Weight allowance for luggage changing

[Judith02]

Before packing for international travel, check to see the luggage allowance for international travel. In the past, it was 50 pounds per suitcase for domestic travel and 70 pounds per suitcase for international travel. Many airlines have changed the weight limit now to 50 pounds per suitcase for both domestic and international travel. Looks like we'll have to take along another suitcase or learn to pack lighter.

[All too soon...]

Also note that some countries have different limits. I think the limit at Heathrow (Yuck! Like a Soviet bus station with a caviar shop.) is 30kg, which is 66 pounds.

I assume this is an airline policy issue, and not a regulatory one. We had no difficulty with AA earlier this month with bags over 50 pounds.

One key tip: when buying new bags, look at the weight empty. It makes a big difference. We love our lightweight Delsey bags.

[CBM1893]

The following is part of message from jetBlue regarding new baggage guidelines:

"To ensure a positive JetBlue experience, we want to inform you of our new guidelines for traveling with baggage. Beginning October 1, 2005, each customer will be limited to two checked bags with the weight of each piece not to exceed 70 pounds and 62 inches in overall length, width and height. JetBlue may accept overweight or oversized bags for an additional charge on domestic flights."

[All too soon...]

Two 70-pound bags sounds like the traditional international limit.

But I just checked the American Airlines site as a sample. The indeed are changing their policy. For tickets issued after October 1, 2005, the limit is two 50-pound bags per passenger, with a $25 surcharge for each bag in the 51-70-pound range.

I guess we will soon be fussing with weighing our bags, and shifting contents to keep most under 50 pounds. What a pain.

I wonder if they will apply surcharges to those passengers who weigh 100+ pounds more than I do (and who do not fit within their seat.) I am not just referring to the obese, but also to the steroidal side of beef I once endured sitting next to, forced to lean into the aisle for the flight duration because he just coundn't arrange his muscles within the seat space he purchased.

[Floflegs]

BA Glasgow - Heathrow - Miami is 32kg per bag

[All too soon...]

32kg~=70lbs.

[Keith1010]

Robert makes an excellent point about the weight of the bags when they are empty. Many of them weigh quite a bit with nothing in them given the weight of the rolling wheels along with the weight of the brackets that support each bag. We recently purchased some bags and looked closely at the weight of each bag when they are empty. We are good packers but when packing for a long cruise it will be a challenge given these new changes.

Keith