Sunwing's luggage rules | Debbie's Caribbean Resort Reviews Forums

	If the concern was balancing the plane and worrying about how much total weight they are carrying, it would make sense to weigh the passengers with their luggage. A couple of kilos over in my luggage is not going to have the impact that an obese passenger does.

I think they factor up 300 lbs per adult male (body weight, luggage, etc) and varying (lower) rates for females, children, etc. People come in all shapes and sizes and when you buy your ticket, they do not ask for height and weight (probably cuz folks would lie that they are taller and thinner :)!!) – hence the average weight allowance when calculating passengers and allowances. They have been weight balancing planes for years and know what they are doing; otherwise we’d hear about weekly plane crashes full of plump middle-aged ladies in purple dresses and red hats! (JOKING).

It would be great if they had plane sections for tall people 6′ and over, wider seats for the larger build, soundproofed rows for screaming children, etc. But that will never happen – airlines are in the business of getting pax safely from one place to another – someone’s hip fat taking half an inch of your arm rest is just a bump on the road of life.

The problem today is that more people are overweight/obese, and perhaps we are seeing the results of that in decreased weight allowance for luggage. Factoring passenger weight has always been a guessing game. One fine day, the line will be crossed and weigh ins of passenger plus baggage will become reality. There are always trade offs in this game. However, I would really resent being dinged for a couple of kilos of extra weight, particularly if I am seated beside someone who could make two of me, and who didn’t have to pay a penny more to occupy half of my seating space. Not to mention the freebee for golf clubs…..which are somehow more important than any little extra I would like to tuck into my suitcase.

We trust that large commercial airlines don’t push the boundaries on weight. I know from personal experience that small charters often do……and sometimes passengers pay the ultimate price for that decision…..

wossa Guest

It’s the larger, more profitable airlines that seem to be stinging people for being a few KG’s over weight. When I dive in the Maldives, I fly from London via Sri Lankan airlines that allow me 35 kg’s of luggage allowance. They are pretty cool to be fair to them. They have never charged me a penny for being over weight, which I always am, but the charge is £20.00 per KG if they decided to charge me. When I arrive into the Maldives, I catch a small sea plane which has a max 20kg allowance, so I am instantly 20 plus KG’s over. These are tiny five seater planes and they charge $3.00 per KG for being over weight,….such a big difference.

I would personally not like to see people being weighed with their luggage, this for me is a step to far and would make me feel uncomfortable. I am only 145 lbs and have been shafted many times for carrying to much luggage, I would rather still pay the additional then to start having a combined passenger and luggage weight. This to me would be too humiliating for those who do have problems with being obese etc, I would hate to think people would go through this just so that I could possibly save a few $’s on weight allowance.

I just have one quick question. When going to Cuba, why is your luggage so heavy? Is it because of gifts? Books? Booze? We went to Cayo Largo in April and our luggage allowance was 25 kg with Air Canada. Both our suitcases totalled 35 kg and that included all toiletries, clothing, shoes, and books and we don’t have the lightest luggage on the market. We always travel light so we can bring back a few bottles of Havana 7 and we’re still underweight on the return.

Another thing I’ve noticed on these charter flights is the amount of overhead luggage that people bring on the plane. I’m guessing that most of these travellers also checked a bag because they’ve been there at least a week. I’m curious as to what people bring on board.

I just have one quick question. When going to Cuba, why is your luggage so heavy?

Another thing I’ve noticed on these charter flights is the amount of overhead luggage that people bring on the plane.

Glad I’m not the only one wondering about this! Even with our snorkel gear packed into the suitcases we manage to stay under the charter airline allowance of 20 kg.

I’m thinking that many of the airlines don’t strictly adhere to the carry on size rules either. I’ve seen plenty of carry-on bags that would never fit into those sizing contraptions yet I’ve never seen anyone forced to check the oversized carry-on.

We travel with carry-ons only and I also take a back-pack. Our snorkel gear went into my backpack and everything else fit into our carry-on suitcases. As long as we can lift it and put it up in the overhead bins, it’s all good. I like having my back pack on the floor in front of me cuz it acts as a foot rest for me (I’m one of those lucky people that has short legs ;))

We also had plenty of room to take more stuff but we didn’t bother.

	Hey SUJ, I understand carry-on bags in the overhead when that’s all your bringing (and you are rare). I was simply questioning the people who are standing in line at the airport with 2 big suitcases that are obviously stuffed, then get on the plane with 2 roller carry-ons and a purse. I just don’t get it…

Personally, when I’m standing in line at the airport, the last thing I’m taking interest in is other people’s luggage. We pack 1 large duffel each plus our carry ons and are always within the weight restrictions based on our specific ticket allotments. Our carry ons contain all our valuables, including electronics. (not everyone takes a pocket sized digital camera on vacation) We go for 2 weeks and take enough clothing to avoid having to do laundry every other day and we don’t live in tank tops and shorts or bathing suits! By the way, each checked bag has to meet size and weight requirements, also. If you go outside the parameters, you’ll get dinged for oversize/over weight. I believe a single bag cannot weigh more than 70 lbs for the safety of the baggage handlers and that’s not just Sunwing. When it comes to whose taking what, all anyone needs to worry about is their own luggage. That’s easily done by checking the airline’s baggage regulations and sticking with them; the airlines have been handling millions of bags for many decades so I’m not going to second guess them or "size" up my fellow travellers and worry if the over weight fellow, in line, is going to bring the plane down!

I just returned from Cuba last night. I flew with Sunwing and upgrated to Elite Plus, to have the extra luggage allowance. I was going for 2 weeks, but I didn’t have a lot of my stuff, but the vitamins, pain meds and other stuff for my friends and their families weighted a lot. I was 2 kg over the limit, Sunwing wanted to charge me $40 !! Good thing my sister was with me at the airport and I gave her some things. So I guess, I am one of the people who bring ALL luggage allowance to Cuba. On the way back I fill my bag with ron , Cuban honey and few beers for friends.

I still don’t understand the weight restriction (for balancing the plane), since they will allow you to take more, if you pay !! The same planes were allowing to take 2×32 kg for each passenger when going to Europe few years back, without charge. I think now all is money ,nothing more.

I was just curious…

Don’t worry about it Babas! It was a reasonable question and I know others wonder as well. It seems that the trend to bring lots of gifts for the "poor" Cubans who work at resorts is still alive and well (and very misguided imho!), so this is where the overweight penalties generally come from.Those who travel Club Class like Steffi does, get their own check-in counter where there are few lineups, so no need or opportunity to look around and kill some time looking at other travellers’ luggage. Club Class also gets larger luggage allowances and because they have their own separate area in the front of the plane, they rarely if ever have to worry about having space for their carry-ons in the overhead bins.Those in economy often find the overhead bins already full and overloaded by travellers using carry-ons that are way beyond the dimensions the airline regulations specify as allowable. Many bins are also full of supplies and equipment required by the airline staff and the flight attendants’ own suitcases. In the end however, it is a personal choice as to whether paying many hundred $$ more to go Club Class is worth it.

In my experience, the problem is the inconsistency of enforcing rules at check-in.

Those who travel Club Class like Steffi does, get their own check-in counter where there are few lineups, so no need or opportunity to look around and kill some time looking at other travellers’ luggage. Oh, we have the time but we just have better things to do than study other travellers luggage. We prefer to chat with others in line with us and discuss the upcoming vacation, which resort they are going to etc. Whose got time to bag oggle when you are interacting with others?

You are absolutely correct, YVRCK, travelling Club Class is a personal choice and for various reasons depending upon the traveller. For most, it has nothing to do with luggage allowance…we never come anywhere close to maxing our allowance. No, for us it’s all about comfort and well worth the extra cost, as far as we are concerned. We certainly enjoy all the other perks that come with CC, also.

And, Babbas….no reason to be embarrassed by my response. You "questioned" why people would have large bags and a carry on and that you just "don’t get it". I merely responded as to why some people have larger bags than others. SUJ might be able to travel with just a carry on (and kudos to her for that talent)….I can barely do that for a weekend

As I tried to explain, not everyone vacations the same way. Our luggage reflects our travel needs, end of story and no one else’s business.

If you want to spend your time in line studying other people’s luggage, that’s your business but please don’t be judgmental about what you see without knowing anything about why you are making the judgment.

I love Club Class and am PO ed that Sunwing does not offer it to Cayo Largo.Small price added to a vacation to paradise.WELL WORTH IT !!

Just my dos pesos.

	Steffie, I wholeheartedly agree with you that flying Club Class is well worth it. We recently flew to Cuba for our stay at the Royal Hideaway and treated ourselves to C.C. It was just lovely! Try as I might ;), we never got our bags above 40 lbs when we were allowed almost double that!! And like you, I couldn’t manage only a carry-on bag for even one night away. ;D

We have flown First Class a number of times lately with Alaska Airlines to Mexico and Palm Springs for a week and we still only use carry-ons. Once you fly Club Class or First Class or whatever the airline calls it, there is no turning back!

Although it offers more luggage weight, I will still only fly with carry-ons. I can’t stand the rudeness of people waiting at the baggage turnstiles.

	We have flown First Class a number of times lately with Alaska Airlines to Mexico and Palm Springs for a week and we still only use carry-ons. I could probably manage to bring my stuff in a carry on, but what about the items you can’t take through security? If going to Cuba, you can’t count on being able to buy what you need once you arrive……

	eeeefarm ~ I was wondering about that. Certainly no large bottle of suntan lotion is allowed in a carry-on bag and at some resorts in Cuba, it is a ridiculously high price!

I put all the sunscreen in 100 ml bottles (4 bottles usually is enough for a week in the sun but sometimes one of us carries an extra bottle) so we each have 2 (or 3) bottles of that in our zip-lock baggie.Then, if we have any other gels or liquids we want to take, we just make sure they are small enough to fit in the baggie.

What else would you need?

More power to you, suj! I just cannot fathom how you do this micro-packing. I carry body lotion, suntan lotions, facial moisturizers, cough syrup, etc., which all go in my suitcase. Breaking all the liquids and creams down into the 100 ml plastic bottles to go into two baggies would not be possible. I think the amount of suntan lotion required for us for a week would be one whole baggie itself. Anyway, it must be really nice for you and your dh to cruise by everyone waiting at the carousels for their luggage.

What else would you need?

Razors, perhaps. Tweezers. And I can’t live without Nivea creme, which is decidedly more expensive to buy in the under 100 ml containers and messy to transfer to smaller ones. I suppose it is possible to find solutions if you look hard enough. And for a business traveller it makes a lot of sense to pack light. But especially when going to Cuba it is good to know you have everything you might need without going shopping.

	I pack for Cuba the same way I would pack to camp in the Interior of Algonquin Park – if I don’t bring it, I’m SOL. I am also travelling single, not as part of a couple. Having travelled to Cuba and packed like I’m going to Mars, I have to remind myself when I go to the States or Mexico, "it is okay if you forget something, you can buy it when you are there."

I suppose it is possible to find solutions if you look hard enough. And for a business traveller it makes a lot of sense to pack light. Often seems I travel lighter when I go on vacation than for business. No equipment to take along and I’m not wearing safety footwear. Steel toed boots weigh a lot- and reek havoc when going through security- but at least it doesn’t hurt my toes when people step all over me to get their suitcase off the luggage carousel first. LOL!I always ask the cosmetician if she has some sample sizes of the products I like to use when I buy a regular size bottle of my favourite creams/lotions, and take the samples in my carry-on liquids Ziplock bag. Same goes for dental products like toothpaste and floss. I save up the samples my dentist hands out for vacation time. If you use a pump dispenser to fill your travel size bottles, it eliminates the mess.

Biggest weight savings of course comes from using CUC to tip resort staff rather than lug along gifts. Everyone loves and can use cash!

	I can think of a few more things that won’t go into your carry on. How about a diver’s knife? Some people feel naked without one, and they are not easy to find in Cuba. (sailors also are wise to carry a knife, although not many do. I usually have one available when I trail ride as well…..any place where getting tangled in a rope is a possibility and dangerous)

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