NorthWest's Luggage Weight Limit

[brennumtimesharer]

Man, just got back from Cancun, and I am extremely peeved with Northwest and will be sending them my thoughts. My wife and I departed via Milwaukee last week and checked in two pieces of luggage. Their card concerning weight and dimensions at the airport stated 100 LBs and neither of our pieces had any issues.

Packed up on Saturday in Cancun and went to the airport. Suddenly my luggage was 25 over the limit which magically had dropped to 50 LBs there. My wifes was within 2 LBs of the max. Our choice was either to step out of line, find some quiet place, and try to drop 25 LBs or pay $50US for the extra weight. So we paid. Couple right behind us also got nailed.

So if you are headed to Cancun, beware the regulations.

Bill

[derb]

Are you saying you saw a sign alowing a 100# bag? If so, the heaviest bag I have ever seen was 70# on international flights, even that has been dropped to 50# by many international airlines. You may have misread the sign, perhaps it was 100# total weight of 2 bags.

["Roger"]

Northwest will not accept any piece of luggage that weighs over 100 lbs with or without penalty. They simply won't take it. That is probably what the sign that you saw was referring to.

Their luggage limit varies depending partly upon domestic vs. international, partly depending upon what class you are flying. It is 50 lb. per passagenger in economy class, 70 lbs. in first class.

Just be aware that you might have caught a break when you flew down in not having to pay a penalty.

[SherryS]

NW has been at the "50 lb limit per bag, and you may check 2 bags" for quite a while now. Maybe that is where you got the "100 lb" idea.

[gmarine]

Most airlines now have a 50lb limit per checked bag.

[camachinist]

Luggage Measurement
Luggage is measured by adding length, width and height to determine the total number of linear inches/centimeters.

* Northwest will accept luggage up to a maximum of 50 pounds (23 kg) and a total linear dimension of 62 inches (158 cm) per piece at no charge.
* Additional charges may apply for luggage weighing more than 50 pounds (23 kg) or with a total linear dimension of more than 62 inches (158 cm) per piece.
* Northwest does not accept luggage over 100 pounds or larger than 160 linear inches per piece. Luggage that weigh more than 100 pounds (45kg) can be repacked to comply with luggage requirements.

Note: If you are flying on a codeshare partner, please check with the operating carrier for maximum acceptance rules as they may vary.

Luggage Allowance

* Domestic Travel (within the U.S./Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean)
o Coach Class: Each ticketed passenger is allowed two (2) pieces of checked luggage.
1. Both pieces: 50 pounds (23 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (158 cm) per piece.
o First Class: Each ticketed passenger is allowed three (3) checked pieces.
1. First two (2) pieces: 70 pounds (32 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (158 cm) per piece.
2. Third piece: 40 pounds (18 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 45 inches (115 cm).
*
International Travel - between North America and Africa / Asia / Europe / India / Middle East)
o
Coach Class: Each ticketed passenger is allowed two (2) pieces of checked luggage.
+
Both pieces: 50 pounds (23 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (158 cm) per piece.
* Exceptions for travel wholly between U.S./Canada and the Philippines, Hong Kong or China, checked pieces may weigh up to 70 pounds (32 kg) each.

o World Business Class: Each ticketed passenger is allowed three (3) pieces of checked luggage.
1. First two (2) pieces: 70 pounds (32 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (158 cm) per piece.
2. Third piece: 40 pounds (18 kg) with with linear dimensions not to exceed 45 inches (115 cm).

* International Travel - outside United States / Canada
For travel with an origin and destination outside the U.S./Canada (i.e. within Asia or within Europe), the weight concept applies. The weight concept allows a maximum weight for baggage, per person, that can be checked free of charge. The free weight applies to the total weight of all bags checked by an individual.

For travel wholly within or between Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the maximum checked luggage weight limitation is:

o Coach Class: 44 pounds (20 kg)
o World Business Class: 66 pounds (30 kg)
o Infants not occupying a passenger seat: 22 pounds (10 kg)

Items that weigh more than 100 pounds (45 kg) must be shipped as cargo using a known shipper/freight forwarder, or repacked to comply with luggage requirements.

Additional Free Allowance Items
The following items will be accepted in addition to the free luggage allowance:

* Child car seats
*
One container of fruit (maximum weight 10 lbs.) for travel from Hawaii or Florida
*
Assistive devices

http://www.nwa.com/travel/luggage/checked.html

Additionally, it is important to note (and this can be confusing to infrequent flyers) that the rules run with the operating carrier, unless otherwise overruled by the alliance (Star, One-World, Sky-Team, etc) rules. IOW, a codeshare on a partner airline (which may not be an alliance member) is governed by the operating carriers rules, not the rules of the issuing carrier, except if the operating carrier is a member of the same alliance as the issuing one and alliance rules supercede the operating carrier's rules.

Confused??

Keep checked luggage to 50 lbs per piece and two pieces and carryons to one legal (typically 9x14x22) and one personal item and you'll be fine 9 times out of 10. I pack our bags to 40 and weigh each one. Airport scales are notorious for errors

Oh, also, it doesn't hurt to peruse the rules on each airline's web site prior to travel. The above took about 10 seconds to find and 30 seconds to peruse. I find airline web sites to be virtual treasure troves of information. Print out the important stuff

Pat

[derb]

Always pack a collapsable AWOL bag, tagged of course, on the top of one of your checked bags. Makes it easy to take out a few things at the counter.