Virgin???

[shagster330]

Just a couple of questions about Virgin

1) What do they include in the kids back pack these days. We are looking at taking things on the plane for our youngest but don't want to pack things she will be given

2) On the Virgin website it says the maximum baggage size can be 158cm - This is the width + depth + height. How strict are they on this at the airport? A couple of our cases are on teh border of this

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

You will neeedd to take more stuff, AFAIR the backpack has some crayons and a colouring book in it.

Its more how strict the airport security is. At BHX a couple of months ago, I had to change my carry on case as it was just too big for the metal case checker by the security guys.
The stupid thing is that this case whic was too big by millimeters is, wait for it....A Pilots flight case!!
I take it you are talking about hand luggage?
if you are talking about suitcases for the hold, don't worry about that size, its more the weight they are filled that will stop you getting them on. (No more than 32 KG)

 

[Giddy Kipper]

we flew with them in 2004 ... from what I can remember there was a red virgin baseball type cap, a book (more suited to a 8-10 year old) a colouring pencil that dropped to bits on the floor (which we failed to find) Nothing to get excited about hmmm thats all I can remember...somebody will have flown with them more recentley...maybe its changed

 

[Elise79]

Can't help with the kids backpacks as the last time I had one was when I was a child back in early 1990's!!

With regard to the cases we flew last year and one of our cases is on the borderline too but the didn't measure them at either Gatwick or Downtown Disney check-ins. I just made sure it was under weight - 23kg really isn't very much if you have a large case

Elise

 

[jen_uk]

The last two times I have been (2005,2006) my suitcase was about 5 cms over but noone ever said anything, as long as the weight is ok you will be fine.

 

[wayneg]

if you are talking about suitcases for the hold, don't worry about that size, its more the weight they are filled that will stop you getting them on. (No more than 32 KG)

23kg now in Economy. Still 32kg in other classes. We now take 3 or 4 cases instead of 2 and a small bag
The kids bag really has not much inside.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

23kg now in Economy. Still 32kg in other classes. We now take 3 or 4 cases instead of 2 and a small bag
The kids bag really has not much inside.

Yes, but no bag weight higher than 32 Kg, i.e if you take your two allowances and put them together

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Yes, but no bag weight higher than 32 Kg, i.e if you take your two allowances and put them together

???

In economy, if your bag (i.e. any one piece) weighs over 23kg, then you pay excess - http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/baggage/excess.jsp

(i.e. if two of you travel with one suitcase weighing 30kg, you still pay excess).

I, like wayneg, have now started having to take more smaller (i.e. lighter) bags than fewer slightly bigger/heavier bags. Ok, I could pay the excess, but I think it is a waste of money... That is an annoying things about BA's Club World (and even First Class) - the bag/piece limit is still 23kg per bag/piece (not "extra" allowance...)

Boo

 

[wayneg]

Yes, but no bag weight higher than 32 Kg, i.e if you take your two allowances and put them together

Like Boo says you can't pool your allowances. 23kg is max weight for a case in Economy.
I had the crazy situation at Newcastle aiport about 4 years ago flying with Thompsons to Ibiza. I had my camera bag as hand luggage weighing 10kg (5kg each) I was told we could not pool our allowance, we split half the contents into a carrier bag so she could weigh them then we could come away from the desk and put them all together again. Why? It still baffles me now it was small camera bag about half the size permitted onboard.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Yes, sorry I never look at economy allowances.
Also alternative routes than Transatlantic/Carribean/Nigeria are based upon weight not amount of luggage.

still, It could be worse, some airlines now charge seperate for all lluggage in the hold..

 

[Lizzybear]

I think 32kg is the absolute maximum a case can be with regards to baggage handlers' health and safety. As in even if you pay the excess baggage it can't be more than 32.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Yes, sorry I never look at economy allowances.

You might want to stick with Virgin for a while then... since BA CW and First have don't have such generous per piece weight allowances and I am pretty sure that most of the US airlines (certainly AA and UA I think) don't have such generous premium allowances either...

Personally I would be surprised if Virgin don't follow suit at some point, but I hope that I am wrong - 23kg doesn't go a long way (it is very easy to go over by a kilo or two... )

Boo

 

[jen_uk]

Personally I would be surprised if Virgin don't follow suit at some point, but I hope that I am wrong - 23kg doesn't go a long way (it is very easy to go over by a kilo or two... )

Boo

You go over 46kg!! We also took more bags last year, we took 3 medium cases instead of 2 large ones, I packed them very full and they still only weighed 19kg each. It was a hassle having to take an extra case but a limit of 46 kgs each is still very generous.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

as we have a villa over in Fla we tend these days not to take as much stuff as we used to, so we are never over the 23Kg per case X3 cases anyway, so it would not really bother me if Virgin did go down to that level.
I have more problems when flying to Spain with regards to hand luggage!

 

[Boo Boo Too]

You go over 46kg!! We also took more bags last year, we took 3 medium cases instead of 2 large ones, I packed them very full and they still only weighed 19kg each. It was a hassle having to take an extra case but a limit of 46 kgs each is still very generous.

Depends what we are doing...

If we go on a Summer holiday (villa/hotel/cruise and/or visiting relatives for about 3 weeks), we just try to take two cases. Keeping below 2 x 23kg is a bit of a struggle for two adults (especially if we are cruising - need formal dresses, suits, formal shoes). Each case weighs about 4kg when empty: 18/19kg seems to be taken up by not much at all. I am not a BIG clothes person or a big shopper, so I have no idea how people like that cope... Although, admitedly I go to the gym a lot: so need sports trainers and quite a lot of sports shorts and t-shirts on top of other casual wear.

We just got back from visiting family in California (so needed some "Spring" clothes) and two weeks skiing in Colorado (so winter clothes too) and had to take:
- a double ski bag/case/tube (two pairs of skis and poles), weighed about 19kg
- one holdall (inclused two pairs of ski boots, ski helmets and the rest of the ski kit) weighed about 20kg
- two suitcases - each weighed just under 20kg.

We used to only take one case - have one heavy (28kg+) case and put more in the holdall, but because of the 23kg limit with have had to spread things out by adding an additional case.

Boo

 

[hogwartsdropout]

We just booked with Virgin this evening and they told us 32kg.

 

[wayneg]

It all depends how long you are going for, what you are doing there and what time of year.
We dont have any problems for 2 weeks but we usually go for 25 nights for our main holiday. If that includes a cruise then we struggle to keep the luggage down. Last thing we want to be doing on holiday is laundry so 25 nights of clothing weighs a bit.
Also have to take a spare case for everything we buy over there

 

[wayneg]

We just booked with Virgin this evening and they told us 32kg.

In Economy? then they have given you wrong info.
Heres link to Virgin.
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/baggage/allowances.jsp

 

[lisaj]

Maybe it depends whether you have booked direct with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays. I believe the weight allowance with virgin holidays is now up to two pieces of luggage per person at 23kg per person if flying to Florida.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Maybe it depends whether you have booked direct with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays. I believe the weight allowance with virgin holidays is now up to two pieces of luggage per person at 23kg per person if flying to Florida.

Yes, that is the same as if you booked with Virgin Atlantic direct (or anyone else flying on Virgin Atlantic booked through anyone else). I don't believe that booking through Virgin Holidays alters the luggage allowance in any way - only the class of travel will do that.

Boo