another stupid luggage question from me

[GilesFamily]

Ok..so we are flying Northwest. Their policy is 2 pieces of luggage per person, and each piece can't weigh more than 50 lbs. Can I bring ONE pc. of luggage weighing under 100 lb. instead?

This is a real issue for me. I'm a PACK RAT.

 

[ducklite]

Ok..so we are flying Northwest. Their policy is 2 pieces of luggage per person, and each piece can't weigh more than 50 lbs. Can I bring ONE pc. of luggage weighing under 100 lb. instead?

This is a real issue for me. I'm a PACK RAT.

No, you'll be charged extra for that.

Lay what you think you'll need on the bed, and put half of it back. I promise you won't miss it!! You only need two-three pair of shoes, including what's on your feet as you travel. One pair sneakers or walking shoes, one pair of sandals, and if you are doing any fine dining, one pair of dressier sandals.

Use travel sizes for toiletries. Unless you are going in the summer, your shorts can be worn twice. I can pack for a week in a roll-on and tote bag, not including my camera gear and laptop.

Anne

Anne

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Ok..so we are flying Northwest. Their policy is 2 pieces of luggage per person, and each piece can't weigh more than 50 lbs. Can I bring ONE pc. of luggage weighing under 100 lb. instead?

This is a real issue for me. I'm a PACK RAT.

Northwest's rules:

• For bags weighing 51 - 70 lbs., the overweight luggage fee is $25.00.
• For bags weighing 71 - 100 lbs., the overweight luggage fee is $50.00.
• Bags weighing over 100 lbs. are not accepted.

For more of Northwest's checked baggage rules, see http://www.nwa.com/travel/luggage/checked.html

Pretend the rule is 1 piece of checked baggage per passenger, weighing under 40 pounds. You'll be much happier if that's all you need to handle.

 

[CarolA]

Ok..so we are flying Northwest. Their policy is 2 pieces of luggage per person, and each piece can't weigh more than 50 lbs. Can I bring ONE pc. of luggage weighing under 100 lb. instead?

This is a real issue for me. I'm a PACK RAT.

And how are YOU Going to carry this 100 lb piece of luggage???

 

[seashoreCM]

And how are YOU Going to carry this 100 lb piece of luggage???

http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travtale.htm

Past several Disney trips, typically 1-1/2 weeks each, could go for two weeks summer included, carried one suitcase that met "carry on" size requirements.

Really sweaty clothes can be rinsed out and hung over the bathtub to dry, if you don't want to fight for and babysit washing machines while on vacation (reportedly difficult at the value resorts).

 

[chamonix]

I don't understand the issue. Why do you think it would be "better" or more desirable for you to have one bag weighing 100 pounds? (as mentioned upthread, it will be worse for you to deal with your one 100 pound bag then two 50 pound bags)

Don't worry- with two 50 bags, and your two carryons, you will have enough room for your packrat ways. Oh, and remember--everyone in the family gets two 50 pound bags and two carryons--meaning any kids you have get the same allowance--which you can take up with more of your stuff if you want!

Oh, and if it's your dh that is the problem, tell him to pack one bag, and use his second bag allotment for more of your stuff!!

Packing light is awesome, but if you don't or can't do that, feel free to bring the kitchen sink. Nothing wrong with having ALL the stuff you want with you when you want it!

 

[CleveRocks]

Don't worry- with two 50 bags, and your two carryons, you will have enough room for your packrat ways. Oh, and remember--everyone in the family gets two 50 pound bags and two carryons

Which airlines allow you to take two carry-ons? All the airlines I've flown in the past few years have a one carry-on limit, plus a "personal item" such as a camera bag, pocketbook, laptop, etc.

-- Eric

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Which airlines allow you to take two carry-ons? All the airlines I've flown in the past few years have a one carry-on limit, plus a "personal item" such as a camera bag, pocketbook, laptop, etc.

That's true. However, although the official rule is one carry-on and one "personal item," each with different maximum sizes, it effectively works out that each passenger can carry two items onto the plane. Thus, it's easy to think of it as two carry-ons.

 

[chamonix]

Thanks horace. Exactly what I was going to say. Besides, really, think about it: since when is your briefcase, laptop or camera bag a "personal item"? I think that's just their way to let women and men carry a "smaller" second carryon without calling it a purse.
It's two carryons. Hey, and some airlines let you take three bags. Check your airlines particular fine print for details of what they will allow.

 

[GilesFamily]

And how are YOU Going to carry this 100 lb piece of luggage???

Well, I have luggage on wheels, so I figure it would be easier to roll one big suitcase weighing 100 lbs., rather than trying to manuever two luggages on wheels weighing 50 lbs. And since there will be three travelling..two adults, one child, if we carry the maximum, that's six pieces. It just makes sense to roll two elephant-sized suitcases then six small ones..but rules are rules..and I'll just have to leave the kitchen sink at home, I guess.

 

[chamonix]

It just makes sense to roll two elephant-sized suitcases then six small ones.

Roll them where? At the hotel? At the airport? To the ticket counter? Are you walking to the airport? From baggage claim to your rental car? There are rental carts at the airport that will hold all 6 bags. (well, depending on how big they are, lol!) If you and your dh each push a cart, you could bring 12 bags as easily as "rolling two suitcases". LOL!!!

There are also skycaps who will handle your bags for you, and you can make two trips with the bags from your house to your car or whatever. Also, hotels have bell services to help you with your bags, and they have carts too. Oh! and you can do curbside checkin at the airport as an option too!

Sorry, not to pick on you, LOL, I just never understand where people think they will be schlepping their bags around by hand! The carts at the airport are really cheap, or tipping a skycap instead is not much more.

Go on! Bring as much stuff as you want. Just don't try to fit it in the overhead bin on the airplane, LOL!!!

 

[NotUrsula]

so I figure it would be easier to roll one big suitcase weighing 100 lbs., rather than trying to manuever two luggages on wheels weighing 50 lbs.

... True enough, unless you happen to be the poor sap of a ramp worker who has to lift that bag into the cargo hold of the plane. THAT is the reason for the weight limits on individual bags; too many workers' comp claims from ramp workers from lifting overweight bags all day.

You don't have to manuever two suitcases each, as long as your large bags don't exceed the 62" size limit (if they do, then retire them for air travel and come down a bit to nothing bigger than a 29" pullman"). Get yourself over to Target or similar, and buy a mid-sized cloth duffel that will set you back about $14. Put a luggage tag on that duffel. Pack your rolling bag with space bags that will allow you to get more into it, then put the 2 or 3 heaviest space bags on the top, along with the folded duffel.

When you arrive at the airport, get in line to check your bags, and when you step to the counter, unzip your pullman and take out the duffel and 2 or 3 space bags. Put the space bags in the duffel, zip it up, and hand over the duffel and the wheeled bag. At the carousel at your destination, reverse the process. Voila! You didn't have to maneuver two wheeled bags anywhere. I've used this method in more countries than I can count, mostly when I needed to push a stroller with the other hand. (The key is that you MUST use at least some interior bags in the rolling suitcase; you want to be able to switch about 1/2 the weight very quickly into the duffel without dropping stuff all over the place. Done right, packing the duffel takes less than 60 seconds.)

Oh, and I agree with Anne that you should lay everything out on the bed before putting it in suitcases, and do put half of your initially-planned stuff back. When I take my one 29" pullman to Europe, I'm usually packing it for 2 adults and a child, for 18 days in winter.

 

[Lewisc]

Some of the older, well made suitcases, weight 15-20 pounds empty. You might bring an empty duffle bag in case you're overweight.

 

[CarolA]

I conce saw someone do major damage to thier OWN foot when they pulled thier steamer trunk off the baggage claim area. The monstor landed on her foot and the next thing I knew the First Aid guys from the airport were there and she was crying....

 

[isla bonita]

No you can not go over 50 lbs. I would make sure about each cases weight.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

No you can not go over 50 lbs. I would make sure about each cases weight.

Wrong.

As I wrote earlier in this thread, under Northwest's rules, you can go over 50 lbs., but there' are fees. You can't go over 100 lbs.

Other domestic airlines have similar rules, but for other airlines check their websites for the specific details.