Mariastefnyc

Message: Hi I will be traveling to Italy in about 2 weeks. Since I will be going alone I decided it would be best to just use one of those smaller rolling luggage that many people bring on the plane. I will try to pack as much as I can..I'm wondering if my luggage will get weighed before I get on the plane. I will be making a connection in zurich, last time I had to make a connection my luggage was lost and it took a few days for it to finally arrive. This time I really want to have my luggage with me on the plane to avoid any problems.So my question is, is it possible to bring a small rolling luggage with wheels on the plane and not have to worry about the weight? (Especially on American Airlines)

MS

Gretchen

If it is a rollaboard that will fit in the overhead bin I would be surprised if you could go over the weight limit. If you can't get it in the bin--and the flight attendant can't either, then you will probably be required to check it. You will also need to leave all sharp pointy things out of your luggage. And be prepared at every security check point to be delayed and combed through.

P_M

Call American Airlines and ask that question. Like you, I have had problems in the past with mis-directed luggage, so I had the exact same idea for my upcoming trip on BA. I called BA to ask what's allowed for carry-ons. They told me that I am allowed a purse and one carry-on weighing only 6 kilos or 13 pounds!! I couldn't believe this was right, so I called again later and was told the same. I asked if this is the industry standard and they said no, this is only BA's rule. I don't know if they weigh it or not, but you have inspired me to call and ask that question. Needless to say, I will have to check a bag.

yk

Hi Mariastefnyc-

On AA.com, it states that the carry-on must not weigh more than 40 lbs/18 kgs. To me, 40lbs is very heavy. I don't even think I can lift that weight over my head to fit it in the bin above.

P_M

Interesting, yk. This gives me yet another reason to be ticked at BA. I could easily do carry-ons only if I were allowed 40 pounds.

BarbaraJ

We just flew AA to Italy and a lot of people carried on wheeled bags. Nothing was weighed nor did anyone say anything. We took two 22" wheeled bags and decided to check them. Both together wieghed just over 50 lbs. You should easily be under the 40lb limit with one bag.

socialworker

Hey P M--I really don't understand their (BA's) rationale. It would be one thing if you were taking a wheeled carry-on in addition to your checked luggage but when it *is* your luggage, as long as it is small enough to fit in the overhead, it seems that they should not care. The total amount of luggage weight on the plane is the same if it is in the cabin w/you or down in the hold!! I recently went to France on Air France and took a 20 inch rolling suitcase precisely so I would not have to check any luggage. If they would have enforced such a ridiculous weight limit, I could not have even taken the empty suitcase!!

socialworker

An addendum to what I just wrote above...I checked the BA website and they allow 1st class 40 lbs of carry ons--maybe it has something to do w/getting the "masses" in coach on and off the plane faster. I *have* noticed a lot more people travelling w/carry ons who are quite slow and/or lacking the adeptness to get the bags efficiently into and out of the overheads. Just a thought....

rkkwan

Luggage weight will affect how a plane handles/performs, especially if it's a small commuter. The weight and distribution of checked luggage, and the estimate weight of passengers are all put into consideration.

Having said that, I'm not aware of any US-based airline that weighs one's carry-on luggage. However, if a flight is full, and you get on late, you may have trouble finding overhead bins to put your roller. It'd help if you can pre-board (say if you're AA's elite member), or maybe you should consider getting some seats near the rear of the plane so you are allowed to board first.

Myer

We just returned from Spain. British Airways.

Going our checked luggage was weighed.
Limit 2 per person 76 (app) pounds per.
Carryons not weighed.

From Granada to Barcelona carryons were weighed. I don't remember the exact limit.

From Barcelona to London and back to US - carryons were weighed. Limit was 13Kg.

Both times my carryons were too heavy and my checked luggage had already gone through.

I removed things from the carry-on and put them in a plastic bag.

There was nothing to stop me from then putting the removed items back in the carryon.

Underhill

A caution: Air France enforces a fairly limited carry-on size for flights WITHIN France. A piece of not overly large luggage that we were allowed on our AA flight was refused by AF and we had to do some quick repacking into our smaller flight bag before checking the carry-on.

italyss

Yes, Air France is very strict. Once, as we were about to board the flight here, an Air France rep appears with a metal suitcase. She flips it open to reveal a set of scales! She was very strict, and there were several heated arguments as she forced people to check their carryons at the gate. Also, once in Paris, Air France forced people to check their carryons. A man from Boston was complaining that there had been no problem from Boston to Paris with the same carryon.

suze

For Maria, ask American Airlines their rules. And assume they will be enforced strictly, although sometimes they aren't.

As for as British Air, I've had to check my 22" roller the last few trips because obviously it weighs more than 13 lbs! (Note for P_M, they did not even weigh it, the clerk simply lifted it & said it had to be checked.)

Once I got used to the idea, I've grown to like it. Not hauling around your suitcase thru the airport, boarding, transfers, is nice. So now I pack knowing 1 main suitcase is being checked thru and my "carry-on" can be truly that... a smaller bag with things I want on the plane, anything valuable or not easily replaced (eyeglasses, prescription meds, money, personal cosmetics, etc.), and one change of clothing.

P_M

Suze, I agree that carrying around 40 lbs. of luggage would be a pain, but after 6 incidents of misdirected luggage, it was a price I was willing to pay. But rules are rules, so I will check my bags and say my usual prayer to the luggage gods in order to ensure my bags and I will make all connections. Although I'm still a little miffed at BA for this and a few other issues, I will look on the bright side and not complain because this is an award ticket, and checking all my luggage with BA still beats paying for a ticket with someone else.

P. S. I'm glad to know in advance that the weight limit on carry-ons will be enforced, so I will make sure it's under 13 lbs.

llamalady

.....O dear, now I'm all a-twitter over
luggage allowance for carry-on BA.

From Vancouver to Heathrow we're on
BA economy plus and allowed a carry-on/
purse of 5 lbs. and another piece of
20 lbs. or less. From Gatwick to
Toulouse we've been put in economy
and we're only allowed 13 lbs. Since
we're on a connecting flight will our
original weights be allowed or will our
'heavier' bag have to be checked? And
why am I asking you? I should be calling BA. Right?

rj007

My FF airline is American and I have never had my carryon weighed. As others have noted as long as you can fit it into the overhead bin it should not be a problem.

I flew BA from L.A. to London and Berlin last Nov. with my one carryon bag. They did not weigh it and it was defintely over 13 pounds. Since I only take one suitcase to Europe, I have never had lost luggage. In fact, the only time I have had my bag checked was on Ryan Air from London to Rome. Of course, the budget airlines are strict on the baggage weight.

Clifton

Just thinking about this and am wondering if I'm right. If this turns out to be AA in flight number only (as a lot of their flights through Zurich are), the real carrier's rules are going to be the only one's that matter. Say, if it's a Swiss Air plane. Either way - since there's a connection in Zurich, the next leg is definitely not on an AA plane. So, you could conceivably carry the bag to Switzerland and still have to go through checking the bag unless you find out who you're actually flying and go with the strictest weight limit of any of the segments.

italyss

Exactly. If you have a heavier carryon with wheels, you need to be prepared to perhaps have to check it on one of your connections. I finally stopped using a wheeled carryon (I have wheels on the larger bag that I check) and have switched to a le sport sac. I have noticed that the airlines are really getting strict about the weight of carryons for international travel.

Gretchen

However, even if you have to check it on the second leg it will be a gate check so you at least know where it is at that point and the chances are it will be on your plane.

llamalady

I took my own advice and checked the BA
website. On multi-journey trips on a
through ticket you are permitted the
higher allowance for the entire journey.
Yippee! Twenty-six pounds!

Also, you must get your luggage and
transport it yourself between LHR and
Gatwick - all the more reason for light
packing me thinks! I won't be needing
Mme.K's packing service.