Excess baggage?!

What a disappointment it was at the Cebu Pacific counter when mom and I checked-in for our domestic flight from Manila to Bacolod. After seeing the 39 kilos total weight of our bags registered on the scale, I was confident we were within the baggage limit.

“Ma’am you have to pay an excess of 9 kilos.” The staff told me. “Huh!? But we’re within the limit. Isn’t it 20 kilos per passenger?” Seeing me so surprised and upset, she explained that the baggage limit is now down to 15 kilograms per passenger, so a total of 30 kilograms for us, thus the excess. She added that it’s a new rule for those who purchased the tickets starting September.

What made the situation more disappointing was the increase from Php50 to Php100 per kilogram of excess weight. The staff suggested that we take some things from our check-in baggage to lessen the amount to be paid which could have been about Php900 (about $19). Few dollars for paying the excess might not hurt those who have extra cash with them, but what about those who brought just enough with them for the trip?

Anyway, we managed to take 3 kilos off our luggage. I felt somewhat cheated since I prepared our bags carefully at home and even bought a weighing scale to ensure that they would be within the baggage limit.

Cebu Pacific should consider their passengers’ welfare and provide updated rules for the travel agents. They only informed their passengers the good news that they moved to the new NAIA Terminal 3. If you visit their website, you can immediately read this: “Advisory: All Flights NOW at NAIA Terminal 3.” IMO, there should have been another conspicuous advisory about the decreased baggage limit but unfortunately this information was hidden somewhere within the interior pages of their site. And there should be some written note like this posted on the travel agents’ offices: “For all tickets bought starting September, all checked-in baggage will be limited to 15 kilograms only. Excess baggage will be charged at Php100 per kilogram.”