The question about baggage

My uncle, Dr. Jess Ho, almost yearly organizes a medical mission in Misamis Occidental, Mindanao - the home province of his wife, my aunt Priscilla "Inday" Miranda-Ho.  Aside from containers of donated hospital equipment, they bring along fragile medical items and almost all medicines.  Hence, they are always carrying luggage way beyond the allotted free accompanying baggage per passenger. When they stopped by Cebu for an overnight visit last week, their party of five - colleague Dr. Bert Cunanan, wife Zeny Fernandez-Cunanan (cousin of the late actor Rudy Fernandez) and son Christopher - placed their overweight baggage as cargo.  This is the best way to go around the exorbitant rates of excess weight the airlines are charging upon check-in.

From the airport, I brought them straight to the Philippine Airlines main office in the QC Pavilion so they could pre-pay for whatever excess they have in the baggage allotment.  For Cebu, it is quite convenient to claim accompanying cargo from the PAL cargo terminal, along the way from the arrival area and the turn to the main road. We claimed the cargo items in minutes from picking them up at the arrival area.  In Manila, however, it is a different story.  The cargo terminal is not as near and with traffic flow unpredictable at any time, I advised them to pay for the excess, even if it was more expensive than the cargo rate.  That way, they claim their entire luggage upon arrival and go home to their condo. It would be worse if one were to get a taxi upon arrival, then go to the cargo terminal for the excess weight.

In this time of budget, no-frills airlines, it is wise to prepay whatever excess weight you feel you may incur for your flights.  The cost difference is really significant, plus the inconvenience of going to the cashier at the airport to pay for your excess.  And it is best to give a leeway, say, if you feel you may incur five kilos in excess, better to pre-pay for six kilos.  Better to be on the safe side.

Another way of preempting the excess kilos is to put in your luggage a folding carry-on bag.  This way, if your check-in luggage is a bit heavy, you can transfer some of the stuff to the bag and have it as cabin luggage.  Just be sure that the bag is well within the size allowed.  Hence, it is best to have a folding bag as its content is morph-able, aside from the fact that a folding bag is almost weightless.  I swear by the functionality of the biggest of the Longchamp soft vinyl bags.  I have mine for many years now (got it in Hong Kong airport with a CX airline staff discount - thanks, Connie!) and it has been my savior especially in long-haul trips abroad.  It saved me more space, especially, by plunking my boots into the bag, along with other bulky items.  By the way, I also have several colors of Longchamp smallest bags.  It allows you to be color coordinated in your travels at no extra space for your bag!  Since even the smallest size is morph-able, you can carry your passport, sunglasses, wallet, coin purse, when you go around in the places of your destination. Convenient!

Don't forget to pre-pay whatever excess kilos you feel you will incur in your future trips.  Domestic travel only allows 10 kilos accompanying luggage per passenger.  International economy long-haul travel allows 30 kilos in two luggage pieces at 15 kilos each.  No "hangyo" if you go beyond the requirement even for a fraction of a kilo.  So, better be prepared to travel judiciously, using a "maleta" that is the latest in the market.  They no longer manufacture luggage that weighs almost a kilo empty.  The latest is as light as possible.  It is to your advantage to update your travel gear as airlines are now very conscious of weight.

Travel wisely!