Baggage Limitations on Tobago Express?

[Patty Hess]

We are traveling to Tobago in Feb. and were originally booked on a direct flight from DC to Tobago on BWIA. This flight has been cancelled and we now have to fly into Trinidad and then to Tobago via Tobago Express. My question is about checked baggage limitations on Tobago Express. The US originating flight allows 2 bags apiece each weighing up to 70 pounds. Tobago Express limit is 44 pounds TOTAL per person. If our bags are over weight will Tobago Express still take them if we pay the overage charge? We had planned on taking our snorkel gear and other equipment that might weigh us down.

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Patty

I've never heard of any problems, so have always assumed that they make an additional 'allowance' for travellers in transit from North America and other places. To be honest, I don't know. I assume you've got your Tobago Express tickets throught Yes Tourism (given that they're the only reliable source that I am aware of) so I would suggest contacting them and asking. They'll know, for sure.

[Clyde Alleyne]

Patty, I've never heard of a 44 pound total baggage limit per passenger on Tobago Express. I travel to Tobago quite frequently from Trinidad and if you have two bags per passenger up to 50 pounds each, they will usually not fuss. If you are well over 50 pounds per piece they may ask you to pay a small charge for the overweight but this should not be much. They are also quite used to visitors travelling to Tobago with Fishing or Snorkeling gear and the like - even Surfboards and boxed bicycles, and transport these with little or no fuss. Hint: they don't weigh your carry-on bag and as long as it's regulation size (and doesn't contain restricted items like large containers of liquids like shampoo etc - normal airline restrictions nowadays), you can offload some of your heavier items into your carry-on. Once you get to the aircraft steps at boarding time you will see a cart on the tarmac at the base of the steps where you can deposit the carry-on. The ground crew will take these bags and just place them into the hold prior to take-off. On landing, just wait at the base of the steps and they will bring the bags deposited in this way for you to collect before walking into the terminal building. This way you don't have to worry about lugging a heavy carry-on on board the aircraft (the overhead compartment on a Dash 8 is quite small). I do this all the time.

[Lisa Keith]

Hi Patty,

I have a tobago express ticket in my hand right now!! (I've just picked it up for a client), and it states...

baggage in excess of 20kg will attract a charge for each additional bag

only one piece of hand luggage, not more than 7kgand 20x14x9ins).

That said, we often have clients bringing over their entire (heavy!) dive kit, and I've not heard yet of anyone being charged any extra! There's always a first time, but I'd be surprised!

Lisa

[Patty Hess]

Thanks everyone, that helps. I’ll just bring what we want – not that we tend to over pack, but we wanted to bring our beach chairs. Don’t laugh! They’re the backpack kind that you fill like a beach bag and strap to your back and they’re extremely comfortable! Great for filling with Stag or Carib and hiking to Pirates Bay. (Much lighter on the way back when they’re empty.)

Steve, We aren’t booked through Yes Tourism. We booked with BWIA through an agent here and our tickets have now been changed three times! Frustrating. The original flight was direct to Tobago. BWIA is supposed to validate our Tobago Express tickets in Miami. Do you think this might be a potential problem?

Clyde, The 44 pound limit is from the Tobago Express website (20kg = 44 pounds?). Thanks for the carry on tips and the loading – unloading description. It’s nice to know what to expect and a few insider tricks!

And thanks Lisa, Now I can say “No worries!”

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Patty

As you probably know, BWIA is now deceased. RIP. The business of BWIA has largely been taken over by a new airline, Caribbean Airlines. BWIA had enough problems trying to organise themselves when they were running normally (although I'm not sure that 'normal' is a word that could be applied to the airline) and I imagine that things are in total chaos now that CA has taken over.

Go with a sanguine attitude and the acceptance that you are going to the southern Caribbean where time ceases to have meaning. Take your watch off before you leave and chill out, so that you aren't taken home in a white jacket. What will be, will be and I'm sure that the staff at POS will do everything possible to get you over to Tobago on the next available air-bridge flight.

[Roger D.]

Hey Steve;
No, not true - flew up from Trinidad on Jan 3rd on Caribbean Airlines - All went very smooth - we left on time and arrived into chaotic JFK 20 mins ahead of schedule. As far as I know things are going very well so far at CA.
Roger

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Roger

Good to hear from you and I hope that your experience is typical. I wish CA every success, but just wish I had a bit more confidence in them. Sadly, while it is still largely the same management and staff, I suspect nothing will change.

[Roger D.]

Hi Steve;
Peter Davies, a fellow Englishman(well....Welchman actually) is charged with taking C/A into profitablility. There are going to be new fare structures and eventually new routes that make sense. The changes that have be made internally thus far have been shock therapy to the employees, but as you know are not new to us in NA/Europe. So lets see where C/A is going to be a year from now.
I'm tentatively planning a holiday in Tobago around May and so far C/A has the cheapest fare.
I've looked at Delta to Tobago, but the flights from NY/NJ involve a change of planes in Atlanta with as much as a five hour layover either on the way out or on the way in. I'll see how this pans out.