Do I need extra baggage allowance?

Angelmouse

Hi, booking for my husband, 10 year old and myself for one weeks hol in oct half term, first time abroad as a family. Have a 15kg baggage allowance, is it worth paying extra for more, quoting £45 to up allowance to 25kg. Thanks.

jackieblack

Sorry if this sounds a bit obvious, but I think it depends how much stuff you are going to take!

If you're going somewhere informal and hot, so just taking swimsuits, shorts, light tops etc then you're probably fine.

If you're not a light packer, want to take 17 pairs of shoes, or want/need to take lots of other clothes and/or toiletries/food items etc you'll probably need more allowance.

davetrousers

One thing you need to consider also is the weight of your empty suitcase.

It can be costly if you go over your allowance. From the Canaries it was 12 Euros per kg!

Angelmouse

jackieblack wrote: »

Sorry if this sounds a bit obvious, but I think it depends how much stuff you are going to take!

If you're going somewhere informal and hot, so just taking swimsuits, shorts, light tops etc then you're probably fine.

If you're not a light packer, want to take 17 pairs of shoes, or want/need to take lots of other clothes and/or toiletries/food items etc you'll probably need more allowance.

Thanks, having never been abroad with the family just wasn't sure! Wondered if it was the general rule everyone paid the extra or if most people managed.Don't even own suitcaeses and I know there weight got to be taken into consideration too. Thanks for your reply.

melb

I would think 15kg each would be ample. we manage 2 weeks on just 10 kg cabin allowance each although we do have to only take a couple of pairs of shoes and always stay somewhere with a washing machine. If you're going somewhere that might be a bit chilly you could always wear a jacket and jumper on the plane - mind you you'll have hand luggage allowance as well probably.

melb

oh by the way if you're buying new suitcases I'd say try not to get them too big (it's easy to get carried away in a shop and not realise how big they are) and ones with wheels are much easier to move around. Just a thought - not saying I'm world expert on suitcases (or anything else for that matter)!

spiro

Paying for the extra 10kg also depends on who you are travelling with. There was another post recently were the poster paid the extra money only to be told (a) Max weight per case as 23kg and therefore he would need to take 2nd case to reach the 25kg limit which meant the case would take up most of the limit and (b) you could not pool the extra weight between the travellers so he could not take 4 cases but would need 6 for 3 people.

Dont forget you have 15kg in the hold - best to use a holdall not a case as they weigh less plus you hand luggage allowance which is typically at least 10kg so you put all the heavy small items (excl liquids) in your hand luggage. That gives you a family total of 75kg or 165lbs

luci

If it is with Thomas Cook then the hand luggage is only 5kgs.

photome

Hand luggage only 6kg with Virgin Atlantic


I assume you have 15kg each? A medium case with wheels (so much easier) will prob weigh about 4kg so 11kg each, only you will know if that is enough. Best way will be to get together what you think you will take and weigh it.

Not forgetting your extra cabin allowance

deegee999

Be careful of thomas cook hand luggage sizes 43 cm x 28 cm x 23 cm lot smaller than any other.

MrSmartprice

I am always amazed at the sheer quantity of junk that people think they need to take on holiday with them. We regularly fly Ryanair and have disciplined ourselves to taking one 10kg bag each for our breaks, which are up to 10 days.

Nothing concentrates the mind on packing like Ryanair. You pack what you know you need, not what you think you may want! You do not need a different frock and shoes for every evening meal. You do not need 3 shirts a day. Many people will testify that on getting home they find many of the clothes they struggled to cram in have not been worn.

Try the old saying: After you have sorted out what to pack, take half of the clothes and twice as much money. That will be about right!;)