Shopping and getting it all back

[karen_uk]

Hi everyone

My first post (apart from my intro lol) and will also be my first trip to the US and DIsney. I only booked yesterday and fly out in 34 days time, so am in the URGENT planning stages LOL

My question is, I have been reading that people take empty suitcases with them to shop and to bring it all back, we however only get 20kg per person of luggage and will be travelling for 3 weeks so, am going to need a fair amount of stuff with me. My question is, how does it work taking empty suitcases and then bringing it back if it then goes over the baggage allowances ~ does anyone have any idea what rate per kg is charged for excess baggage? Or, do you upgrade before you go?

Im not quite sure if this is the right forum, but am hoping so

Many thanks

Karen x

 

[wayneg]

Welcome to DISboards!!!

I guess you are going with a charter airline, never flown with one to US so not sure on the rules, this is main resaon most people prefer to fly with scheduled airlines like Virgin or BA.
What airline is it I will try find at T&C's if no-one knows.

 

[Twilight Terror]

Hi everyone

My first post (apart from my intro lol) and will also be my first trip to the US and DIsney. I only booked yesterday and fly out in 34 days time, so am in the URGENT planning stages LOL

My question is, I have been reading that people take empty suitcases with them to shop and to bring it all back, we however only get 20kg per person of luggage and will be travelling for 3 weeks so, am going to need a fair amount of stuff with me. My question is, how does it work taking empty suitcases and then bringing it back if it then goes over the baggage allowances ~ does anyone have any idea what rate per kg is charged for excess baggage? Or, do you upgrade before you go?

Im not quite sure if this is the right forum, but am hoping so

Many thanks

Karen x

Firstly, welcome to the boards! And congratulations on your first trip to US/Disney - you're going to love it.

Let's see what questions I can answer for you...

Normally, we'll pack everything into a small suitcase, and then put that inside a larger one. So on the way out we have one, on the way back we have two. Easy to do if your airline company allows for two pieces of luggage each, not so easy if they don't!

Again, excess baggage charges are all dependent on the airline company - there is no set price, so it's best to check on their website anyway. Most people on here use the scheduled airlines like Virgin or BA, which give plenty of baggage allowance for the States - Virgin you get 2x23kg for Economy, more if you're Premium Economy or Upper Class.

There are a couple of solutions to the problem of low baggage limits:

1) (Not an ideal choice) Take on holiday old clothes, ones you are about to throw away anyway. That way, you can bin them before you return home, leaving room in your luggage for everything else you've bought. However, perhaps not very practical.

2) Take nothing with you and buy it all out there - there are plenty of cheap offers out there when it comes to clothes. If you can, buy stuff dirt cheap, then it won't matter if you leave it behind on your return, again leave room for your purchases. Although, again, not very practical.

3) Take half of what you would normally take, and take an evening off from the parks to do laundry and wash everything. It sounds almost like a waste of time, and something that you wouldn't want to do - laundry on holiday - but it can be a good way to just relax, chill and give yourself time to breathe. While the clothes are washing/drying, you could be relaxing by the pool catching the last of the day's sun and drinking a cool refreshing (alcoholic) drink!

4) Take everything you need and just pay the excess!

Hope that helps a bit!

 

[karen_uk]

Welcome to DISboards!!!

I guess you are going with a charter airline, never flown with one to US so not sure on the rules, this is main resaon most people prefer to fly with scheduled airlines like Virgin or BA.
What airline is it I will try find at T&C's if no-one knows.

I am booked and flying with Monarch Airlines. I found on their website that I only get 20kg per person, and I am going to phone them tomorrow to see if I can get any extra, however, it is just my son and I, but we are going for 3 weeks and however hard we try, we never seem to be able to travel light for some reason.

I am intending to do some washing, going for 21 nights I can't take that amount of clothes anyway, so I will keep it to a limit, but my son is mad on sports stuff and I am hoping to be able to certainly find things for him from Nike and Addidas, and as I am a "larger" lady, am hoping that I can find some stuff for me. However, shopping isn't a major thing but, I do want to do some . . .

thanks Karen x

 

[wayneg]

Monarchs policy.

excess baggage
Any additional hold baggage carried in excess of the above allowances may be subject to excess baggage charges on a per kg basis.

•Flights from USA/Dominican Republic/Maldives - $20 (USD) per kg

Excess baggage is accepted subject to hold space and operational capacity.

I read recently someone brought an extra case home and it cost $300, this would be about right for a 15kg bag.
Personally I would stick rigidly to your allowance or post your dirty laundry home(can't charge import duty on that) 15kg(33lb) package thru Priority Mail® International Max.length 60", max. length plus girth 108" would cost $123.50 less than half airline fees.
http://ircalc.usps.gov/IntlMailServices.aspx?Country=10150&M=2&P=33&O=0&sd=0

 

[karen_uk]

Thank you so much for finding that out, thats some steep excess baggage! I have emailed them to find out if I can book and pay for extra baggage, I *think* it was an extra £30 per 5 kg each, so that would be £60 for 10kg and if I can limit my carry on I can use those too. I always seem to have so much in my bag to go on the plane with in books and magazines PSP and DS for my son that it weighs a ton LOL maybe I should just take a book and my purse and have that for extra too . . .hmmmm food for thought, but thank you for your help

 

[wayneg]

No problem. Could you please post again when you get a reponse from them then we know for future if anyone asks again.
Thank you.

 

[karen_uk]

Yes I will do that.

The email response I had from them was "we will get back to you", that was at lunchtime today...but no further response. Will post up when I hear tho.
Thanks again

Karen x

 

[Macl1uk]

Perhaps the answer is to buy canvas cases, hard cases will weigh about 5kg, whereas canvas will be less than a kilo.

Fly out with as little as possible and perhaps old cloths and old trainers. Buy new out there and ditch anything old that you do not need.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Also think about what you really need to take with you.

Yes, it can be a chore washinmg on holiday, but it will allow you more room in the case.
Take underwear/socks ect for seven days use and wash

What do you need whilst in Florida?
Two pairs of shorts, a few tops.
One pair of going out dress/trousers, its not a fashion show

As has been said, I take out old socks/underwear (no, NOT "holey"!! )
and buy new replacements out there. That saves on space, you can do the same with a pair of jeans for example, wear them on teh flight out, saves weight in the case, same with trainers.

The big weight articles actually, are the liquids you take out. remember everything or a very good (sometimes better) alternative is available to buy in the many, many supermarkets when there.

I am sure if you list your items you are going to fill your suitcases with, the Dissers will be able to hlep reduce the weight for you

 

[tony64]

We flew with Monarch late year, There were four of us. We packed very light one case inside another. 2 cases out 4 back. We did laundry several times during our stay but this is not a problem as you just put a load on when you go off to the pool, best to make sure you take cloths that can be tumble dried.

Their terms state a total luggage allowance is 20 Kg per person but unoffically they do allow you 20 Kg + 5 Kg hand which helps. We took a set of fishing scales to make sure our bags were under the limit, which they were and we had shopped till we'd dropped.
This is just the stuff DD brought this holiday.

Hope this helps, I know you're going to love it.

 

[karen_uk]

I have heard back from them and this was what they advised. Excess baggage is charged at £10 per kilo or if travelling out of the US or Dom Rep it is $20 per kilo.

Maximum baggage allowance is 20kg but this can be split over a maximum of 5 pieces of luggage per person.

However, we upgraded today to premium seating which includes 30kg of baggage each which will be plenty, as well as having the extra room, better seats and everything else that goes with it

:j

 

[wayneg]

Glad you got sorted.

 

[laluna]

Just wanted to echo the others - really think carefully about what clothes/shoes you take. There is no need for dressy things. I never take tolietries with me; I always buy sunscreen, shampoo, shower gel, Jergens cherry almond body lotion (yum) etc when I get there and dump waht I dont use at the end of the trip. It really frees up alot of room.

 

[Mermaid2sea]

We flew with Monarch late year, There were four of us. We packed very light one case inside another. 2 cases out 4 back. We did laundry several times during our stay but this is not a problem as you just put a load on when you go off to the pool, best to make sure you take cloths that can be tumble dried.

Their terms state a total luggage allowance is 20 Kg per person but unoffically they do allow you 20 Kg + 5 Kg hand which helps. We took a set of fishing scales to make sure our bags were under the limit, which they were and we had shopped till we'd dropped.
This is just the stuff DD brought this holiday.

Hope this helps, I know you're going to love it.

We love to shop too.....We had so many A&F bags couldn't believe it....Looking forward to going to Yankee Candle.....Can I ask what store those sky blue bags from??/

 

[Lizzybear]

We love to shop too.....We had so many A&F bags couldn't believe it....Looking forward to going to Yankee Candle.....Can I ask what store those sky blue bags from??/

Looks like Tiffanys to me

 

[saratogagirl]

it looks like little blue bags of Tiffany loveliness

 

[US020]

Hey guys

Off to the u.s tomorrow!

Just want to make sure it is 20KG Suitcase and 10KG hand luggage allowance for Monarch Airlines? I've looked on their FAQ but it doesn't seem incredibly clear - wondering if anyone could help ???


Thanks guys

 

[wayneg]

Hey guys

Off to the u.s tomorrow!

Just want to make sure it is 20KG Suitcase and 10KG hand luggage allowance for Monarch Airlines? I've looked on their FAQ but it doesn't seem incredibly clear - wondering if anyone could help ???


Thanks guys

Just had a search, it depends if you are flying Scheduled or Charter?
Monarch Scheduled is 10kg, Charter is 5kg.
Scheduled
Hand Baggage

Note: The department for Transport has removed the single hand baggage restriction at certain UK airports from the 07 January 2008 - however this change does not affect airline's own hand baggage regulations and as such Monarch's hand baggage policy (outlined below) remains unchanged.

One item of hand baggage per person only - Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within this single item of hand baggage
Maximum weight must not exceed 10kg per person
Total dimensions must not exceed 56cm x 45cm x 25cm
Cannot be combined with your hold baggage allowance


Charter
hold baggage

Each adult or child receives a free hold baggage allowance up to the amount stated on their ticket.
This is normally 20kg including the 5kg hand baggage allowance.

One item of hand baggage per person.
Maximum weight of hand baggage must not exceed 5kg per person.
Total dimensions of hand baggage must not exceed 56cm x 45cm x 25cm.
http://flights.monarch.co.uk/cnt/travelinfo/baggage.asp#other faqs

There is a button to click it changes allowances between the 2 options.