Luggage allowances with Malaysia - experiences

[Mel.B]

Hi,

Just wondering about people's experience flying with Malaysia airlines with scuba gear. Their website says they only have a 20kg allowance and it doesn't look like they allow extra for scuba gear. Below is from the malaysia website:

Scuba diving equipment will be accepted as checked baggage and will always be subject to an excess baggage charge.

One item of Scuba Diving Equipment is defined as:
One empty scuba tank
One scuba regulator
one pair of golf shoes
One tank pressure gauge
One mask
Two fins
One snorkel
One knife
One spear gun and
One safety vest


1 Weight System

Any overweight resulting from the inclusion of the scuba diving equipment in the normal free baggage allowance shall be accessed at the normal excess baggage rate and a miscellaneous charges order (MCO) will be raised accordingly.

Exception:
Travel between Japan and USA/Guam/Saipan, the scuba diving equipment will not be included in the free baggage allowance and should be accessed at the applicable charges.


2 Piece System
Items of scuba equipment will be subject to the excess baggage charge for a single piece whether or not presented as a single piece. Regardless of actual dimensions diving equipment will be considered to be one piece of baggage whose outside linear dimensions are 62 inches.
Exception:
Between Canada/USA and Malaysia only: one item of scuba equipment will be included in determining the free baggage allowance when is excess, such equipment will be accessed 50 percent of the applicable charge for a single piece.

Apart from the fact that I've never worn golf shoes while diving , does anyone have any experiences with them with regards to luggage allowances. I'm in a bit of a bind because I am going to London for 2 weeks before heading to Mabul & Sipadan so I need both summer & winter clothes.

Thanks,
Mel

 

[padiscubapro]

Hi,

Just wondering about people's experience flying with Malaysia airlines with scuba gear. Their website says they only have a 20kg allowance and it doesn't look like they allow extra for scuba gear. Below is from the malaysia website:

Scuba diving equipment will be accepted as checked baggage and will always be subject to an excess baggage charge.

One item of Scuba Diving Equipment is defined as:
One empty scuba tank
One scuba regulator
one pair of golf shoes
One tank pressure gauge
One mask
Two fins
One snorkel
One knife
One spear gun and
One safety vest


1 Weight System

Any overweight resulting from the inclusion of the scuba diving equipment in the normal free baggage allowance shall be accessed at the normal excess baggage rate and a miscellaneous charges order (MCO) will be raised accordingly.

Exception:
Travel between Japan and USA/Guam/Saipan, the scuba diving equipment will not be included in the free baggage allowance and should be accessed at the applicable charges.


2 Piece System
Items of scuba equipment will be subject to the excess baggage charge for a single piece whether or not presented as a single piece. Regardless of actual dimensions diving equipment will be considered to be one piece of baggage whose outside linear dimensions are 62 inches.
Exception:
Between Canada/USA and Malaysia only: one item of scuba equipment will be included in determining the free baggage allowance when is excess, such equipment will be accessed 50 percent of the applicable charge for a single piece.

Apart from the fact that I've never worn golf shoes while diving , does anyone have any experiences with them with regards to luggage allowances. I'm in a bit of a bind because I am going to London for 2 weeks before heading to Mabul & Sipadan so I need both summer & winter clothes.

Thanks,
Mel

I used them last year to go to Manado.. if you go through an agent you can usually get them to get an additional allownace pronted on your ticket.. we got it raised to 35kg... anything over that is priced per kilo.

We were part of an expedition so luckily we were able to get the local head (in Amsterdam) to get all our 'overweight" gear for free as a sponsor.. otherwise the price that day (it changes daily) was 55 euro per kilo, and as a group we had about 75kg overweight..

 

[nshon]

Failing to get your allowance raised, just smile lots when checking in and you will inevitably pay less than your excess. (say 5kgs out of 15kgs).

Oh and don't go to the counters with women, they are more strict.

 

[fdog]

We had tons of stuff...work equipment (computers, projectors, etc) as well as dive gear.

We talked through most of the connections, even the domestic ones in the middle of our stay, with a vague reference to international connection, and got bumped up to international allowances. Wearing a suit and tie helps.

Ironicaly, it was the outbound to Singapore from KUL that they actually charged us... I believe it was about 10 kilos or so, they charged us $99 US.

All the best, James

 

[Mel.B]

Thanks for the replies. Malyasian seem pretty strict compared to others. Unfortunately, even though it is international (melbourne to london then onto KL & mabul) I only get a 20kg allowance. I double check with ringing their office too So now I'm looking at lightweight BC's and probably also a pair of full foot fins so i don't have to carry my heavy V12's and boots. Good thing I've still got lots of time to save up for the new gear for the holiday (and that's not even mentioning the new camera stuff i want!)

I'll also remember to smile nicely and try to get a male check-in officer, but in Melbourne anyway it's pot luck.

Mel