What is Student Extra Baggage Allowance for International Travel?

Posted on: Dec 6, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

What is Student Extra Baggage Allowance for International Travel?

Moving abroad for higher studies is a very honourable and thrilling experience at the same time. However, you need to maintain and observe several rules and regulations to enjoy smooth travel. The biggest issue in this context is the packing part. Considering the relevant airline regulations, you need to maintain the optimum weight of the luggage to avoid penalties. In this article, we will highlight all the significant aspects of international extra baggage allowance for students.

Understanding baggage allowance

You are simply not permitted to take whatever you want just because you are moving overseas. Every individual airline company has set different regulations and maintains a basic restriction on the optimum amount of weight that you are allowed to carry.

Baggage allowance is the stipulated limit of free luggage that you are permitted to carry on the plane during your journey. In case your baggage exceeds that specified limit, you need to pay excess baggage charges at the airport.

The baggage allowance limit is usually determined by the individual airline and the class of your ticket. Every airline company maintains a different regulation regarding the size and weight of free baggage.

It must be mentioned here that these charges are not at all budget-friendly. Therefore, ensure to pack just the necessities to avoid such unnecessary financial drainage.

Apart from the weight, the luggage size must also be considered. The dimensions of your luggage must meet the specified limit set by your chosen airline.

Special allowances for students

Every airline company maintains a special baggage allowance for international students going to study abroad. They are permitted to carry a bit more load than normal passengers. If you are a student, moving abroad for educational purposes, you can easily explore the option of student extra baggage allowance to prevent paying any additional charges.

Apart from this, certain airline companies also allow special discounts on ticket fares, especially for students. However, you have to provide enough evidence that you are a student for confirmation and verification.

While booking your ticket, you must explore all these plausible benefits and avail yourself of them as much as possible, depending on the circumstances. It is best to compare different deals and facilities offered by different airline companies before finally booking your ticket.

If you are travelling abroad as a student, you also have to ensure obtaining a competent international travel insurance policy or specifically a student travel insurance plan. It will shield you against all sorts of damages and losses during your stay abroad as per the terms of the specific plan chosen.

Popular airlines and their policies

If you are flying abroad for educational purposes and seek to carry the optimum amount of weight for free, you need to check on the deals offered by several international airline companies before booking your final ticket. Some of the best deals offered by 7 top international flight companies are:

1. Air India:

You can enjoy international extra baggage allowance for students with Air India, provided you fulfil the designated eligibility criteria. You must carry a valid student visa and maintain proof of admission to a registered foreign educational institution. The students are allowed to carry an extra suitcase of 20 kg, apart from the standard 2 pieces of luggage of 23 kg each for economy class and 32 kg each for business class. The dimensions must be 158 cm (L x B x H) for every luggage. The hand luggage must not weigh more than 8 kg for Economy class and 12 kg for First and Business class. However, you must clarify the routes for availing of the student baggage allowance.

2. Emirates:

They offer attractive discounts on ticket fares for students, for which you need to present your valid student identity or an authentic acceptance letter from the designated institution. The standard baggage allowance is 23 kg and 32 kg, respectively, for the Economy and Business class, while the cabin baggage limit is 7 kg and 10 kg, as per the class. They allow the students to carry an excess of 10 kg of luggage to several destinations in the US, Canada, UK, etc., which you need to confirm beforehand.

3. Qatar Airways:

They maintain a Special Student Club exclusively for international students. You can join them to enjoy attractive offers and deals, including an extra baggage allowance for students. You can easily visit their official website to know the details. The standard baggage limit to and from the US and Africa is 23 kg, irrespective of the ticket class.

However, for other countries, it varies between 25 kg, 30 kg, or 35 kg, as per the class, and the hand baggage limit remains fixed at 7 kg. International students are allowed to carry 10 kg more luggage.

4. Etihad Airways:

International students can carry up to 40 kg and 50 kg of luggage when travelling in Economy and Business class, respectively. However, this offer is limited to African and American students, excluding Canada. Clarify the details before booking.

5. British Airways:

You are permitted to carry 1 extra piece of luggage of 32 kg if you are a student apart from the standard 23 kg/32 kg depending on the route and ticket class. You can avail of the Executive membership facility to carry the excess luggage.

6. Vistara:

You have to produce enough proof of being an international student to avail of the extra baggage facility. You can carry 3 pieces of luggage of 23 kg each, unlike the standard 2 pieces.

7. Singapore Airlines:

With Student Privilege Membership, you are allowed to carry 50 kg of luggage. With KrisFlyer, you can carry 3 pieces of luggage, each of 23 kg if you are going to Canada or the US in Economy Class, while for other destinations, it is 40 kg. For Executive or Business Class, you are permitted to carry 3 pieces of 32 kg luggage for the US or Canada, while for other destinations, it is 50 kg.

How to avail of student baggage allowance?

Once the admission is finalised, you need to search several befitting airline companies to know about all their offers, deals, and discounts. Some deals are exclusively crafted for students. Several airline companies maintain different rules for different destinations. You should choose and opt for the most suitable ones.

Critical comparative analysis is the primary key to avail of the best deals. This holds true while purchasing travel insurance online too. Different insurers offer different kinds of deals. You should go for the ones that suit you the best.

Tips for packing efficiently

To avoid unnecessary financial drainage, it is best to avoid excess baggage charges. You could keep these few things in mind to avoid such undesirable situations:

1. Try to wear an extra clothing layer so that those things do not go into your bag and increase the weight

2. Pack wisely, including only the essential items

3. Try to carry a backpack rather than a carry-on suitcase

4. Try not to include any heavy stuff inside the luggage

5. Never forget to get the international extra baggage allowance for students under befitting circumstances

6. Weigh your baggage while packing to be sure of the weight using a reliable weigh scale and avoid the possibility of excess baggage.

Conclusion

You must be aware of the baggage allowance norms while packing, according to your chosen airline service provider. In the case of an educational travel scenario, you must avail of the excess baggage facility if available. It will help you carry all the relevant essentials without being charged for them.

FAQs

1. What are the essential documents that you need to avail of the excess baggage facility for students?

To avail of the excess baggage facility for international students, you need to produce either your student identity card, university acceptance letter, a valid student visa, etc.

2. Is travel insurance necessary for international students?

Yes, travel insurance is essential for international students travelling abroad. You can easily purchase a student travel insurance online.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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