Sunwing's luggage rules – Cuba – Debbie's Carribean Reviews Forums

cubavisitor 2011-02-27 22:14:14 UTC #1

I’ve been trying to meet Sunwings rather restrictive luggage weight and am getting close. I realize that my total allowed weight is 44 lbs including a max of 11 lbs in carry-on.
Can I have a separate camera bag that is not weighed? If yes, any idea what size is OK?

Spunky 2011-02-28 01:16:34 UTC #3

Or you could wear one of those photographer’s vests loaded with 30 Kg of stuff and that would be part of your personal weight. Plus your carry-on. Plus your handbag/purse/laptop bag.
Haven’t heard the airlines stopping that yet.

cubavisitor 2011-02-28 01:25:17 UTC #4

So maybe I should call my camera bag a purse with camera stuff in it:-/

Spunky 2011-02-28 01:55:13 UTC #5

Good idea, cubavisitor! At last check, laptop bags and camera bags are not counted as weight, just handbags.

Airlines love business travelers and allow laptops and photo/video stuff in carry-ons without weight restrictions. For now…

chamusic 2011-02-28 02:46:12 UTC #6

They weigh the carry on as well? I have never had it included in the total amount. Their website is not very clear but it was my understanding that the checked baggage was not to exceed 20kg?

cubamiga 2011-02-28 13:46:33 UTC #8

Sometimes they weigh the carry-on and sometimes they don’t… 44lbs for checked baggage and 11 lbs for your carry on on. Camera bag/purse should be no problem.

nhathanh 2011-02-28 14:28:46 UTC #9

I never understand the luggage rules. Air Cubana allows 2 checked in bags 23kg/each in Toronto but in Montreal only 1 checked in 23kg/bag.

hollydog 2011-02-28 17:03:42 UTC #10

In Toronto, Sunwing weighs everything. And they will charge for even 1-2 kilos over the limit.

You are allowed 20 kg luggage, plus another 5kg carry on. However, they now say your combined weight may not exceed 25 kg. (unless of course you have super elite), so if your carry on is a little over and the luggage a little under (or the reverse) you should be ok.

Make sure your ‘purse’ looks like a purse. I had a small courier-style back pack one year and they tried telling me it wasn’t a purse.

system 2011-03-01 01:32:18 UTC #11

Revision – I meant I had upgraded to Elite Plus!

I went Sunwing last year for the first, and for the last time, only because of the weight restriction. I had upgraded to Elite because I was going for 2 weeks. I’ve since heard sometimes longer stays give you more luggage allowance, but no one at Sunwing nor TA mentioned it to me over the course of my booking/calls. I go prepared with medical stuff, creature comforts (float and own pillow) and minimal clothing (did laundry) but still found the weight restrictive. I left a lot home that I had been planning to take to friends I had met the year before. On the return flight, Cuban airport staff challenged my right to the extra weight under the Elite status. I gave them numbers to call, stood my ground, and after a while they ‘finally saw’ the word Elite I had been showing them on the itinerary print out. Shook hands, on I went. Also, I was returning with one duffel bag less than I had gone down with, and a far lighter carry on. At $20 per extra kilo, Sunwing ain’t for me. I pity anyone not using personal scales before any boarding!

Also, elite status states different weights on line by flight (higher allowance) as opposed to a vacation package, but I got it confirmed I was allowed the higher amount even though going with a package deal.

africa 2011-03-02 01:28:10 UTC #14

We flew Sunwing on February 10th out of Toronto and did not know that carry on bags are INCLUDED in the 20 kg. allocation. We were 11 kg over our limit (basically our carry-on bags) and had to pay $20 per kg, i.e. $220.

bnanel1 2011-03-02 12:55:38 UTC #15

Hi, I just was on Sunwing’s website and it clearly states the following:

Carry-on baggage is restricted to one standard article with maximum dimensions of 23 x 40 x 51 cm (9 x 16 x 20 in).The weight of a Carry-on bag cannot exceed 5kg. Any carry-on bag that exceeds this limit must be prepared for check-in.

Checked Baggage – free allowance per seat paying passenger
Each fare paying Elite class passenger is allowed a free checked baggage allowance of 20kg per fare paying passenger. Elite Plus passengers are allowed a free checked baggage allowance of 30kg per fare paying passenger.

Excess Baggage Charges will apply once the checked baggage weight of 20kg for Elite passengers (30kg for Elite Plus) is exceeded.

Can someone explain where it shows it is a combined for both?

My apologies if I am missing something but I want to be sure and don’t like surprises.

Thanks,

sharonann 2011-03-02 13:20:45 UTC #16

It is 20 kg checked baggage plus your 5 kg carry on. I just flew with them this past weekend. They did not weigh our carry on bags in Toronto or in Holguin. My husbands checked bag was right at 20 kg. They did put our carry-ons on the scale but only to put on the “Cabin Baggage” stickers. I even commented to the girl how heavy my carry-on was but she didn’t seem too concerned. Even if they had used our combined allowance for the 3 of us, we would have definitely by over 60 kg with 3 checked bags and 3 carry-ons as we had weighed all before we left home.

bnanel1 2011-03-02 14:08:48 UTC #17

Thanks Sharon Ann, I actually just called them and they confirmed Elite is as you indicated 20kg checked baggage and 5 carry on.

I actually upgraded to Elite Plus as my husband likes a bit more leg room and we managed to scoop the exit row seats on the way down and back for a total $80 each which gives us not only more leg room 39 pitch but priority check in, boarding and 30 kg of checked luggage each.

I want to thank the OP as I wouldn’t have gone on their website to verify and would not have found the upgrade.

Cheers
Brenda

cubavisitor 2011-03-02 15:39:04 UTC #18

Also called Sunwing, just in case Ottawa flights were different, and got same reply as bnanel 20 + 5 kg. I also asked about snorkle equipment and it can be in a separate bag but is included in the 20 kg limit.

schemgie 2011-03-02 15:47:34 UTC #19

My husband and I have gone with Sunwing for the last several years and when checking in they take the total of both our bags, so if one of you is over and one is under the allowable weight they average it out I am usually over and my husband is under so we have never had to pay extra. Our carry on was never weighed, and we leave from Ottawa.

hollydog 2011-03-03 16:48:20 UTC #20

I think I was the OP about Sunwing calculating the combined luggage weight. The language was on my tickets last January. Sorry – it wasn’t from the sunwing website.

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