Luggage size restrictions

[Alesia]

I have had my bag measured and got stuck paying an oversized bag fee. After that, I learned that I could manage to get everything in a smaller bag. Last month, I managed to get everything I need for 2 weeks in Europe (including full hiking gear and clothes for temperatures ranging from 40 to 90 degrees) into a 25" bag and a small carry on.

 

[smallworldnh]

Talking about weight, if you'd like to know before you head to the airport, I recommend this Balanzza scale.
I saw a review on it on TV and they compared it to the scales at the airport, for several different bags and it matched every time.
I got it right after that and it's never let us down, and I cut close to 50 lbs every trip (chronic overpacking disease here)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WUOFH4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

AngiTN, thank you so much for this! I didn't know they had these. The one you suggested is sold out but I found another similar with good reviews so I bought it! (It beats weighing myself and then weighing again holding the heavy suitcase!) Thanks again!

 

[smallworldnh]

Alesia, I envy people who can pack so efficiently. I can't no matter how hard I try. I am a notorious over packer!

 

[AngiTN]

Alesia, I envy people who can pack so efficiently. I can't no matter how hard I try. I am a notorious over packer!

Me too!
Plus, I have to have spare outfits.
The thought of not having options when I got to get dressed each morning leaves me all twitchy. So I have to travel with something for each day plus at least 3 spares. And if it's a longer trip, more spares.
I'll gladly bring a large bag over having to struggle with limiting what I pack. In the summer it's easy. Winter I have a bigger problem since clothes are heavier.
And we aren't even talking about shoes......

 

[smallworldnh]

Me too!
Plus, I have to have spare outfits.
The thought of not having options when I got to get dressed each morning leaves me all twitchy. So I have to travel with something for each day plus at least 3 spares. And if it's a longer trip, more spares.
I'll gladly bring a large bag over having to struggle with limiting what I pack. In the summer it's easy. Winter I have a bigger problem since clothes are heavier.
And we aren't even talking about shoes......

LOL, this is my thinking too! I'd rather have more than I need than not enough!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

So here's the deal....

500 posters on here can all post "the airline never checked"

And it won't matter at ALL! If your luggage is too big and they decide to enforce the rules a defense of "they told me on the DIS it was OK" won't help you LOL! And I have seen some royal crying hissy fits at airports (no, they didn't work, the crier still paid the oversize charge LOL!)

The other risk is that you are probably going to to over the 50 lb weight limit.

You aren't moving to Orlando, just visiting, dump some stuff and get a smaller bag!

 

[Alesia]

Alesia, I envy people who can pack so efficiently. I can't no matter how hard I try. I am a notorious over packer!

It's not always necessary to take less stuff. I just learned to use the space more efficiently. Trust me, I took a lot of stuff - my bag weighed 49.8 lbs.

 

[LilyWDW]

I have a sizable bag that is checked. The size has never been an issue. Weight, however, is a whole different matter!!! I've never seen them measure a bag that's being checked, and I've seen some pretty large bags getting checked. They care about weight.

I have seen them measure bags being checked. Usually ones that are simply huge or that are obviously over packed. But it is done every so often so not something I would want to risk!

 

[smallworldnh]

So here's the deal....



You aren't moving to Orlando, just visiting, dump some stuff and get a smaller bag!

Nope, can't do that! Two weeks is a long time! I need my stuff. Plus I will probably be bringing more home!

 

[pooch]

I am so not a clothes horse in my everyday life. I go shopping only under duress when DD makes me. I can do a full week at wdw in a carry on. I could probably get every stitch of clothes I own in a 25" bag. So sad.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Nope, can't do that! Two weeks is a long time! I need my stuff. Plus I will probably be bringing more home!

Than be prepared to pay the airline gracefully.

 

[ImprovGal]

So here's the deal....

500 posters on here can all post "the airline never checked"

And it won't matter at ALL! If your luggage is too big and they decide to enforce the rules a defense of "they told me on the DIS it was OK" won't help you LOL! And I have seen some royal crying hissy fits at airports (no, they didn't work, the crier still paid the oversize charge LOL!)

The other risk is that you are probably going to to over the 50 lb weight limit.

You aren't moving to Orlando, just visiting, dump some stuff and get a smaller bag!

I'd just like to add that if your bag is overweight, you at least have the option of shuffling stuff amongst your other bags to redistribute the load.

If the agent at the ticket counter decides to measure and finds your bag is oversize, your only options are to pay the fee or not take the bag at all. Usually the charge for one extra checked bag is less than that for an oversized bag.

I have a set of 20" and 28" Samsonite cosmolite lightweight hardsided cases. They are nonexpandable, and can't be overstuffed to exceed carryon sizer or checked size dimensions, and both JUST fit within the respective size limits.

 

[smallworldnh]

I am so not a clothes horse in my everyday life. I go shopping only under duress when DD makes me. I can do a full week at wdw in a carry on. I could probably get every stitch of clothes I own in a 25" bag. So sad.

I don't know about anyone else, but I found the last time I went that I changed my clothes at least twice a day, especially with the heat and humidity. I plan to do laundry only once. It's not really the weight issue I'm concerned with, I know I can keep it under 50 lbs. It's the size of the actual bag so I'll just downsize the thing and stop worrying about it. Funny, I never gave the size of my luggage a thought until a coworker told me she had to pay an extra charge once for being a half inch over.

 

[goofy4tink]

Will your bag get measured? Maybe. But...I still maintain that if your bag is pretty close to the stated size, you will be fine, as long as the weight isn't an issue. I have a 28" spinner that's very easy to overpack. But no one even batted an eye the last time I used it. The weight was about 48 lbs. I use it only when traveling for longer periods of time. And during the warm weather months in Orlando, I need two changes of clothes a day...the humidity kills me. And I don't want to do more than one load of laundry when I'm on vacation!!!

 

[AngiTN]

Have you thought about shopping for your bag online?
Maybe I've never had any issues because I shop online and go with the parameters for checked luggage (domestic) and purchase bags there that fit the category.
I don't think the bags they have exceed what the carriers allow. Now, you can still over fill them so they'll be too heavy but they can't be too big.
And their measurements are provided so you can also check.
I like eBags myself.
https://www.ebags.com/category/luggage/f/checked

 

[kristenrice]

Have you thought about shopping for your bag online?
Maybe I've never had any issues because I shop online and go with the parameters for checked luggage (domestic) and purchase bags there that fit the category.
I don't think the bags they have exceed what the carriers allow. Now, you can still over fill them so they'll be too heavy but they can't be too big.
And their measurements are provided so you can also check.
I like eBags myself.
https://www.ebags.com/category/luggage/f/checked

Two words: PACKING CUBES
They really help you pack a lot of stuff into a small space.

Check out eBags...their brand of luggage is A-mazing...and it all has a lifetime warranty. They have short videos that demonstrate all of their products and it really illustrates how easy it is to pack a lot of stuff in a small space. I *love* my TLS MotherLode Convertible Junior. I bought one for each member of our family and we can EASILY fit enough clothes for a week in each bag...and they fit UNDER THE SEAT on SWA planes so we can call them our "personal item"...meaning we can still take a carry-on bag for the overhead bin. The plastic clip on my daughter's bag broke, rendering it unusable as a backpack, but perfectly fine as a shoulder bag or suitcase. I contacted eBags customer service and they sent me a BRAND NEW bag! I didn't even have to return the "broken" one! They did the same thing when we had a zipper break on one of our eBags lunch bags. They 100% stand behind their products...best customer service I have ever experienced. (On a side note, if you have an AMEX card, you may qualify for a free Shop Runner shipping membership. This would give you FREE 2-day shipping from eBags! A lot of their products ship for free anyways, but not always in 2 days)

I will echo what others have said...don't rely on others' experiences to decide whether or not you want to test the limits. If the airline decides that they want to measure your bag, and you are oversize, you will have to fork over the oversize fee. If you have an oversize bag, expect to pay the fee, or consider yourself lucky if they decide to overlook it.

 

[smallworldnh]

Wow, those cubes look interesting! Thanks for the advice ladies, I appreciate it!

 

[Sugardimples]

On Southwest you can check 2 bags. I prefer taking two smaller bags to one giant bag.

 

[AngiTN]

Two words: PACKING CUBES
They really help you pack a lot of stuff into a small space.

Check out eBags...their brand of luggage is A-mazing...and it all has a lifetime warranty. They have short videos that demonstrate all of their products and it really illustrates how easy it is to pack a lot of stuff in a small space. I *love* my TLS MotherLode Convertible Junior. I bought one for each member of our family and we can EASILY fit enough clothes for a week in each bag...and they fit UNDER THE SEAT on SWA planes so we can call them our "personal item"...meaning we can still take a carry-on bag for the overhead bin. The plastic clip on my daughter's bag broke, rendering it unusable as a backpack, but perfectly fine as a shoulder bag or suitcase. I contacted eBags customer service and they sent me a BRAND NEW bag! I didn't even have to return the "broken" one! They did the same thing when we had a zipper break on one of our eBags lunch bags. They 100% stand behind their products...best customer service I have ever experienced. (On a side note, if you have an AMEX card, you may qualify for a free Shop Runner shipping membership. This would give you FREE 2-day shipping from eBags! A lot of their products ship for free anyways, but not always in 2 days)

I will echo what others have said...don't rely on others' experiences to decide whether or not you want to test the limits. If the airline decides that they want to measure your bag, and you are oversize, you will have to fork over the oversize fee. If you have an oversize bag, expect to pay the fee, or consider yourself lucky if they decide to overlook it.

I must have both.
Checked size bag AND packing cubes. See previous comments about being an overpacker and needing several spare outfits for each trip
Another item that is a must, M.U.S.T. for any bag I use, spinner wheels. I will not use anything else.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Packing cubes....lord those things are amazing. Truly it helps at least for me. I typically roll my clothes as well but at times even with the packing cubes folding works better. But I have found that I can more easily separate, organize and seems to fit more with the packing cubes.