4 replies to this topic

[Nige Wade]

Last year my wife and I flew to Sulawesi from the UK with Singapore Airlines to Singapore and Silkair to Manado, when we booked the flight we asked for extra baggage allowance for divers and were instantly given an extra 10kg each, no problem. (Although Singapore Air don't advertise this on their website, Silkair do).
All dive related publications I have read state that the allowance is available, but you must phone to ask whilst confirming your booking.

I have just booked flights for us both to travel the same route and when I contacted SA to confirm and get the extra allowance I was told that this was an old policy that no longer applies. Their new policy states that I could book an extra 15 kilos between us but would have to pay for the first 6kg at £42 per kilo each way, the extra 9 is free (Silkair's policy hasn't changed so no need to pay any extra from Singapore to Manado and back).

I managed to get a free 5kg each by convincing the lady that I was a Brad Pitt double and promised to take her out for lunch in return for a waiver. Boy is she gonna be disapointed

So if you're planning to fly your gear with Singapore Air check what you can get away with before booking.
It seems that the Airline Industry hates divers.

Nige.

[Alex_Mustard]

Bad luck, Nige.

This came in last autumn. Singapore Airlines were very quiet about the change.

Singapore Airlines still offer the old deal (30KG total) to some of their travel agents - who have long term ticket agreements. I buy my tickets through the UK dive travel agent Divequest - and they can still get 30KG for their clients. Using it I was able to get 2 cameras systems, drysuit and dive gear to Australia without getting charged.

Apparently the deals are no longer available to individuals. A couple of friends of mine managed to persuade Singapore to let them have 30KG in Oct/Nov, but from what you say they are getting less generous all the time. Those friends no longer fly with them.

Alex

[Nige Wade]

Oh well Alex,
looks like I'll be wearing the same pair of under crackers for a fortnight along with one tee shirt and one pair of shorts.
Anyone in the Bunakan area in June better stay up-wind.
I did the Divequest thing for a trip to the Cortez a few years ago, they were brilliant.
Should have done this one with them.

Nige

[zippsy]

I don't think they hate divers, they just love their most frequent customers. I never call in advance and they always just smile and wave us on when we have 5 or 10 kg excess baggage (and I am more Jack Nicholson than Brad Pitt). Perhaps they are making space for people who use them often rather than ones who are flying through every now and then.

[bartusderidder]

I'm doing that same journey in February.

Like Alex already mentioned I was still able to get those 30kg (20 + 10) through Schöner Tauchen (one of the biggest dive travel agents in Germany).
Had an interesting experience though when returning March 07. My bags weighed 36kg. No problem checking in in Frankfurt (I was one of the first to check in, I guess being early helps). Flying back, no problem checking in in Manado. Spent one night in Singapore.
Checking in in Singapore I was told my bags were 6kg heavy and that it was going to be expensive (40 euro/kg). So, I politely discussed with this lady that I thought it was all too "funny" that I hadn't encountered any probs on this trip and now I'd have to pay, quite inconsequent. So, she went to have a word with her supervisor and returned giving me the "thumbs up", "...but don't do it again next time..."

So, you're basically at their good will.

I'm gonna try one of these waistcoats (discussed in another thread) this time