Extra happy MAS passengers

SEPANG: So far, businessman Gulam Rabani, 49, has had a terrific month. He performed the umrah, holidayed in Jeddah and Istanbul and celebrated his only son's birthday on Thursday during the flight home.

A pleasant surprise awaited Gulam and his family upon arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Having hopped and shopped about, their luggage had exceeded the checked baggage allowance for their domestic Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight back to Kota Kinabalu.

Thanks to MAS' new baggage policy that provides an additional 10kg free checked baggage, the trio's baggage that weighed in at 90kg was checked-in at no extra charge.

Overweight-no-more: Jaafar (left) talking to Gulam, his wife Lozita Primus and son Mohd Faruq

Under MAS' latest baggage guidelines, passengers enjoy an additional 10kg free excess baggage. Each passenger on economy, business and first class will enjoy a 30kg, 40kg and 50kg free baggage allowance respectively.

Without the additional 10kg free baggage allowance offer, Gulam's family would have had to pay for 30kg in excess baggage.

MAS head of airport services (customer services division) Jaffar Derus Ahmad said the policy, which came into effect on Thursday, also revised charges for checked baggage weights that exceed the new free allowance, with a fixed rate for each 5kg excess. “MAS flights to Los Angeles are excluded from this new policy as the US regulates baggage by the piece system. Code share flights are also not included,” he said.

Hong Kong-based businessman Victor Lip, 30, was delighted with the news as he could bring more baggage on his business trips, and to prepare for his wedding here. “I come to Malaysia at least four times a year on business and always had to limit my baggage. My fiancee is Malaysian and I will be making more trips here to prepare for our wedding,'' said Lip.

German tourist Herbert Walther, who was waiting to fly to Kuching, said he was grateful for the new policy. “My girlfriend brought only 13kg in baggage. So we will not be limiting the number of souvenirs we will buy for our families and friends back home!” he quipped.

-thestar online.