Luggage question

[Nevergrow'nup]

I have to buy a new suitcase for our trip. Would you suggest getting a 32" or 28" or 2 24"? If I get a 32" how hard is it to keep the weight under the 50 lbs. limit? I rarely ever fly but with the gas prices, we might fly more and drive less!! Also, if I used a large duffel bag, how ripped, damaged might it get? Thanks!

 

[LisaRay]

We have a large duffle with wheels on one side of it and have flown with it several times with no damage.

Also we have one big 32" one and I just packed it last night and weighing it at home it came to 48.5 pounds! We have had this one up to 55lbs. and they always make me take stuff out of it! The scales at home never match the ones at the airport. Nothing like going through it in front of everyone! This time I made sure the items in the outside pockets are things I can easily switch out to another bag if need be.
My DH has a 48" suitcase he uses for work with hauling stuff on business trips and since they changed the weight limit he says it doesn't matter how light weight the stuff is in the that big suitcase if it is full there is no way to get it under 50lbs!
He asked me if I wanted to use it for the trip and I said NO WAY!!

I think a 28" expandable one works good and is a good size!

 

[DVC-Don]

We downsized from two 33" bags to four 26" bags to keep the individual weights down.

 

[magicaldisney]

We flew with a different airline this year and we were surprised that the limit was 75 pounds per bag. It was great. You might want to check with the airlines you most frequently use. The limits might be higher than you think.

 

[mbb]

......I think a 28" expandable one works good and is a good size!

ITA...if you really have to check bags.

They fit better into different size rental cars too...We rented a minivan last year, and with 6 people, we would not have had rooom for 4 of those really huge suitcases...the smaller ones could be "squished" in and around everyone though.

HTH!

 

[dvc guy]

Look at rolling duffle bags. They are light weight, flexable so they can be stuffed into trunks.We have 28" or 30" and no matter how much you pack them they never go over 50 lbs( unless you are travel with books or weights ) . Don't buy expensive stuff, the airlines can and have ruined them all, look for a bag with good zipper. After a few dozen trips they all look the same

 

[puffkin]

We have 28"s. They are pretty heavy without anything in them. We have a hard time keeping them under 50lbs sometimes (especially when coming home and not packing as carefully). I wouldn't go any bigger than that.

Check the weights on your airlines. We are flying Southwest (50 lb. limit) going down and Airtran coming home (75 lb. limit). I am glad the higher weight limit is on the way home when we are less careful with our packing, and have more souvenirs

 

[Okiemom]

Does anyone know the weight limit for American Airlines?

 

[safetymom]

http://www.aa.com/content/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jhtml

From the AA website.

 

[Nevergrow'nup]

I have bought a 24" and packed it. Weight came in around 40 lbs! Good thing I didn't get a 28"!! US Air allows 50 lbs, so even if my scale is off I have some leeway. I chose a 24" because it is small enough to use for a weekend trip as well. Thanks again for the advice!!