janis

Re your formal clothing. I sometimes take very dressy things - once true formal (long gloves etc) because of an event attended by Queen Elizabeth. That trip I was away 3 weeks, 1 in London and 2 out in the country, but still manage in a 22 inch suitcase.

Consider "formal separates". Long black skirt and different beaded/satin/fancy tops.

Robespierre

Not to change the subject, but I discovered that in addition to converting cm to in and € to $, the Google calculator can do all sorts of other interesting (and useless) conversions.

For example, <b>7 miles per second in furlongs per fortnight, 6837 shekels in rand, 362 rods in km, 3982 f in kelvin</b>

... stuff like that.

Intrepid1

It isn't just the European &quot;discount&quot; airlines that limit the weight of checked baggage to 20 K's...the non-dsicounters do so as well.

I can relate to Traveller333's concerns since we just got back from a combination two weeks + on land and then a 9-night cruise through the Med. Fortunately, our cruise was with an affinity group and there were no formal nights.

I'd like to know if this poster is traveling directly to the cruise or stopping off first...there may be more to this question than we are being told.

traveller333

Love that google feature!

Intrepid1, Yes, we are traveling land first (flying into Switzerland and traveling around this area for a week) then the problem is the flight from Switzerland to Rome (more land travel around Italy for a week) then we will board the ship in Italy. After the cruise we have no problem with the weight restriction the rest of the way home (American Airlines). It's just that middle flight.

We will make it work but my spouse is going to have to cut back on shoes....not the end of the world!

AnthonyGA

I have friends in the airline industry who manage to bring everything they need for even extended stays of a week or more in one tiny carry-on, so it's certainly possible to bring all that one needs in less than 20 kg (far less). And remember that you can <i>wash</i> clothing abroad.

GSteed

One inch equals 2.54 centimeters. Accessing baggage requires ingenuity. Economy class checked baggage is limited to two pieces each less than 70 pounds. Cabin baggage is limited to a piece less than 40 pounds. Total 180 pounds! How many are in your party. Make sure you use everyone's allowance.
Yes, there are problems. Once off an international flight local/domestic limits come into play. Consider shipping or mailing first stop used baggage home. Europeans regularly use rail services to forward baggage. You may also be able to use a 'Duty Free' bag to add to cabin baggage capacity. Find out what 'special' items are permitted on your domestic flight. On our last trip we returned (3) with checked baggage weighing a total of 400 pounds plus our cabin limits.

Marko

Just curious but why doesn't the US convert to metric ?? It doesn't hurt a bit !

rex

A failure/lack of commitment on our educational system. Sadly, Americans had a brief and passing interest in looking at the world through the eyeglasses of math and science for about three days after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon.

Instead, 35 years later, we have espousers of &quot;intelligent design&quot;, and those who believe that an ounce of faith is better than a pound of inquiry... and who have no idea what either represents, in grams.

Best wishes, from the land of freedom and innumeracy...

Rex

ira

Hi Marko

&gt;Just curious but why doesn't the US convert to metric ??&lt;

The US is officially on the Metric System. Since 1893 the yard, pound, gallon, etc have been referenced to the meter, kg, liter...

clevelandbrown

Continental just announced that they are lowering the free baggage allowance from 2 70 pound pieces to 2 50 pound pieces. I don't know if other airlines will follow suit. Personally, I never take a lot of baggage, since I have to carry it, although it is nice to have plenty of capacity for things we picked up there on the flight home.

Christina

Thomas Jefferson wanted us to use the metric but you know, they couldn't let go of that English heritage.

Robespierre

Now that fuel cost has surpassed that of payroll as the airlines' primary expense item, I wouldn't be surprised if we see <u>every</u> airline cut their free baggage allowances.

Not having to carry two or three tons of luggage (40 lbs * 100 passengers = 4,000 lbs) on every flight will save a lot of JET A.

The spot market price of light sweet crude keeps setting price records, with no end in sight. Fasten your seat belts.