Luggage & flying question

[Skjhjb]

Maybe seems silly - but it has been over 21 years since I've flown anywhere, and tomorrow morning is DD's first flight anywhere (so of course Disney is the ultimate destination for a first flight!)

Her suitcase doesn't have a lock on it. Should I go out and get one today for her?

 

[starvenger]

Not really necessary, unless you are paranoid about stuff getting taken from your luggage.

Alternate suggestion - buy zip ties to close your luggage. Pack a nail clipper in your carry on so you can open the luggage back up.

 

[Skjhjb]

Not paranoid really - but at my suggestion she moved her iPad to her carry-on instead of buried under the snacks in her suitcase!

 

[starvenger]

Good call on that.

 

[dis_guy]

Just a general luggage comment to add, in case it can help someone.

I recently got a new set of hard sided luggage for DW to have for our upcoming trip. When we opened it up I was amazed at the size of the suitcase. It's a 28 inch Samsonite from Costco. Being the cautious type I checked our airline's baggage page to get the allowed measurements. When I measured DW's new case, there was no way that was a legal checked bag! It was several inches too big. Sure enough Google came up with several comments from people that said they were charged oversized baggage fees for that particular case. We took it back rather than risk an oversized bag fee, which is $100 on our airline.

I guess the moral of the story is to be sure all your bags, not just the carry ons are an allowable size for your airline. Travelling is stressful enough these days.

 

[SaraJR]

a long these lines how do you pack breakable souvenirs like mugs on the way home?

 

[Skjhjb]

The luggage tags are now packaged with your magic bands.

Just a general luggage comment to add, in case it can help someone.

I recently got a new set of hard sided luggage for DW to have for our upcoming trip. When we opened it up I was amazed at the size of the suitcase. It's a 28 inch Samsonite from Costco. Being the cautious type I checked our airline's baggage page to get the allowed measurements. When I measured DW's new case, there was no way that was a legal checked bag! It was several inches too big. Sure enough Google came up with several comments from people that said they were charged oversized baggage fees for that particular case. We took it back rather than risk an oversized bag fee, which is $100 on our airline.

I guess the moral of the story is to be sure all your bags, not just the carry ons are an allowable size for your airline. Travelling is stressful enough these days.

DD has both measured and weighed her suitcase to be sure she is within Southwest guidelines. It is, even with the "full suitcase inside a larger empty suitcase" - this way, she has a suitcase to bring home all her swag!

a long these lines how do you pack breakable souvenirs like mugs on the way home?

DD's plan is to wrap clothing around anything breakable. Two Christmas ornaments are on her list for me - but they come in a box with tissue packed inside the box to keep it safe, so no worries there!

 

[TommyJK]

a long these lines how do you pack breakable souvenirs like mugs on the way home?

I've always wrapped these in our dirty clothes and positioned them in the center of the bag so there is sufficient padding all around. This works well for mugs and more "durable" breakables (if that makes sense). If it's something fragile that is long/narrow (i.e. that has an easier chance to "snap" in the center) I always bring it in carry-on.

 

[hardis5]

I am a little paranoid to know someone has not opened my suitcase while in transit (especially if going through Customs at destination). The TSA will cut/remove any lock or tie if inspecting a bag and will leave inside the bag taped to a note stating they were the ones that removed such.

Souvenir mugs or breakables we wrap-up in dirty laundry (the fluffiest/biggest piece possible) in checked luggage. Disney gift shops I need to give kudos to, for they wrap in a bubble/serrated cardboard breakables that one could probably bounce off the floor without issue (fantastic at protecting what they wrap).

 

[SaraJR]

oh tip for fellow Canadians with our low dollar on international drive like 30mins from DW is an outlet its farther than the one on vineland but less picked over and the pricing is amazing iv watched a few youtube videos of this girl call ohyoursotough that shows you items and says the regular price and the outlet price and the difference is crazy

 

[Skjhjb]

Sadly DD and her friends won't have access to a vehicle. They are old enough (20) to book rooms at Disney, but you need to be 21 to rent a car. So they won't be leaving property!

But good to know for future trips!

 

[bankr63]

I am a little paranoid to know someone has not opened my suitcase while in transit (especially if going through Customs at destination). The TSA will cut/remove any lock or tie if inspecting a bag and will leave inside the bag taped to a note stating they were the ones that removed such.

You can purchase TSA approved locks for which customs "should" have master keys. I have heard stories of these being cut away as well, but it may save you some grief. They will generally have a TSA symbol and a number that indicates the master key to fit.

We bring a fold up duffel in our bags, and use it bring our breakable souvenirs as carryon coming home. As long as you can squeeze it into the measuring device, you should be fine. I used to work airside for an airline, and bags can get some pretty hard knocks. I would not pack anything fragile in my checked luggage if I can avoid it. When two guys need to load 2 tons of baggage in 10 minutes to get a flight pushed back from the gate on time, speed is a bigger consideration than gentle handling.

 

[hardis5]

You can purchase TSA approved locks for which customs "should" have master keys. I have heard stories of these being cut away as well, but it may save you some grief. They will generally have a TSA symbol and a number that indicates the master key to fit.

The last lock I had cut-off in August was a TSA approved lock (bought for an extra suitcase taken). I think retailers use TSA approved more so to price higher than the TSA using to get into without cutting off.

 

[minnie mum]

I quit using locks years ago. I just make a point if always packing anything of value in my carry-on, and securing the zippers with zipties. The only time the zip tie was cut there was a note left inside by TSA.

We bought several new pieces of luggage a couple of years ago, but I first checked online for the allowable size and weight restrictions for both checked and carry-on.

 

[22Tink]

I've flown quite a bit and I've never put a lock on my luggage and I've never had any issues. I just make sure any valuables are in my carry on.

 

[bankr63]

The last lock I had cut-off in August was a TSA approved lock (bought for an extra suitcase taken). I think retailers use TSA approved more so to price higher than the TSA using to get into without cutting off.

How do you know it was the TSA that cut it off? (JK)

 

[minnie mum]

How do you know it was the TSA that cut it off? (JK)

TSA is supposed to put a note inside your luggage if they open it.

 

[Tinkershelly]

If you're more interested in keeping the zippers closed during baggage handling you can use twist ties. I've had TSA open them for inspection and they put the paper notice in the bag along with the twist tie, kinda defeating the intended purpose. But in fairness I've never had a zipper open during transit.

 

[BlueberryPi]

a long these lines how do you pack breakable souvenirs like mugs on the way home?

Dh & I packed 2 bottles of wine in a carry-on sized bag, on an international flight (Hawaii to Vancouver, BC) using just our clothing and they all arrived without any issue. I did wrap each bottle individually in a paper shopping bag, so that there wouldn't be any shifting, and I packed the suitcase so it was super-full, to prevent shifting and it worked without issue (our suitcase was not a hard shell case either).

 

[minnie mum]

Dh & I packed 2 bottles of wine in a carry-on sized bag, on an international flight (Hawaii to Vancouver, BC) using just our clothing and they all arrived without any issue. I did wrap each bottle individually in a paper shopping bag, so that there wouldn't be any shifting, and I packed the suitcase so it was super-full, to prevent shifting and it worked without issue (our suitcase was not a hard shell case either).

I hope you also put those bottles in a plastic bag in case something did happen that caused them to break.