Check Weight Limits Carefully
If you’re making more than one stop inside a country while traveling internationally, make sure that your luggage weighs in at 44 pounds or less. Otherwise you might get charged a surprise fee.
The international baggage weight limit for many airlines is 70 pounds, while domestic baggage must way 44 pounds or less. This means that you can fly from the US to Acapulco with a 77 pound bag, but if you’re making a stop in Cancun on the way out, you’ll be charged additional fees for the bags.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
uhh, if your bag is 77 pounds, you’d be exceeding both the domestic and the international limit.
also, is the 77/44-weight limit specific only to mexicana airlines (as mentioned in the article), or is it based off of an international/global air travel statute?
FWIW, I’ve never ever had this happen if it was simply a connecting flight. I am a US citizen who lives in the US. When I go home (several times per year) I virtually always have a connection. What I have found is that if you have an international final destination, they treat you with the international baggage allowance. This is at least true for the US.
Jon: I get the feeling that the weight limit issue depends on the airline in question. Make sure to check the specific requirements of your airline before you fly.
Frumious Bandersnatch: I guess there isn’t any one standard for these things anywhere. That’s why we recommend checking the requirements of your specific airline before you pack up.
An invaluable tool is a portable baggage scale; it has a hook on the bottom to hold your bag, and its weight registers on the scale. It also has a built-in tape measure. I’ve found it useful not only to weigh bags but to determine the tare weight of an empty bag to know how much leeway I have. Mine is from Magellan’s Travel but they are available at lots of travel sites. Especially useful when flying overseas on dinky airlines! The scale itself weighs about 14 ounces.
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