The great hand luggage only challenge!!!

[serfty]

...

I seem to remember reading tthat we will only be allowed 1 piece of luggage at LHR.

The UK restrictions have been lifted - it's up to the Airline.

BAA Heathrow: Security | Hand luggage | Heathrow cabin baggage screening

In your case, with you are permitted one carry-on "plus a hand bag or Laptop" at Heathrow. "You must be able to lift the [carry on] bag into the overhead locker unaided". (British Airways - Hand baggage)

 

[simongr]

Just for interest, what do people do when friends ask them to bring back something from overseas? What about presents?

I have a basic rule - no presents and no bring backs for others. (I might make an exception of perfume if I can get it at the airport, or on board).

I figure that the burden of me having to go shopping and carry additional weight for someone else is more than the cost saving is worth. Years ago, I carried a tape recorder around Europe and USA on a business trip, just so a friend could save a few dollars. That was the last time I brought anything back for someone else.

No gifts, no bring backs for others - unless I am checking luggage. I also have reduced what I bring back for myself (things like tea bags from the UK for us poms). My next trip will require two suits to be taken so I will be back on the luggage trail most likely

 

[rhjames]

No gifts, no bring backs for others - unless I am checking luggage. I also have reduced what I bring back for myself (things like tea bags from the UK for us poms). My next trip will require two suits to be taken so I will be back on the luggage trail most likely

Two suits? I only own one that I bought 20 years ago. Luckily, my business trips rarely require such formalities. An engineer doesn't look right wearing a tie - stops the blood getting to the brain.

These days you can buy most things anywhere - there's no novelty value in overseas goods. It's all made in China (even the T shirt I bought in Alaska!!)

 

[simongr]

I have six suits (two are moving out of rotation so need to be replaced). Sadly my UK requires a suit and as I am there for 4 days I will need to wear two suits.

 

[deka2]

During our trip I have to do some work in London and my client is OK that I only wear a sports coat and trousers.

Just means I will be wearing the sports coat on every flight, so I don’t have to pack it.

 

[PaulC83]

No gifts, no bring backs for others - unless I am checking luggage. I also have reduced what I bring back for myself (things like tea bags from the UK for us poms). My next trip will require two suits to be taken so I will be back on the luggage trail most likely

I am interested in what you bring back tea wise, I am a tea drinker mainly drinking Green Tea with Jasmin flowers (from Asia...) and I am a big Earl Grey drinker, but haven't really got into a particular brand.... Any tips on tea from the experts? <poms>

(sorry if this is too far OT)

 

[rhjames]

I am interested in what you bring back tea wise, I am a tea drinker mainly drinking Green Tea with Jasmin flowers (from Asia...) and I am a big Earl Grey drinker, but haven't really got into a particular brand.... Any tips on tea from the experts? <poms>

(sorry if this is too far OT)

I guess it's OT if it's in hand luggage.

 

[simongr]

I bring back standard english tea bags (PG Tips) which I grew up drinking. Nothing special - just standard bagged tea in Oz is cough.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I guess it's OT if it's in hand luggage.

OT = On Topic or is it Off Topic :idea:

This thread has been very useful as my next US trip will be Hand Luggage Only, on my trip home to Australia I may need to check it in as the bag will be heavier and it won't matter so much if its delayed for a day.

American Airlines make it so easy though maximum weight for carry on 18kgs. :shock:

 

[anat0l]

American Airlines make it so easy though maximum weight for carry on 18kgs. :shock:

That's 4 kg more than the QF domestic allowance for jet aircraft (although for QF it must be 2 x 7 kg).

It does beg to reason how they arrived at that figure, but in saying that it is almost as much as one checked bag.

The problem will be if you take a bag that is just under the rules for AA back into Australia. (Of course, if they don't weigh your bag, then no harm.)

Come to think of it, with all the hand luggage only revolution going on, why aren't "Space Bags" more popular again?

 

[JohnK]

That's 4 kg more than the QF domestic allowance for jet aircraft (although for QF it must be 2 x 7 kg).

It does beg to reason how they arrived at that figure, but in saying that it is almost as much as one checked bag.

Could it be that the carry on limit in the USA is 40 lbs and 18 kgs is the closest round metric equivalent?

 

[medhead]

Having book starclass to NRT and seeing the carry on allowance. i doubly want jetstar to fly to southern europe. 20 kg allowance in Starclass (2x10 kgs) with a laptop as a separate item but included in the 20kgs.

OT = On Topic or is it Off Topic :idea:

Both actually.

 

[BVT]

I need to compliment Jetstar! I am unsure if this is now a JQ policy, or just quality people in their service, but on a number of flights now -

• on embarkation - the locker door above 1/2ABC has been shut, and on boarding I have opened it to find it empty and easily taking my carry-ons. (The FA checking boarding passes seems to be keeping an eye on it staying shut too.)
• on disembarkation - as soon as the seat belt sign goes off, the FA asks if I have baggage in a locker behind me (I assume it is remembered that the front locker was already full when I boarded and tried to stuff in my bags), and he bolts back against the flow to get it for me.

I usually manage to nab 1A (or 1F, 2A) @ check-in on Jetstar, and am amongst the last to board (the best strategy if seated in 1ABC), and am very happy with this approach to their service.

I agree. I have been the recipient of this type of thoughtfulness by JQ FA's BUT only on OOL - MEL. OOL - SYD, no way; its every passenger for themself! When asked recently, "Rob" (head trolley dolly) said - none too politely - it was my fault for not boarding early enough. I usually go for 1D or 1F to avoid the ABC dilemma.

BvT

 

[jdlover23]

About to head to US at the end of August and plan carry on only as will be doing some mileage running too

this article from recent NY times was helpful reading

10 Days in a Carry-On - Slide Show - NYTimes.com

I cant wait to do a carry on only international trip, do the check in people in OZ ever query not checking a bag?

 

[dot]

...
I cant wait to do a carry on only international trip, do the check in people in OZ ever query not checking a bag?

Not ever for me - and that's with well over 150 international trips with Hand luggage only (flying with QF mainly out of Oz, but occasionally with CX)

 

[Mal]

I cant wait to do a carry on only international trip, do the check in people in OZ ever query not checking a bag?

Nah not really. You might get a weird question at check-in such as "You have no bags to check?", but it's not a drama. They may want to weigh carry-on... which of course could cause some dramas. (Finnair did this to me ex-LHR during a carry-on only trip ... I was 3kg over and they just went "meh" and ignored it).

When arriving at your destination, it could also raise some flags, but generally I've had no issues with carry-on only travel.

 

[davidj-bell]

Nah not really. You might get a weird question at check-in such as "You have no bags to check?", but it's not a drama. They may want to weigh carry-on... which of course could cause some dramas. (Finnair did this to me ex-LHR during a carry-on only trip ... I was 3kg over and they just went "meh" and ignored it).

When arriving at your destination, it could also raise some flags, but generally I've had no issues with carry-on only travel.

I've been on international long-haul trips up to 2 weeks (including to the US) with just carry on only, with no hassles. The only time I got hassled was leaving Israel where I'd been for just 4 days on a leisure trip, and they were a bit funny that I didn't have any hold luggage - how many clothes does one need for 4 days?

 

[Maca44]

I will be in the USA and Canada late August also, for just over three weeks, and after my last trip last year to the same destinations I will NEVER (if I can help it) check luggage again. On my last trip with carry on I had numerous internal flights and would have saved many hours not checking luggage/waiting by the carousel etc. I flew J back to SYD and it took about 16 minutes from time I stepped off the a/c until I was standing on the street outside the terminal. Time is money..

 

[aussiejohn]

Well the pics were nice, but she had a bag and clothes that would weigh far more than the standard 7kgs most airlines seem to be imposing now. I have a couple of rolling carry on bags and they all weigh far too much to use now. Last trip to Singapore, I picked up an el cheapo roller bag at John Little for $12! It weighs less than 2kgs. Lightest I've found so far with wheels! Had to ditch a few items to stay under the 7kgs on Air Asia, but it worked. I suspect that on normal airlines you can probably get away with a heavier bag, so long as it looks like it is the right size. They don't seem to check a lot of the time and you see people struggling to heave them up into the overhead bins.

A word of warning if you don't already know, don't exceed your 7kgs at the Budget Terminal at Changi, they weigh your bag once you enter the restricted area before security. From memory it was $SG16 for every kilo over. There are scales in the main terminal to check your bags before checking in.

Anyway, that was my first trip with carry on only and I managed to do 2 weeks in Malaysia and Singapore. Admittedly, only casual clothes and doing a bit of laundry as I went, but I still came home with a couple of unworn items! No matter how hard we try, we still overpack!!

About to head to US at the end of August and plan carry on only as will be doing some mileage running too

this article from recent NY times was helpful reading

10 Days in a Carry-On - Slide Show - NYTimes.com

I cant wait to do a carry on only international trip, do the check in people in OZ ever query not checking a bag?

 

[anat0l]

A key contributor to weight is laptops and electronics in general. Even my netbook weighs in at just over 1kg with the battery; sure 1kg isn't a lot but when your allowance is 7kg that is 14% of your weight allowance!

One technique is to wear extra clothes, wear a jacket and stuff things in the pockets, or bring a suit jacket in garment bag and hide things in that (either the suit jacket itself or the garment bag).

If people want to weigh those (or you) then that's being sadistic by current standards

In short for me, I have a lot of trouble going hand luggage only, even for a few days. I end up having to pack and sit on my bag at times. Even worse when I'm faced with a short trip to a mine site, when I need to carry 2 pairs of shoes with me (good shoes and steel cap boots, the latter being huge).