Ahhh! My cabin baggage is too big?

[tennisfan]

I ran into the problem with VA last October with hand luggage, I knew they state 6kg but whenever I have flown with Continental, Delta & AF none had every weighed the hand luggage (as states the US airlines have 18kg allowence). The rude lady at VA desk (the only rude one) made me & my friend empty the cases into the checked luggage, heres the kicker she just said put it into any case against Customs rules. It was still over with just my laptop in the case, when I explained it she said ok but they may make you take it out of you luggage & carry it on to the plane due to the weight. How did it matter if I carried it on to storing it in my bag

Needless to say we were mindful of this coming back so sorted it out only for our luggage not to be weighed I also don't like how you can't have a personal item carried on with VA unlike most of the other airlines in which you can. It has certainly made me think about flying with them again.

I personally think Delta are one of the best I have flown with

 

[disneyholic family]

I ran into the problem with VA last October with hand luggage, I knew they state 6kg but whenever I have flown with Continental, Delta & AF none had every weighed the hand luggage (as states the US airlines have 18kg allowence). The rude lady at VA desk (the only rude one) made me & my friend empty the cases into the checked luggage, heres the kicker she just said put it into any case against Customs rules. It was still over with just my laptop in the case, when I explained it she said ok but they may make you take it out of you luggage & carry it on to the plane due to the weight. How did it matter if I carried it on to storing it in my bag

Needless to say we were mindful of this coming back so sorted it out only for our luggage not to be weighed I also don't like how you can't have a personal item carried on with VA unlike most of the other airlines in which you can. It has certainly made me think about flying with them again.

I personally think Delta are one of the best I have flown with

that was it - she made me feel terrible about the whole thing....a simple smile would have gone a long way...

 

[2Tiggies]

How did it matter if I carried it on to storing it in my bag

My understanding is that it is related to safety with per item weight in the overhead lockers. It would appear that 6 kg falling out and hitting you on the head is not lethal; anything over could potentially be (I just added that last bit in for effect).

Non UK/EU airlines are governed by a different safety code.

That said, I have never had my hand luggage weighed. It's the checked bags which have caused me inconvenience in the past

 

[Goofyish]

In addition to your hand luggage you can also take an 'overcoat' - so you can take a big one with lots of pockets

 

[disneyholic family]

My understanding is that it is related to safety with per item weight in the overhead lockers. It would appear that 6 kg falling out and hitting you on the head is not lethal; anything over could potentially be (I just added that last bit in for effect).

Non UK/EU airlines are governed by a different safety code.

That said, I have never had my hand luggage weighed. It's the checked bags which have caused me inconvenience in the past

i guess americans have harder heads, so it takes over 18 kg to hurt them

 

[tennisfan]

My understanding is that it is related to safety with per item weight in the overhead lockers. It would appear that 6 kg falling out and hitting you on the head is not lethal; anything over could potentially be (I just added that last bit in for effect).

Non UK/EU airlines are governed by a different safety code.

That said, I have never had my hand luggage weighed. It's the checked bags which have caused me inconvenience in the past

I understand about safety but the plane was a Boeing same as what Delta was but had a 12kg difference in hand luggage. Its just annoying with the differences between airlines

 

[2Tiggies]

i guess americans have harder heads, so it takes over 18 kg to hurt them

Nah, I think Brits are just weaklings - protected by far too many 'safety regulations' They could always hand out protective head gear at the gate and do away with those stupid packs of flight socks with 100's of loose threads, pens that don't write, toothbrushes that could scrape a BBQ grid and the single squirt of toothpaste .....

I would far rather have a decent hard hat and know that I can bring my OWN choice of soft, fluffy socks, a good quality pen, a toothbrush I don't begrudge my gums enough to run over my teeth and a 100ml tube of toothpaste

 

[starrysky]

Nah, I think Brits are just weaklings - protected by far too many 'safety regulations' They could always hand out protective head gear at the gate and do away with those stupid packs of flight socks with 100's of loose threads, pens that don't write, toothbrushes that could scrape a BBQ grid and the single squirt of toothpaste .....

I would far rather have a decent hard hat and know that I can bring my OWN choice of soft, fluffy socks, a good quality pen, a toothbrush I don't begrudge my gums enough to run over my teeth and a 100ml tube of toothpaste

I agree 100% those tooth brushes are brutal.
On another note we are flying with Aer Lingus again and the weight allowance is 10kg size is 55X40X20 so not too bad plus you can get a laptop/handbag as well. So its pretty good and they never checked the weight on the way out or back last time. I still make sure I'm under the allowance though just to be safe. As for size I have a carry on that is 1inch over so fingers crossed they don't check this time.

 

[Twilight Terror]

I've had a few occasions with VA where hand luggage has been checked. After the transatlantic bomb plot was foiled in 2006, the restrictions were intense a month before we went on holiday. By the time we went, they were back to one bag and restricted liquids only, as opposed to no hand luggage at all.

That trip, our bags were both put into the hand luggage checked as we entered the queue, under the watchful eye of a VA person. Anyone found to not fit the framework was ordered to repack. I remember having to repack one of our because we had a long box in it (with meds in) that because it was pointing one way in the bag, made the top of the bag not fit in. That time, all bags were weighed as well. However, that was all due to the circumstances at the time. That said, in the world we live in today, something similar could happen again to ensure all the rules are strictly adhered to, so just be prepared.

I only had my bag weighed one other time, and that's because I'm small, my bag was stuffed to the brim (just a normal backpack) and the lady saw me 'struggle' with it. I had my laptop, camera and video camera in it. When it was weighed, I think it was 7kg. I took out one of the cameras and gave it to my sister and all was good.

I guess, like others have said, you know the rules and restrictions, and if you go against them, then you have to be prepared for the consequences should anyone bother to check them.

I am looking forward to not flying with VA this year, and flying American Airlines. Not only is there no restriction on weight (just size), I am able to take my laptop as a separate item, so no need to worry about trying to jam it, along with everything else in my backpack! I can also buy a new backpack (zip going and strap on one side starting to fray!) and not have to worry if its big enough to fit my widescreen lappie! Yippee!

 

[originalkk]

BA also have no weight limit so long as you can lift it into the lockers unaided (plus a laptop bag).

Virgin's policy is of course all about getting you to upgrade to premium cabins, nothing to do with safety. Otherwise why not have the same limit in UC? Lockers are all the same, and I don't believe that VA are more safe than either BA or the major US carriers.

This is one reason we fly BA in preference if the price is similar. As airlines have reduced the checked allowance to 1x23kg, the cabin allowance becomes more important and, considering the price of the tickets, 6kg is ridiculous for long haul flights.

I also carry a laptop and dslr with lenses, and that lot is unlikely to be within 6kg, but no way would I let them go in the hold. We were told by VA at LHR once that we could have an extra 3kg for the laptop though.

 

[disneyholic family]

i love that no weight limit, you just have to be able to lift it unaided into the overhead bin...
i'm having visions of olympic weight lifter passengers who can lift 200 kg overhead...
can you just picture that!!

 

[2Tiggies]

i love that no weight limit, you just have to be able to lift it unaided into the overhead bin...
i'm having visions of olympic weight lifter passengers who can lift 200 kg overhead...
can you just picture that!!

What time shall I meet you at the gym? I get up quite early and I know you do too.

 

[wayneg]

i love that no weight limit, you just have to be able to lift it unaided into the overhead bin...
i'm having visions of olympic weight lifter passengers who can lift 200 kg overhead...
can you just picture that!!

I had a delivery a couple of weeks ago, courier brought in some rolls of paper, I expected him making 2 or 3 trips but he brought them all in 1 go, 12 rolls at 5kg each = 60kg, picked them up as though they were a box of tissues (and he was about half the size of me) he would have no problems throwing 200kg up there.

 

[disneyholic family]

i'm not going to be able to help laughing when i get on the plane in august and lift my bag overhead...
the crew is going to think i'm MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

I had a delivery a couple of weeks ago, courier brought in some rolls of paper, I expected him making 2 or 3 trips but he brought them all in 1 go, 12 rolls at 5kg each = 60kg, picked them up as though they were a box of tissues (and he was about half the size of me) he would have no problems throwing 200kg up there.

Could one hire him to assist with boarding and stowing cabin baggage? Perhaps? Just a thought. I was thinking if he could lift 60 kg per person for DD and I we would have 166 kg luggage we could take over with no excess fees

 

[disneyholic family]

Could one hire him to assist with boarding and stowing cabin baggage? Perhaps? Just a thought. I was thinking if he could lift 60 kg per person for DD and I we would have 166 kg luggage we could take over with no excess fees

we could stowaway in a carryon bag and be lifted into the overhead bin by Wayne's delivery guy
great way to save a ticket

 

[2Tiggies]

we could stowaway in a carryon bag and be lifted into the overhead bin by Wayne's delivery guy
great way to save a ticket

Do you get inflight meals and wine (less worried about the cardboard food) if you travel in an overhead locker? Imagine the shock on the faces of the crew pushing the drinks trolley down the aisle and suddenly an overhead locker swings open and we pop our heads out and shout "Yoohoo Two bottles of Cabernet and a G&T up here please!" And ... we can tell everyone we flew in 'the bubble'

I bought a Samsonite "carry on" suitcase. The leaflet on it (and the sales guy) told me it was the standard "carry on" size so would be fine to take on board the aircraft and store in the overhead lockers.

But I've just been on the VA website and they say the maximum size for cabin baggage is:

23 x 36 x 56cm

Mine is 20 x 40 x 55cm

Do you reckon I can get away with it?

Thanks!

Back to the original question, the hold luggage is measured in size by the sum of the dimensions (L+W+H). If that were to be applied to the carry on baggage too your bag would be exactly the correct size. Is it a soft sided bag? If it is not jam packed it may be that you could squish it through that measuring 'cage' thing I have seen them use on other airlines. I don't know how VA measure their bags - as mentioned before I have never had mine done even though I have definitely exceeded the limit on my hand luggage before.

 

[starrysky]

Do you get inflight meals and wine (less worried about the cardboard food) if you travel in an overhead locker? Imagine the shock on the faces of the crew pushing the drinks trolley down the aisle and suddenly an overhead locker swings open and we pop our heads out and shout "Yoohoo Two bottles of Cabernet and a G&T up here please!" And ... we can tell everyone we flew in 'the bubble'

 

[disneyholic family]

Do you get inflight meals and wine (less worried about the cardboard food) if you travel in an overhead locker? Imagine the shock on the faces of the crew pushing the drinks trolley down the aisle and suddenly an overhead locker swings open and we pop our heads out and shout "Yoohoo Two bottles of Cabernet and a G&T up here please!" And ... we can tell everyone we flew in 'the bubble'

i can't stop laughing!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

i can't stop laughing!!!

Have another drink then