As of June 1, 2011 new regulations concerning free baggage allowance will take effect. This will lead to a lot of benefits such as a better overview and unified rules.
As of June 1, there will be standardized regulations concerning free baggage allowance on all flights of the Lufthansa Group, Air Canada, Continental Airlines and United Airlines. How much free baggage will be allowed on board is going to be governed by the “piece concept”. This globally acknowledged concept does not focus on the weight but the number of pieces of baggage!
Up to now, the “weight concept” made sure you could check-in as many bags as you wanted just as long as the sum of their weights did not exceed a certain maximum amount. Under the new “piece concept” and depending on the service class, both number and weight of free baggage differ. Thus, the new regulations are more flexible as they refer to the route and the service class used.
The advantage is obvious: Both the number of pieces of free baggage and their weight now depend on the passenger’s individual booking. Here’s an overview of the new regulations:
| In General |
Frequent Traveller | Senator/ HON Circle Member |
|
| Economy Class | 1 piece à 23 kg | 2 pieces à 23 kg | 2 pieces à 23 kg |
| Business Class | 2 pieces à 32 kg | 2 pieces à 32 kg | 3 pieces à 32 kg |
| Additional sports equipment | All routes except to/from/via USA and Canada: + 1 set of ski equipment extra | All routes except to/from/via USA and Canada: + 1 set of ski equipment extra | All routes except to/from/via USA and Canada:+ 1 set of ski equipment extra
+ 1 golf bag extra |
As before excess baggage can be checked-in for a fee.
Please note that for tickets bought before June 1, 2011 the free baggage allowance stated on the ticket as well as the hitherto existing excess baggage regulations will apply. This means that as of June 1 both set of rules will continue to be applicable for about a year.
Better overview regarding excess baggage
Excess baggage regulations have been simplified as well. In many cases the fees for excess baggage have been lowered. Thanks to the new flat rates, excess baggage costs become more clear and transparent.
Hand baggage
The regulations for carrying hand baggage remain unchanged: As before Economy Class passengers are allowed to take one piece of hand baggage of up to 8 kg, sized 55x40x23 cm, into the cabin. Business Class passengers may carry two pieces of hand baggage – one up to 8 kg, the other up to 4 kg.
On this note we hope to have made baggage check-in and claims as well as travelling itself easier for you and our employees. Enjoy your flight!
Tags: Baggage
I am interested in Red Tickets from Vienna to Salzberg return but cannot find out what the ‘ hold’ baggage allowance is without buying a ticket – strange!! Economy ‘hold’ is 23kgs but does it apply to Red ticket fares?? Web site is unclear.
Dear Adrian, thanks for your request! You can find the regulations for baggage here:
http://www.austrian.com/Info/FlightPreparation/Baggage.aspx?cc=AT&sc_lang=en&ns_campaign=Fb_aua_baggage! These regulations concern to all tickets – also the red ticket.
Hello I bought a ticket from Austrian airlines and I guess in the ticket is included a bag up to 23 kg but about the hand luggage can I have 2 small pieces like a small backpack and a regular women bag?
Hi Vera, a single item of hand baggage may not exceed the dimensions 55x40x23 cm and the weight of 8 kg. You can check this using the hand baggage gauge at the airport. Any items above these limits will have to be checked in.