European Budget Carry-on limits

[Yokosmom]

For the price of a gadget vest, you could get a Daylight Backpack which would serve that function, and be a fun item to have besides.

And your tech stuff will probably be in your Co-Pilot anyway?

I was thinking of packing a Daylight Backpack, but was worried about the weight I was planning on putting my headphones and small tablet(s) in the Co-Pilot, but figure that my large camera and binoculars wouldn't fit. However, a Daylight Backpack is on my wish list for reasons outside of this trip, so thanks for giving me even more reason to pick one up.

I'm probably being a bit paranoid about the weight issue, but they changed the requirements just last January, I believe, so thought that they might be stricter, at least for a while. Some of the airports that I'll be flying through have a reputation for theft, so I am reluctant to check the Aeronaut.

[bb93fo57]

Last month, there was a story about a passenger trying to get around baggage fees by putting on 12 layers of clothes:

Singer from Glasgow boyband Rewind passes out during a flight after putting on 12 layers of clothes - Home News - UK - The Independent

Spoiler alert: it didn't go so well.

"A singer in a boyband collapsed on a plane due to overheating, because he wore all his clothes at the same time in an effort to get around excess baggage charges... During the flight, he was wearing six t-shirts, five jumpers, three pairs of jeans, two pairs of jogging bottoms, two jackets and two hats."

[Frank II]

Travel writer Rolf Potts travelled around the world with nothing but Scottevest clothes.

No Baggage Challenge -- Around the World with no luggage

[ceb]

The one time I flew them, I don't remember my luggage being weighed. It was a few years ago, though. I think it was a Jo-burg to Lagos flight or something like that.

My general experience traveling different airlines, including European and African ones, is that reasonably-sized soft-sided bags, like the Tom Bihn ones, aren't usually at risk for being checked. The bigger concern, in my experience, is getting on the plane last and finding there is no overhead space. My policy is not to worry about it, but to have my most essential stuff in an internal bag or cube that I could pull out if needed, should my larger bag be gate-checked. The "essentials" bag contains a few changes of clothes, meds, basic toiletries and anything I feel I can't live without. For the price of a gadget vest, you could get a Daylight Backpack which would serve that function, and be a fun item to have besides.

And your tech stuff will probably be in your Co-Pilot anyway?

I actually knew someone who travelled for a week using only the pockets in his ScottEvest raincoat because he was flying airlines that charged for everything but the clothes on your back. I don't think I'd want to do that. He had clothing folded and in the lower pockets and was wearing double pants. His coat must have weighed 20 lbs

[bchaplin]

The one time I flew them, I don't remember my luggage being weighed. It was a few years ago, though. I think it was a Jo-burg to Lagos flight or something like that.

My general experience traveling different airlines, including European and African ones, is that reasonably-sized soft-sided bags, like the Tom Bihn ones, aren't usually at risk for being checked. The bigger concern, in my experience, is getting on the plane last and finding there is no overhead space. My policy is not to worry about it, but to have my most essential stuff in an internal bag or cube that I could pull out if needed, should my larger bag be gate-checked. The "essentials" bag contains a few changes of clothes, meds, basic toiletries and anything I feel I can't live without. For the price of a gadget vest, you could get a Daylight Backpack which would serve that function, and be a fun item to have besides.

And your tech stuff will probably be in your Co-Pilot anyway?

[Yokosmom]

I'll be taking an Aeronaut 45 and probably a CP--it's a month long trip. I've even considered getting one of those "gadget" vests--you know, the kind with 35 pockets for every gizmo and camera under the sun. They just changed their weight limit in the past year or so, so I don't know how strict they are about weighing things. Like, do they weigh absolutely everything, or only carry ons that look over the limit. If the Aeronaut isn't stuffed, maybe I can get by with it.

[ceb]

Whoops, just realized that this was a thread for European budget airlines--sorry.

You're right. It should have gone into the "Americas" section

The last time I flew SAA they didn't weigh carry-ons. A few things to consider:

Boarding speed is of utmost importance. Does the carry-on "look" like it is heavy? Does the counter even have the capability of weighing bags? Can you take something heavy out and put it back once on the plane?

[Yokosmom]

Whoops, just realized that this was a thread for European budget airlines--sorry.

[Yokosmom]

Has anyone flown South African Airways? They have a weight limit, but I'm not sure whether they actually weigh hand luggage or not. I'll probably be flying them for several flight segments next year.

[bradnd99]

FYI..my 2nd flight on Norwegian was not a problem at all. I saw many passengers with larger bags than the Aeronaut and the NFTD, so you should be good with those sized item. Great airline by the way.

[bradnd99]

I flew Norwegian Air a few days ago with my Aeronaut 45 and my NFTD. It was not a problem at all. I fly them again in 2 weeks so I'll update this if it is any different.

[roarmouse]

I hope to use Allegiant to visit relatives later this summer/fall..That pic gave me a chuckle. *crosses fingers* S25..You will be mine!

[aiethabell]

Now THAT was a sizer I'd expected it to fit, since Allegiant so nicely used an Aeronaut as its bag-sizer photo carry-on bag. It just wouldn't be fittin' (pardon the pun) if the Aeronaut DIDN'T fit that particular sizer!

[pw1224]

Per Fat Crip's request, here's the picture I took of my Aeronaut in the Allegiant Air sizer. Allegiant is a US carrier so its restrictions are not nearly as stringent as those of the European airlines. I will say that I was surprised at how easily the Aeronaut slid in and out of the sizer. I was expecting to have to squeeze the bag to get it to fit but I didn't need to. Yay Aeronaut!

[Fat Crip]

I travel quite a lot within Europe (mostly UK, Ireland and Italy) always with low-cost companies. In my experience RyanAir is the most strict, they do try in the hand-luggage testers every bag before right before departure. I travel with my Aeronaut and usually manage to pass the flight assistant scrutiny without having to test the bag! A trick I have learned: they don't usually weight your hand baggage (if it looks ok), so if you manage to stay in the dimension limits you can sneak in a kilo or two more (those massive Toblerone you only find in the airport).

It depends on the airport. I've never seen them weigh a bag in Edinburgh, for example, but in Alicante they frequently weigh hand luggage at the main check-in desk. This, of course is bizzar! You can add anything you like in the two hours between then and take-off as they don't have scales at the gate! You're quite right about the size checks though, anything dodgy and they test it.