Hand luggage only - under 7KG with a rollaboard - how?

[dfcatch]

I have the Antler zero i think - the 2.2kg one.

Absolutely love it.

Use to travel with Targa backpack with laptop, LAGS, cables, etc; and laptop bag.

Now travel with:

1/ Antler - with clothes, other goodies.

2/ Backpack with LAGs and laptop (if taking).


If I keep the laptop out of the Antler, then I can keep it 'close' to 7kg.

But then the backpack struggles.

If I put everything in the Antler - then it struggles as soon as you add the laptop and associated cables in there.

 

[reductionist]

I checked out the Antler Zero's the other day (55cm). My MacBook air doesn't fit in the front pocket (without an uncomfortable squeeze).

Fits nicely in the front of my Antler Transair (45cm) though.

 

[LiamR]

I checked out the Antler Zero's the other day (55cm). My MacBook air doesn't fit in the front pocket (without an uncomfortable squeeze).

May be asking an obvious question, but...

11 or 13inch ?

 

[dfcatch]

I checked out the Antler Zero's the other day (55cm). My MacBook air doesn't fit in the front pocket (without an uncomfortable squeeze).

Fits nicely in the front of my Antler Transair (48cm) though.

I only use the front pocket for a magazine / BPs / etc.

Laptop would simply go inside (padded by something).

 

[reductionist]

May be asking an obvious question, but...

11 or 13inch ?

Sorry, 13 inch.

It fits really nicely in the front pocket of the Antler transair. That means easy access at security check points and on the aircraft.

I'd like to upgrade to a bigger cabin bag. The 55cm Antler Size Zero fits the size requirements for all the airlines I fly with (56/36/23). But having to open up the main bag compartment to get my laptop out is a show stopper.

The hunt continues.

Getting back on topic. The smaller 45cm Antler is one way to reduce on board weight.

 

[LiamR]

Sorry, 13 inch.

It fits really nicely in the front pocket of the Antler transair. That means easy access at security check points and on the aircraft.

I'd like to upgrade to a bigger cabin bag. The 55cm Antler Size Zero fits the size requirements for all the airlines I fly with (56/36/23). But having to open up the main bag compartment to get my laptop out is a show stopper.

The hunt continues.

Getting back on topic. The smaller 45cm Antler is one way to reduce on board weight.

Ohhh okay, sounds like you have a similar logic to me. I only carry one piece of carry on. At the moment my laptop sits within an inside pocket, but I can easily access it at security/onborad. Saying that, having an outside pocket would be better.

I understand your frustration looking for a bag which you can't fit your laptop on the outside.

 

[TonyHancock]

I have placed the order to complete my carry on (hopefully) on DJ/VA. My rollaboard is the 2.6KG Antler Zero 4 wheel 48CM jobbie. (I already have that.) My "personal item" will be the STM Scout Extra Small Shoulder Bag. My 11" MacBook Air will fit nicely into that.....as will my iPad. My first manbag! What with moisturizer and a manbag I'm turning into quite the metrosexual.

I'm still not happy with the DJ/VA carry on limitations though.

 

[LiamR]

I'm still not happy with the DJ/VA carry on limitations though.

Start passing the feedback onto Virgin Australia​!

 

[TonyHancock]

Start passing the feedback onto Virgin Australia​!

Yeah but if I do that they'll fix the problem and I won't have anything to moan about. At least with QF they do ignore their FF's and keep me happy by giving me lots to moan about.

 

[serfty]

Maybe they could copy AirNZ's book and allow double for *G/*E.

 

[connieguy]

I have placed the order to complete my carry on (hopefully) on DJ/VA. My rollaboard is the 2.6KG Antler Zero 4 wheel 48CM jobbie. (I already have that.) My "personal item" will be the STM Scout Extra Small Shoulder Bag. My 11" MacBook Air will fit nicely into that.....as will my iPad. My first manbag! What with moisturizer and a manbag I'm turning into quite the metrosexual.

I'm still not happy with the DJ/VA carry on limitations though.

As a VA WP with a 69 kg checked baggage allowance and no checked baggage, you really expect the ground staff to weigh and possibly knock back a standard size rollaboard and a satchel style laptop bag? Will never happen.

 

[richie9x]

When I can get away with it I typically travel with two bags - a clothes bag and laptop bag. The clothes bag is a high sierra convertible backback/wheely bag. I think 2 kg empty. Sometimes I think it goes over 7kg (especially for 2 weeks worth of clothes), but the bag does look small and light - it never seems to get measured or weighted even when they are checking other people.

Some tips I have worked out to reduce size/space/weight.

• For underwear I use to wear boxer shorts. But then i realised how much extra room they needed so I switched to smaller underwear.
• For toiletries I switched to smaller sizes - 100 ml or less. Mainly because of international restrictions on liquids. But it also has a side effect of reducing weight and space.
• On longer trips (over 5 nights) I often stay at company apartments or serviced apartments that usually have washing machines. So can get away with travel with only a week of clothes and do washing at the weekend.
• Generally I try to avoid paper if possible as it tends to be quite dense. So I try to keep documents in digital form. Although sometimes it is unavoidable.
• If you are going back to a place often sometimes it makes sense to leave stuff at your destination, rather than fly it back an forth all the time.

Having said all that it can have some downfalls, once I went away on a 3 month trip with only carry on. The check in agent was very suspicious of me thinking I was going to try and sneak large bags on board. I had to explain to her how I could get by with only carry on for 3 month trip.

 

[TonyHancock]

As a VA WP with a 69 kg checked baggage allowance and no checked baggage, you really expect the ground staff to weigh and possibly knock back a standard size rollaboard and a satchel style laptop bag? Will never happen.

I would hope all will be fine, but I have no idea what to expect with VA/DJ, and I'm not a big fan of surprises. :shock: With QF I get two 7KG 105 cm bag on domestic flights...and that is what I carry. The VA 7KG 105 cm bag plus a personal item is a little limiting, but I aim to meet this requirement with the addition, to my 105 cm rollaboard of my new STM "manbag"!!

If I turned up with two 7KG 105 cm bags the VA/DJ staff would be absolutely correct to make me check one in. (I suspect they may not but would prefer not to take the chance.)

 

[serfty]

I would hope all will be fine, but I have no idea what to expect with VA/DJ, and I'm not a big fan of surprises. :shock: With QF I get two 7KG 105 cm bag on domestic flights...and that is what I carry. The VA 7KG 105 cm bag plus a personal item is a little limiting, but I aim to meet this requirement with the addition, to my 105 cm rollaboard of my new STM "manbag"!! ...

I have travelled several times on DJ with both a 105cm rollaboard and laptop bag with no issues.

The reality is that such carry-on is pretty standard world wide - I do not that AA have specifically limited the size of a laptop bag/case for it to be deemed a 'personal item': (http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/carryOnAllowance.jsp?anchorEvent=false&from=Nav)

Personal item - includes: purse, briefcase, laptop bag OR a similar item such as a tote that does not exceed 36 inches( length+width+height) and must fit under the seat in front of you.

 

[DeKa]

I tried to do a week long trip travelling mostly with SQ, where i was in a different city every night with a cabin roller bag and a suit bag, plus a small laptop sleeve/bag.

They pulled me up at the check in counter - they wanted to weigh everything separately. Their concern was my roller bag weight 8.1kg which was over the 7kg per piece limit. They weren't concerned I had two pieces of hand luggage (SQ economy policy only allows one) but about the weight.

I ended up just checking the roller bag in.

 

[TonyHancock]

I have travelled several times on DJ with both a 105cm rollaboard and laptop bag with no issues.

The reality is that such carry-on is pretty standard world wide - I do not that AA have specifically limited the size of a laptop bag/case for it to be deemed a 'personal item': (American Airlines Carry-on Baggage Allowance Information On AA.com)

I like the clearly defined "personal item" size. For me it gives my 110 cm Antler Aeon rollaboard plus my STM Revolution backpack as the personal item. Pretty happy with that. I'll be making use of that again in mid November.

 

[reductionist]

I like the clearly defined "personal item" size. For me it gives my 110 cm Antler Aeon rollaboard plus my STM Revolution backpack as the personal item. Pretty happy with that. I'll be making use of that again in mid November.

How much success have you had with other airlines accepting that backpack as a "personal item"?

 

[clifford]

I tried to do a week long trip travelling mostly with SQ, where i was in a different city every night with a cabin roller bag and a suit bag, plus a small laptop sleeve/bag.

They pulled me up at the check in counter - they wanted to weigh everything separately. Their concern was my roller bag weight 8.1kg which was over the 7kg per piece limit. They weren't concerned I had two pieces of hand luggage (SQ economy policy only allows one) but about the weight.

I ended up just checking the roller bag in.

Where was this? Melbourne? I'd be mightily p'd off if that happened to me, and I'd just take 1Kg's worth of stuff out of the carry on and either stuff it in my coat pockets ( I always wear a large coat when travelling overseas) or wear it there and then.

It really annoys me when small minded airline employees try this stunt on me (I am *G after all), and especially when a 200Kg person can be sat next to me. Where's the equity in that?

 

[LiamR]

How much success have you had with other airlines accepting that backpack as a "personal item"?

According to Virgin Australia...

*Laptops in a thin satchel style laptop bag are considered to be a personal item. Laptops in larger laptop bags are counted as part of your carry-on allowance.

From: Baggage allowance and excess baggage | Virgin Australia

 

[TonyHancock]

How much success have you had with other airlines accepting that backpack as a "personal item"?

100%

...but limited to BA/AA/LA

I have just purchased a satchel style bag for my VA/DJ flights.