19" Carry On Bag and European Flights

[BWV Dreamin]

I am planning a Med Cruise for 2011. Will a 19" Carry On bag be too big for most european carriers?

 

[goofy4tink]

I would recommend checking with the airline you are flying on. I know that when we flew Virgin to London a few years ago, their carryon sizes were quite small.

 

[Pakey]

My carryon is 20.5 outside measurement (bottom of wheels to top of handle) and I have not had any issues with it yet. All airlines I have used have the international carryon size limits posted on their websites.

 

[Jestocost]

Size wise that generally is fine. What can get you with the European carriers is the weight limit, however. Swissair, for example, allows bags up to about 21.5" in length, but weight is limited to less than 18 lbs. And they will weigh your carry on bag.

 

[LilyWDW]

It should say on the airlines website what their international limits are.

But all I know is that they are VERY strict about them.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Thanks for the replys. I don't know who I'm flying with yet, as my cruise isn't until 2011. Just wanted to get an idea if I can use this as a carry on. Looks like Leuftansa, Air Canada, and British Airways are the big three for flying into Barcelona from the US. So I'll check out their websites. Did not know they weigh the carry ons! Thanks for that info!

 

[NotUrsula]

Yes, they weigh them, and strictly, too.

It always amuses me in European airports in winter to see lots of very "bulky" people queueing up to check in, always wearing hiking boots. Savvy folks tend to put their clothes on in layers until after the bag is weighed and tagged, and then once they get past the weigh-in, they head to the restroom, strip a lot of it off and put it in the bag.

You also tend to see folks standing in that line with puffed out pockets from various charger wires; small, but the power bricks are heavy.