With Thomas Cook we were told that the infant 10kg has to be in a separate bag to go in the hold.

First Choice /Thomson also has a 10kg of luggage for infants which is seperate from the adults baggage, they can take their own individual case.

http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/help/luggage/baggage-allowance/
http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/legal/baggage-allowance.html

Angie.

thank you,id best start looking for a small bad or case for her then,i might get one in the january sales

We have just come back from Turkey and had a 10-month old with us who had her own 10kg luggage allowance. She didn't have her own case - her mum and dad had one each and included her allowance with theirs (they had 15kg each); they had a total allowance of 40 kg and just split it between the two cases and there was no problem. I think it's easier that way 'cos it's not easy with three cases (even if one is a small one), hand luggage, carrying or holding the hand of a little 'un and, as in our case, a buggy.

thank you for your reply.
we have got 4 x 20 kg allowences with me and hubby and the 2 kids,then 4 x 5kg hand luggage and then carlys(infant) 10 kg luggage.
i was thinking of just putting up to the maximum of 23 kgs in 3 of our cases to save on extra bags to carry,we are already taking enough bags with us but not sure if the allowence is added together? or if we add a extra 3 kg to each case we will be charged excess baggage? if you knw what i mean?

What you're talking about is Pooling allowances and you're quite right to be worried about being excessed because a lot of airlines will. You need to check with the actual airline as each will have a different policy - if you can't get a straight answer assume the worst! If they've quoted a maximum weight per bag which is more than the individual limit allowance it may be a good sign (although it's usually 32kg not 23kg)

Whether you opt to pool the infant's allowance or take a separate 10Kg bag for them, can I kindly suggest you mix everyone's stuff rather than have 'his', 'hers', 'kids' and 'babys' cases. Speaking from experience it is awful when a bag doesn't show and one person has absolutely no clothes, shoes, swimwear etc. At least by mixing the belongings, if the worst should happen and a bag doesn't appear on the carousel, at least everyone will have something to wear

if you're booked with Thomas Cook you can pool your luggage up to a maximum of 30kg per case. I was told this by a Thomas Cook Customer Services Manager in my local store when I asked the question!

Hi Leanne,
Sorry to say this but we travelled with TC to cyprus in May. A gentleman in front of me in check-ibn had pooled his allowance with his daughters, one of the cases was exactly 30kgs and she said it was too heavy, max was 25kg. He had to take a load of stuff out and basically just leave it as the girl and her supervisor refused point bank to put it through. There was no room in the other cases as they were both slightly over too. I felt so sorry for him as he left a load of sunscreen and toiletries.

It does state in TC's terms and conditions that the maximum hold weight per case is 30Kg. I probably wouldn't risk it though - I've seen TC make people cram handbags inside already bulging hand baggage holdalls and then get them to weigh it and then, with the hand baggage now weighing over 5Kg, make them unpack their hold bags and put some of the stuff in there. Some of the airlines really seem to be tightening up nowadays.

Doesnt it have something to do with health and safety regulations (weight staff are having to lift if passengers pool lugggage) ?

oh well i'm just going by the terms and conditions and what the customer service manager said, obviously check in staff may have a different opinion, however if it states it in the terms and conditions and they argue the point with me at check in they're in for a long argument (i always carry copies of terms & conditions etc just incase i need to prove anything lol).

The customer service manager also said it depended on the length of your flight, your destination etc, because although baggage handlers at this end are quite happy to lift 30kg sometimes those at the other end arent!

Morh

There is a huge misconception about "health and safety regulations" mainly caused by ill informed newspapers. In fact there are very few specific regulations (on any subject) but they do include one that says any employer must risk assess any task and put in place suitable prodecures. All airlines/ baggage handling companies should have assesed the risk to staff of heaving around luggage all day (which is not the same as carrying it from the car once!) and they will have decided to put an upper limit on the weight of a single item that one person can lift. Some will have decided that if you have gone over that limit they will get two people to lift it (especially if you've paid for a Long Haul Business Class ticket) but most simply say nothing over that weight in order to make life simple. The number which most have come up with is 32kg but there's nothing to say they have to and those who have set lower limits will no doubt be able to provide a fully documented reason why.

I might say that the companies with low limits are simply trying to cut your allowance because more weight = more fuel = less profit and they are hiding behind "health and safety" as an excuse. They might say that I'm a cynic, you will have to decide for yourself!

obviously pooling within the specified limit has no H&S implication so they must have some other reason, probably to make life simple for the checkin staff.

My daughter has just booked with Direct Hols (which is Thomas Cook flight) does this mean that her infant will have a allowance of her own?

Maryb

Just checked D hols baggage and it says infants under 2 no allowance unless they have a seat.

What a cheek as flight is T Cook.

I'am going to ask questions about that one.

Maryb

my daughter has flown with little one since she was 8 months old and this year [she has passed the majical 2 yrs] for the first time has her own allowance however they now have to purchase a seat for her...

Hi update on my daughters infant,I went on Direct Hols site and went to frequently asked questions.
There it has one about infant allowance,says if you ring TC airlines you will be allowed 10kg for infant on a first come first served basis. She rang and waited ages at cost to her and was then charged £4 for the allowance,but it will work out cheaper than getting stung at airport with extra baggage.

Maryb

I actually think you need to phone the airline anyway to book your free 10kg luggage allowance. I'm sure that it what we had to do know I come to think of it.