Luggage weight restrictions - Fiji

[Canucklehead]

We had our Fiji pre-trip meeting last night, and everyone is freaking out about the weight restrictions for Air Fiji (we're landing in Nadi from LAX and transferring from there to Taveuni).

We got the paperwork saying we were restricted to 20kg (44 lb) per person INCLUDING 3 kg (7 lb) for our carryon! There was a provision to go to 30 kg (66 lb) if we paid extra ($2F per kg). The other option was to purchase a "cargo seat" for $140, which would allow us an additional 85 kg (187 lb). We assumed that if we "bought" this cargo seat, they would kick someone off the plane and fly with one less passenger to allow for the weight. But there's some kind of funky calculation you have to do, where you divide the 85 kg by the number of people in your group, and if any one person in the group goes over their alloted limit, then we pay even more.

Needless to say, everyone is concerned about hauling all their scuba gear. clothing and toiletries over there (we're there for 7 nights) and not making the weight limit.

How serious is this whole issue and how have people coped with it themselves?

I've read some threads on here that mention groups with TONS of equipment and luggage and still manage to get to the resort. I don't mind paying extra for the weight, I just don't want to unnecessarily leave anything behind (like a spare mask or wetsuit) or have to buy a light weight BCD.

TIA

 

[_Bella_]

Are you flying Air Fiji or Air Pacific?

I've just got back from a trip to Fiji where I was with a group of UW photogs that all came from the US on Air Pacific. Almost all of them paid excess luggage fees. 44 lbs is the lowest I've ever heard of and I question the reliability of it. Even very strict carriers have an limit of at least 50 lbs. I'd call the carrier if I were you and ask.

 

[Canucklehead]

Are you flying Air Fiji or Air Pacific?

I've just got back from a trip to Fiji where I was with a group of UW photogs that all came from the US on Air Pacific. Almost all of them paid excess luggage fees. 44 lbs is the lowest I've ever heard of and I question the reliability of it. Even very strict carriers have an limit of at least 50 lbs. I'd call the carrier if I were you and ask.

Air Pacific has the usual weight restrictions - up to 2 bags at 70 lb each. Air Fiji is the problem. From their website :

Baggage Allowance

Because of the size and subsequently limitations on the amount of luggage which is able to be uplifted, baggage allowance is limited to 44 lbs (20kg). However, for group bookings additional free baggage allowance may be requested. In any case excess luggage cost is by no means exorbitant, and in most cases is under FJ$1.00 per pound.

 

[Geezer]

I've done the Air Fiji trip from Nadi to Taveuni two years in a row, with no excess baggage charges. Last trip (two months ago), bags were 30 & 36 pounds (not including regs, which were in my carry-on). Clothing wise, if you take more than a few t-shirts & shorts, you're packing too much.

Part of the reason for the weight restrictions is that the planes really are not very big. Our group had to have the plane return and make a second trip for part of the baggage because all the seats were filled, and it couldn't carry all the passenger weight and baggage weight at the same time.

 

[globetrotter]

The weight restrictions are usually enforced pretty rigidly because the planes are small. I've noticed over the last few years that everyone and their mother seems to be an UW photographer now, with the extra baggage that entails in tow. The inter-island carriers aren't stupid, and see this as a new revenue source that's ridiculously easy to tap.

I've started leaving my BC at home, trimmed my gear list to the bare minimum and only pack enough clothes for three days max. You can always get stuff laundered wherever you are. Of course, that's because like everyone else I'm also toting a Pelican case with the requisite photo gear

My advice? Pay the extra fee and forget about it. Or who knows, you might get lucky...

-globetrotter

 

[Louie]

I've done the trip and got lucky.

There is a good reason as stated by previous corresponders. The planes are small and everybody wants to take on their precious possessions, cargo, family members and - sometimes - their farm animals.

I managed to get away with a big of excess by being humble, polite and friendly to the counter staff. At a lot of smaller island airports, the enforcement can be quite arbitrary and I imagine the staff get fed up with rude tourists.

I believe the practice is to weigh you, the person, against excess allowance.

Some dubious ways to get away with excess at small regional airports - I've only heard of them, haven't tried them all:

a) Your travel agent said excess is allowed
b) You know the mayor of the destination
c) You work for a charity

 

[padiscubapro]

We had our Fiji pre-trip meeting last night, and everyone is freaking out about the weight restrictions for Air Fiji (we're landing in Nadi from LAX and transferring from there to Taveuni).

We got the paperwork saying we were restricted to 20kg (44 lb) per person INCLUDING 3 kg (7 lb) for our carryon! There was a provision to go to 30 kg (66 lb) if we paid extra ($2F per kg). The other option was to purchase a "cargo seat" for $140, which would allow us an additional 85 kg (187 lb). We assumed that if we "bought" this cargo seat, they would kick someone off the plane and fly with one less passenger to allow for the weight. But there's some kind of funky calculation you have to do, where you divide the 85 kg by the number of people in your group, and if any one person in the group goes over their alloted limit, then we pay even more.

Needless to say, everyone is concerned about hauling all their scuba gear. clothing and toiletries over there (we're there for 7 nights) and not making the weight limit.

How serious is this whole issue and how have people coped with it themselves?

I've read some threads on here that mention groups with TONS of equipment and luggage and still manage to get to the resort. I don't mind paying extra for the weight, I just don't want to unnecessarily leave anything behind (like a spare mask or wetsuit) or have to buy a light weight BCD.

TIA

The price you quoted for overweight wasnt that bad.. An expedition I did last year limited us to 35Kg (we had a 15kg extra exemption, otherwise it would havebeen 20kg) and 10kg for carry on, the overweight charge was 55 EURO per Kilo, the group had about 65 KG overweight... (and they wouldn;t allow a "cargo" seat purchase - not flyer no baggage).. We got lucky in that were were able to get incontact with an airline exec that became a "sponsor" of our expedition


I know several people who have gone to fiji and the weight restrictions can be very tight.. I don;t know how much time you have until the trip but if its a few months and you have alot of stuff that must get there ship it by a cargo carrier ahead of time...

I know a few RB divers that shipped all their sorb, tanks and some assorted stuff ahead, and just traveled with their RB..

For really good rates you generally need to be flexible and allow at east 2 months for the stuff to get there..

 

[Shasta_man]

They do weigh you with your carryon as well as your checked bag. These planes are relatively small. But so what, you're on vacation and another few bucks ain't gonna break the trip otherwise you wouldn't be going to Fiji.

Bring your island time attitude because it starts in Nadi. Despite not being late, we were bumped not only off our flight but off the airline to another airline. All without our knowledge. Standing in front of the agent with printed tickets but we weren't on the list. However, they took care of us and the flight was actually better because it was closer to the ground so we saw right into the water along the coast. My best pictures came from that flight.

Which brings up the tip to do anything when you get the chance. Do it today, because tomorrow it'll be raining. And the day after that. And the day after that. Etc.

If you dive with Swiss Fiji Divers on their smaller aluminum boats, sit as far back as possible. Stick your head out and get air. The engine exhaust gasses you by the time you reach the dive site. Twice my wife was reduced to a puking sputtering mess on the way to the dive. And she does NOT get seasick. ONly because I'm tall enough to get my head over the tank racks and in the open air did I not join the club.

We had our Fiji pre-trip meeting last night, and everyone is freaking out about the weight restrictions for Air Fiji (we're landing in Nadi from LAX and transferring from there to Taveuni).

We got the paperwork saying we were restricted to 20kg (44 lb) per person INCLUDING 3 kg (7 lb) for our carryon! There was a provision to go to 30 kg (66 lb) if we paid extra ($2F per kg). The other option was to purchase a "cargo seat" for $140, which would allow us an additional 85 kg (187 lb). We assumed that if we "bought" this cargo seat, they would kick someone off the plane and fly with one less passenger to allow for the weight. But there's some kind of funky calculation you have to do, where you divide the 85 kg by the number of people in your group, and if any one person in the group goes over their alloted limit, then we pay even more.

Needless to say, everyone is concerned about hauling all their scuba gear. clothing and toiletries over there (we're there for 7 nights) and not making the weight limit.

How serious is this whole issue and how have people coped with it themselves?

I've read some threads on here that mention groups with TONS of equipment and luggage and still manage to get to the resort. I don't mind paying extra for the weight, I just don't want to unnecessarily leave anything behind (like a spare mask or wetsuit) or have to buy a light weight BCD.

TIA