Told you Id have more questions! Just with luggage - how strict are Thai airways on limits? Has anyone ever been charged excess and if so - how much was it? Checked in luggage is 20kg and I think carry-on luggage has a limit of 7kg - is that correct? Do they actually ever weigh your carry-on luggage?

Also ... our flight is Sydney-Bangkok-Phuket. When we get to Bangkok on way to Phuket, do we collect our luggage and then check it in again or do they just automatically forward it on??? May sound like a stupid question, but Im not sure and cant really remember from Vietnam.

In anticipation of your replies - THANKYOU!
Kitty

Hi Kitty,
If you are flying THai all the way to Phuket, they will check your luggage all the way through. Phuket is an international airport, so you will quite likely clear customs and immigration there also and just stay in the transit area in Bangkok. I have never had my hand luggage weighed and as our kids also have a 20kg limit, we never go over. As you are travelling in a group, book your bags in together and even if you were collectively a little over, they are unlikely to charge you. I have been charged excess on Qantas once, but between 2 of us we were about 25 kg over and they charged us for 10. You do need to be careful on the budget carriers though as our last flights were with Jetstar and I did see others being charged.
Also, to answer your question from another Thread, yes, we were fortunate enough to go to THailand twice last year. We went on a business conference/junket to Phuket in August, staying at Le Meridian and we had our family trip in November, 19 nights Bangkok/Phi-Phi/Ao-Nang. We are saving up for a trip to Disneyland next year but I am getting itchy feet at the momment so an October trip may be on the cards.

__________________
I love Thailand this much

Thanx shane for your never-ending insightful answers to my many q's. And thankyou for the advice on booking luggage in as a group. You see ... its all these little things that infrequent travellers like me just dont know that all add up to help make our holiday a much more pleasurable experience.
So ... 2 trips to Thailand in one year, arent you just so lucky. Where will your "itchy feet" holiday in October be to??? Now ... let me guess - does it start with T???
Cheers Kitty
PS. Ive just remembered 2 more q's and started a new thread. Hope you can help me with answers for those as well!!!

If you take Air Asia they will charge you if your luggage is over 30 kg. Unfortuately I had to take that airline as I was going to Chieng Rai in the early evening and that was my only option from Suvanabhumi. They did not weigh my carry on luggage. This was just one month ago. This is the cheapest airline. Didn't care about cheap but it was convienent. Will take Thai Air when I can.

Have a good trip

I've only ever had my hand luggage weighed once - a couple of years ago either at Bangkok or Hong Kong. I'd already checked in and was heading for the emigration counters when I nearly died .... there was a guy with a big weighing machine!!! OMG. My case was 11kg! but he asked "is there a computer in there?" and when I said there was, he said ok. Just as well... what would I have been able to do at that point seeing my cases were now on their way to the cargo area? stupid place to weigh your bags.

Remember when departing from Melbourne (and I presume you are) that they have an individual bag weight limit of 32kg. (They say
it's Occ. Health and Safety regulations... baggage handlers aren't supposed to lift more than this)
I've seen people actually have to repack their bags at checkin and put stuff into plastic carrybags.

Kimbo ... you say checked in luggage limit is 32 kg - are you 100% sure about this - cos my ticket and my travel agent says its only 20kg for economy class. I do believe business and first class and silver leaf members are allowed 32kg - but I am not either of those! On the Thai airways ticket it clearly says 20kg - so if you could clarify this I would be eternally grateful!!!
We are departing Sydney, not Melbourne, but I would assume weight limits would have to be the same from either airport. So .... do you fly business class??? So, your carry on luggage has a limit of 7kg I think, so if that is over, would they charge you excess for that??? Maybe not, if you say you have a computer in there!!!! Knowing my luck, they would want to open it and look. I had my suitcase searched when leaving Saigon airport as they said they had "found an illegal substance" in it - man did I **** my pants!!!!! It turned out to be only fake dvds - can you believe that??? They sell them on every street corner but apparently its illegal to take them out of the country - idiotic!!!
Anyway - so just want to clarify that its 20kg for checked in luggage and 7kg for carry on stuff, which I believe the carry on stuff also has a size limit of a 50cm suitcase - is that correct????
Sorry .... so many q's from me....
Kitty

Yes, the major carriers usually set a limit of 20kg for economy class. They can charge you excess baggage fees if your bag is overweight but most don't worry about just 1 or 2kg.
Business class passengers and those who have Frequent Flyer status have extra baggage allowance - usually 30kg.
I mentioned the 32kg. in case you were thinking that checking in as a group would mean that the kids in your group had 10kg bags and you could then have 35kg or something like that. No, it wouldn't be allowed.

If you're worried about the bags (esp. on the way out of Bangkok) you could always put some stuff in the kids' bags.

It's a good idea to join up to Thai's frequent flyer program - Royal Orchid - and when you've travelled a certain number of miles with them, you get Silver or Gold card and that gives you extra baggage allowance. This is why I have a baggage allowance of 30kg with Thai and their partner airlines.
You can get the enrolment card at the airport. Fill it in and send it off after your trip is over. Keep your boarding passes as you need to send those with the form.

7kg is the usual limit for carry-on bags but they aren't usually weighed. I guess they'd ask to weigh it if they noticed you were struggling to lift it though!!!!
I usually put valuables, fragile and small-but-heavy stuff in there (camera, jewellery, ipod, computer etc. or anything I'm not prepared to lose).
If you haven't already bought a carry-on bag, it's a good idea to get one with handles that can fit over your suitcase handle - that way you just wheel your case/carry-bag combo together and not have both hands dealing with luggage - esp. good when you're travelling with kids.

Thanx Kimbo. I guess that makes it a bit clearer. However ... now I come to the question of what Thai airways maximum measurements are for carry-on luggage??? I have 3 small suitcases, one is 48cm, one is 50cm and the third one is 55cm. Im wondering if the 55cm is too BIG for carry-on luggage - DOES ANYONE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS???
Yes ... I agree that probably the only time they would choose to weigh your carry-on luggage would be when they see you unable to lift it!!!
OK ... so 20kg each (Im assuming my 12yo is allowed 20kg as well???) for checked-in and 7kg each for carry-on. Thanx everyone.
Kitty

At the airports there's usually a frame-type thing that you can put your carry-on bag in to check that the measurements are within the size limits allowed (another stupid idea really - a bit late by then right? - if your bag is oversize, what can you do? this information should be printed on your ticket or somewhere).

In any event, the measurements on these frames give maximum dimensions for bags but again, if a cm or two bigger I don't think anyone would give you any problems.

I have a few bags to choose from and I've never had a problem with the following sizes:
- small wheel-on case 50cm X 38cm.
- wheel-on overnight bag (looks like a big handbag with wheels and an extending handle) 30cmX 51cm Although this one is longer than the other one, it's not as wide so once the pull handle is pushed down, it looks a lot smaller overall.

I think you'd be ok with the 50cm one, but not sure about 55cm.

OK ... Kimbo ... went onto Thai airways site and got the lowdown on luggage allowances. I just didnt want to take my largest one for carry-on and then be told it was TOO BIG! And lucky I didnt either.

"Hand luggage should have a maximum length of 56cm (22") a width of 45cm (18") and depth of 25cm (10") HOWEVER the sum of the 3 dimensions shall not exceed 115cm (45") and the weight must not exceed 7kg."

So ... I then got out the tape measurer and with my largest the 55cm one it ends up being TOO BIG (it totalled 121cm) - lucky!!! My other 2 are just under the 115cm, one is 114cm and other is 112 cm. But ... its confusing because the one that totals 112cm actually has measurements of 56x36x20 - so at a first glance one would assume that it is too big because of the 56cm, but it is smaller in width and depth, so comes in under the 115cm!!??

So ... for any occasional travellers out there like me who dont know all this - I hope this has helped you too. It also says that checked in luggage for economy class is 20kg per person, with no size limits.

Thanx once again to all for your help.

Kitty