Aer Lingus - how strict on baggage?!

The Cool

I'm flying Madrid - Dublin on Sunday and I've heard that Aer Lingus aren't as strict as say, Ryanair when it comes to checked baggage being a kilo or two overweight. I'm moving home after a year in Spain so obviously fitting everything in under 20kg is a challenge!! Just wondering what other people's experiences are on this?

irlrobins

Aer Lingus used to be a lot more lax when it came to baggage restrictions but in recent weeks I've definitely seen a change in attitude.

I've seen gate staff go around people waiting to board and eyeing up their carryon and if it's too big making them check it. And if they're not sure, they get you to put it in the cage to check. If you have to force it in, it gets checked.

And once in LHR on one flight, they forced people who's carry on met the size restrictions to check bags before they boarded as there wasn't enough room for all bags.

More and more people are bringing carry ons to escape baggage charges and it actually slows down boarding and disembarking. So they're working to avoid this I guess. Plus some people were taking the piss with their carryons.

As for checked baggage restrictions, it can vary depending on the handling agents. You might fly out of Dublin with no issues but coming back the check in staff (often a third party) might enforce the limit to the letter.

I say if you're only a kilo over u'll get away with it.

St. Leibowitz

Haven't travelled in the last few months, but my experience is that it depends on the check in agent. Especially in foreign airports, where the handling agents are third party, some of them can be absolutely rabid on weight enforcement. Actually, there are usually two or three check-in desks, and often they operate a "good cop, bad cop" system, whether intentional or not, where one queue has everything checked in detail, and the other queue sails through. I've seen a situation once in Milan where people started shuffeling over to the faster queue, and the check-in agent noticed this, and ordered her colleague to change places with her so she got all the people who moved off her queue. When people started to move back, she started to shout at people to stay in the queue "for security reasons". Que much mirth and merriment at her expense. Then the Carabineri arrived to put on an intimidatory show.

Long story short, it depends on the agent, but it looks like things are being tightened up.

globemaster1986

St. Leibowitz wrote: »

Haven't travelled in the last few months, but my experience is that it depends on the check in agent. Especially in foreign airports, where the handling agents are third party, some of them can be absolutely rabid on weight enforcement. Actually, there are usually two or three check-in desks, and often they operate a "good cop, bad cop" system, whether intentional or not, where one queue has everything checked in detail, and the other queue sails through. I've seen a situation once in Milan where people started shuffeling over to the faster queue, and the check-in agent noticed this, and ordered her colleague to change places with her so she got all the people who moved off her queue. When people started to move back, she started to shout at people to stay in the queue "for security reasons". Que much mirth and merriment at her expense. Then the Policia arrived to put on an intimidatory show.

Long story short, it depends on the agent, but it looks like things are being tightened up.

Thats exactly right, its down to the person on the check in desk from what I can see. Last year I had been in Munich for a couple of months for college. Another friend was also there, we were in two different cues at check in, both of our bags were about 5kg overweight, he got away with it as he got a nice check in man while i got Mr "Zee Rules und Regulations must be followed Ja" and got charged:(

On a positive note, was on a Ryanair flight to two weeks ago and the lady in front of me was overweight by 2kg and got off:p

dudara

irlrobins wrote: »

Aer Lingus used to be a lot more lax when it came to baggage restrictions but in recent weeks I've definitely seen a change in attitude.

I've seen gate staff go around people waiting to board and eyeing up their carryon and if it's too big making them check it. And if they're not sure, they get you to put it in the cage to check. If you have to force it in, it gets checked.

And once in LHR on one flight, they forced people who's carry on met the size restrictions to check bags before they boarded as there wasn't enough room for all bags.

More and more people are bringing carry ons to escape baggage charges and it actually slows down boarding and disembarking. So they're working to avoid this I guess. Plus some people were taking the piss with their carryons.

As for checked baggage restrictions, it can vary depending on the handling agents. You might fly out of Dublin with no issues but coming back the check in staff (often a third party) might enforce the limit to the letter.

I say if you're only a kilo over u'll get away with it.

Aer Lingus are getting stricter - and I don't blame them. It can be ridiculous sometimes on flights. People put jackets, handbags, laptop bags up overhead, despite being asked not to do so. This takes away room for wheeled luggage etc. And then don't even get me started on people who can't stow their luggage neatly...

globemaster1986

Some people may take the view that it's the wheeled luggage that is the problem! The size of the bags some people try to pass of as "hand luggage" is ridiculous! At least a laptop, jacket etc are genuine hand luggage items!

Mr. Presentable

I travelled last week with Aer Lingus and they were strict with stowed luggage, allowing only about a 1kg grace, also they weighed the carry on even when well within the size parameter.

globemaster1986

nipplenuts wrote: »

I travelled last week with Aer Lingus and they were strict with stowed luggage, allowing only about a 1kg grace, also they weighed the carry on even when well within the size parameter.

That's the kind of thing that would drive customers away, pretty invasive and in your face! Are they sticking with the low cost model or are they moving back to the more traditional airline type operation (I know it don't sound like it)? Its just that there were rumour of a shift away from being an LCC when Mueller took over. Anybody know?

Mr. Presentable

globemaster1986 wrote: »

That's the kind of thing that would drive customers away, pretty invasive and in your face! Are they sticking with the low cost model or are they moving back to the more traditional airline type operation (I know it don't sound like it)? Its just that there were rumour of a shift away from being an LCC when Mueller took over. Anybody know?

It's not invasive or in your face. If there is a weight restriction and they make it know they are entitled to check. Anyone who'd take umbrage at that needs a shaking. Every airline has a weight policy.

Our man in Havana

nipplenuts wrote: »

I travelled last week with Aer Lingus and they were strict with stowed luggage, allowing only about a 1kg grace, also they weighed the carry on even when well within the size parameter.

They have been doing that for at least the last 10 years. Hand baggage is often weighed at check in especially by 3rd party staff.

globemaster1986

nipplenuts wrote: »

It's not invasive or in your face. If there is a weight restriction and they make it know they are entitled to check. Anyone who'd take umbrage at that needs a shaking. Every airline has a weight policy.

I have no problem with cabin baggage restrictions, in fact I think the wheeled suitcases many people try and pass as hand luggage are a joke and they should rightly be made check them in. My problem is if I have a neat little backpack which is clearly half the size of the hand luggage measure thing and some Aer Lingus staff member STALKING the ques asks to put it in the measuring thing and weigh it when it in no way breaches the regulations which is what the poster described. That would p**s me off and make me reluctant to fly with them again if I could avoid it. To do that to people who are clearly complying with the restrictions is in your face! If you don't agree, fine, but thats my opinion and it won't change.

Lifelike

globemaster1986 wrote: »

I have no problem with cabin baggage restrictions, in fact I think the wheeled suitcases many people try and pass as hand luggage are a joke and they should rightly be made check them in. My problem is if I have a neat little backpack which is clearly half the size of the hand luggage measure thing and some Aer Lingus staff member STALKING the ques asks to put it in the measuring thing and way it when it in no way breaches the regulations which is what the poster described. That would p**s me off and make me reluctant to fly with them again if I could avoid it. To do that to people who are clearly complying with the restrictions is in your face! If you don't agree, fine, but thats my opinion and it won't change.

I agree with you here. Aer Lingus wouldn't want to become like Ryanair, and yes this would annoy me too.

I've never had a bad experience with Aer Lingus, and normally think their service is superb, however if their staff start behaving like this, I will abandon them and fly Ryanair instead (who are usually cheaper).

Aer Lingus will be the losers in the end if they start this carry-on.