Singapore Airlines

Hi all

We're going to be heading out to N Sulawesi for a couple of months next year and I've been trying to work out how to get all of our gear over there. With 2 adults dive gear, cameras etc plus 1 infant it has more in common with the logistics for a military campaign than a holiday! Singapore Airlines appears to be the best route from the UK, but I can't find any info on excess baggage for divers - do they have any additional allowances? I know Silk Air allow 10kg extra for divers, so we will be ok on the flight from SIN to Manado. We normally fly BA whenever we can as we get an extra 23kg each for dive equipment and infants get a full 23kg rather than just 10kg, so if Singapore Airlines don't have any extra allowances we'll probably go BA to SIN then switch to Silk Air for the hop over to Manado.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers, Simon

Hey Simon

Check this out Here

Lots of up to date info on this one

I hope it helps

Good luck and have a brilliant time in Indonesia

Nige Wade

Hi Simon,

From their UK link on their website (Plan & prepare - Before you fly):

Economy 20 kg * Baggage exceeding the 20 kg limit will be assessed an additional charge.

Infants: 10 kg

In addition, a fully collapsible stroller or pushchair, carry-cot and infant items may be checked in without charge.

And, their excess baggage fees are horrible!

Here's a useful link:

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/cont...1764732597&

I thought I saw a page where it said that bags over 50lb would be charged a flat fee of $336 (or something) -- something insane. I can't remember where I saw that, though.

Oh -- I see that you are asking about specific allowances for divers. Sorry.

I have booked with SA for next March and was not aware of the baggage change re dive gear never having had problems with them before. I have emailed them to see what the actual situation is - will post the response...see you at the check-in wearing BCD/fins....

Just returned from a trip to Indonesia using singapore/silk air and I had 2 checked bags about 50 pounds with 2 carryons (about 30 pounds each) and had no issues. I flew Business class.

A friend of mine flew coach and also had no problems.

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I saw on the sticky thread that eric had posted this....

"Singapore Airlines no longer offer the 10KG divers allowance. UNLESS you book through a travel agent who still has this on their tickets. Complicated, I know. See:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22775"

.....so I guess that is still valid as I can't see a mention of a diving allowance anywhere now

Mr Octopus - When we travel from Europe we get stuffed compared to the states. Basically we get less than half the luggage allowance that you would on a US flight. We get 1x20kg and you get 2x23kg on economy. On business you get more allowance on top of that.

Oh well SA looked ideal with ideal connections, but when you consider my housing in a peli case weights 23kg - that's 3kg more than my total luggage allowance on its own! Then add excess for basic dive equipment and may I be a little radical and even suggest some clothes and it would probably be cheaper flying business class! I think we'll have to look at flying BA with a stop over then jump onto Silk Air to Manado the next day.

Thanks for the help everyone

Cheers, Simon

I was lucky to be able to use my frequent flyer miles for a busines class ticket. Air restrictions are impacting on the way I travel. Less hassels with business class. For Galapagos, I will be renting BC and wetsuit. According to Peter Hughes this is an option and would drastically reduce my travel weight. Now to figure out how to reduce the camera gear weight????

If flying from the UK/Europe on Singapore Airlines they will still give you an extra 10KG hold allowance if your ticket is booked with a diving travel agent. There is no way to get this as an individual, but as long as you book your ticket this way Singapore Airlines are still honouring old arrangements that they had with diving travel agents.

Alex

How about flying BA to KL then switching to Air Asia to get to Manado... That's what i just did Extra bags were reasonable as long as you are aware of what you have to pay - but it should still be cheaper than SA

I'll be booking direct with the airline as I'll be out there a couple of months, although maybe I could just book the flight though a Dive Travel Agent and get the extra luggage allowance? Has anyone done that before? That would probably work equally well for KL if the agent would do that - good idea! Do BA fly to KL? I'll check that out as well as that would be a good option.

I've just used all my BA miles up for a flight to NY, so I don't think I'll be able to get enough in time to fly business to Asia and I certainly couldn't justify paying the price of a Business ticket. I should have saved them up longer as it would have been a much better way of spending them...

Cheers, Simon

BA are much more generous and I fly them everywhere I can these days. They have a great baggage policy at the moment - and I tell them this every time I do one of their questionnaires! Flying to Asia they will allow you to have 1 bag 23KG hold + 1 bag of sports equipment 23KG. This has to be sports equipment in a sports equipment bag (diving kit counts). But as long as you follow the rules this is 46KG in the hold.

They are also really good with hand luggage - allowing officially i bag which can weigh up to 23KG. Much better than Singapore's strictly enforced 6KG.

I have to say I really like BA these days. I know most regular fliers don't like them. But I made the mistake of flying Virgin to Las Vegas. Really poor. Singapore Airlines are good in flight (I am always in economy), but I find their level of service/accomodation much better on the A380 then on their 747s. So make sure you get on a A380 route if you use them.

Alex

BA are much more generous and I fly them everywhere I can these days. They have a great baggage policy at the moment - and I tell them this every time I do one of their questionnaires! Flying to Asia they will allow you to have 1 bag 23KG hold + 1 bag of sports equipment 23KG. This has to be sports equipment in a sports equipment bag (diving kit counts). But as long as you follow the rules this is 46KG in the hold.

 

They are also really good with hand luggage - allowing officially i bag which can weigh up to 23KG. Much better than Singapore's strictly enforced 6KG.

 

I have to say I really like BA these days. I know most regular fliers don't like them. But I made the mistake of flying Virgin to Las Vegas. Really poor. Singapore Airlines are good in flight (I am always in economy), but I find their level of service/accomodation much better on the A380 then on their 747s. So make sure you get on a A380 route if you use them.

 

Alex

thats interesting Alex, i never realised BA had a baggage policy like that, i agree with the SA and the A380. I flew on it this year and loved it, it was just the issue with baggage allowance that would put my money into another carriers bank account.

are you in Egypt yet ?

BA are much more generous and I fly them everywhere I can these days. They have a great baggage policy at the moment - and I tell them this every time I do one of their questionnaires! Flying to Asia they will allow you to have 1 bag 23KG hold + 1 bag of sports equipment 23KG. This has to be sports equipment in a sports equipment bag (diving kit counts). But as long as you follow the rules this is 46KG in the hold.

 

They are also really good with hand luggage - allowing officially i bag which can weigh up to 23KG. Much better than Singapore's strictly enforced 6KG.

 

I have to say I really like BA these days. I know most regular fliers don't like them. But I made the mistake of flying Virgin to Las Vegas. Really poor. Singapore Airlines are good in flight (I am always in economy), but I find their level of service/accomodation much better on the A380 then on their 747s. So make sure you get on a A380 route if you use them.

 

Alex

You're preaching to the converted! We fly BA almost 100% of the time now. The baggage allowance alone would make it worth it, but throw in BA Airmiles from flights and other avenues (Amex card, Tesco clubcard etc) and we get a minimum of 2 transatlantic business class return tickets at least once a year. I'd never pay the extra normally so its a really nice treat.

BTW I checked - BA don't fly to KL. Bummer - as that would have been another option rather than just relying on Silk Air.

Cheers, Simon

Folks

As promised the response below from SA - it seems you pay 6kg for upto 15kg - I have asked what the charge is but i suspect it is 6 x 70SGD so about £180 ... still a rip off...call me a radical but why should you get more baggage allowance in a different class are you paying for hold space????...so a lot of the gear will be carry on...

Of course dive bags themselves weigh rather too much so it could be 1 dive bag and 1 soft bag...

Thank you for your email regarding your baggage allowance when travelling with sports equipment.

In economy class your total checked in baggage including the sports equipment should not exceed the 20 kilos free baggage allowance, after which excess baggage rates will apply.

A standard charge of 6 kg of the applicable excess baggage charge will be applied on your sporting equipment if, together with your other checked luggage, the total weight exceeds the free allowance entitled to you.

This charge will apply up to a maximum of 15 kilos in excess of your free allowance. After this, the normal excess baggage charges will apply.

This special charge is only applicable to one set of sporting equipment per passenger. The Excess Baggage Charge per kilo from London Heathrow to Singapore is SGD 70.00

For future reference, to check for the types of Sporting Equipments entitled to this special allowance, please log on to www.singaporeair.com. You may navigate through to this information from our Home Page/Before You Fly/Local Information/ Luggage policies on bulky checkin luggage on flights out of England.

I hope this information helps.

Thank you for choosing Singapore Airlines.

Thank you for choosing Singapore Airlines.

Ouch I bet that hurt!

Cheers, Simon