[deathbydalbhat]

This is especially for folks who have travelled in Nepal, though I imagine the costs from India would be comparable. I went to my airline's(Gulf Air) website and it says I can only check one bag, max weight 20KG. I KNOW I will be bringing home more than that - thangkas and rupas are heavy!!!

So, my options are to ship everything home using the wonderful Nepali mail system,   DHL, or pay excess baggage charges. Has anyone had any experience with any of the above and how much did you pay?

[dzibead]

Shippers like FedEx and DHL have rates for shipping bulky, heavy stuff that's surprisingly cheap (well, sort of cheap, relatively), especially if you're anticipating that the cost will be some huge multiple of the cost for sending only a letter.  The FexEx website has info on this, which I used when I was helping some friends bring some family heirlooms from abroad, but the problem is that the FedEs website is so complicated and offers so many different options that trying to figure it out practically requires a Ph.D in shipping logistics.  And the cheapest rates, not suprisingly, often involve slow transport.  

So I think yogagal has a really good point:  paying for a third bag is probably just as cheap as your other options, and your stuff arrives when you do!

[deathbydalbhat]

Thanks, yogagal and dzibead, for the info!
I think on your advice I will just plan on bringing an extra bag home - will check w/ Gulf Air when I confirm my res and budget accordingly. I'd rather shell out the paisa and not spend a precious day in KTM dealing with the bureaucracy, also know that my stuff will have a reasonable chance of getting back to NY with me. I can't believe the 'overweight bag' charge is so much more than the 'extra bag' charge - logic is not the airlines' strong suit, that's for sure!

[crvlvr]

most airlines, even the ones from the US, have cut down on luggage allowances. they are all trying to make more money by carrying more air freight instead.  I just made it on the old allowances when I booked by tickets last June.  The lufthansa website now indicates an allowance of 20 kgs for flights to "all other international routes (India)  http://www.lufthansa...&nodeid=1333469

If you have any addiitonal suitcase that is full, paying for it as extra baggage might be the cheapest option.  Another option is to use Air Freight, which might be cheaper than FedEx/DHL, by booking it as cargo on an airline or through a freight forwarder. It is sent via Air, but you will have to drop it off at the airport and pick it up at the airport on the recieving end.  

FedEx/DHL/UPS is usually the most expensive option. These days they are offering good rates on routes from  Europe/USA to Asia. Thats because their plans are going back to China fairly empty after dropping of "Made in China"  goods in the west.

[sakurablue]

How can you say that thangkas are heavy? :-)

Anyway, I've had stuff sent to UK from Nepal the cheapest way.  Certainly not by DHL or FedEx.  I can't remember the transporter, it was some local firm in Ktm, but it went overland down to a port in India and was shipped. It took about 5 months to arrive in UK!!  So next time I'll be using DHL for sure.

I am lucky that I'm a frequent flyer with Gulf and Qatar so I am allowed more baggage.

[john.sw]

British Airways, Mumbai > London charge Rs.5000/- a kilo for excess baggage - so be warned!

I get 54kg allowance with Qatar Airways, but have to pay excess on domestic Indian flights.

[jorge reverter]

I've never paid any extra charge when coming back from India, and normally I have always 4-5 Kg extra.
British Airways gives you 30 kg allowance, is marked in the tickest. With Alitalia normally no problems even if you have some kilos left over, they don't care. Another way to bring few extra weight is carrying by hand as hand luggage, normally I buy a bag and at the last minute I decide to check or to take by hand. As I said I've never paid extra charge, that's the important thing.

Jorge

[cyberhippie]

Depending on the number of people travelling you may not be charged for excess but there's no way of knowing this up front, so plan accordingly!  

[deathbydalbhat]

sakurablue:
When I bought thangkas(large ones) in Boudha last time they put dowels through the loops on the bottom, it makes them roll up nicely but this made them weigh a ton... I think I will skip the dowels this time, if they're rolled up carefully enough you don't need them in transit- when it's time to hang them up I can go to Home Depot.

Thanks for the heads up on the local transporter - if it takes 5 mos. from India to the UK I can only imagine what it would take to ship it across the Atlantic...   I have also heard  to steer clear of shops which offer to ship purchased items unless it's a really reputable place - I've heard stories of things never arriving.

[Poiple Shadow]

Cargo can be a bit of a pain (although I've been VERY lucky both times), It takes a LONG time, remember to have a copy of the freight bill and contents, if it's new items they'll want to charge you inport tax, We received both by Airmail, both were about 100Kg of stuff.

My hints to get more through your airline...  Have big pockets in your coat - never had mine weighed (it probably had 5 kilos in it last time   )  Plastic bag with something heavy in the bottom (they don't weigh though as most likely duty free), also all small heavy things in your hand luggage (IN A SMALL BAG), probably won't weigh it as it looks small...

If you're bringing items for charities then some charities can obtain an extra luggage allownace for you, althugh it's mainly charter flights that do this...

Hope this helps....

[dzibead]

Poiple Shadow, on May 15 2006, 08:23 PM, said:

... also all small heavy things in your hand luggage (IN A SMALL BAG), probably won't weigh it as it looks small...

Yes, this is what I did last time.  I had an ordinary looking carry-on that was so jammed with heavy stuff I could barely lift it.  I swear it was heavier than the large rolling dufflebag that was my "real" luggage.  The airline didn't even weigh it, but it was all I could do to try to maintain a normal expression when I was hauling it onto plane.  It was a miracle I didn't get a hernia or disclocate my shoulder.  

When we landed, the chivalrous fellow in the next seat offered to help me get the bag out of the overhead bin (thank God, because I probably would have killed myself and several other people if I'd tried to do it alone), and when I warned him that it was heavy he sort of pooh-poohed me.  But when he pulled the bag out of the bin, his eyes sort of bugged out and I could just see him thinking, "Holy s**t, she wasn't joking."  But to save face, he had to pretend it was "no problem."  Poor guy!  He's probably still telling stories about this incident (or trying to track me down to sue me for the injury he didn't realize he had until he left the airport)  

[Poiple Shadow]

dzibead, on May 16 2006, 09:19 AM, said:

I had an ordinary looking carry-on that was so jammed with heavy stuff I could barely lift it.

I'm glad I'm not the only crafty one...   Apperiences are everything, it's always good to be nice and chatty at check in too..  A couple of advantages, might get them into a better mood, or just distract them a little...

[deathbydalbhat]

Just got back from KTM Friday night, my body clock (and heart) are still there...
For the record, I called Gulf Air the day before I left KTM and was told I was allowed two checked bags, max 32KG each, one cabin bag max 8KG - checked two huge bags, no worries.

This contradicts the info in their website(which says you are allowed one bag, 20KG) but ke garne? All's well that ends well...

I will eventually post more about my Nepal trip (and photos) in the Nepal thread. I had an incredible time, and am already planning next year's trip...

[MikeC]

Shipped a nest of tables from Goa to UK in February. Arrived ok via DHL. it cost me about £50 for 20kilos.

Hope this helps

MC

[john.sw]

Mrs. SW was charged Rs.8500 for being 3.5kg over her baggage allowance last Thursday from UK to Bangalore.

It seems that Air France hasn't forgotten Agincourt, even though it was nearly 594 years ago!

[dzibead]

john.sw, on Apr 20 2009, 03:52 AM, said:

Mrs. SW was charged Rs.8500 for being 3.5kg over her baggage allowance last Thursday from UK to Bangalore.

It seems that Air France hasn't forgotten Agincourt, even though it was nearly 594 years ago!

   Wow, that seems a bit excessive!