Gudrun

We have a domestic flight on Air France, Paris to Nice, which we booked separately from our international flight to Paris on Air France. Of course we did not know that meant the luggage restrictions would be tighter on the domestic flight. AF told us it is 44 lbs per person total, including the weight of both your carryon and your checked bag. In the past we have usually just had one big checked bag for both of us, and then we each had a small carry-on. Does anyone know whether the airline will permit you to "share" the weight limit? What I mean is, if between the two of us we had one large bag that weighed say 50 lbs, would that be permitted since together our allowance would be 88 lbs? I will call and ask but I've already called them so many times about the luggage restrictions I wondered if anyone knows the answer.

rkkwan

Don't know about Air France specifically, but for most non-US flights in the world, the 20kg/44lb allowance only applies to checked luggage. You carryon is extra.

And most airlines now have a limit of 70lb for checked luggage. Over that, either they won't accept it or you'll pay a fee.

So, in most cases, you can have one checked piece up to 70lb, and the other one 18, for the two of you travelling together. But again, that's the general rule. I can't find specifics on airfrance.com that says otherwise.

sandi

I would strongly suggest you have two separate bags that weigh less then 20Kg. each. Don't even think one bag in excess of 20Kb as you can't combine the weight because you're two people.

As to the carryon, it's possible AF does combine weight for their inta-country flights - checked, carryon, and personal handbag/attache - but that's is quite unusual. What is usual is that there are weight limits for the carryon which may not be a heck of a lot. BA limits it to 12-lbs. so that's what I'd check.

Go shopping and travel with sepaate bags - if one of you has less weight you can then shift between the two of you, but the airlines have been very strick of late.

Next time, remember to book the domestic flight in conjunction with the Int'l and you shouldn't have any problem.

Gudrun

Air France doesn't have specifics for their checked luggage requirements on their Web site--they say it varies by flight. That's why we had to call, and the agent told us very specifically the total weight of both the carry on and the checked luggage could not be more than 44 lbs per person. It just seems to me that it shouldn't matter to the airline whether a couple have two bags that weigh 44 lbs each or one big checked bag that weighs up to 88 lbs--it's the same amount of weight.

Gudrun

Thank you, sandi, that's what I wanted to know, that you can't combine your weight allowance for luggage. That saves me yet another call to Air France.
When my husband called AF he was told we could not have anything in the hold and our carry on could not weigh more than 26 lbs. I knew that couldn't be right so I called back and that's when I got a different agent who said the combined weight of the carry on and the checked bag could not be more than 44 lbs. I asked him several times to be sure. I am not sure about whether this includes the personal item (my purse)--my travel agent said it does not.

Yes, we have learned the hard way that the Chicago to Paris flight and the Paris to Nice flight should have been booked together rather than a couple days apart but it would have been nice if either Air France or the travel agent had mentioned this restriction upfront. She is noting to them that the two flights are part of the same itinerary but since we can't assume they will bend their rules we have to pack for the domestic flight. We even thought of leaving some items at the airport in Paris while we are in Nice but there is no place to store luggage there anymore.

Last time we did fly British Airways and I don't remember that our carry-on could only weigh 12 lbs., but that was an international flight with a flight on to Rome and all booked together. It was also three years ago so maybe the weight restrictions were different then.

Barbara_in_CT

I would suggest paring down your luggage so that you're not carrying so much weight. If you stick with a color scheme, you shouldn't need more than 3-4 pairs of pants and maybe 7 tops that go with the pants. Two, at most three, pairs of shoes should be adequate. A scarf, an interesting piece of costume jewelry plus your toiletries should have you good to go for a month. My luggage weighs in at about 20 pounds for suitcase and backpack.

nonnafelice

What I have heard is that the per-bag weight limit has something to do with union regulations -- that the baggage handlers have clauses in their contracts that restrict the weight of any single bag they have to lift. So that's why you can't combine your separate luggage allowances into one heavy bag.

rkkwan

Union rules are most almost set a 70lb. Not 44, not 50, and not 88. Over that, they won't take it or require a hefty fee.

The per piece limit is independent of the actual baggage allowance.

So, two people travelling together with a 88lb suitcase will definitely have a problem.

francophile03

I don't know if I'm understanding well about the combined weight. My husband and I took one large piece of luggage but the AF agent at CDG refused to accept it saying it was overweight. We explained that it's two of us sharing one luggage and since we're two we're allowed two separate pieces so what's the difference about the weight. She was unbending and we had to unpack some items and put them in the carryon baggages instead. I sure didn't see her point. We just rearranged how the luggage was being carried.

Gudrun

Francophile03, I agree with you that it doesn't make sense but now we know that we need to divide our luggage into two smaller bags. It's just more awkward to drag around extra pieces of luggage rather than putting everything in one big bag with extra room in it for purchases.

Gudrun

Thanks, Barbara. Actually we aren't even bringing as much as you have listed. My husband only brings one pair of shoes and I wear comfy walking shoes and bring a pair of nicer shoes to wear to a restaurant. Two pair of pants and maybe 5-6 tops--also one nice one for restaurants. I'm not bringing a hair dryer this time--the hotels have them--but since we have to bring an adapter anyway to recharge the battery on the digital camera, I think I will bring a small curling iron. Since we are staying at a nice hotel, I can use their shampoo, lotions, etc. and don't need to bring them. Two travel guides--one for each area we are visiting and a book to read on the plane. So it isn't much and we haven't weighed it yet--my question about combining the weight allowance was theoretical. I am more concerned about having to worry how much everything we buy over in France weighs. The last time we had one big suitcase for both of us which left lots of room for purchases and we didn't need to worry about the weight restriction.

Patty

According to Air France's carry on policy, you're allowed 1 bag plus 1 accessory total weight not exceeding 12kg -

http://tinyurl.com/cln2c

For intra-Europe segments (not booked as part of a transatlantic itinerary) the checked baggage limit is 20kg.

As far as I know these are separate limits. I don't think the information you were given about the combined weight (checked baggage and carry on) is correct.

Underhill

We've never had our carry-on bags weighed, but then they're not particularly large.

Christina

I've never had my carryon bag weighed by Air France either, but it also wasn't particularly alarming. It could have had lead bricks in it for all they knew.

I don't know their reasons, it could vary from weight per piece due to baggage carrier rules or just that it can be easier to distribute luggage properly by weight when they are separate pieces. It's probably just as as simple as not wanting to have special exception rules for couples versus others -- the basic rule is per person as that is how seats are sold, per person. I've never had a bag weigh over 40 pounds, yikes, that is a lot of weight. Even my larger 25" has never been over 36 pounds when fully packed, and that included some heavier items like books and shoes.

GSteed

Cabin baggage (a carry-on), tourist class, is limited to its actual volume rather than its weight. Space in the cabin is limited. One clique of 'travel experts' advocated carrying all baggage into the cabin. Airlines then introduced cabin baggage limits. Loading and seating time was too high. Some interesting limit anomalies exist: lap top, handbag and duty free merchandise. Ticket packages usually specify free baggage limits. An emergency bit of luggage can be a corrugated paper box. Next trip spend time scanning other travellers and their baggage.