Kulula's hidden baggage costs

November 30th, 2011

If you're flying Kulula this festive season, here's a tip: travel light.

According to a report on Moneyweb the low-cost airline has implemented a new charge system for heavy luggage that "could see its customers paying way more for that extra festive weight than on any competing airline.

Whereas most other low-cost airlines charged between R25 and R30/kg of extra luggage, Kulula has decided to go with a "piece concept" charge system, which means that customers will be paying a once off fee of R250 for check-in luggage weighing over 20 kg.

Furthermore, if customers want to check-in an extra bag they will have to dock up a fee of R300, regardless of the total weight of their luggage. Once again, this is highly irregular in the low-cost airline world, as most allow their passengers a check-in limit of two bags.

Moneyweb reveals that: "Kulula's new system was implemented on November 15 but as yet the airline has not publicised the new rules. According to kulula's head of marketing, Heidi Brauer, the policy was ‘soft launched only'."

Although the Kulula website does have a "new baggage policy" link on the home page, it's disturbingly easy to overlook. So, to avoid any unecessary discomforts this holiday, go familiarise yourself with it straight away.

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User Comments

I thought in a recession you

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 12/01/2011 - 17:24.

I thought in a recession you want to gain business not force people to go elsewhere. Bad move Kulula!

No more Kulula for me

Submitted by MC on Thu, 12/01/2011 - 13:36.

And there goes my reason for flying Kulula - The ability to purchase aditional luggage allowance at reasonable cost. We do underwater photography and do not travel light.

Not on time

Submitted by Leigh on Thu, 12/01/2011 - 11:34.

Over the past few years I have noted that SAA and BA are consistently cheaper (by 100's of Rand) than Kulula and One Time over the festive season. Funny that BA should be cheaper than its "low fare" sister airline. I am amazed how many people just book Kulula because they assume it will be the cheapest without bothering to check other airlines.

Also, the next time a Kulula flight is on time will be the first time (except out of Lanseria). How about a refund for every 15 minutes the flight is delayed?

Kulula doesn't care about its customers

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 12/01/2011 - 10:20.

Kulula doesn't care about its customers.

I have experienced problems when flying with Kulula. I complained on numerous occasions but havent received a response from them yet.

They have the "image" of cheapest ailrine, so they dont care!

Not only Kulula

Submitted by Y Sly on Thu, 12/01/2011 - 09:15.

I flew BA this weekend ORT to CT...and the guy next to me checked in two small and very light bags - he was told to his dismay and clear shock that he would pay R 250 fine for checking in 2 bags...

Never mind the fact that he then proceeded to unpack (slowly at that) and stuff as much as possible into one bag and dumped the extra duffel bag at the counter. This was mildly embarrassing as old jocks and dirty T's were flung around, and all this whilst only 3 staff were at the counters to assist with check in on a weekend and a payday weekend on top of that...with folk standing for miles in the queue to check in at the understaffed counters.

I did however check-in a medium sized box over and above my suitcase and was not charged an additional fee. I suggest go travel 24 does their homework and checks out all the airlines...this isn't only a Kulula issue, albeit that they both are managed by Comair!

Refunds

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 15:45.

So do we get a refund when we check in 2 bags, Pay R300 for the extra 1, and get 1 and a half bags back on the other side because its been broken into...

Over and above the fact that you now have to Glad wrap your luggage at R50 a pop just to make sure it doesn't get broken into, this is totally ridiculous

Cmon Khulula, catch a wake up!!

Sporting equipment

Submitted by Mark Musto on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 12:17.

All the sporting equipment is now also excluded. Unless you can fit your golf clubs, cricket bat, surfboard, bow etc into your one check in item. It's ridiculous. I will be looking for alternative airlines in the future, the discount from Jetsetter and Vitality do not make up the R300 extra baggage cost.

US Low Cost Airlines

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 12:06.

Was in the states recently and the norm there for the low cost flights is that the price of your ticket includes no checked in baggage. You have to pay extra for even 1 bag. They also charge extra for the "better" seats, like at the emergency exit.

Once and only once ...

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 11:28.

I am flying with Kulula to George in December and wasn't aware of this new luggage policy when booking. If I'd known I certainly would not have gone ahead with the booking. Thankfully I found this article and will definitely be packing light to avoid these nasty charges! And I will not be flying with Kulula again.

they are losing the plot

Submitted by jb fella on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 11:24.

kulula are not the no frills cheap airline they once were, very disappointing to report.
Flown with them plenty and they are losing the plot in many ways.
I have started to fly other local airlines now, despite paying extra, sometimes it pays to be in a place ON TIME!

this is so backward on the

Submitted by jb fella on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 11:21.

this is so backward on the airlines part. the ammount of times i have been pulled up on this for 1 or 2 kgs. i weigh 75 kgs do me a favour! the guy behind me who weighs 100kgs and nothing is said if his luggage is at 20. a new 21 century way of doing it should be everybody is entitled to 100kgs upfront, as you check in you are stood on a weighing mat, this is then added to your baggage and you pay per kg thereafter. It's that easy, fairer and uptodate.

Thank you for the article

Submitted by Andre on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 11:18.

Phew! Thank you for the article. I regurlarly fly Kulula and normally takes 2 or 3 bags per person - so that in case of theft the load and risk is better distributed. I would have had to pay a fortune on my next flight if it was not for this article.
I think it is silly of them. Will consider other airlines in future.
Bye-bye Kulula.

Sly charges

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 10:50.

It's an easy way to make extra bucks from unsuspecting customers over the holiday season. Air France have a similar system. You are each allowed 1 bag at 23 kg each. If you share a bag with your wife and are 1kg over the 23, they merrily charge you 100 euro as they don't permit you to pool the weight as is the norm on most airlines.

Customers have to cough up

Submitted by Sanie on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 10:47.

If you cyclist, they have another attitude that you have to cough up and pay.We flew Kulula, and had to pay R 1600, for two bicycle bags. However, as they indicated the policy for golf bags are still for free due to the management policy. When capturing this on hellopeter.com, they give a no care attitude, but, want to make money out of the customer. Their staff are rude and Kulula is becoming more expensive than SAA.Funny, how they want to charge, however, if you look at how many bags and how big the bags are taken onto the aeroplane, I wonder why they don't charge them. In a way, I hope Kulula will loose a lot of customers, as they are not customer focused, however, ensuring how they can screw over the customer to pay more money, to make perhaps more money for their CEO's to get bigger bonusses.Kulula, can't be classified anymore as cheap, they are exorbitant in their cost.Also, funny if you read a statement from their CEO's in their magazine, they indicate they there to minimise the cost, however, for the amount of money you now have to pay for a ticket, they increasing the cost, not realising, the customer can't just cough of an exorbitant amount of money to get bags to their destination.I will not use Kulula again, however, will ensure my friends will use other airlines!

Kulula

Submitted by Charles on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 10:39.

Bye Kulula - Thank goodness it's not the only airline flying the popular routes. I'll fly with someone else in future, thanks.

Kulula New Baggage policey

Submitted by Desmond Minnaar on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 10:32.

I do travel a fair bit with Kulula & only sometimes I might be 1 or 2kg's over weight, I also take my Camera bag along, although not that big, it is a hobby of mine. I do not see me paying these coasts & will use someone else. It will only be in a real emergancey I fly with them now,

Desmond

Kulula

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 10:31.

They should charge fat people extra as well. Each person should have for example 120kg allocated to them. If the person weighs 80kg he/she should be able to travel with 40kg's worth of luggage, if a person weighs 120kg, then tough luck, he/she should pay extra for their luggage.