Southwest & 63 inches UGGHH

[pinkerbell]

Per the below quote from the southwest site, I am concerned about our new luggage, we bought new because the old stuf was heavy and we ended up haveing to repack at the checkin counter to be under the weight limit, now I just read of a size limit and we are 1 inch over.... WE will definately pack it as light as we can, but do you think the will see we are an inch over???
hoping I don't have to buy another set of luggage
(bought the other set months ago and used it for a trip we drove on)


Weight and Size Allowance: Maximum weight is 50 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage. Effective March 1, 2005, overweight items from 51 to 70 pounds will be accepted for a charge of $25.00 per item. Items weighing from 71 to 100 pounds and oversized items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches (i.e., surfboards, bicycles, vaulting poles) will be accepted for a charge of $50.00 per item. Any item weighing more than 100 pounds must be shipped as Air Cargo. However, Customers cannot use SWA Cargo unless classified as a Known Shipper as defined by the TSA or TSA approved Indirect Air Carriers (IAC). For full details about shipping cargo, visit swacargo.com.

 

[Hannathy]

They are pretty good at eying things up and if it looks big they will measure. I have seen them measure bags. I wouldn't risk it.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We had some bags while traveling for Paintball that were weird shaped but right at the 62in mark . 1/2 the time they would measure as they were also right at the allowed weight (70lb then i tink) and 1/2 the time they just worried about the weight and never checked them.

This was several airports a year and no real pattern to when or why they were measured

 

[Lewisc]

Next garage sale sell your luggage. They may measure and it's next to impossible to pack your bag without going over weight. Those bags worked when the maximum weight was 70 pounds, you'll probably hit 50 pounds before the bag is half full. You don't need a new set, just a 26" bag.

 

[Jletendre]

My wife PACKS and I got whacked withe the extra charges last year .. what are you going to do .. if she needs to bring 4 pairs of shoes ..

I think the weight thing is also unfair due to all the cosmetic and hair supplies you need to pack now and cant carry on .. grrr

 

[Lewisc]

Most airlines let you check TWO 50 lbs bags per passenger. That's a lot of cosmetics. Carry on bags aren't weighed. Put her extra shoes in a carry on bag.

My wife PACKS and I got whacked withe the extra charges last year .. what are you going to do .. if she needs to bring 4 pairs of shoes ..

I think the weight thing is also unfair due to all the cosmetic and hair supplies you need to pack now and cant carry on .. grrr

 

[Mickey527]

My wife PACKS and I got whacked withe the extra charges last year .. what are you going to do .. if she needs to bring 4 pairs of shoes ..

Buy her Crocs.

 

[Jletendre]

Hmm that is true I could put all my own stuff in my luggage and spilt the bathroom supplies ..

Croc's .. thats funny .. I think my wife would die then wear those things.

 

[angwill]

My wife PACKS and I got whacked withe the extra charges last year .. what are you going to do .. if she needs to bring 4 pairs of shoes ..

I think the weight thing is also unfair due to all the cosmetic and hair supplies you need to pack now and cant carry on .. grrr

I want to know her secret to keeping the makeup on and the hair done in the humidity of Fl? lol Disney is my break from having to do all those things.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I want to know her secret to keeping the makeup on and the hair done in the humidity of Fl? lol Disney is my break from having to do all those things.

Chi hair iron and Bare Escentuals foundation. Don't leave home without em!

 

[CarolA]

IMHO even if the "new luggage" is lighter any suitcase that big runs a risk of being overweight. IT's better to take two small bags then the "mega" case!

 

[englishteacha]

We have 3 suitcases that are all too big. One is 63-63", depending on if you count the handle, and the other 2 are 67". All were purchased 5 years ago. This trip, I packed in duffle bags-they're the only things we had that were within the right size limits!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

This is true. We'll never use/buy any case larger than 26 inches.

IMHO even if the "new luggage" is lighter any suitcase that big runs a risk of being overweight. IT's better to take two small bags then the "mega" case!

 

[angwill]

Chi hair iron and Bare Escentuals foundation. Don't leave home without em!

I use Bare Escentuals too and tried to use it at Disney because of the SPF protection but it stayed on till about 10am and by that time it was all sweat off. Might be because I go in the hotter months. I finally gave up and go au natural. Does the Chi hair iron hold the curl longer or is it a flattening iron?

Sorry don't mean to hyjack the thread.

I do agree with going with no bigger than a 26" suitcase and even with that it can easily get up to the 50lb limit.

 

[pinkerbell]

ok, obviously not a suitcase expert or I wouldn't have bought the one that's too large and be in this thread to begin with but what is a 26 inch suitcase? the one I have measures 63 more or less, soft sided puffy, with pockets on the outside, I'm almost tempted to cut them off then it would definately be the right size. I guess it's all about including the handle etc... My thing is to have fewer bags to manage with the two kids.. we only bring three bags not the six we are allowed, because we haven't figured out all the logistics of two kids and 6 bags.. should I just use our "oldest" luggage that was the right size and lightweight (a bit beat up though) with the new, less the largest bag and carry (UGH) 5 pieces.... pay the extra $$$? what do other parents with kids do?

 

[zulaya]

My kids are older than yours, but our first trip was when they were 4 and 5. We have always travelled for a week. We pack lighter now that we have DVC.

But back then, we took a single larger bag...when they say 26" that refers to the height...ours at the time was probably 26". And then DH had his backpack, I had a tote bag, and my kids had their little kid backpacks with their "Stuff" to make them feel special. Okay, so it was 5 bags.

If your kids don't need their own bags, then they don't.

I am also not one to wear makeup at the parks. It's vacation and if you can't take me as I am...oh well.

We also usually have one pair of shoes for the whole trip. DH hates sandals except for going to the pool so he's the exception, but the kids and I live in our sandals the entire time. Gotta love Teva and Keen. So there's space saved as well.

If you have to use the older luggage for now, do it. There's no one on luggage patrol at MCO. No one cares. I actually have a set of DIS green luggage just so I could find mine in the sea of black that comes on the carrousel. Do I like that green? Not particularly, but if it serves me in getting my bags quicker, than so be it.

Another poster said that you could get just another single luggage piece and that's good advice if your older luggage is so worn that you think things may fall out of it.

In any case, I think you need another alternative to that big bag. Most likely you'll be measured and weighed each time, IMO.

good luck.

 

[pinkerbell]

Thanks zulaya

I think I will use two old and two new, with the 2 kids I never wear makeup anymore, not that I wore much anyway, all I need is a small tube of gel (helps hide the grays) and I'm good to go. I am a light packer but we will be there 15 days, yes we will do laundry, but my kids can go through 2 outfits a day minimum.... they love the water and the suits never dry fast ebough so a few of those, We will send down some diapers and car seats in advance since we get a car, we also have costumes for MNSSH, I wish I could trade a piece of luggage for a larger piecde of luggage ;o)
oh welll, time to go pull out the old old stuff...zipper's tuff, kind of ratty looking, but like you said, no luggage police Thanks
pinkerbell

 

[Jletendre]

For whomever asked:

For hair care:

At the moment she liked Bed Head Moisture Manaic and the Curls Rock stlye product .. most days in WDW she will just scrunch her hair with a leave in conditioner ..

 

[NotUrsula]

I'm going to be the lone voice in favor of taking fewer, larger bags when travelling with young kids. The number of items to haul around does make a difference. I stick with fewer bags, even if I have to split them at checkin.

The trick is that weight is easily adjusted, but size is not adjustable at all, so get the size right before you start. If you do not use the outer pockets, MOST 29" tall pullman cases will still qualify under the 62" total measurement rule, but 30" cases almost always will not.

When packing for a family the weight limit is not as big an issue because children's clothes are not very heavy; I've often packed my 29" pullman chock-full using a couple of space bags, and it normally comes in somewhere between 48-49 lbs. If I'm putting in winter shoes (and heavy clothing such as men's jeans) I put them on top in a floppy cloth duffel bag. If there is an issue with weight I unzip the bag, pull out the duffel and check it separately (it already has a luggage tag on). When we retrieve the bags at our destination we just put the duffel bag back inside the rolling pullman before leaving baggage claim.

When I arrive at the airport with a large bag to be checked, I just walk over to an empty customer service position and use the scale there -- they are always turned on. That way I know the weight before I get into the checkin line, so I can adjust if necessary before I get into line.

 

[kelleigh1]

Most airlines let you check TWO 50 lbs bags per passenger. That's a lot of cosmetics. Carry on bags aren't weighed. Put her extra shoes in a carry on bag.

Not sure if this is still the case, but Southwest was 3 up to 50 lbs when we traveled last year. I had one bag at 63 lbs and I was so mad that I had to pay the extra $25. I won't be using that bag this time around and am considering a couple rolling duffle bags.

That suitcase is actually quite heavy even when it's empty. It's not a bad idea to try to weigh it before you pack it just to have an idea of how much room you've got.