Soft-sided luggage?
Jul 31st, 2006, 04:04 PM
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Soft-sided luggage?
We are preparing for our trip to east Africa, and we have the weight of luggage under 15kg. We will be taking a few flights within Kenya and Tanzania. I keep seeing conflicting information regarding the type of luggage. Is luggage with one hard side and one soft side okay? The information from our travel agent doesn't specify the type of luggage, just the weight. Thanks in advance.
Jul 31st, 2006, 04:46 PM
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Soft side, means soft. Technically, this should not have hard back and telescopic handle. Though you will see some of these, be aware that wheels, hard back and handle add to the weight, which can be up to 7 - 8 lbs, which is alot when your limit is 33/lbs. And when these are shoved into under the plane, it may come out without wheels, damaged handles, etc.
There are some soft-sided duffles that do have wheels only on one end, with a soft-handle on the opposite end... that if you find, is doable and convenient to move the bag around. But once you're in Africa, you will not have to lift or move your bag at all. There are carts at baggage claim and once you meet your guide (or airport transfer person), you'll never have to lift your bag until you return home.
There are some soft-sided duffles that do have wheels only on one end, with a soft-handle on the opposite end... that if you find, is doable and convenient to move the bag around. But once you're in Africa, you will not have to lift or move your bag at all. There are carts at baggage claim and once you meet your guide (or airport transfer person), you'll never have to lift your bag until you return home.
Jul 31st, 2006, 04:49 PM
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Soft-sided luggage should be quite fine.
I just returned from TZ, with four internal flights. We had only duffel bags, and all seemed to be handled quite carefully. Indeed, I think the luggage gets a lot less abuse on these small planes (all our flights were on 12-passenger Cessnas) than on the huge intercontinental flights, which are offloaded to carts and conveyor belts.
I just returned from TZ, with four internal flights. We had only duffel bags, and all seemed to be handled quite carefully. Indeed, I think the luggage gets a lot less abuse on these small planes (all our flights were on 12-passenger Cessnas) than on the huge intercontinental flights, which are offloaded to carts and conveyor belts.
Jul 31st, 2006, 04:54 PM
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Hi there, perhaps you could email the airline and ask them what the restrictions are. I have wheeled luggage with a hard bottom and just got a reply from the airline i am using that this is ok, so i've printed the email to take with me just in case they change their mind.
Jul 31st, 2006, 05:52 PM
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My large-size LL Bean Adventure duffel worked great. It weighs next to nothing and I didn't fill it nearly full. But it was nice to have room on the return for souvenirs. Don't get the XL size though - I was told by LLBean that it exceeds dimensions allowed by the large airlines!
Jul 31st, 2006, 06:04 PM
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I would recommend the lightest weight bags you can find. Both international airlines and internal Africa flights focus on weight (the 15kg weight limit pretty much limit the size of your bag). I had a duffle bag (carry on size) and a backpack.
I highly recommend the LL Bean Adventure Duffle Small (meets carry on size for domestic flights 9"H x 18"W x 9"D and only weighs 1 lb empty). It has a laminate on the inside to keep water/dust out and comes in a multitude of colors and prints (makes it easier to find you bag).
Anything with wheels or hardside, handles etc will add weight and these will typically run 6-8 lbs (that's the weight of a good pair of binocular and camera equipment).
You don't need hardside luggage. Carry all breakables in your backpack or on your person (safari vest). If you have expensive camera equipment, buy a backpack that's specifically made for camera (it's totally padded but the foam only adds a little weight). Otherwise, if you have a standard size camera, wrap is in clothes or use a backpack with a padded PC compartment and put the camera and binoculars in the padded compartment.
I highly recommend the LL Bean Adventure Duffle Small (meets carry on size for domestic flights 9"H x 18"W x 9"D and only weighs 1 lb empty). It has a laminate on the inside to keep water/dust out and comes in a multitude of colors and prints (makes it easier to find you bag).
Anything with wheels or hardside, handles etc will add weight and these will typically run 6-8 lbs (that's the weight of a good pair of binocular and camera equipment).
You don't need hardside luggage. Carry all breakables in your backpack or on your person (safari vest). If you have expensive camera equipment, buy a backpack that's specifically made for camera (it's totally padded but the foam only adds a little weight). Otherwise, if you have a standard size camera, wrap is in clothes or use a backpack with a padded PC compartment and put the camera and binoculars in the padded compartment.
Jul 31st, 2006, 06:49 PM
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Our family of 5 took a 6 passenger plane from Etosha, Namibia, to Livingstone, Zambia. Our pilot was not as much worried about the weight (although we carefully weighed before we left and pooling things we were ok)as fitting (squishing) the bags into the plane. With 5 duffles and 5 backpacks, I had to hold a backpack in my lap. Maybe check about dimensions....
Jul 31st, 2006, 08:21 PM
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It depends on your needs (how much heavy clothing, extra shoes for example) and whether they impact on how judicious and economic you are with your packing.
I've never had a problem with the hard-bottomed (wheeled), soft-sided bag I nearly always take. It gives better protection to any photographic gear which won't fit in my cabin bag. I've had hardware damaged in a totally soft check-in bag.
I wear my heaviest clothing, and that helps to keep my check-in bag within the safari weight limit (as low as 10-12 kg for some destinations).
John
I've never had a problem with the hard-bottomed (wheeled), soft-sided bag I nearly always take. It gives better protection to any photographic gear which won't fit in my cabin bag. I've had hardware damaged in a totally soft check-in bag.
I wear my heaviest clothing, and that helps to keep my check-in bag within the safari weight limit (as low as 10-12 kg for some destinations).
John
Jul 31st, 2006, 10:22 PM
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I would suggest hard sided for anything that goes in the hold. It does happen occassionally that someone will take a stanley knife and open soft sided luggage. So you have a bit more security with hard sided. I also pack a soft rucksack, so the bag can stay at the town or beach hotel when I go on safari.
Aug 1st, 2006, 09:06 AM
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In my experience, the weight limit is per bag per person. So you're better off spreading the stuff up into separate bags. That said, if I had to go over weight limit/bag aways and get charged for overweight bag, then I put all the heavy stuff in one bag and make sure the other is within limit.
However, be aware that on the smaller inter-Africa flights, if the plane is totally full (and other passengers are also over their weight limit), airline will then put some overweight luggage on the next flight that can accomodate the weight. Or they may be totally ok with extra weight, it's a risk.
Also, I would not recommend putting any expensive photo or camcorder equipment in your checked luggage (hardside or otherwise). It would be a total bummer if your checked bag was lost or delayed and you didn't have your camera etc with you for a trip like this.
We carried in our hand-carry backpacks stuff that we absolutely needed if checked bag was misplaced for a day or two (there were 2 of us):
Nikon Digital SLR, 80-400mm zoom lens, Sony camcorder, small digital backup camera, extra batteries, MiniDV tapes, binocular, converter plugs, one change of clothes each, sunscreen and small bag of travel sized personal care items. Each of our backpacks weighed about 25lbs.
On Int'l flights departing outside the US(we connected via KLM in Europe) they sometimes will weigh carry on bags and KLM's limit is 10kg/person for handcarry. In our case, we were wearing safari vests and relocated some of the camera batteries (small but heavy) items onto our vests. Also, we were prepared to wear the camera (as their website list camera/camera bag, along with coat as exceptions from 1 piece carry-on limit). We didn't have any problems but our friends who also flew KLM on a different flight got their carry on weighed.
Hope this helps!
However, be aware that on the smaller inter-Africa flights, if the plane is totally full (and other passengers are also over their weight limit), airline will then put some overweight luggage on the next flight that can accomodate the weight. Or they may be totally ok with extra weight, it's a risk.
Also, I would not recommend putting any expensive photo or camcorder equipment in your checked luggage (hardside or otherwise). It would be a total bummer if your checked bag was lost or delayed and you didn't have your camera etc with you for a trip like this.
We carried in our hand-carry backpacks stuff that we absolutely needed if checked bag was misplaced for a day or two (there were 2 of us):
Nikon Digital SLR, 80-400mm zoom lens, Sony camcorder, small digital backup camera, extra batteries, MiniDV tapes, binocular, converter plugs, one change of clothes each, sunscreen and small bag of travel sized personal care items. Each of our backpacks weighed about 25lbs.
On Int'l flights departing outside the US(we connected via KLM in Europe) they sometimes will weigh carry on bags and KLM's limit is 10kg/person for handcarry. In our case, we were wearing safari vests and relocated some of the camera batteries (small but heavy) items onto our vests. Also, we were prepared to wear the camera (as their website list camera/camera bag, along with coat as exceptions from 1 piece carry-on limit). We didn't have any problems but our friends who also flew KLM on a different flight got their carry on weighed.
Hope this helps!
Aug 1st, 2006, 11:37 AM
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Technically, the weight is per person. But often, when boarding your first flight out of Nairobi and/or Arusha/JRO, they will weight the bags of the two people traveling together for a total weight. If over, regardless whose bag, they may assess a fee.
Soft sided duffles are so easy to pack; most have a coating inside (so waterproof) and excellent zippers (so no dust/dirt gets in).
Never, put anything into your checked luggage that you can't afford to loose. This would include your travel documents, medicines, photo equipment. All should be with you on the plane as your carryon.
As Patty mentions, verify with your International carrier if they have any bags per person, size, and weight limits (believe most still allow a bag up to 50/lbs.).
As to carryon - did have an experience in AMS (heading to NBO on KLM*, years ago) of bag being overweight. Strangely, the agent asked that I remove some items and game me a plastic bag to use; then I could take the carryon and plastic bag on board!
*BA has even more restrictive weight limits for your carryons.
Soft sided duffles are so easy to pack; most have a coating inside (so waterproof) and excellent zippers (so no dust/dirt gets in).
Never, put anything into your checked luggage that you can't afford to loose. This would include your travel documents, medicines, photo equipment. All should be with you on the plane as your carryon.
As Patty mentions, verify with your International carrier if they have any bags per person, size, and weight limits (believe most still allow a bag up to 50/lbs.).
As to carryon - did have an experience in AMS (heading to NBO on KLM*, years ago) of bag being overweight. Strangely, the agent asked that I remove some items and game me a plastic bag to use; then I could take the carryon and plastic bag on board!
*BA has even more restrictive weight limits for your carryons.
Aug 1st, 2006, 11:56 AM
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< *BA has even more restrictive weight limits for your carryons. >
Unlimited weight "restrictive"!!!
as long as it fits into the international size limits & you can lift it you can fill it with gold bricks if you want
Unlimited weight "restrictive"!!!
as long as it fits into the international size limits & you can lift it you can fill it with gold bricks if you want
Aug 1st, 2006, 12:01 PM
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As for OP, assuming they are taking small planes then "soft" means "soft" - no hard sides or anything rigid like handles as the cargo compartments aren't spacious & your luggage will have to fit the space available.
And outside of the US weight limits are per person, not per bag
And outside of the US weight limits are per person, not per bag
Aug 1st, 2006, 01:14 PM
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If departing the US with final destination in Africa (written as one ticket), depending on air carrier, you're allowed X number of pieces and maximum dimensions and weight for each for whichever class of service - coach, business, first. So, even if connecting in Europe the rules across the pond hold.
Aug 1st, 2006, 01:16 PM
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Thanks everyone for your responses and your excellent tips.
We will bring a smaller duffel bag with us. If there is a problem with weight restrictions per bag or they won't let us combine our weight together, we will bust out the extra bag and throw all heavier items in there.
We will bring a smaller duffel bag with us. If there is a problem with weight restrictions per bag or they won't let us combine our weight together, we will bust out the extra bag and throw all heavier items in there.
Aug 1st, 2006, 01:34 PM
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http://www.kenya-airways.com/kq/kqdispinfo.aspx?colm=62
It says for flights originating LHR, but I think it's the same for your flights.
It says for flights originating LHR, but I think it's the same for your flights.
