CY introducing tough new baggage rules

CYPRUS Airways (CY) yesterday announced major changes to its baggage policies as of next Wednesday, bringing them more in line with what international airlines do rather than the often more customer-friendly practices the national carrier has been known for.

Although the dimensions allowed for bags and suitcases has not changed, no longer will passengers be able to slip by a few extra kilos. From a 25kg allowance, economy travellers will now be allowed to carry only 23kg free of charge plus a 6kg item of hand luggage.

“Hand bagagge must be able to be fitted into the cabin’s overhead lockers and lifted unaided,” the airline’s new manifest said. “Larger hand bags than those specified in the table above, should be carried as extra checked baggage items.”

However any passenger who wants to check in a second suitcase will be charged a €60 flat fee for each extra item of luggage checked in up to 23kg in weight.

All bags weighing more than the allowed 23kg – free or extra – will be charged at a rate of €4 per kilo while any suitcase or bag weighing 32kg or more will have to travel under cargo rules, and cannot be checked in as usual, the airline said.

Under the new rules, business-class travellers will be allowed 46kg in checked baggage and 10kg in hand luggage, while students with a valid ID will be allowed 30kg checked baggage plus six kilos in hand luggage.

Passengers not carrying a checked baggage are allowed one hand luggage item weighing up to 12kg.

For transit passengers ticketed on two or more flights operated by Cyprus Airways and travelling in economy class, the checked baggage allowance will be 30kg carried in one piece.

All passengers will be allowed to carry free of charge into the cabin, duty free purchases, one handbag, a laptop, a coat, umbrella or walking stick, a camera, carrycot, pushchair,  collapsible wheelchair or a pair of crutches. Sporting items will be charged at €35 per piece.

A source at the airline said yesterday: “It’s a big change from the old policy where you were allowed up to 25kg for free. If your bag was between 26kg and 30kg there was a €20 charge, if it was between 31kg and 35kg an additional €25 was charged.”

Under the old policy, you could also check in more than 36kg as long as you paid €5 per kg, the source said.

For further information on carrying pets, and other policies see:

http://cyprusair.com/795,0,0,0,2-Customer-Services–At-the-Airport.aspx#aa2

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.