In Reply to: freighting back to oz posted by party_of_twleve_women on Tuesday, 16. January 2007 at 18:35 Bali Time:
The day before you leave pack all the gear you don't need into a box or suitcase or whatever. It has to be goods that are your personal belongings, nothing that has to be declared or has to pay duty on. So the clothes you have been wearing, the books you haven't had time to read and the shoes you just knew you had to have!
Head on down to the airport, just before you get to the entrance gates to the airport, about 100 metres, turn into the left that says domestic cargo. Find the Garuda or Qantas office, whichever you want. They will weigh up your luggage, fill in some paperwork, give you the price and then ask you to bring the luggage to the international cargo building. This is just 20 metres nearer to the airport gates. Here you will pay and the luggage will be x-rayed and then gone.
At each gate you will be asked for parking money, 1,000 or 2,000 rupiahs should cover it. Be aware that your luggage may travel on the same plane as you. Once back in Australia you can collect your luggage from the Australian Customs, a small handling fee has to be paid, if it has had to go into storage you will have to pay for that.
You will need your passports and tickets with you and of course Rupiahs for paying. If there is a bunch of you and you take a suitcase each and put it all together then divide the costs you will be in front.
We sent 20 kilos back last November 2006 and it was quite reasonable. I haven't the prices now but if you do a search for my JBR you will have the exact costs then. The exchange rate then was 6950. It is a bit of mucking around but beats excess luggage costs.
Another way is to use Trish Ryder if you are in Perth, do a search also for her details.