Soaring fuel prices add to immigrants' luggage burden

When Rabbi David Wilfond planned his immigration to Israel some four years ago, one question weighed heavily on his shoulders: How would he transport all his books? He was only allowed to bring three suitcases and had already paid $6,000 for a shipment of all his other possessions. Fortunately, he was leading a congregational trip to Israel a few months before his departure. He asked the 30 participating members to each take a few books and thus managed to relocate his entire library. "This way, my congregation participated in my Aliyah," he said this week.

Lately, it has become even more difficult to transport one's belongings without the expensive services of shipping companies. Many airlines now pay more attention to luggage restrictions. "They might have always been there, but it's become an issue lately," said Josie Arbel, the director of absorption services at the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel. "It's a general trend in air travel."

"More luggage means more fuel, which is very expensive," said Yehuda Zafrani, deputy managing editor at Tel Aviv's Ophir Tours travel agency. "Airlines have become much more aggressive about one or two kilos overweight."

Airlines are indeed under intense heat due to a wave of bankruptcies in the industry and record fuel prices. Several companies have already decreased their free baggage allowances and current trends suggest more will follow. However, an El Al spokesman told Haaretz that, in spite of increased costs, all extra allowances for immigrants remain untouched. Only passengers who have connecting flights with other airlines might be affected.

Immigrants on El Al flights have the right to bring more luggage than usual, but guidelines differ depending on place of departure and have recently undergone slight changes. Currently, immigrants from North America are allowed three pieces of luggage, each weighing up to 23 kg. From all other destinations the limit is 60 kg, with no restrictions on the number of suitcases. The regular allowance is two bags or 20 kg, respectively.

This allowance does not apply on Nefesh B'Nefesh charter flights, the El Al spokesperson pointed out - if every passenger brought an extra bag, the plane would be too heavy. However, it applies on group flights where the organization booked a block of seats on a regularly scheduled passenger flight. Nefesh B'Nefesh confirmed it would adhere to El Al's luggage restrictions, but a spokeswoman added the organization tries to accommodate immigrants whenever special circumstances call for it.

In spite of the current trends, immigration support groups are not overly concerned. They advise adherence to whatever restrictions apply and feel that most immigrants in the past had no problems with their luggage. After all, they enjoy a considerable bonus. "The fact that El Al offers 60 kg is considered a big present," said Dorron Kline from the South African Zionist Federation.

Until a year and a half ago, South African immigrants were allowed 75 kg, according to Kline. Renee Penn, who emigrated with her family from Johannesburg 17 years ago, arrived at the airport with 29 large boxes and didn't have any problems checking in. "I even had a dog with me," she remembered. But bringing pets or entire libraries is not for everyone. Tamara Schagas, for example, didn't have much luggage at all when she left Buenos Aires in 2003. Back then, she was only allowed a total of 40 kg, she said. "But I had no problem; I didn't even reach the 40 kilos."