Cathay Pacific Airways has announced that it will introduce a new and simplified method of calculating extra baggage charges effective December 1, 2010 for flights to all destinations in its network. 

The key element of the new system will be a switch from the current charging rate for extra baggage, which is based on ticket fares, to a system that is calculated in accordance with a structured system of travel zones.

According to the company release, the main reason for the change is to simplify handling of charges for extra baggage and special baggage. Passengers can view a transparent and easy-to-understand grid of charges through the airline’s website, www.cathaypacific.com, and can calculate exactly what charges they will have to pay by referring to the zones in which their travel originates and ends. There will be no changes to the airline’s cabin baggage allowances.

A Cathay Pacific Airways spokesman said, “We believe passengers will appreciate the transparency of our new baggage policy, which will make the calculation of extra and special baggage charges for each journey much more straightforward and transparent. Dividing our network into zones makes for a simple and efficient way to calculate the charges according to the distance travelled.”