South African Airways shocking new luggage policy

Passing the time looking around the internet I stumbled upon South African Airways new baggage policy. It covers weight, which is normal enough, number of pieces of luggage and more shocking it includes size restriction. It goes as follow:

This is copied from their website.
"Excess baggage, ie. additional items, or where the baggage exceeds the weight and or size allowance, will be charged at a flat rate per piece of luggage. This is a change from the current policy where excess baggage is charged per kilogram

Under the piece concept, excess baggage charges will apply for:

• Each piece of baggage over and above the passenger’s baggage allowance
• Each piece of overweight baggage
• Each piece of oversize baggage

The excess baggage will be charged at a flat rate per rule broken, per piece. This means that if a piece of baggage is both overweight and oversize, two excess baggage charges will apply. Weight/size restrictions apply to all baggage pieces, including additional pieces over and above the baggage allowance.

 

Excess baggage rule – weight

An excess baggage charge will apply for each Economy Class bag weighing over 23 kg, but less than 32 kg. The one exception is for travel to/from South America, where an Economy Class passenger is permitted to take two pieces of baggage that each weigh no more than 32 kg.

SAA cannot check in any bag weighing more than 32 kg, for both Economy and Business Class passengers. This is due to baggage handling restrictions at airports, and as such is beyond our control. Any piece of baggage weighing more than 32 kg will either have to be repacked (in order to weigh 32 kg or less) or will have to be taken to the SAA Cargo counter and checked in as cargo. Cargo rates will apply.

Excess baggage rule – size

An excess baggage charge will apply for each piece of baggage that exceeds the maximum dimensions as stipulated in SAA’s baggage policy. The maximum dimensions are 80 cm x 60 cm x 18 cm = 158 cm (62 inches).

Excess baggage rule – number of pieces

An excess baggage charge will apply for each piece of baggage over and above a passenger’s baggage allowance. These additional pieces must still adhere to SAA’s weight and size restrictions. An additional excess baggage charge will apply for any additional piece of baggage that does not comply with these restrictions."

 

SAA’s new baggage policy

	Business Class	Economy Class
Domestic (Within South Africa)	1piece at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb)	1 piece at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb)
Worldwide – USA / Canada	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb) each
Between Africa and South America	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each
Between Africa and Europe / UK	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	1 piece at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb)
From Blantyre / Lilongwe to London	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb) each
Between Africa and Asia / Japan	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb) each
Between Africa and Australia / New Zealand	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	1 piece at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb)
Between Africa and Africa: except Libreville / Douala and Lagos	2 pieces at a maximum of 32kg (70lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 23kg (50lb) each
Between Africa and Libreville / Douala	1 piece at a maximum of 32kg (70lb)	1 piece at a maximum of 23kg (50lb)
Between Africa and Lagos	3 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	3 pieces at a maximum of 23 kg (50lb) each
Between South America and Australia/ NZ	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 23 kg (50 lb) each
Between South America and Asia / Africa	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each	2 pieces at a maximum of 32 kg (70 lb) each

Interestingly (also from their website):
"The excess baggage will be charged at a flat rate per rule broken, per piece. This means that if a piece of baggage is both overweight and oversize, two excess baggage charges will apply. Weight/size restrictions apply to all baggage pieces, including additional pieces over and above the baggage allowance."  nomention of amounts concerned though.

I actually think that my good old duffle bag, with which I have been traveling for over 8 years will be too long! I honestly think that it is just a money grabbing move.
I wonder what they will do with all the wooden giraffes you usually see on the flights out of South Africa.