AIRLINE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE: best LIGHTWEIGHT suitcases????

codger

Lots of thanks to everyone & apologies for not being here for the posts: we were actually out at the Antler Factory Shop in Gretna Green, where end of range suitcases (which look perfectly good to us!) are always half the RRP or less (assuming, anyone ever paid £130 full price. . .)

We almost bought an 'Apollo' lightweight medium case weighing in at 3.6kg and £60 sale price but decided to re-check the weight of our old, large, non-lightweight 'Trueflite' suitcase (Gawd knows what brand that is) and discovered it to be 4.0Kg -- not 5 as originally thought.

So every "lightweight" Antler suitcase of the same size / same type has turned out to be heavier. Doh! Checking the web for Samsonite has also produced the same result -- all this marketing hype for new-style lightweight suitcases seems to be just that: hype.

Anyway:

* kezza: no, it's a good point, because buying new suitcases would be far more than the flight premiums. But it was the principle we were annoyed about: every year, the charter airlines try to find more & more ways of screwing customers out of more & more money. Next thing, having a pilot for the damned plane will probably be an option box to tick for £100 per person per flight.

* john: we do, too! But it seems 15kg is checked baggage, not carry-on.

* alan: thanks for the tip -- we've stored it away pending the switch to softer luggage of the hold-all type!

* imho and ynot -- many thanks for your thoughts and, imho, especially for those links: have only just logged on so will go explore the Argos site now. Am definitely encouraged by your India experience.

Again, thanks to everyone for taking the time and the trouble to offer constructive advice! :beer:

IvorF

I have cases made from Polycarbonate made by Rimowa (A German manufacturer). I have the 77cm size and it weighs 3.5 kg empty. The quality is great but they cost a lot. bought mine on line from a German internet retailer at 25% less than the UK shop quoted. Though the cost is high, my wife and I save 3 kilos each time weh travel and I think that they will more than justify the extra cost. The German quality does make a difference.

IvorF

IvorF wrote: »

I have cases made from Polycarbonate made by Rimowa (A German manufacturer). I have the 77cm size and it weighs 3.5 kg empty. The quality is great but they cost a lot. bought mine on line from a German internet retailer at 25% less than the UK shop quoted. Though the cost is high, my wife and I save 3 kilos each time weh travel and I think that they will more than justify the extra cost. The German quality does make a difference and they look incredibly smart]

gadie23_2

Hi,
The lightest suitcase I have seen is in a shop called Bags ETC or Domo, its 2.8kg empty for the biggest size (approx 77cm)
you can also see it on the following website

http://www.bagsetc.co.uk/

Dave

Vodkatie00

Hi,

I would add a warning that if you do go over your 15kg's they are likely to also weigh your hand luggage and charge you for whatever you are in excess by. This happened to the family in front of us when going on holiday whereas my partner and I who had paid for 20kg did not get treated this way and didn't have to weigh our hand luggage.

Kt

stephb34

Why not take 1 large suitcase 30ins, i can get 30kgs in mine then you only have 1 case to worry about the weight of.
The issue with weight allowance is because a lot of people moan about paying for 20kgs of luggage when they dont take that much, so the price is actually reduced by £15 per person if you book in the shop, but on the net it does it the other way round gives you the cheapest price then lets you add things on. Meals are another problem in the past they were free but how many people moaned cause they didnt want them and would sooner have had a cheaper holiday, well now you can choose and people moan cause you have to pay for them you just cant win.

Mobeer

Is it just me who is looking at this and thinking the best idea for a lighter case is to take a smaller case? Are you going skiing or is there some other reason for wanting such heavy luggage?

darrenbarker

stephb34 wrote: »

Why not take 1 large suitcase 30ins, i can get 30kgs in mine then you only have 1 case to worry about the weight of.

Two possible problems with that strategy... Some airlines don't let you pool your luggage allowance with other people, and some airlines won't allow a single piece of luggage that weights more than 23kg

Citizen_Jones_2

I'm a great fan of Easpak bags. Myself & my partner used a Easpak 'Transfer' Small bag each for our 7 day trip to Sardinia, plus it classes as hand luggage (easyjet). They come with a 30yr guarantee and are available in different sizes. They have wheels & sturdy long handle, compression straps which are extremely useful.

Oh, and NO, I don't work for Easpak and am not on cimission!!!:D

http://www.urbanindustry.co.uk/products/brand.asp?bid=83
http://www.eastpak.com/shop/uk/control/openCategory?subcategory_id=BAGS_LUGGAGE&category_id=ROOT_BAGS

real1314

I think they've been on the flight, so advice on which case/bag to use might not be relevant. Unless they booked way in advance?

May 07; Revived June 08; Revived again today.