Bike not actually free on Kulula

[WayneO]

I am completely dumbfounded and disgusted in the way Kulula does business.

 

I booked my ticket through Kulula.com (Run off of Comair)to travel to Mauritius as I was told that I had a bicycle limit of 20kg which fell into the sporting allowance category.

I then phoned Kulula’s service centre on 13/12/2010 and spoke to a guy, he confirmed that the first 20kg’s of my bike would be free, and even went to the trouble of sending me a bit more info on packaging instructions.

 

I left OR Tambo on Wednesday 15 December 2010 and was not charged a cent. However when I departed from Mauritius yesterday 29 December 2010 I was charged for the bicycle as I was now overweight. The Comair supervisor advised me that I would need to claim the charges back from the airline I made the booking through.

 

I then contacted Kulula's contact centre this morning and spoke to a lady who told me that there is nothing she can do and it is the airports discretion to charge for extra baggage, and that the gentleman I spoke to previously from the call centre had given me the incorrect information. Furthermore as it was a British Airways flight the Kulula limits do not apply!!!!!!!!!!! Well then why did I bother with Kulula to start with?

 

What horrified me more is that I was told I need to send a complaint to sort out this query??????? Surely then they should get rid of the contact centre and simply run a complaints centre.

[Velouria]

All the cheap airlines nail you when trying to take a bike. SAA and Comair(BA) have quite reasonable rules concerning sporting equipment.

 

The other alternative is to take up golf - even the budget airlines give golfers an extra 10kgs.

 

Perhaps you can try to disguise your bike bag as a golf bag next time...

[Moolz]

www.hellopeter.com - report the naais!

[R3SL]

I feel for you mate , happened to me as well , cost me $70-00.I now book flights based on TOTAL WEIGHT LIMITS, ie 40kg , when they say certain items ie golf bags are free etc,(BE CAREFULL) it seems to only apply in certain countries/airports etc etc,different taxes and duties , ITS A TOTAL %$#@ UP.

I have had no prolems on Emirates with my bike flying to East Asia, ps Singapore will charge if you fly Singapore Airlines.

Also make sure your baggage is collected at your final destination otherwise you could get nailed twice.

 

Good Luck and make sure your bike is insured as some airlines are now getting you to sign a waiver in the event of your bike being damaged during handling.

 

R3SL

[Barend de Arend]

I then contacted Kulula's contact centre this morning and spoke to a lady who told me that there is nothing she can do and it is the airports discretion to charge for extra baggage, and that the gentleman I spoke to previously from the call centre had given me the incorrect information. Furthermore as it was a British Airways flight the Kulula limits do not apply!!!!!!!!!!! Well then why did I bother with Kulula to start with?

 

It can't be at the airports discretion, because different operators have different limits. Not every flight has a 20 kg limit -- that's just a European thing (and an African thing because it's a lot of European companies) If not every flight has the same limit, the airport can't enforce limits.

 

The airport can enforce a 20kg-per-suitcase limit. They do that to protect the luggage handlers from having to lift 50 or 100 kg suitcases. They cannot limit total weight, if it's spread over multuple suitcases.

 

Kulula is in the wrong here.

[WayneO]

Well I have sent off my formal complaint, will be interesting to see what the response is/