Luggage Sizes

[Marseeya]

I need to go buy some luggage for our upcoming trip. What sizes should I look for? I know SWA has a 50 pound weight limit before they charge you, but you can check three suitcases. So, would a 26" be too big? I saw some really nice ones the other day that were 29", but I can only imagine that if I filled it, it would go way over 50 pounds, wouldn't it?

For carryons, I'll give each kid a backpack, then I'll have a purse and a backpack, and DH will have his briefcase.

 

[CapeCod53]

I wd avoid the 29 inch, not only for the weight but they can also be difficult to fit in a car trunk either your own or a rental car. Those big suitcases will easily get up to 70 lbs which is the international flight limit (we know because my daughter is a pack everything including the kitchen sink type of person & she barely made the weight limits when traveling to London to study abroad last year). We generally use the 20-22 inch & a good size carry on (a regular backpack or an Eddie Bauer small duffle)for a 7-10 day trip.

 

[ducklite]

I agree about shying away from the 29" pullmans.

You've also got to take into consideration the weight of the luggage itself.

20" and 22" inch luggage is "roll on" size, and I'm guessing you are looking to pack multiple people in one bag. I'd suggest 24 or 25 inch pullmans as ideal. They are still small enough to fit into most any trunk, but roomy enough to hold a weeks worth of "summer clothes" for two people without going overweight unless you pack rocks or stuff them so full that they are bursting--which isn't a good idea.

In a midsize car you can usually fit two or three that size plus a couple smaller bags/carryon's into the trunk.

Anne

 

[Marseeya]

I agree about shying away from the 29" pullmans.

You've also got to take into consideration the weight of the luggage itself.

20" and 22" inch luggage is "roll on" size, and I'm guessing you are looking to pack multiple people in one bag. I'd suggest 24 or 25 inch pullmans as ideal. They are still small enough to fit into most any trunk, but roomy enough to hold a weeks worth of "summer clothes" for two people without going overweight unless you pack rocks or stuff them so full that they are bursting--which isn't a good idea.

In a midsize car you can usually fit two or three that size plus a couple smaller bags/carryon's into the trunk.

Anne

We're going to have to buy a luggage container for our roof. I bought the smaller SUV (Tucson) and it has less room for storage than our car does. In fact, I bet we'd be just as well off taking the car to the airport.

Last year when we drove down, I packed the suitcases to bursting! I'd rolled all the clothes so they'd fit better and we practically needed a crane to lift the suitcases. That trip did our old suitcases in, so I'm looking forward to this shopping trip. Surely I can justify a new purse out of the deal, dontcha think?

 

[bavaria]

You'd be surprised what you can pack if you 'pack smart'. I use a 26 inch pullman for my work trips which are in excess of 2 weeks. During that time I need to pack business casual (which is quite close to business professional in my company); business professsional (ie suits); plus whatever casual wear I want to wear after work hours. I also bring about 40 lbs of work items (mostly documents)

The pullman holds my documents and my toiletries and undergarments/socks/tights, plus any 'fun' or 'homey' items such as books, candles, etc etc.

ALL of the rest of my wardrobe goes into a lightweight Totes duffell which is about 16 inches long. That is two weeks or more of outfits, and I rarely wear the same thing twice on a trip.

Since you are going to WDW, you should have mainly lightweight clothing. Remember, there are washing machines should you need them. And avoid going overweight by using the 'ziploc' packing method - yes, it's a great method but by compressing your clothes you may go overweight.

Maybe you could consider getting the kids their own luggage for them to check? they could use a small carryon size for all of their items, and depending on their age you could consider a Disney character one or a fun one from Target. Target has some great neon and coloured carryons; theirs would last a few trips and that way you could use the larger one and not worry about going overweight.

 

[yellowfish78]

Each airline has different policies about luggage size and weight...some allow up to 50lbs, some only 40lbs. On average, a checked bag cannot be any larger than 45 linear inches (length of bag plus height of bag plus width of bag (plus any expandable options that the bag might have)).
Definately stay away from the 29" pullmans...I don't even know why they make them anymore.
Look for a pullman with "lite" or "ultra" in the name. These bags have a tendency to have less bells and whistles which makes the bag lighter; or might even be made of a thiner fabric. Pullmans with built in garment bags tend to be heaver too.
Hope this helps some!

 

[ducklite]

Each airline has different policies about luggage size and weight...some allow up to 50lbs, some only 40lbs. On average, a checked bag cannot be any larger than 45 linear inches (length of bag plus height of bag plus width of bag (plus any expandable options that the bag might have)).

I think you mean 62 linear inches. US Air, United, SW, NW, and Continental all use 62 linear inches.

Anne

 

[drogerstn]

Definately stay away from the 29" pullmans...I don't even know why they make them anymore.

I don't recommend this large luggage, but I was given one and find it useful at times:

• Cruises (when driving to cruise port)
• International air travel
• Air Travel in the US when packing cold-weather gear (insulated clothing takes up a lot of space with less weight)

 

[Marseeya]

I looked in a couple of stores last night, but didn't see any suitcases that were light or ultra light. I found some that I loved at TJ Maxx, but while they were nice, they were also heavy. I think I'm going to maybe cheap out and get them at Walmart and Target. They'll probably be lighter, though not as sturdy. At any rate, I'm going to keep looking.

I did find a set that would have been entirely impractical, but I loved it. They looked like vintage miniature trunks, but were suitcases with wheels. I picked one up and it was pretty heavy.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Those big suitcases will easily get up to 70 lbs which is the international flight limit

Actually 70 pounds would be overweight on many international flights, after the weight limits were decreased in Nov 2005. The limit is now commonly 50 pounds per checked bag.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'd say that a 26" is the best general-use case for checking, especially if you want to pack for several people in one bag for domestic trips.

That said, 29's are still useful for certain types of travel, and I bought one after the 62" restriction went into effect. It replaces my 31" Samsonite Ultralite EZCart, which I *loved*. The 29" is actually much heavier than my 31" was, but it's still a good 4-wheel case. I use it for long overseas trips with kiddies in winter, when I need to pull my luggage around while walking through cities. I find that it is much easier to navigate public transit with ONE rolling bag, even if it is large. It does go overweight, but I just use space bags and a duffel, split the contents before checking it, then put the excess back after I claim the bag at my destination. The most I've ever put in it was 90 lbs., but it rolls beautifully at that weight.

FWIW, the 29" Samsonite Oyster Cartwheel is the most popular suitcase in the world. (It also comes in a 26".) They are cheap, strong, lightweight, and colorful enough to find on even the most chaotic carousel. They even sell them at the left-luggage counter at Heathrow, for situations when the airlines refuse to take someone's really beat up tied-with-string pressboard trunk. This is an Oyster Cartwheel: http://us.samsonite.com/webapp/us/s...72&storeId=10001&langId=-1&keyword=oyster&pc=
They are not exactly luxe, and personally I prefer a modern extension handle, but they have a really dedicated following, especially among folks who must fly a lot in the third world.

 

[drogerstn]

Actually 70 pounds would be overweight on many international flights, after the weight limits were decreased in Nov 2005. The limit is now commonly 50 pounds per checked bag.

Yoww. You made me check for my next trip and luckily, the airline I'm traveling on has a 70lb limit.