JFK) and Georgetown, Guyana (GEO)
New York (JFK) and cities in the Dominican Republic (Santiago – STI, Santo Domingo – SDQ, Punta Cana – PUJ)
New York (JFK) and Port of Spain, Trinidad (POS)
New York (JFK) and San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
New York (JFK) and Accra, Ghana (ACC)
New York (JFK) and Mexico City, Mexico (MEX)
New York (JFK) and Dakar, Senegal (DKR)


One Checked Bag Q&A

Q1 Why is Delta implementing this baggage limitation?
A1 In the routes listed, Delta is experiencing a high volume of revenue baggage causing weight and balance issues on the aircraft. In order to allow our Airport Customer Service team maximum focus on our revenue customer and running an on-time operation, it is necessary to limit the number of checked bags for nonrevenue pass riders.

Q4 Can I pay an Excess Baggage Charge and check more bags on these routes?
A4 No. Each nonrevenue passenger is limited to one checked item on these routes.

Q8 Will there be any other cities added to this list?
A8 The list of cities will be reviewed and any additional cities will be communicated via the DeltaNet and TravelNet.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Stewbob @ Aug 18 2008, 03:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

---

This is just insanity! It&#39;s not bad enough we&#39;re having to pay exorbitant excess baggage fees on domestic flights, but now Delta are dictating how much baggage we&#39;re allowed to take and not giving the option of paying for it?! What kind of a business tells its customers "No thanks, we don&#39;t want your business".[/b]

---

You are asking about flying NON-REVENUE - when you fly on an employee pass the operating airline can dictate anything to you that they want too (dress code, form of payment, behavior, etc)...Delta wants the biz of excess luggage, that is why we are limiting Non-Rev bags so we can get more money making cargo and rev bags on board...

If traveling with the 3 bags is that important to you then purchase a revenue ticket, not a buddy pass, and then you can take the excess baggage with you...But, again, when flying on an employee pass you must adhere to the rules set forth by the operating airline...

Thanks for the update DeltaFlyer--when I mentioned it wouldn&#39;t be long until JFK/DKR/CPT were added to the list, I wasn&#39;t expecting it immediately. "careful what I wish for?"

PS--STewBob--did you use the Delta discount for DHL? You have to set up an account online and then they&#39;ll calculate the discounted cost for your weight/dims.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mrs767er @ Aug 21 2008, 07:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

---

PS--STewBob--did you use the Delta discount for DHL? You have to set up an account online and then they&#39;ll calculate the discounted cost for your weight/dims.[/b]

---

Thanks for that tip mrs767er. No, I didn&#39;t know that there was a Delta discount option. Would I just go to DHL main website and set up a personal account, or do I have to open a business account? How would I indicate the Delta affiliation?

Thanks everyone for your help.

It&#39;s on deltanet under employee discounts--click services and red "more" tab
or search DHL--that should have docs and procedures

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Stewbob @ Aug 21 2008, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

---

Thanks for that tip mrs767er. No, I didn&#39;t know that there was a Delta discount option. Would I just go to DHL main website and set up a personal account, or do I have to open a business account? How would I indicate the Delta affiliation?

Thanks everyone for your help.[/b]

---

Sorry stewbob but the DHL discount can only be used by Delta employees, check with the person giving you the buddy pass and see if they will do the shipping for you..

CONTINENTAL EMPLOYEES GETS 75 PERCENT OFF OF FEDEX FOR OVERNIGHT SHIPPING.