Thomson baggage allowance... 23kg max

[gsc]

Also put this on another topic board, but......Anyone have any experience of how Thomson flights deal with their single baggage allowance?
2 adults, a 4yo and under 2yo so we get 3x20kg or 60kg total allowance.
I read the small print on my booking reference, and it says "The maximum limit for each individual piece of luggage is 23 kg. Any item weighing more than this at the time of check in will need to be repacked."

We have 2 cases for the 4 of us, so if we have 2x25kg, we're under the total 60kg allowance but would they really make us buy another suitcase to repack and spread this out? Seems very silly to add the bulk and additional weight of a suitcase...

Anyone had experience of Thomson check-in desks and this policy?

I haven't had experience of Thomsons but would think they'd ask you to repack. If the terms state that each piece needs to be under 23kg it seems clear to me that you taking two lots of 25kg will be breaking the rules. I imagine it's for the safety of baggage handlers.
Would it be possible to leave a few bits out?

we travelled with thomson just last week and had one case which was just over at 24.1kg.

he very kindly let me through with a warning to be careful packing on our return BUT there were many people at the desks repacking their cases.

could you pack a piece of hand luggage with the excess weight to be on the safe side? bearing in mind you're only taking two cases you'll have nowhere to put the extra should they make you repack.

gsc

Unfortunately you cannot pool the luggage allowance in the way you suggested (i.e 2 x 25kg so you are under the 60kg limit).

They will ask you to repack if the case weighs 25kg. Thomson's are very hot also on their 20kg bag policy.

Have a good look at the contents of each case; some of the items can probably be taken out. Half the clothes and twice the money is a good thing to work by here.

Any case that weighs over 23kg anyway on the luggage scales is also liable for excess weight charges. They are within their rights also to ask you to take items out at the check in desk.

thanks - seems very silly, not to mention environmentally damaging, to actively encourage additional weight on the plane. After all the additional bag will add additional weight to the plane, and not to mention the difference in weight between a 12kg 4 year old paying the same seat price as an 80kg adult.

25kg is heavy though, and people have to lift them.

We have just come back and had a 7.5kg bag and a 11.5kg bag, and the 11.5kg one seemed quite heavy to me, double that would be alot!

Having said that, when we went to live abroad a few years ago one of our bags was 40kg, luckily the people in front of us had just been made to pay and it took ages and the woman looked at us, sighed heavily and just let it go through!

Thompson are also very hot (or were earlier in year when my folks flew with them) on their miserly hand baggage allowance. They were originally flying with another airline back to Spain but that flight was cancelled while they were in the US.. and they had packed hand luggage inline with their original airlines allowance

Thompson made them repack then charged excess

Just flew with Thompson and they were fab.

The 23kg is for the health and safety of the baggage handlers.

it always used to be a 32kg limit for baggage handlers, i guess the baggage handlers are a bit more weedy/picky than the old days :-)

Glad I took the advice here and took an extra suitcase as lots of people were being forced to repack. Meant we could take a little bit more stuff so all good (except the extra airline fuel burned to carry it....)

We had to repack ours at the desk, so best not to risk it. If both of your bags are over 23kg then you'll have to leave stuff at the airport presumably!

We used to do the same and take two bags for DH, DD and I but last year Thompson made us repack at Gatwick, which was a pain as the lighter bag had already gone through! So we have now had to buy an extra bag and we now have to take three bags.