Hand luggage only discussion

sillygoose

I picked up a really nicely made overnight bag in Aldi today for £8.99, mainly to carry all my valuable boys-toys on holiday. I haven't checked with a ruler but on the stated measurements it would easily get through Ryanair. Apparently they have been selling these since late June.

Shoulder strap
Separate organiser
Document compartments
Zipped rear for attaching to the handle/top of other trolley cases
Capacity: 18 litres
Size: 40 × 31 × 17cm
Weight: 1.3kg
PVC-coated polyester
Available in: Black/Grey
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2827_10110.htm?WT.mc_id=2009-06-19-17-31

richardw

My regular bag is 22cm thick, so exceeds Ryanair and easyJet by 2cm, it isn't crushable when half empty, so since they are checking up I'll have to get a new bag.

from.york

As an older lady I am lost without my handbag so I am really stuck with the "one bag only" rule. Before all the security concerns, the rule used to be one bag plus a handbag for ladies. Now I have to take a bag with space for book etc for the journey (or the wait for delayed flights!) which is large enough for me to put my handbag in as I go through security - and then I take it out again! It does mean though that I always have to check in a case with clothes - at some cost.

peterbaker

richardw wrote: »

My regular bag is 22cm thick, so exceeds Ryanair and easyJet by 2cm, it isn't crushable when half empty, so since they are checking up I'll have to get a new bag.

Mine is actually 24.5cm thick at the wheely end and its 55 x 40 in the other respects. I have used it on probably 50 Ryanair flights over 5 years and I have had to ram it wheels up into one of the metal sizers just the once (and they said it was ok )

The day I get told to pay £ 30 for it due to some cardboard box mismatching, I think I might first try breaking a few bits of plastic off like the friction rails, the stand, and the wheels, but if that doesn't work then I shall miraculously pull a black bin liner from the side pocket, transfer everything into it, and dump the bag and the bits unceremoniously on their desk, spoiling the zips for good measure so it's no further use to them or anyone else from that day forward . I think it was originally £19.99 in TKMaxx so it will have had its day by that point, and good entertainment value too :money:

momoyama

When I bought some petrol recently there was an offer on for a travel baggage size and weight check. Very cheap. Can't remember how much exactly but was under a fiver. It was just hanging scales with a tape measure built in. I just meant that I could easily check my bag's dimensions and weight at home. I fly very infrequently but I'm glad I bought this.

I recommend searching eBay for them.

richardw

I'm taking the tape measure to the airport next time to check the small dimension of these cradle/box things.

PhilCox

Have just tried travelling light using only handbaggage on Ryanair. We (2 adults, 3 children 7,9,11) took one undersize case each and were easily under the weight limit (10kg) on each one. We did washing daily to allow us to travel so light and we had towels supplied. Half the clothes and shoes were not even worn and so next time we will travel lighter still. The great advantage was the ease of travelling without hold luggage, it's a real breeze and it stopped our bags being destroyed by the handlers, plus cost savings of course. Given the choice, I would only ever travel with hand luggage in future, you know it's safe and secure and it makes travelling so much easier. Tip: We took coats and combat shorts with big pockets in which we were able to carry cameras, shoes, food, souvenirs and anything heavy. I'm now going to look for 10x100ml bottles of water so that we don't end up paying the ridiculous £3.50 per litre for soft drinks once through security. The airports have obviously had a field day cleaning up with the liquids ban stopping you bringing your own drinks in. Resealable 100ml plastic bottles, that's the way forward for me.

Doshwaster

I generally don't take any liquids through security. If I'm travelling with just hand luggage and on a short trip I can make do with the freebies from the hotel where I'm going.

peterbaker

PhilCox wrote: »

I'm now going to look for 10x100ml bottles of water so that we don't end up paying the ridiculous £3.50 per litre for soft drinks once through security. The airports have obviously had a field day cleaning up with the liquids ban stopping you bringing your own drinks in. Resealable 100ml plastic bottles, that's the way forward for me.

Ha! Like the idea Phil, but THAT WON'T WORK quite the way you suggest - the most commonly available 100ml (100g) bottles are those pro-biotic 'one-a-day yoghurt drink bottles. I have just tried an experiment - JUST five (Tescos own strawberry actually:D) fit in the standard re-sealable '1 litre' tramsparent plastic bag - maybe six at a push - try any more and you will be defeated by the simple rules of 3D geometry

In any event, there is a much easier solution: you are perfectly entitled to take an empty bottle through security (I have done it on tens of trips since the aftermath of the shoe-bomber and 7/7). Not all airports are equipped with nice obviously direct-mains-fed taps (i.e. safely potable) in the toilets, but most I have come across are. Remember the convention in Europe for a mixer tap is that you push it all the way to the right for pure cold water. I usually let it run a little before filling my bottle.

The alternative (and I have done this too at Stansted) is to boldly ask some assistant at an airside cafe to fill your bottle with drinking water from the tap.)

I fully agree with your ideas about travelling light, however. I only ever travel with hold bags when on a main holiday where washing facilities may not be conveniently available. It is amazing still how many shirts and socks and even maybe that extra pair of shoes or trousers just do not get used ...

Rigorous planning is the key and although some of us are disposed to hoarding or taking too much, there is usually one member of the household who can tell you how little you need ... my tip is to believe HER!

lambretta_2

Saved space and weight recently by loading ebooks onto my ipod.

Like the idea of cramming items into coat pockets and the large pockets on combat trousers. I guess you could always move these items into your hand luggage once past the jobs-worths?