Pilgrims Face Challenges of Excessive Baggage in Makkah

TIMESINDONESIA, MAKKAH – The weight restrictions imposed on hajj pilgrims resulted in numerous challenges in Makkah, with many having to leave behind their belongings due to exceeding weight limits.

Among the items left behind were souvenirs brought by Indonesian pilgrims, including zamzam water, traditional clothing, prayer rugs, packaged food, and children's toys. Unfortunately, these belongings had to be abandoned in Makkah as they exceeded the permitted weight or overloaded the pilgrims' baggage.

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Haryanto, the Head of the Local Working Area (Daker) of the Hajj Facilitation Officers (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia, expressed concerns over pilgrims failing to comply with baggage regulations.

"It is still common to find pilgrims disregarding the baggage rules. These belongings are items that were confiscated during the airlines' inspection, such as zamzam water, beverage bottles, souvenirs, and children's toys," said Haryanto on Tuesday (4/7/2023).

Haryanto emphasized the importance of adhering to the rules set by airport authorities and airlines regarding baggage allowances. He clarified that each pilgrim is typically allowed only one hand-carried bag weighing a maximum of 7 kilograms. Items exceeding the prescribed weight are strictly prohibited.

For larger suitcases, Haryanto explained that the maximum allowed weight is 32 kilograms. Pilgrims using wheelchairs are required to have their chairs wrapped upon arrival at the airport, and any zamzam water found during the x-ray process will be immediately removed.

Belongings that cannot be taken along are reported and temporarily stored in a warehouse, with the details of these items provided to the PPIH.

Cecep Nursyamsi, the Head of Service and Repatriation (Yanpul), mentioned that if a pilgrim's luggage exceeds the allowed weight, the belongings will be returned to them. It is then up to the individual pilgrims to decide whether to send their belongings as cargo or leave them with fellow pilgrims who have unused baggage allowance.

As previously reported, groups of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims from different regions such as Batam (BTH 01), Jakarta Bekasi West Java (JKS 01), and Jakarta Pondok Gede (JKG-04) have begun their journey back to Indonesia, departing from King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah on Tuesday (4/7/2023) at 00:05 Saudi Arabian Time (WAS).

While waiting for their flights, the pilgrims were accommodated in various pavilions or plazas within the Hajj Terminal at Jeddah Airport, where they were provided with packaged meals, fruits, pudding, and mineral water.

By this day (4/7/2023) a total of 6,613 pilgrims from Makkah are scheduled to depart for King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah, with 17 groups departing altogether. (*)

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