Secret: A way around weight limits. Stuff coat pockets with small, heavy items! Wear heaviest clothing on board. Get rid of heavy cosmetic containers. I saw a passenger wearing two suits plus an over coat. He also had loaded a duty free bag with books! Next reality check: review your wardrobe used in a similar period of time at home. Substitute heavy duty socks for slppers, a long T shirt for pajamas and polarfleece items for heavier ones. Camera bags and handbags can carry immense amounts of material.

My oldest mantra - - I must have said it here fifty times:

Your largest bag (for example, 22" rollaboard) should not weigh more than eight pounds when empty; your second bag (for example, a small-medium nylon duffl as your carry-on) should not weigh more than eight OUNCES when empty. You can travel light - - or NOT - - with this combination. I have traveled more than once with fifty pounds of contents, using this combination.

By the way, Alitalia, will still take you and your stuff if you exceed the 40 lb limit; you just have to pay extra.

If I ran an airline, I think I would raise all the prices by $25... mke the limits 20 pounds higher, and then giv cash refunds, on the spot, to anyone UNDER the ("new") limit by 20 pounds. 90% happy customers, and 10% jolted into awareness that they are costing themselves.

Best wishes,

Rex

For ~$50 (on sale) you can find a nice rolling 24-26" suitcase that weighs 7-9 lbs. empty.

18 lbs is crazy, no wonder you're worried :-)

Must be a 1970's Samsonite...lol