Reading mode: Light Dark

Airline carry-on restrictions

Go to last post
B

Builder

Leading Member
Messages
921
Reaction score
1
Location
UK
Hi all,

I'm flying Virgin, long haul tonight, and I'm a little concerned. I've just checked and their carry-on bagage allowance is 6KG. I've called, and apparantly they are quite strict on this. And here comes my problem...

I have a computrekker aw bag with a D70 body, Nikon 28-200, sigma 105, Nikon 50mm, SB800, card reader, and apple 12"powerbook and spare batteries for all of the above. This comes in at around 8KG.

Can anyone advise what I could move out of here and into my hold luggage ? There is nothing there that I'd like to risk on a long-haul flight in the hold. I've already moved things like tripod, chargers, etc.
 
Builder said:
Hi all,

I'm flying Virgin, long haul tonight, and I'm a little concerned.
I've just checked and their carry-on bagage allowance is 6KG. I've
called, and apparantly they are quite strict on this. And here
comes my problem...

I have a computrekker aw bag with a D70 body, Nikon 28-200, sigma
105, Nikon 50mm, SB800, card reader, and apple 12"powerbook and
spare batteries for all of the above. This comes in at around 8KG.

Can anyone advise what I could move out of here and into my hold
luggage ? There is nothing there that I'd like to risk on a
long-haul flight in the hold. I've already moved things like
tripod, chargers, etc.
Click to expand...
None of it - pay the excess if they challenge you. I wouldn't put anything off of that list into the hold - except for that 2kg card reader :-)

--
Regards

Simon

D-70
FCAS Member #109
CATS Member #16

I don't do multi-tasking...!
 
Put the spare batteries in the check-in baggage and see the difference in weight. Do you have another traveler, like a wife? If so, do they have spare capacity? Otherwise come up with the cash.
--
Stan ;o()
I'll misquote Donald Rumsfeld when I say,
'You go take pictures with the glass you've got.'
 
Builder said:
Can anyone advise what I could move out of here and into my hold
luggage ?
Click to expand...
Wear a coat and put put 2 kilos of equipment in the pockets until you get on board ;-)

I've never had my hand luggage weighed (including Virgin), but I guess they might check the weight if you're obviously struggling to carry the bag .. not likey with just 8 kilos.

Funny how they don't charge overweight people more for their tickets, isn't it?

--

 
It's actually not about cost - they just won't let you have any more than 6KG. So there is no option of paying the overage :(

Removing batteries seems to lighten things up by about 500g. I guess that will have to do :(
 
ottaky said:
Wear a coat and put put 2 kilos of equipment in the pockets until
you get on board ;-)
Click to expand...
I like - I can move the sb800 and at least one lens into pockets. I'll be a bit lumpy, but hey ;)
ottaky said:
I've never had my hand luggage weighed (including Virgin), but I
guess they might check the weight if you're obviously struggling to
carry the bag .. not likey with just 8 kilos.
Click to expand...
That's interesting... My last 3 trips out of the country, I've had my hand luggage weighed. Each of those times I came in just under though, so I got away with it :)
ottaky said:
Funny how they don't charge overweight people more for their
tickets, isn't it?
Click to expand...
I had this exact discussion with my wife last night... Why isn't each passenger limited to Xkg luggage? That way, random wimps like me could take 100KG and still be under spec :D
 
They will charge you more for overweight checked baggage - but overweight carry-on baggage goes to the hold. Never actually seen them check/weigh bags, but I have seen a flight attendant send one down. She was helping someone with their bag and after picking it up said it was too heavy and couldn't stay up top.

You generally get to take 2 bags on (one bag + one personal item). Any way to move the laptop to another bag as a last resort if challenged?
 
southwest airlines does indeed charge overweight people more...if you can't fit in the seat with the arm down they make you buy another ticket...but that's a size issue, not a weight issue.
Builder said:
Builder said:
Funny how they don't charge overweight people more for their
tickets, isn't it?
Click to expand...
I had this exact discussion with my wife last night... Why isn't
each passenger limited to Xkg luggage? That way, random wimps like
me could take 100KG and still be under spec :D
Click to expand...
 
This won't be any comfort... on a trip last year, I carried on my major electronic items -- cameras, computer, etc. but checked in the chargers, cables, etc. trying to be considerate on carry-on capacity.

My accessories were pilfered from my luggage, and to make things worse, airlines don't cover loss of "electronic items"!! Try arguing that batteries and cables and AC adapters aren't really "electronic"!

Later in the year, the (US) Transportation Security Administration did open up the gates for claims against these losses; I have a claim pending that looks like it will go thru but only partially (receipts required for everything that will be recommended for reimbursement).

So... "they" tell you to check in more stuff, but won't be held too accountable for it.

Take pictures of everything of value you pack -- if only to recall what was there later on.
--
sg
 
We would use the machine, but my wife's situation is difficult. Her ticket and her passport for her distination are in her maiden name. Her british passport is in her married name. We have our marraige certificate with us, but we've been advised to use human checkin to reduce issues with immigration control.

Plan B is to go and dump my carry on in a locker somewhere, check in, then go fetch it.
 
That's one of my concerns... My destination is not great for security. The amount of bags we've had broken into is quite high :( We've lost a lot of stuff - in one case, we even had the locks returned to us - neatly cut with a bolt cutter. Good ol' tri-circle :(
 
Try wearing a photographer's jacket and put batteries, flash etc in the pockets. This means your carry-on is lighter, but your wear-on is heavier. Your personal weight doesn't come into the equation for the moment, but in time it may.
--
Swaggie
 
Builder said:
That's interesting... My last 3 trips out of the country, I've had
my hand luggage weighed. Each of those times I came in just under
though, so I got away with it :)
Click to expand...
Must be something about you they don't like ;-)

I'm flying with Virgin to Japan in a couple of weeks, but my hand luggage will consist of nothing more than the D70 and enough food to keep me alive for 12 hours. And as many Marlboro as I can stuff in the bag.

Of course, coming back I may have more lenses than I left with. But fewer cigarettes.

--

 
A total nightmare

first leg China southern Airways, charge excess for over 23 kg main bag, airport security weigh every hand luggage bag no matter what airline, as per most asian airports, 10kg max weight, so i just about put everything into my pockets that would fit

got to paris, onto airfrance, they now have a policy to charge excess baggage on evry single kilo over 20kg at about £38kg, and hand luggage is one item but upto 12 kgs

flew virgin few months ago, checked in 28 kilo's no problem, and never got questioned about handluggage, but that was to the states

i would say your main problem is coming back, as the oriental airport staff are so effiecient that very little gets past them, the bottem line is a coat'with lots of big deep pockets
where is it your going? Shanghai?
 
If possible, put it in a good hard case - put that in a box, and ship it to your destination (insured) via FedEx or UPS (or similar). Another possiblity is to put the gear in a solid security case, then put that case in a cheap suitcase and check it. Make sure the equipment is insured, either via personal insurance or with the carrier (pay for the airline ins if necessary).
 
reid999 said:
A total nightmare
first leg China southern Airways, charge excess for over 23 kg main
bag, airport security weigh every hand luggage bag no matter what
airline, as per most asian airports
Click to expand...
Really? I've never had that. On a recent Beijing-Xi'an-Beijing-Hong Kong-London trip nobody took the slightest interest in my hand luggage (a trolley bag plus a camera backpack).

Ben

--
Photos: http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/photos/
Kit: http://www.benlovejoy.com/photography/

 
Got a shooting vest? I put all the little things in my pockets. My shooting vest (when I'm not skeet shooting) doubles as a photo vest. With about a dozen pockets, I can carry all the little odds and ends. They don't have anything to say about what is in your pockets as long as it isn't a weapon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top