Questions and Answers

I’m writing this from the Emirates lounge in Bangkok and thought I’d write about my check-in experience and see what people thought.

My ticket started in Cairo, and it’s there I’m returning now. When I originally left Cairo, I had only two bags, but along the way I picked up another one.

Yesterday I looked up the Emirates baggage calculator what my allowance was: Bangkok to Cairo in Business plus Silver status equals 52 kg. I thought I was fine when I checked in, only to find my allowance was 2 bags only because I originally flew out of Cairo.

Now I own the fact that I didn’t notice the tiny “2 piece” written on my ticket. I’ve flown Emirates Business several times and never noticed it, it’s so small. And it wasn’t a huge inconvenience – I went away and repacked my bags. It just means I have to lug a bit more round Dubai airport.

But I have two questions: first, why do the Americas and Africa have this two-piece rule? I’m curious what the origins of this are. And isn’t it a huge inconvenience to quite a few people – I’m sure I’m not the only one who doesn’t want to travel with two huge suitcases, Secondly, if my flight hadn’t originated in Cairo, but say London or Tokyo or Melbourne, then my Silver status would have got me more allowance. But in the case of today, it was no use whatsoever. Does that seem reasonable and fair?

I still like Emirates, and this isn’t so much a complaint as wondering out loud what other people think.

Maybe I’m in the minority but I’d rather have 2 large pieces of checked luggage than 3 smaller ones. For my multi-week international trips I often have a small backpack and a small rollaboard as well and just trying to wrangle 3 rolling bags would be tough enough, much less 4. (That being said I usually only have one checked bag.)

Don’t know why that restriction exists. I’ve flown several carriers in business where I was allowed 3 pieces of checked luggage.

Fair enough. I imagine two bags does suit a lot of people. But it’s still pretty odd that only the Americas and Africa restricts you to that; the rest of the world offers a choice.

I should point out I received an upgrade to First at the gate – my first time in that class on any airline, let alone Emirates (which I’ve been dreaming about for years). Didn’t think too much about the luggage issue after that …