The festive season is the busiest time of year to travel, and with gifts for loved ones, presents to bring home, and extra clothes to make sure you look your best, you’ll probably have more luggage than usual.
Serving 170 destinations from its award-winning Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways’ crew get to travel the world, often during busy times. Here are some of their pro tips to avoid luggage-related surprises, delays or additional costs.
Cabin baggage
The cabin or carry-on baggage allocation differs depending on the cabin in which you’re travelling.
In Economy Class, it’s one piece, weighing no more than 7kg and not exceeding 50 x 37 x 25cm. In the Qsuite or business class cabin, the dimensions are the same, but you’re allowed two pieces with a maximum combined weight of 15kg.
In both cabins, you’re also allowed a personal item, such as a handbag or laptop bag, but these need to fit within the cabin baggage allowances. Stuffing extra clothes or gifts into your laptop bag because they don’t fit in your cabin bag could take you over the limit.
Hold baggage
A top tip when it comes to hold or checked baggage is that the allowance can vary depending not only on the cabin you’re flying in, but the fare class and routes you’re flying.
On many routes, including African routes, the policy is a so-called ‘piece concept’, a certain number of bags, each with a weight limit – usually 23kg in economy. On others, however, the policy is based on a ‘weight concept’, meaning a total weight allowance rather than a fixed number of bags.
The same applies if you’re flying on different carriers or on codeshare flights. Although they may all be part of the airline alliance, such as oneworld, or booked on the same airline code, baggage rules can differ.
If you’re flying multiple sectors, check the baggage policy for each to ensure you’re compliant for the entire journey. You can find a complete guide to baggage allowances, FAQs and any dangerous and restricted items you’re not allowed to carry here.
Be aware of any customs or other restrictions at your destination. These could include food products, liquor, tobacco and plant or other organic material. If you are found carrying a restricted item, it could be confiscated, and you may be fined.
Peak-season practicalities
Weigh and measure your bags before you leave home. Overweight and oversize fees at airports are high, so pre-pack and, if necessary, reorganise or repack to avoid unnecessary costs. It’s much less stressful and affordable than doing it at the airport.
Distribute weight and gifts across bags so that none weigh more than the allowance. Alternatively, consider shipping or mailing gifts before you leave.
If you do need to take more than the standard baggage allowance, buy an additional allowance online. Qatar Airways offers discounts for additional baggage purchased more than six hours before departure. You can find out more here.
When travelling during peak season, allow more time to check in your luggage. Check-in counters tend to be more crowded, and staff are handling more luggage, so leaving yourself a little extra time will help to make the journey less stressful.
Keep your cabin baggage light and essential, using it to carry small valuables such as devices, urgent items including medication and only what you’ll need on board. Not only is bulky, heavy cabin baggage difficult to carry through airports, but if it exceeds the allowance, you won’t be allowed to take it on board.
Finally, keep the receipts for any gifts you are carrying, as customs may require proof of value.
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