Starting today, Czech Airlines passengers travelling with baggage that does not meet the weight restrictions for complimentary carriage can prepay the excess baggage fee over the Internet. This will save them one third of the price they would otherwise pay at check-in desks at the airport. An excess baggage allowance of up to 30kg can be purchased via the Czech Airlines website.

With this new service, Czech Airlines is working to satisfy passenger demands and allow, in addition to the so-called off-line excess baggage fee collection, a simpler and more advantageous pre-payment method over the Internet. The new on-line payment system is available for all OK-designated scheduled flights operated by Czech Airlines. Depending on the distance to the final destination and the relevant zone, the price is CZK 200, 400 or 600 for each excess kilogram. If paid at check-in, however, the price is CZK 300, 600 or 900, depending on the destination and zone. The excess baggage allowance can only be purchased in units of 5kg over the Internet, and up to a maximum of 30kg. Any kilograms in excess of this limit must be paid for at a counter at the airport. A clearly structured list of destinations according to price zone is available to passengers on the Czech Airlines website.

A pooling option, i.e., the possibility of combining the baggage allowance for two passengers flying together, regardless of their ages, is available to Czech Airlines passengers even when prepaying for excess baggage over the Internet. The two passengers must, however, be booked in a single booking, be flying together to the same destination, on the same flight and on the same day, and must check in together. “Only one of the two passengers needs to prepay the lowest weight band required and then they can distribute the excess weight among their bags as they need,“ clarifies Petr Pistelak, Czech Airlines Vice-President for Marketing and Product Development.

An excess baggage allowance can be prepaid as soon as a ticket has been issued, whether an electronic one or a paper one, regardless of where it was purchased. Kilograms can be purchased in advance exclusively through the Czech Airlines websites at www.czechairlines.com or at www.onlinezavazadla.cz. The passenger’s first name and surname and the booking code are required to enter the application. The payment may be made using any credit or debit card that permits Internet payments, but no later than 12 hours prior to departure. The passenger will receive an e-mail confirmation of the excess baggage allowance purchased. Czech Airlines recommends that passengers print out the confirmation and retain it in the event of a check at the airport or a claim.

“After travel insurance, paying for an excess baggage allowance over the Internet is another service that increases user comfort and brings savings to Czech Airlines passengers. Czech Airlines plans to launch more value-added services, such as accommodation and car hire purchases, this autumn,” adds Petr Pistelak.

In August, Czech Airlines will launch the option to pay by bank transfer for clients who hold an account at Raiffeisenbank and also via the Postovni sporitelna PaySec on-line payment tool. In the autumn, the option of cashless payment transfers will also be introduced for holders of accounts at other banks represented in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Airlines weight limits for complimentary baggage carriage remain unchanged at the standard level common with other carriers. In Czech Airlines’ Economy Class, passengers are entitled to a free baggage allowance of a maximum of 20kg, or 30kg in Business Class. Furthermore, on all flights passengers are also entitled to cabin baggage and personal items weighing up to 12kg in Economy Class and 18kg in Business Class.

Source: Czech Airlines
Posted by: just4airlines.com at 1443h UTC Jul 21, 2009