Pacific Blue excess baggage - beware!

**Virago** · 19th June 2009, 21:16

I came across a rather farcical situation today.

Our daughter has been in Auckland for nearly three months for specialist medical stuff, she's due back in Dunedin in two weeks.

Being a young lady on such a long and involved trip, she didn't travel light - two large suitcases went with her. A large chunk of that was her medical stuff.

We flew her up on Air New Zealand. They charged $15 for the additional large (25Kg) suitcase - quite reasonable really.

I've booked her return flight, opting for Pacific Blue. Alas, I didn't look into their excess baggage policy before booking.

Their policy - $8.00 per Kg over the allowance. That's $200.00 for the suitcase, way more that the $150 ticket price.

I phoned their customer services department and explained the situation. The result - their policy is not negotiable.

I can get the bag couriered door-to-door for a fraction of that cost, so that's probably what we'll do.

The real pisser is that, for $200 (or less), I could fly to Auckland using cheap mid-week flights, pick up the bag, and fly back. I'm almost tempted to do it, just to spite them - and to alert the media as to what I was doing...

Congratulations Pacific Blue, on such a display of pure blinkered bureaucracy.

**Elysium** · 19th June 2009, 21:22

Domestic travel is way over-priced compared to other means of travel. Only useful when you need to get somewhere quick.

**Ragingrob** · 19th June 2009, 21:24

$23 to Welly and back to Aucks for $30 ain't too bad I didn't think. Going down Sat coming back Tues evening. School hols too!

**Maha** · 19th June 2009, 21:29

It seems that Jet Star may have a policy along the same lines (not that I have used them and probably wont) ....cheap air fairs but they get you with anything other than carry on. Air NZ everytime really...at least you know where you stand with our national carrier. We did use Pacific Blue once, no issue, but, probably spent about the same at the end of the day, taking into account the food that you pay for.
As for Jet Star...they want you to do their work for them, 'they will better any flight price by 10%'....so, I get a price form Air NZ, take it to Jet star and get it cheaper?...sorry Jet Star...give me your best price first up.

**Virago** · 19th June 2009, 23:07

Originally Posted by Maha

...cheap air fairs but they get you with anything other than carry on. Air NZ everytime really...

Yep, I accept that. BUT, Air NZ charge $15 for the extra bag, Pacific Blue charge $200...?

If they said they charge $20, or even $30, I'd happily pay - the trade-off for the slightly cheaper fare.

If I can fly to Auckland, pick up the bag and fly back, for $200 or cheaper, it kind of makes the situation extremely farcical. It's tempting...

**Ragingrob** · 19th June 2009, 23:09

Just pay for a seat on the plane for the bag and strap it in

**Mully** · 19th June 2009, 23:15

Pac Blue must sell all their space for freight with those kind of charges.

Always read the fine print children.

**Virago** · 19th June 2009, 23:15

Originally Posted by Ragingrob

Just pay for a seat on the plane for the bag and strap it in

Yep, looked at that too as a cheaper option - but apparently seats are for passengers only...

**Ragingrob** · 19th June 2009, 23:22

Originally Posted by Virago

Yep, looked at that too as a cheaper option - but apparently seats are for passengers only...

Put a baby in the suitcase

**howdamnhard** · 19th June 2009, 23:24

Support your national carrier. Budget airlines are good for competition and if its just you and your light carry on luggage and you don't mind being possibly late.

**Virago** · 19th June 2009, 23:29

Originally Posted by Mully

Pac Blue must sell all their space for freight with those kind of charges...

Possibly the ultimate irony. If we courier the bag down to save cost, it may even end up on the same plane - and be delivered to our door...

Originally Posted by Mully

...Always read the fine print children.

Lesson learnt...

**Kemet** · 19th June 2009, 23:45

Fair Go!!!

at least make the bastards look stupid although I'm thinking they would mske a special case of you if you put em on the telly....

**Jiminy** · 20th June 2009, 00:53

I think it's fair. I can only guess that Pacific Blue want to target passengers with cabin luggage only so they can cut the cost of handling checked-in luggages and increase their margin per passenger. If you don't fit that market segment, then you're better off with another airline. Of course that means that we now have to read the fine prints.

On a side note, I've been flying with Jetstar this week (late booking). I had never imagined one could reduce the leg room that much!

**Mikkel** · 20th June 2009, 01:15

The company is free to charge whatever they want for their services - this is not a fair go case in any way. Noone has been misled or conned in any way. As a matter of fact I'm pretty sure AirNZ would have comparable overweight rates - if they choose not to enforce them then it's just extra customer service.

However, you as the customer is free to take your money elsewhere. Personally I've joined the "fuck the budget airlines - I'd rather pay a bit more and not be treated like a bloody money-cow"-crowd after having been through the Jetstar rip-off machine.