How to lose (baggage) weight

Status
Not open for further replies.
F

FL360

Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2007
Posts
463
With ever decreasing standard baggage allowance and ever increasing penalty for baggage overweight, I think it may be good to discuss ways to reduce baggage weight, so you can avoid penalties / carry more !

1. Choose a lighter luggage case/bag , some of the luggage can weight as heavy as 5kg ! One of the lightest luggage case I have is a Samsonite duffel bag with wheels, It is rain proof and weights less than 2kg... and when expanded it is large enough to put two carry on bags inside. Unfortunately I can't find them for sale in Australia, I bought them in Hawaii.

2. Shoes, it is heavy, avoid carry unnecessary pair(s) and wear the heaviest one if possible.

3. AC adapters for Laptops, this is one of the heavy items, try to carry with with your Laptop as one of the extra items allowed on board.

4. Not to mention books (paper), try to carry them in a recycle shopping bag and take it on board, some airlines allow books / magazines as extra carry on items...

More from anyone ?
 
FL360 said:
4. Not to mention books (paper), try to carry them in a recycle shopping bag and take it on board, some airlines allow books / magazines as extra carry on items...
Click to expand...

Books can easily send your carry on baggage weight over the limit. I generally put them in jacket pockets just before checking in. It does look a bit unusual but it has worked for me so far when sailing close to the limit.
 
Struggling to Redeem Your Frequent Flyer Points?
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

openseat said:
Books can easily send your carry on baggage weight over the limit. I generally put them in jacket pockets just before checking in. It does look a bit unusual but it has worked for me so far when sailing close to the limit.
Click to expand...

Looks like we will all be travelling with many pockets in the future.
 
It's a well known fact that any item one wishes to take on board, when carried on/in one's clothing/pockets has no weight ...
 
Hand. Luggage. Only.

Just take less cough - it's not that difficult.

My first trip to the US I took a rollaboard, suitbag, laptop bag and large FULL suitcase.

My last trip to the US including a week in Hong Kong and 3 days in cyprus, I took a rollaboard and a suitbag.
 
simongr said:
Hand. Luggage. Only.

Just take less cough - it's not that difficult.

My first trip to the US I took a rollaboard, suitbag, laptop bag and large FULL suitcase.

My last trip to the US including a week in Hong Kong and 3 days in cyprus, I took a rollaboard and a suitbag.
Click to expand...

Much to be said for travelling light.
 
I realise this method is of limited application.. but it works for us so here it is...

If you have a "regular" OS destination - for which trips you need certain (heavy) items.. consider duplicating the gear THERE.... and leaving it with a friend....

With us it is a competition set of firearms that we share when competing in the USA.... but I can perhaps see similar opportunities with scuba gear/ski gear etc...

Admittedly this seems recreation related only... :-|
 
trooper said:
... If you have a "regular" OS destination - for which trips you need certain (heavy) items.. consider duplicating the gear THERE.... and leaving it with a friend....
...
Click to expand...
Not just OS!

For four years I had a bi/monthly stay in BNE; I held a room at my B-I-L's place where I kept a wardrobe of clothes and footwear more suited to QLD than Vic as well a complete set of toiletries.
 
straitman said:
oz_mark,

Would you please explain that to my wife :?:
Click to expand...

Oh please don't get me started on that one. A couple of months ago my GF, her Mom and I went from BOS to SFO for a long weekend. I would normally travel with a Victorinox suit bag, and my Rimova briefcase, but as my wardrobe has been taken command of, and I now have to pack a lot more to be seen in public!, I packed twice as much as normal. No matter still only two items, one checked and one carry on.

My GF is a frequent traveller, but mostly by car in New England and as such does have to limit herself quite so much. The rule of thumb is that when travelling she must have at least three options to choose from and most often comes back with half the items unworn.

Her Mom is not a frequent traveller and is frail, hence coming with us as she needed assistance for the trip. My GF is also impaired at the moment as a result of three operations this year.

I won't go into the breakdown, but between the two of them they had 11 pieces of luggage, and one porter, ME. I'm very easy going, but by the end of the trip this was really getting to me. I usually waltz off the plane and am on my way quickly but the drama involved in getting everything together, getting on and off busses to get hire cars etc, with 13 pieces of luggage!

My rule is generally fewer pieces and then less weight. To reduce weight I generally carry the most heavy items in my carry on, laptop, books, magazines, and wear heavy shoes. I rarely break 12k for my medium sized Rimowa Alu case and sometimes my carry on seems heavier.

One other tip I have which isn't weight related but I think makes the lead in and ending of a trip far easier is to essentially have two sets of many items, that is your home set, and your travel set, including toiletries, underwear, sneakers for the gym, workout clothes. I almost have my case half packed ready to go, and when I get back I unpack and wash and replace things.

I know this doesn't really make sense if you are not on the go all the time, but for me it's essential.

The other big factor is season. If you are going from summer to summer, you can pack light, but if you are going from winter to summer or visa versa you have to add so much more.

For all of you who are having a nice weekend in the sun in Australia, currently it's -4c in Boston, and with the wind chill down to -12c!
 
Last edited:
winetraveller said:
For all of you who are having a nice weekend in the sun in Australia, currently it's -4c in Boston, and with the wind chill down to -12c!
Click to expand...

I hate to break it to you, but it hasn't stopped raining in Melbourne since Friday!!! No sunshine here!!

As for me travelling, I just carry my Antler carry on bag (thank you Dot!) and my laptop backback. the only times this year I had checked baggage was going to Beijing (had to take work stuff over as well as my gear), and when I went to PER (I had to bring back cans of Kola Beer - don't ask!!!).

It's worth paying the extra to buy a strong lightweight bag as it'll but a couple of kg's off. I have a small toiletry bag (small toothpaste etc), tihnk of it this way - do i need a container so big?
 
For me, the heaviest items in my luggage used to be my toiletries. So, to resolve this problem, I used smaller containers for everything like shampoo & conditioner. The result - much, much lighter luggage and more room for shopping :D:!:.
 
I can't recommend onebag (google it - I can't post links yet) highly enough. A big help - can you get laundry facilities on your trip?

I'm traveling back to Japan for a few weeks over New Year's on Death Star and I'm aiming to do the entire thing with carry-on - I want that 20kg of checked luggage on the way back for the books I'm buying.
 
Another good idea, although perhaps not practicable for business travel (unless your company is like mine and runs everything remotely) is to leave the laptop at home and just bring a USB drive with something like portable FireFox or something on it.

I'm trying it out on an upcoming pleasure trip after successfully managing it on a recent business trip (again with the remote systems). I'll have net access available in most places, and be able to use computers on site. Saves me a few kilos in laptop & power supply and saves me even more space in my bag.

And if I truly feel the need to steal wifi, then I have the iPod touch.
 
I travel everywhere (12 o/s trips this year) for business with just a carry on (Red Oxx Air Boss) and my laptop and never have any problems getting in under the weight limit. I originally had a samsonite carry on with wheels but the case alone was a couple of kg which is a killer. I wear smart casual for the flight wearing the only pair of shoes I take and just pack very few spare clothes (but use the drycleaning facility in the hotels every second day). I pack any books etc into the laptop bag as well as adaptors, rechargers etc. As for toiletries I only take a razor, shaving gel (under the prescribed limit for carry on) and a roll on deoderant - I use the free toothbrush, shampoo etc in the hotels.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..

Recent Posts

Currently Active Users

Total: 818 (members: 44, guests: 774)
Back
Top