packing suitcases with vacuum pack bags

[Hmom]

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I thought someone might be able to help.

I can fit so much more in our suitcases using those plastic bags that you suck the air out of. Can I do this when flying??? What if our bags are inspected by the TSA? There would be no way they would be able to fit everything back in without a vacuum

Thanks for the help!

 

[billsfan]

Not sure about the TSA question but be careful with the vacuum bags. We don't use them but our suitcases still get to be 45 - 47 lbs. We don't have extremely large bags either. I believe 50 lbs is the max allowed in suitcases without an additional charge.

 

[Hmom]

Do you know my husband? That was the first thing he said also! He has even bought me one of those scales to weigh fish, so I can take it with us.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I have been using the travel bags for years. There are two types. one that you put the items it, seal it, and then roll it to squeeze the air out. The other requires a vaccume device and they are usually meant to home storage. (we have six or seven quilts stored that way)

they work wonderfully, but you are right, you have to be careful about the weight.

when I was flying from california to Washington, I would put my lands end parka in a large one and pack it in the outside compartment of my suitcase. when I arrived, it was really easy to open it up and put it on at that airport.

The best place for them is the magellans catalog, which also has a travel scale. (I have one and use it all the time!)

http://www.magellans.com/?Args=

 

[bavaria]

Pay attention to the pirate. There is little point in buying the cheap ones from Target etc. Those tend to snap back open or tear, defeating the purpose.

If you are going that route, then purchase the better quality ones from travel stores or brands like Eagle Creek, etc. Those will last for years and won't leak or snap back open.

But again, you must be very careful about weight.

I don't use them for compression so much as to protect my items.

 

[BonnieA]

I use them for organization and protection. During one flight, we had to change planes in Cincinnati. It was absolutely pouring rain. Our bags must have been sitting on the tarmac or they were dropped in a pond, cause they were soaking wet when we picked them up in San Francisco. Glad I had all my stuff in bags. Now I don't travel without them.

 

[Hmom]

Thank you all so much!

 

[rflorek]

There is little point in buying the cheap ones from Target etc. Those tend to snap back open or tear, defeating the purpose.

I have been using the Target brand ones for about 3 years now (at least 6 round trip flights) and have never had an issue with tearing, ripping or opening. They have been quite overstuffed too (carry-on only for 8 days in San Diego) with jeans, extra dress clothes for dinners, etc.

I'm happy with the money I saved buying the Target brand over Space Bags.

 

[bavaria]

Well, 6 flights really isn't much at all. For the once a year flyer they may be ok, but I tried two or three times before I invested in the better quality ones for just a little more money. I can fly 6 times in a handful of days, yet the Eagle Creek ones have lasted over 2 years and over 300,000 miles.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I would add that my DW got me some space brand bags, and I had to fly four days of of seven for about six months, then it went to a slower schedule and they have performed great, I still have some that are about seven or eight years old and still retain the vaccume seal, then other that loose the seal are regulated to being dirty clothing bags.