European luggage - how strict are they with carry ons

[TXTransplant]

We leave in a week for Italy. I'm booked on KLM, leaving from Houston with stops in Amsterdam. I really want to do two carry-on suitcases (one for each of us), and just yesterday had the sense to check the size guidelines.

So, their max carry-on size is 55 cm (tall) x 25 cm (deep) x 35 cm (wide). I'm pretty sure the "size" of my two carry-ons is 55 cm (21"); however, this completely depends on how I measure. The size of the "box" is 21", but if I take it all the way from the tip of the wheel to the top of the handle, it's over 21".

Any insight on how this will be measured at the airport? Should I just suck it up and go buy two new suitcases that I'm certain are shorter than 21"?

I didn't have this issue when we traveled to Germany last year because we flew United non-stop, so US luggage restrictions applied. I know European airlines sometimes have stricter requirements.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

Carry ons are measured from the tips of the wheels to the top of the attached handles, while the retractable handle is recessed. So that 55 cm/21" includes the wheels and the handle. Go by European regulations if you are flying a European carrier. Carriers are cracking down. Also, I would go with a non-expanding hard sided case that does not have any outside pockets on it to ensure it fits in any bag checker they may have. These days, the bag has to be able to slide into the bag checker without any assistance and if you have to force the bag in then they will make you check the bag. We've seen it happen. I don't know how many bags we looked at in how many stores but there are not many that actually fit in the checker without assistance because even the hard sided cases are made to expand and the minute you add that extra zipper, even when it's not expanded, it adds width to the case making it just that extra bit too wide to fit. I can't remember the name of the case we have right now (I'm at work and can't look at the suitcase) but I can look at home later if you want. I believe it's an Italian brand that's pretty widely available. We had no issues flying with it in December. Air Canada has really been cracking down on carry ons and making people check the size of their bags before they even let them through past the check in desk and they took one look at our carry on bags and didn't even bother to have us put them in the sizer, they knew just from looking that they would fit.

 

[Saph]

In my experience, they are quite strict when it is a flight within Europe, but not when it's transatlantic. In 2014, my husband and I took two medium sized roller bags that always pass for carry on in the US. They were a few inches taller and a few inches thicker than the European allowance.

We had the following flights and the following experiences...

- Delta from US to Paris: passed, allowed to carry on
- Air France from Paris to Stockholm: did NOT pass. The person checked our luggage before we got into the security line, and made us put the luggage into the little box for size allotment (you know, those things at US airports that nobody ever seems to actually use).
- Delta from Stockholm to Amsterdam: we got through security, but while waiting to board, the gate agent begun to come around to every person waiting around and started pulling bags to be checked instead of carried on. Since my husband and I really wanted our bags with us (because this was the first flight of three, and we didn't want to wait for bags to pass customs in US), we actually left the area while the gate agent was checking to avoid getting flagged. We were able to get them on, but I think she would have made us check them if she had seen the bags
- Delta from Amsterdam to USA: Got them on - didn't seem to be too much concern (larger plane)

I think there's a risk they could measure it in Amsterdam and make you check it.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

In my experience, they are quite strict when it is a flight within Europe, but not when it's transatlantic. In 2014, my husband and I took two medium sized roller bags that always pass for carry on in the US. They were a few inches taller and a few inches thicker than the European allowance.

Airlines in the past year have REALLY started cracking down on carry on since the introduction of checked baggage fees. Once people had to start paying fees to check their bags people started bringing everything in the cabin and it became ridiculous. I've watched people bring 4 or 5 large carryon bags into the cabin each while I'm bringing my 1 carryon and 1 personal item and then we have the airline yelling at everyone to gate check their carryons because there is not enough overhead bin space for all the carryon items.

Best bet, make sure your carryon is within the size limits of your carrier, from the top of the handle to the bottom of the wheels, even if it means going out and buying new suitcases. At least you'll have suitcases that will fit on other carriers for the future.

 

[TXTransplant]

Thanks for all of the tips! I was afraid the measurement would be from the tip of the wheels to the (non-extendable) handle. That really eliminates a lot of bags.

We fly on a 747 to Amsterdam, so I figure we have a better chance of getting them on that flight. But then we transfer to a 737 to get to Rome. And our flight home from Florence to Amsterdam is on a very small plane (I think maybe an Embraer commuter jet). I'm thinking I need to buy at least one carry on that will "fit in the box". If I have to check the second carry on at some point, it won't be as big of a deal if I still have one bag with me. I just don't want to end up having to check both bags, because that will be the time that the airline loses my luggage.

The good news is, KLM allows up to one checked bag per person for no charge. So I don't have to worry about them trying to extort more money from us by forcing us to check bags.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

Thanks for all of the tips! I was afraid the measurement would be from the tip of the wheels to the (non-extendable) handle. That really eliminates a lot of bags.

We fly on a 747 to Amsterdam, so I figure we have a better chance of getting them on that flight. But then we transfer to a 737 to get to Rome. And our flight home from Florence to Amsterdam is on a very small plane (I think maybe an Embraer commuter jet). I'm thinking I need to buy at least one carry on that will "fit in the box". If I have to check the second carry on at some point, it won't be as big of a deal if I still have one bag with me. I just don't want to end up having to check both bags, because that will be the time that the airline loses my luggage.

Definitely make sure it "fits in the box" easily. Like I said, they don't want you to have to "force" it in any way. It needs to slide in unassisted, which is why I recommended a non-expanding variety. I'll check at home and see which brand we have. We bought ours to fit Air Canada which code shares with carriers like Lufthansa so they have the same carry on size restrictions and we actually found a store that had an Air Canada luggage sizer that we could use to make sure our bag choice would fit. I'll post the brand on here when I get home that way you can take a look and see if you can find it where you are. It's a hard sided case that doesn't expand and I know for a fact that it fits in the sizer fully packed without issue. I travelled for a weekend trip with it last July fully packed without issue and didn't have to check it.

 

[Alacrity]

If you are shopping for bags do be careful to find true measurements. It seems to be common for manufacturers to advertise sizes measured in different ways. I guess it's kind of "open to interpretation" on how a bag is to be measured and most seem to skew those measurements to look better than then might really be. There are a few manufactures that make it a point to advertise the true measurements of their bags and there are some bag review sites out there that check things out for us! I look at 1bag1world.com (their archive site has a lot of info) and http://www.onebag.com/.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

If you are shopping for bags do be careful to find true measurements. It seems to be common for manufacturers to advertise sizes measured in different ways. I guess it's kind of "open to interpretation" on how a bag is to be measured and most seem to skew those measurements to look better than then might really be. There are a few manufactures that make it a point to advertise the true measurements of their bags and there are some bag review sites out there that check things out for us! I look at 1bag1world.com (their archive site has a lot of info) and http://www.onebag.com/.

That is so true. Don't fall for the "Carry on size" scam that stores will try to sell you. Take a tape measure with you. Most "carry on bags" don't include the wheels, handle and pockets in their measurements and these WILL trip you up when you get to the sizers.

 

[TXTransplant]

I've got two bags, and my parents also have one or two. I think I will take them to the airport on Sunday and see if they fit in the sizer. Thankfully, the airport isn't far from my house.

 

[Alacrity]

I've got two bags, and my parents also have one or two. I think I will take them to the airport on Sunday and see if they fit in the sizer. Thankfully, the airport isn't far from my house.

It may be wise to check the bag specifications on each airline you will fly too. And measure the bags to see how they fit into those published sizes. Allowed weight, number of bags and bag size, both checked and carry-on, can vary airline to airline! I've been on trips where I had to pick the lowest allowed. Usually, if it's all partner airlines, they'll be close or the originating airline will be the measure. But you may have to come back starting on a different partner, which may be different. Kind of a pain sometimes!

 

[TXTransplant]

It may be wise to check the bag specifications on each airline you will fly too. And measure the bags to see how they fit into those published sizes. Allowed weight, number of bags and bag size, both checked and carry-on, can vary airline to airline! I've been on trips where I had to pick the lowest allowed. Usually, if it's all partner airlines, they'll be close or the originating airline will be the measure. But you may have to come back starting on a different partner, which may be different. Kind of a pain sometimes!

Thankfully, all our flights are on KLM, so I don't have to deal with multiple airlines.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

Thankfully, all our flights are on KLM, so I don't have to deal with multiple airlines.

If you can, see if you can use the KLM bag sizer at the airport. Also I would make sure you try to pack at least the largest of your carry ons with what you might actually carry in it before you take it to the airport that way you have an honest idea of what the size of the suitcase will be. It's pointless to size it empty and then get to the airport and have the pockets stuffed and find out that it fit last week and now it has to be checked because it's pockets are full and it doesn't fit anymore.

 

[TXTransplant]

If you can, see if you can use the KLM bag sizer at the airport. Also I would make sure you try to pack at least the largest of your carry ons with what you might actually carry in it before you take it to the airport that way you have an honest idea of what the size of the suitcase will be. It's pointless to size it empty and then get to the airport and have the pockets stuffed and find out that it fit last week and now it has to be checked because it's pockets are full and it doesn't fit anymore.

I think that's what I'm going to try to do. Although, I probably won't be able to pack the bag. But I'm more worried about height at this point.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

I think that's what I'm going to try to do. Although, I probably won't be able to pack the bag. But I'm more worried about height at this point.

Just be aware that any external pockets will make it fit a little more snug even when the case is empty so just keep that in mind if you do take it with you and don't pack anything in the external pockets to ensure it still fits in.

 

[TXTransplant]

Just be aware that any external pockets will make it fit a little more snug even when the case is empty so just keep that in mind if you do take it with you and don't pack anything in the external pockets to ensure it still fits in.

Yeah, I have a bad habit of over stuffing my bags and would be lying if I said I had never had trouble fitting it into the overhead bin on a domestic flight.

The good news is, it looks like my dad has a bag that I can borrow that is under 21", wheels to handle.

 

[sayhello]

When I did the Greece ABD, and we were checking in for our flight from Athens to Santorini, the woman at the checkin line wanted to check my carryon (which really wasn't that big). This is when being on an ABD has it's advantages, as our Guide Elena had a rather heated argument with the woman in Greek, and I was allowed to carry it on with me (and it fit just fine). But when I bought a new carryon (I had spinner envy) I made sure to get the one that was "International carryon size". I've had no issues since. (And buying a spinner was one of the best luggage decisions I ever made! I *love* pushing my bag instead of pulling it!),

Sayhello

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

Yeah, I have a bad habit of over stuffing my bags and would be lying if I said I had never had trouble fitting it into the overhead bin on a domestic flight

And this is what the airlines are really cracking down on now. We were flying home from Disneyland last December and we watched as an Air Canada employee just eyeballed this lady's suitcase in front of us and before she even left the check in counter, he was telling her she had to check her carry on bag cause it was too big to fit. She was not impressed. It was a wheeled duffle and stuffed to the point of exploding and he was not going to let her into the airport with it. She had no choice. That's why I said be careful about the pockets and such. I'll check when I get home what the make of my hardsided case is and let you know in case you decide to get new bags.

 

[sayhello]

Yeah, I have a bad habit of over stuffing my bags and would be lying if I said I had never had trouble fitting it into the overhead bin on a domestic flight.

Me too. That's one reason I went to a hard-sided carryon.

The good news is, it looks like my dad has a bag that I can borrow that is under 21", wheels to handle.

Cool! That works!

Sayhello

 

[BluesTraveler]

We have the "Delsey" brand international carry on size, and I would highly recommend. They can be found at Macy's, if there's one close you. They've held up well over many years of travel.

Please write a trip report when you get home! I loved your Germany report and this trip is one we're considering for next year, so I'm really interested in how you and your son like it.

 

[TXTransplant]

When I did the Greece ABD, and we were checking in for our flight from Athens to Santorini, the woman at the checkin line wanted to check my carryon (which really wasn't that big). This is when being on an ABD has it's advantages, as our Guide Elena had a rather heated argument with the woman in Greek, and I was allowed to carry it on with me (and it fit just fine). But when I bought a new carryon (I had spinner envy) I made sure to get the one that was "International carryon size". I've had no issues since. (And buying a spinner was one of the best luggage decisions I ever made! I *love* pushing my bag instead of pulling it!),

Sayhello

Sayhello, what bag did you get? Brand and "size"?