Totally agree. 23kg is a ridiculous amount to put in overheads. It would be quite a challenge to get 23 kg in the regulation size hand luggage, not mention heaving it into the locker! On my last trip BA I had an aisle seat in business class. The aisle was so narrow that I lost count of the time I was knocked into by passagers barging down the aisle with oversized luggage.

Had to laugh at this as its the reason i much prefer the window seat on long haul as its much easier to get some sleep. If I get the aisle you can guarentee every time i start to nod off my elbow will get a whack and its often the cabin crew with their trolly.

Mick

I just take a small rucksack for my hand luggage as i find it much easier to handle when wheeling my large case along, hence not too worried by this.

In fact it irritates me when i'm told i have to keep my bag under the seat in front because the overheads are full of wheel type suitcases which seem quite large on some airlines.

How much stuff do you need on a plane ?

Mick

Hi Mick,

I always keep within the size/weight restrictions for all my airline luggage. However, having not once, but twice, had my main hold luggage gone "missing" (I spent 6 days in Rome with all I stood up in!), I always pack a washable t-shirt, knickers, socks etc. in my hand luggage. Also, minimum, but vital, toiletries, cosmetics, medications etc. Being a keen photographer there is no way that I would put my camera equipment in the hold. This also necessitates all chargers (cameras, phone, ipad, kindle etc.) going in my hand luggage also. You only need to have lost your main luggage once, to make sure you are covered with what's in your hand luggage! I do agree though, that some people put enormous cases in the overheads, and how anyone can lift a 23kg bag into the overheads is amazing - I have trouble putting my main case in the car, and it's under 23kg.!

At least my post has got everyone measuring their luggage!!

Cheers,

Hils

Hils,

Although never lost my luggage i do take a change of clothes in my rucksack along with my money, passport, documents & camera (albeit a small one) plus other electrical stuff (charger, adapter, tablet etc). Add to that a couple of puzzle books and small mp3 player i get it all in my small rucksack which i find easier to handle than small suitcase.

Have since measured my handbag though, :blush:;)

Mick

Hope your handbag is the right size!!

Jaya

Mick

Hope your handbag is the right size!!

Jaya

There does seem to be a risk that the larger cabin bag could be gatechecked into the hold, which is a real worry to me as I have a camera and lenses, as well as leads and other valuable or necessary items.  When I flew United on the National Parks tour I just had a large case for the hold, my special camera rucksack and no small personal bag.  Though the rucksack just about made the measurements for the larger bag, I still managed to stow it under the seat in front, albeit sticking out a bit!  Perhaps I should reconsider bags, and try to find something fitting the strictest underseat measurements but capable of holding camera equipment, leads, etc., and important documents.  Any suggestions?  This may do on its own, and everything else would fit into the checked case.  I do not want to run the risk of having camera equipment put in the hold!

Mick

Hope your handbag is the right size!!

Jaya

There does seem to be a risk that the larger cabin bag could be gatechecked into the hold, which is a real worry to me as I have a camera and lenses, as well as leads and other valuable or necessary items.  When I flew United on the National Parks tour I just had a large case for the hold, my special camera rucksack and no small personal bag.  Though the rucksack just about made the measurements for the larger bag, I still managed to stow it under the seat in front, albeit sticking out a bit!  Perhaps I should reconsider bags, and try to find something fitting the strictest underseat measurements but capable of holding camera equipment, leads, etc., and important documents.  Any suggestions?  This may do on its own, and everything else would fit into the checked case.  I do not want to run the risk of having camera equipment put in the hold!

Hi RayG

I was on a BA flight which was busy and they said all small wheeled cabin bags would be taken at the gate and put into the hold.  Like you I had camera equipment etc in it and there was no way it was going into the hold, even though it was within the size and weight limits.  When I got to the gate and they wanted to take it I said I needed to keep it because it had medical equipment in it.  They let me keep it.

Sylvia

Mick

Hope your handbag is the right size!!

Jaya

There does seem to be a risk that the larger cabin bag could be gatechecked into the hold, which is a real worry to me as I have a camera and lenses, as well as leads and other valuable or necessary items.  When I flew United on the National Parks tour I just had a large case for the hold, my special camera rucksack and no small personal bag.  Though the rucksack just about made the measurements for the larger bag, I still managed to stow it under the seat in front, albeit sticking out a bit!  Perhaps I should reconsider bags, and try to find something fitting the strictest underseat measurements but capable of holding camera equipment, leads, etc., and important documents.  Any suggestions?  This may do on its own, and everything else would fit into the checked case.  I do not want to run the risk of having camera equipment put in the hold!

Hi RayG

I was on a BA flight which was busy and they said all small wheeled cabin bags would be taken at the gate and put into the hold.  Like you I had camera equipment etc in it and there was no way it was going into the hold, even though it was within the size and weight limits.  When I got to the gate and they wanted to take it I said I needed to keep it because it had medical equipment in it.  They let me keep it.

Sylvia

Good for you Sylvia!  If they were only interested in wheeled cabin bags, then perhaps a rucksack would be okay.

Happy travelling, 

Bob

I should be able to open a "luggage" shop by now as I have so many cases/rucksacks/bags etc.! The never-ending problem of trying to find a bag that will take all my camera equipment (I normally take 2) with various leads/chargers etc., along with the said "necessary" items that I need in my hand luggage.

 I am soon to go to Botswana and Zimbabwe and due to some internal flights being on very small aircraft, I need to pack very, very lightly! Luckily I can leave my main case in Victoria Falls. I will be limited to a small-ish soft bag (15kg) for 6 days, along with a bag which has to include all my camera equipment, toiletries, medication etc. which has to go under my seat in said small aircraft. I am going to try out a Troop London bag (medium size) - I'm allowed 5kg for this one but it will have to somehow go under the seat - it may come down to wearing my "photographer's vest" and putting one of my cameras around my neck! The airline also weigh you however!!

I do have a "photographer's rucksack" but find that there is not enough room in it for all my other "essentials".

I'll report back on how I get on!

Cheers,

Hils

Hi Ray, a mini rucksack will be fine. I've been using one for my camera etc for many years. I'm sitting at the airport gate looking at mine, with its BA yellow "cabin guaranteed" tag! 

Happy travelling, 

Bob

Thanks Bob!  Yes, I will look around for something smaller than I have at present, which will hopefully satisfy airline underseat stowage measurements and be capable of carrying everything I want with me.

Mick

Hope your handbag is the right size!!

Jaya

There does seem to be a risk that the larger cabin bag could be gatechecked into the hold, which is a real worry to me as I have a camera and lenses, as well as leads and other valuable or necessary items.  When I flew United on the National Parks tour I just had a large case for the hold, my special camera rucksack and no small personal bag.  Though the rucksack just about made the measurements for the larger bag, I still managed to stow it under the seat in front, albeit sticking out a bit!  Perhaps I should reconsider bags, and try to find something fitting the strictest underseat measurements but capable of holding camera equipment, leads, etc., and important documents.  Any suggestions?  This may do on its own, and everything else would fit into the checked case.  I do not want to run the risk of having camera equipment put in the hold!

Hi RayG

I was on a BA flight which was busy and they said all small wheeled cabin bags would be taken at the gate and put into the hold.  Like you I had camera equipment etc in it and there was no way it was going into the hold, even though it was within the size and weight limits.  When I got to the gate and they wanted to take it I said I needed to keep it because it had medical equipment in it.  They let me keep it.

Sylvia

Good for you Sylvia!  If they were only interested in wheeled cabin bags, then perhaps a rucksack would be okay.

It was not a complete lie - just stretching the truth - I had medication in it.  Another thing has worked - and this is true - tell them you have valuables that are not insured unless they are with you.  Don't see why a rucksack should be a problem.  They were not taking those when wheeled bags were taken.

Sylvia

Kind regards

Jaya

i too find people are taking enormous sized hand baggage in the cabin with them these days, i believe airlines should come down hard on this and be more stricter regarding the measurements they ought to ask to see your hand baggage, i took a wheelie cabin case for the first time this year as an experiment with going to NZ soon, airline approved, and before boarding they made an announcement for anybody with cabin cases to volunteer to have their wheelie case put in the hold at no extra charge, i gave mine in as i had all my in flight stuff in a small hand bag, i don't know how they know they are going to be short of space in the cabin but the pleasant staff at LHR did ask was i sure i had all i needed out of it, medication etc, They didn't ask on the return from Calgary, i kind of wish i hadn't really as my brand new bag looked a little scuffed when i arrived at my destination

Dave,

CIndy

I think the small bag in the hold would certainly get scuffed and damaged as it will be amongst big bags. I am taking mine to Chile for the first time. I would have taken my back pack but since I have got 'tennis elbows' in both arms, I am finding it difficult to put the back pack on. I will make sure mine does not weigh more than the allowance and I will not volunteer for it to be put in the hold - I will have my medication in it and I can also tell a white lie that I have got valuables - in fact it will not be a white lie as my camera will be in it!

Regards

Jaya