Fly into Heathrow Bag Restrictions...
 

We are taking United First Class from LAX straight into London Heathrow and are hearing that you can only take one carry-on. Is this true? Does this mean I can take my roller bag but no duffle? We are not getting a connecting flight... we called the airlines but it was an outsource and they were a little confused... any ideas from my fellow Fodorite's?

Did you check United's luggage policy for First Class Int'l? Heathrow doesn't care how much luggage you bring on board when you are flying IN. Luggage restriction is imposed by the airline and/or by the DEPARTING airport.

Thanks... that makes more sense to me. (No wonder people don't fly as much any more!)

"People dont fly as much as before" - because the fact that you dont understand the carry on policy? Are you really so sure Dho!!!!!

It took me about 2-3 seconds to find the following on ual.com

<i>Flights departing <u>from or connecting through the United Kingdom</u>
If you are departing from or connecting through London Heathrow (LHR), <u>you are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item</u> as stated above; however, please note that the Department for Transport (DfT) regulations in the U.K. require that the 45 linear inches (114 linear cm) includes the handles and wheels of your carry-on bag.</i>

Yes, the number of bags is the same as in all domestic US flights, but the sizes are more restricted. (Also, several airlines in the UK have more restrictive bag policies ... Rynair, for instance limits you to one bag with NO personal item.) The one-bag-only limit at Heathrow was cancelled over a year ago ... perhaps two.

Thanks to you all... I guess the rules have changed since we flew to Europe in '07. Our carry on's are 47 linear inches. Very frustrating, for sure. (What do they store in all those empty overhead bins?????) I can understand the smaller aircraft but we will be on a 777.

<<< Department for Transport (DfT) regulations in the U.K. require that the 45 linear inches (114 linear cm) includes the handles and wheels of your carry-on bag. >>>

UK (nor Europe or most of the rest of the world) doesn't use "linear inches" for hand luggage, so someone who has a bag 43x1x1 is going to get a rather big surprise. The sizes are 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22in x 18in x 10in) so your hand luggage would have to fit into a box that size with nothing sticking out

Can't remember when I last saw an empty bin in the overhead. They're usually stuffed with everyone's carry on. The size of the airline has little to do with storage of luggage. The larger the craft, the more people on the flight thus more baggage.

My best advice when flying out of Heathrow-make sure you have an extra nylon/foldable tote or duffel bag with you in case your rollaboard suitcase doesn't make the size for UK standards. I have flown two airlines recently as a regular passenger and the "carryon suitcase security Nazis" are horrible at Heathrow. We have had to check our bags because they did not think that they would fit into an overhead bin. The suitcase in question is my "crew bag" that I use EVERYWEEK internationally for work. They are absolutely ridiculous about the wheels or handles adding extra size so beware.
Besides being one of the most expensive countries with landing and departure taxes, we now have to endure this?

dutyfree, did this happen at the security line or at the airline check-in? If this happened at the security line, did the security staff ask you to put your luggage in the sizer? Or did the security just look at your bag and tell you to return to the airline check-in desk to check your luggage? Just curious, what are the dimensions of your "crew bag"?

It has happened both times at the security lines. They want everyone to put their carryons in the sizer unless they deem that it will go in-ie.big handbags,computer bags,etc. My crew bag is a 21 inch but with the wheels it stuck out of the sizer. This last time I tried to explain that I knew for a fact that the bag would fit in the overhead bin but the security women made myself and my two adult kids return to the airline and check all of our carryon bags.My kids had asmall rolling duffel and "travelpro" carryon bags but it did not matter to her.Back to the checkin desk.
I felt really bad for some of the families that were trying to go through as they had extra outfits,food,toys in their bags and they were not allowed either.
Heathrow seems to be alot tougher than Gatwick in terms of nitpicking on things -at least as a crew member!

Whether it fits into the overhead bin or not is not important, what is important that your 21" bag is technically too big to be hand luggage at virtually any airport outside North America as the IATA dimensions of 56x45x25cm include projections like handles and wheels

dutyfree, that (Heathrow's sizer) is the reason why I downsized my 21" suitcase to a 19" suitcase. I know my 21" measures 22.5" from handle to wheels, which would NOT fit into the Heathrow's sizer. AA's max dimension is 45 linear inches, and the 21" (21x14x9) exceeds that limit simply because 21" is NOT really 21" but 22.5".

But the rolling duffel was 18 and they STILL did not want that one either. I just wish that everyone all over the world was on the same page. I also wish you could have seen the big sized carryon luggage on the plane from Africa yesterday that I was a passenger on-unbelievable!

The security at LHR can be the worst.

Make sure your socks are clean and have no holes in them WHEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF.

The plastic bag containing your cute little tubes of toothpaste, etc MUST BE ONE LITRE SIZE (really)(ONLY)!

You can't carry liquids SO TAKE EMPTY WATER BOTTLES and then REFILL FROM WATER FOUNTAINS AIRSIDE.

The only difference between the stupid security hassles is that the UK are much more polite than the US personel - and they don't steal so much.

Make sure your checked baggage has your name on the outside so they can page you, if needed, rather than break your baggage open.

What about liquids in carry on? I've read somewhere that you can take the 1 qt. bag of toiletries and then another 1 qt. bag with liquid medicine (eye drops etc.). Anyone have any experiences at Heathrow regarding this?

Thanks - we leave in 2 days!

Any liquids (in hand luggage) have to be under 100ml each and then put in a clear plastic bag and taken out of any rucksack/handbag and put through the x-ray separately.
I haven't had to take off my shoes in a while BUT it does depend on your shoes. You may also have to take off your belt.
Whilst BMT thinks they are stupid, i for one am happy to spend an extra 10 minutes going through security(cause thats all it is) on mine and every other passengers safety.

BMT: Those are the same rules most places - not just at LHR or in the UK.


smbruner: You can have a 2nd baggie w/ prescription liquids and/or certain otc liquids like saline solution.

OTC eye drops would have to be in the baggie for your general liquids/gels, prescription eye drops could be in their own baggie. But eye drops are such small bottles they really aren't a problem - they should fit in the general baggie.