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Voyager Silver and Gold members will each receive one additional piece, subject to weight & size restrictions as follows: Economy class - 23kg (50lb) and Business class - 32kg (70lb), on all SAA operated flights.
Normal Star Gold Baggage benefits will apply for Voyager Gold, Platinum and Lifetime Platinum members when travelling on Star Alliance carriers.
Click here for more information on the SAA global baggage policy.
To whom will the new baggage policy apply?
The new baggage policy will apply to all tickets issued on or after 5 September 2012. The current Weight Concept Baggage Policy will apply for all tickets issued prior to 5 September 2012.
How will my baggage allowance change?
Previously, SAA has only restricted passengers by total weight of baggage. Under the new policy, passengers will be restricted by the number of pieces they are allowed to check-in. Each of these pieces will be subject to weight and size restrictions.
This means that, for example, a passenger who was previously allowed 40kgs of total baggage weight, will now be allowed to check 2 pieces of baggage, each weighing no more than 23kg. This takes the total weight allowance to 46kg for the passenger, although the number of baggage pieces has been restricted to two.
Are there any changes to allowances for sporting goods?
The change of policy will not affect special allowances for sporting goods, these allowances remain unchanged. Please refer to the baggage policy for details on specific sporting equipment allowances.
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How are excess baggage charges calculated under the new policy?
As the new baggage policy restricts the number of pieces of baggage a passenger may check in, there will be an excess baggage charge for each piece over and above the passenger's allowance.
Excess baggage charges will also apply for any piece of baggage (even additional pieces that have already been charged as excess) that exceeds the weight and size restrictions for each piece outlined in the baggage policy.
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This means that more than one excess baggage charge may potentially apply for a single piece of baggage.
Example:
A customer is travelling in economy class to Mumbai, and as such is allowed to check in 2 bags weighing no more than 23kg each, and not exceeding 158cm total dimensions. The customer brings 3 pieces of baggage to check-in:
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Piece 1 - 20kg and 140cm total dimensions. |
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Piece 2 - 26kg and 140cm total dimensions. |
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Piece 3 - 22kg and 165cm total dimensions. |
As the passenger has 3 pieces, an excess baggage charge for an additional piece will apply.
Piece 2 is within the size restrictions but weighs more than 23kg, so an excess baggage charge will apply.
Piece 3 is within the weight restrictions but is larger than the maximum size permitted, so an excess baggage charge will apply
In total, the passenger will have to pay 3 excess baggage charges.
1 for an additional piece.
1 for an overweight piece.
1 for an oversize piece.
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How will this affect connections onto other carriers?
The move to a Piece Concept Baggage Policy will make it easier for SAA passengers connecting onto other carriers. Previously, as SAA allowed a passenger to check as many pieces of baggage as they wished, provided the total weight didn't exceed their allowance, passengers connecting onto other carriers who applied the piece concept may have had more pieces of baggage than the other carrier allowed, and would therefore be liable for an excess baggage charge.
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Moving forward, SAA will restrict the number of pieces a passenger may carry. Therefore, any SAA passenger connecting onto another carrier would already have a restricted number of bags and would, except in rare cases, not be liable for excess baggage charges relating to number of pieces.
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Which baggage allowance will apply for connecting flights?
IATA's Most Significant Carrier (Resolution 302) policy determines which carrier's policy will apply. Usually, the policy of the carrier who operates the first international leg of the journey will apply, however if the trip is broken then this carrier's policy will not apply for any onward connections.
There are some exceptions to this rule, please contact our call centre or your nearest travel agent for any enquiries regarding baggage allowances for multi-leg and multi-carrier journeys.
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Will passengers be able to purchase excess baggage in advance at a discounted rate?
This is something we are looking at introducing, however it will not be in place when the new policy launches. This will likely be implemented in the months following the launch.
Will the new policy affect cabin baggage allowances?
No, this new policy is focused on checked baggage allowances only.
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Each economy class passenger may carry, without additional charges, 1 piece of hand baggage weighing no more than 8kg and not exceeding maximum dimensions of 115cm (e.g. brief case, travel bag). Business class passengers may carry 2 such pieces of hand luggage on SAA-operated flights.
In addition, each passenger is permitted to carry 1 laptop bag, weighing no more than 8kg, as hand luggage.
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Will the policy affect special baggage allowances for infants and persons with reduced mobility?
No, children and infants paying at least 50% of the adult fare are entitled to the same baggage allowance as adults. Infants not entitled to a seat shall only be permitted to 1 piece of baggage weighing no more than 10kg, and one collapsible buggy or car seat.
Persons with reduced mobility will be entitled to one wheelchair or other assertive device that is depended on, free of charge.
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On flights to and from European Union destinations, one further mobility device may be carried free of charge, i.e. two in total, over and above the free baggage allowance.
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