Living with carry on

[BVT]

Hi team,

What a fantastic resource this forum is. Well done and a huge thank you to all questions and particularly the answers.

As a retired road warrior about to start regular commuting again (!), I have a question about carry on luggage. I am determined not to check luggage.

Domestic, no issue; I expect to be travelling internationally in J - don't you love enlightened travel policies - I want to do carry on only. I have done a few experiments and find that once I add my laptop, running shoes and a modicum of personal effects I am at about 10kg. The only thing I could ditch would be the running shoes!

Mostly, I will be flying out of BNE, where I think AFAICR they do not always weigh your carry on, unlike MEL! Last time through MEL (02/10) the weight dude even weighed my overcoat -pockets stuffed full of stuff of course!:evil:

Any suggestions greatfully recevied.

BvT

 

[markis10]

My experience in BNE is they do weigh at the INT terminal but if you show a J boarding pass you get waved through, having said that I see no reason why you cannot have two pieces, a laptop bag/pack and a roll on or rucksack, some of the rigid carry ons do weigh a bit!

 

[cosi]

I have nevered had my "carry on" weigh at any international airport when travelling J and always travel with only carry on.

I have 2 bags - the standard carry on suitcase and then I have a expandable shoulder bag that sits on top.

I have the model with the pull out n handle as this is very handy for hanging your jacket when waiting.

Good luck

 

[Worldtraveller8888]

Melbourne is the only place I've seen carry on being weighed. Everywhere esle it seems that responsibility is left to the gate staff/cabin crew.

I've always thought the MEL arrangement was odd as different airlines have different rules (eg. QF = 7kg, JQ = 10kg).

WT

 

[markis10]

There was a security guard at the top of through going down to customs with a weighing machine last time I went through BNE INT, I tend to avoid it like the plague (BNE INT that is)!

 

[kpc]

Came through AKL today with my standard carry on bag; Just as I approached immigration, I was asked to weigh my bag. I told her I was travelling J class on Lan, and on the back of my BP, it stated I could take up to 16 kg as carry on:mrgreen:; showed her the BP at her request, and when she finally figured out how to tell it was a J BP, waved me on reluctantly:shock:

 

[Austman]

It's the 100ml x 10 in a 1 litre clear plastic bag fluid/gel/paste restrictions that I find difficult with international carry-on only travel. It soon adds up if you want to take shaving cream, deoderant, tooth paste, mouth wash, sun screen, cologne, hair products...

I always carry a spare plastic bag inside my carry-on and if it's ever checked and found to be a bit over the weight limit, I offer to move some items into a the second bag. That's worked a few times.

 

[simongr]

I regularly fly int'l business with a rollaboard that is around 11-13KG and a suit bag with no real problems. Though this trip I have brought a duffle bag as well as I knew I would be shopping in various places and the trip is complex in that I have business, business casual, smart casual and casual clothes due to the multi location/functions...

, and when she finally figured out how to tell it was a J BP, waved me on reluctantly:shock:

I had this problem at MEL one time with the standard rollaboard/suit bag as I had a whY coloured QF BP but was flying in J on CX. I got quite annoyed and asked - do you want me to go to the CX desk to get a BP. She still weighed my rollaboard at 12KG but then waved me on...

It's the 100ml x 10 in a 1 litre clear plastic bag fluid/gel/paste restrictions that I find difficult with international carry-on only travel. It soon adds up if you want to take shaving cream, deoderant, tooth paste, mouth wash, sun screen, cologne, hair products...

Shaving cream - switched to shaving oil
Deo - switched to smaller cans - Rexona is pretty much the smallest
Cologne - bought the Chanel pour homme mini spays that come in a three pack when bought on board
Tooth paste - use the airline supplied mini tubes (I use colgate anyway)
Sun screen - never out in the sun enough when travelling on business (and often the moisturisers have an SPF factor)
Hair products - number one at the back and number 2 on top abrogates the need for hair products

 

[whereishome]

I regularly travel carry on only, last time was for 4 weeks in Sydney and Tokyo.

2 pairs of trousers + wearing 1
3 shirts +wearing 1
Wear jacket + comfy black leather shoes
Running shorts and shoes
Underwear (undershirts, socks, jocks)
Buy toiletries on arrival if I don't have any at the accommodation

Manage all this in a single QF branded soft carry on shoulder bag.

Also carry a Yoshida Porter messenger bag with laptop and associated cough.

 

[Austman]

Shaving cream - switched to shaving oil
Deo - switched to smaller cans - Rexona is pretty much the smallest
Cologne - bought the Chanel pour homme mini spays that come in a three pack when bought on board
Tooth paste - use the airline supplied mini tubes (I use colgate anyway)
Sun screen - never out in the sun enough when travelling on business (and often the moisturisers have an SPF factor)
Hair products - number one at the back and number 2 on top abrogates the need for hair products

Shaving cream - switched to shaving oil - oils are still regulated to the 100ml limit
Deo - switched to smaller cans - Rexona is pretty much the smallest - ditto
Cologne - bought the Chanel pour homme mini spays that come in a three pack when bought on board - the problem here is usually the size of the bottle, not the contents
Tooth paste - use the airline supplied mini tubes (I use colgate anyway) - YUK!!! and no good for more than a day or so...
Sun screen - never out in the sun enough when travelling on business (and often the moisturisers have an SPF factor) - yes but moisturiser has the same 100ml problem
Hair products - number one at the back and number 2 on top abrogates the need for hair products - fine but not the first choice for most of the population of planet earth

 

[Austman]

I
Buy toiletries on arrival if I don't have any at the accommodation
.

Yes I do this sometimes too. But it very much depends on where you are going and for how long.

 

[serfty]

There's a lot more on this topic here:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com.../great-hand-luggage-only-challenge-10900.html

 

[harvyk]

Whilst I don't usually do overly long trips with carry on only, a good trick is to take from home only what you need for the immediate flight, wear decent shoes (I have a pair of "all purpose" shoes which I ware for both formal and informal occasions) and buy everything else once you arrive at your destination. (I am assuming you are going places where they sell toothpaste).

To deal with the times at the airport, this is where lounges and showers come in handy, as they are usually more than happy to supply basic needs like toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Of course, if you’re flying J, check-in luggage can often (but agreed, not always) be ready for collection off the baggage carousel before you have even gotten through the countries immi, even with express passes if they are offered.

 

[simongr]

Shaving cream - switched to shaving oil - oils are still regulated to the 100ml limit
Deo - switched to smaller cans - Rexona is pretty much the smallest - ditto
Cologne - bought the Chanel pour homme mini spays that come in a three pack when bought on board - the problem here is usually the size of the bottle, not the contents
Tooth paste - use the airline supplied mini tubes (I use colgate anyway) - YUK!!! and no good for more than a day or so...
Sun screen - never out in the sun enough when travelling on business (and often the moisturisers have an SPF factor) - yes but moisturiser has the same 100ml problem
Hair products - number one at the back and number 2 on top abrogates the need for hair products - fine but not the first choice for most of the population of planet earth

Most of the size limits are fine if you get small bottles. The rexona deo for instance is around 30G being about 50ml - the same for shaving oils - only around 50ml...

 

[Austman]

Most of the size limits are fine if you get small bottles. The rexona deo for instance is around 30G being about 50ml - the same for shaving oils - only around 50ml...

Agreed - but it's not always the individual size of the product. It's getting them all into a 1L clear sealable plastic bag! And 100ml of mouthwash does not last long

The Qantas international 1st class lounge shower rooms in Sydney and Melbourne have helped me some times with a few of the items too.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Going carry on only can be really useful when your original flight gets changed.
The security staff at LAX T4 even checked it and I thought wow; it was passed and I was allowed through. This is for a 2 week trip and I am lucky that is is summer, I think winter would be more of a problem. The link serfty provided is very useful for going carry on.

 

[NM]

In the last 12 months, I would have been stopped for carry-on weighing at least 50% of the time through Brisbane International terminal (probably 10 times through in the last year). Carrying an Express card seems to provide some relief. I have been allowed through when registering just under 10kg. Have never weighed over 10KG. But have seen others with an Express card being sent back upstairs when exceeding 7kg.

All of trips ex BNE last year except for one I was travelling in Qantas economy, but each time carried an Express card which was slipped back into my travel docs wallet after passing the weight police and entering the Express lane. My APEC card entitles me to use the Express lane but may not get me past the scales with 7-10kg of carry-on.

As for liquids, the only things I have in the Glad Bag is a 50ml roll-on deodorant and a small tube of toothpaste. An electric shaver and not using hair products or cologne etc make travelling much easier. Keep it simple is my theory.

 

[simongr]

You see Alanis Morrissette didn't really understand irony like most Americans. A black fly in your Chardonnay is not ironic - it's just bad luck (or good luck if you prefer Sauvignon Blanc like normal people).

What however is ironic is chatting in a thread about the switch to HOL referring back to a thread you started about HOL and then checking two bags from JFK to ATL (via MIA) with all clothes (and no back ups) "just to not take up too much space in the overhead on the smaller aircraft so other people have more space" and then getting to ATL and finding your back are lost in the ether.

Now that's ****ing ironic! Stupid ****ing AA ****s losing my ****ing bags AGAIN the stupid ****ing ****s. I think the ****ed up Haitian who elected to get off the aircraft after boarding followed by the deaf or drunk FA should have been an indication that the trip was not going well. Stupid mother****ers.

Jan is not so much "not happy" as bludgeoned to death and buried in a bog!

 

[kpc]

Have never weighed over 10KG

How do you achieve that??:idea: My carry on is usully around 12-13 kgs. Laptop, charger, camera, charger, mobile phone charger (mobile phone in my pocket) make up 60-70% of that weight. Rest is clothing and personal effects; always wear my heavy winter jacket (if needed) even tho it may be 30 degrees!!! I can never bring along (or fit in my carry on) a spare pair of shoes, in partic runners, to use at the hotel gym!:shock:

 

[NM]

How do you achieve that??:idea: My carry on is usully around 12-13 kgs. Laptop, charger, camera, charger, mobile phone charger (mobile phone in my pocket) make up 60-70% of that weight. Rest is clothing and personal effects; always wear my heavy winter jacket (if needed) even tho it may be 30 degrees!!! I can never bring along (or fit in my carry on) a spare pair of shoes, in partic runners, to use at the hotel gym!:shock:

Maybe I should have clarified to state that the one they weigh (the wheelie bag with clothes) is always under 10Kg. The laptop etc go in the backpack that remains on my back. distribute the weight evenly so neither is over 10Kg (when carrying an Express card) or 7Kg (when only carrying an economy class boarding pass) and all is good.