Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Excess Baggage
Bottom line: I've got too much stuff. I have called the airline a number of times and annoyed 'See-am-boo' (the customer agent at the Asiana Airlines help desk) a few too many times.
issues:
A) Amongst other (heavy) things, I am taking a cool poster home. (A NYC skyline I got from the US Consulate here in Sydney)
- this poster can not be rolled up because it's mounted
- at 100x70x2, the poster alone exceeds the allowable dimensions of checked baggage (all dimensions must add up to no more than 140cms)
B) Even if I could fit it all in one box, all of the things I want to bring home weigh about 30 kilos. (that is roughly 10 kilos more than is allowed.)
solutions:
A) Contact Asiana and find way to get an out-of-the-ordinary shaped box on the plane.
- See-am-boo was not helpful. Asiana does not allow that form of customer service. She suggests shipping it separately.
- But, some of the Asiana ground crew at the airport have been more helpful (don't ask how I got that number). They'll work with a 195cms box as long as it conforms to a strict 105x75x20 shape (because that matches some other cartons of pictures they're taking on the same flight).
- I go to a little place in the city and have them make me this box. (This box is particularly useful because I can shove everything else in there behind the poster.)
B) Contact Asiana for excess weight allowance.
- See-am-boo is somewhat helpful. She explains that anything beyond the usual 20 kilo allotment is charged at AU$30.33 per additional kilo . For a 30 kilo box, that is very expensive.
- I contact my friends at the international office at the university and have them fax a letter to the Asiana help desk which indicates that (a) I'm a returning student, (b) because I've lived here for a while I have lots of stuff to bring back, (c) they would appreciate it if the airline would waive the fee for an additional 10 kilos. (ps - I am not dodgy, this is actually very usual. The university arranges this sort of thing for any students who ask. I ask.)
- See-am-boo asks her manager. She agrees.
Finished. I am amazing. (Now just watch, it will all fall though at the last minute and my box will sit there in the airport departure hall. But, for now, I'm happy and more than a little proud of my baggage fineggling. Go me.)
Bottom line: I've got too much stuff. I have called the airline a number of times and annoyed 'See-am-boo' (the customer agent at the Asiana Airlines help desk) a few too many times.
issues:
A) Amongst other (heavy) things, I am taking a cool poster home. (A NYC skyline I got from the US Consulate here in Sydney)
- this poster can not be rolled up because it's mounted
- at 100x70x2, the poster alone exceeds the allowable dimensions of checked baggage (all dimensions must add up to no more than 140cms)
B) Even if I could fit it all in one box, all of the things I want to bring home weigh about 30 kilos. (that is roughly 10 kilos more than is allowed.)
solutions:
A) Contact Asiana and find way to get an out-of-the-ordinary shaped box on the plane.
- See-am-boo was not helpful. Asiana does not allow that form of customer service. She suggests shipping it separately.
- But, some of the Asiana ground crew at the airport have been more helpful (don't ask how I got that number). They'll work with a 195cms box as long as it conforms to a strict 105x75x20 shape (because that matches some other cartons of pictures they're taking on the same flight).
- I go to a little place in the city and have them make me this box. (This box is particularly useful because I can shove everything else in there behind the poster.)
B) Contact Asiana for excess weight allowance.
- See-am-boo is somewhat helpful. She explains that anything beyond the usual 20 kilo allotment is charged at AU$30.33 per additional kilo . For a 30 kilo box, that is very expensive.
- I contact my friends at the international office at the university and have them fax a letter to the Asiana help desk which indicates that (a) I'm a returning student, (b) because I've lived here for a while I have lots of stuff to bring back, (c) they would appreciate it if the airline would waive the fee for an additional 10 kilos. (ps - I am not dodgy, this is actually very usual. The university arranges this sort of thing for any students who ask. I ask.)
- See-am-boo asks her manager. She agrees.
Finished. I am amazing. (Now just watch, it will all fall though at the last minute and my box will sit there in the airport departure hall. But, for now, I'm happy and more than a little proud of my baggage fineggling. Go me.)
Saturday, June 24, 2006
More fun in Asia.
I'm headed to Kora and Japan before landing back in the US. Fun stuff abou thtat to appear here soon. (serious.)
I'm headed to Kora and Japan before landing back in the US. Fun stuff abou thtat to appear here soon. (serious.)
