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By Arvind Nair PASSENGERS boarding an aircraft in Doha will not be allowed to carry �heavy� or �bulky� bags from June 1. The Doha International Airport (DIA) has stipulated that �all checked-in baggage will be limited to a maximum weight of 32kg per piece�. Airlines have already started informing travel agents about the new stipulation. The DIA stipulation does not affect the normal free baggage allowance approved by various airlines. According to the DIA, the new measure is aimed at reducing injuries to ground handling staff while handling heavy bags and to avoid damages to airport facilities. Any single piece of baggage weighing more than 32kg will have to be re-packed or sent as a cargo, says a DIA circular. The airport already has a stipulation that bags bulkier than 90cm X 75cm X 60cm will have to be sent through cargo. However, some airlines haven�t been too vigilant in sticking to this rule, industry sources said. International Air Transport Association (IATA) has formed certain guidelines and rules for smooth processing of various aspects of travel. According to IATA, the normal free baggage allowance for first and business class passengers is two bags (pieces) where the total of the three dimensions does not exceed 158cm (62 inches) for each bag. Economy class passengers are also allowed two bags where the total of the three dimensions for any one bag does not exceed 158cm and where the total for both bags does not exceed 273cm (107 inches). Maximum weight of any one bag is 32kg except within North America where it is 23kg. However, certain articles, irrespective of their actual dimensions, may be considered as a piece of baggage at 135cm. They include one sleeping bag or bedroll, one rucksack or backpack, one pair of snow skis with one pair of ski poles and one pair of ski boots, one golf bag, golf clubs and pair of golf shoes, and one suitably packed bicycle. Also exempted, according to IATA, are one pair of standard water skis or one slalom water ski, suitably packed fishing equipment, certain sporting firearms, and any portable musical instrument not exceeding 100cm. Similarly, the weight of cabin baggage may not exceed 10kg or 115cm in dimensions, with a few exceptions. Many countries in the West have already stipulated that weight of a single bag cannot exceed 32kg. Increasing incidents of injury to the loading staff and the consequent cost of higher insurance payoffs are cited as the reasons. In Doha, initially there will be a resistance to the 32kg stipulation, pointed out Einstein Vincent, a travel agency professional. A good number of people going to the South Asian sub-continent, travelling after a gap of two or three years, usually carry heavy bags. Since airlines allow anything between 35kg to 50kg as free allowance, most people are likely to carry two bags, Einstein said. If all the 200 passengers in an aircraft, for instance, have two bags each, airlines might not have enough space in their hold to carry 400 bags, Einstein said. Passengers also will face a �space� problem in their journey to and from the airport. If a family of four have eight pieces of baggage, they will have to hire an additional vehicle to transport just the bags, he said. Informing the passengers about the new regulation could be another problem, sources said. Travel agents do inform the passengers but more often than not sponsors or company representatives book the tickets. Such passengers could end up at the airport with a heavy baggage and could face a piquant situation. There might not be enough time to buy a fresh bag and repack or go to the cargo section and send the heavy bag separately, sources said. Another industry professional welcomed the move and said, �it is good to travel light�. |
(Gulf Times)
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