When booking connecting flights with different airlines, it's important to be aware that checked luggage allowances, including size and weight restrictions, can vary between carriers. This may lead to extra fees if your luggage complies with one airline's policy but exceeds the limits for the next.

Understanding different luggage allowances

Each airline sets its own rules for checked luggage, which can include maximum weight, dimensions, and additional fees for oversized or overweight bags. If your itinerary involves more than one airline, especially for self-connecting flights, you might face different policies for each leg of your journey.

For example:

• Airline A may allow a larger or heavier checked bag without extra fees.
• Airline B might have stricter size or weight limits, potentially charging you for a bag that was fine on your first flight.

How to avoid extra fees

To minimize the risk of being charged for checked luggage during your connection, we recommend the following steps:

1. Check Luggage Limits for Each Airline
   Before your trip, visit the websites of each airline in your booking and review their luggage policies. Pay close attention to both size and weight limits, as well as potential fees for excess baggage.
2. Pack According to the Stricter Limits
   To avoid unexpected fees, we recommend packing according to the most restrictive baggage allowance in your itinerary. For example, if one airline allows a 23kg checked bag and the other only 20kg, it’s safer to pack within the 20kg limit.
3. Purchase Additional Allowance in Advance
   If your luggage exceeds the limits of the stricter airline, consider purchasing additional luggage allowance in advance. Pre-paying for overweight or oversized luggage is typically cheaper than being charged at the airport.

What happens if you Are charged for your luggage?

If you are charged extra for your luggage at any point during your journey, these fees are set by the airlines and are not covered by Dohop or the ConnectSure service. It is your responsibility to ensure that your checked luggage meets the allowances of each airline in your itinerary.

Tips for managing checked luggage

• Plan for Transfers: If you're connecting between airlines, especially between international and domestic flights, note that domestic airlines often have stricter baggage rules than international carriers.
• Know the Fees: Some airlines charge for checked luggage, while others include one or more checked bags in your fare. Always confirm your allowance in advance to avoid surprises.
• Consider Shipping: If your checked bag significantly exceeds the allowance, you might want to consider shipping heavy or oversized items to your destination as an alternative to paying extra baggage fees.

To contact Dohop, please use the help widget   in the bottom right corner of this page or click HERE