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For crefloors: TSA says one quart size Ziploc.

For Holly_uncasdewar: What is the difference?

Packing light as in fat free or as in a flashlight light?

I had a month in France last year, and mailed home packages four times. The French postal system is excellent, and the postal workers are friendly! Keep in mind, however, that once the package reaches the USA, it is delivered by DHL. If you're on an extended trip, mail it to someone else. I did have some trouble tracking down a couple of shipments that got routed back to NJ after no signature was available. But in the end, it all worked out and saved me from carrying them myself.

I pack the same for 10 days as for 23 days. That said, my suitcase always comes in right around 25-30 lbs. so I check it.

I agree with all this but do have a question. When one goes on cruise, where formal clothes are required, then one must pack those plus the required dress shoes etc etc. Has anyone managed a trip like our upcoming one that will be two days in Venice, then 7 days cruise to Greece, then another three days in Italy with just a small carry on suitcase (and please, don't suggest that we skip the formal nights and eat in the buffet!)

Thanks

Oh, I know I could not do carryon for a trip of a week or more. I'm only going to be down in the Bay Area for three days and Southwest never seems to worry about the weight and I certainly won't be taking much. So, when you guys travel for two and three weeks with carryon, how do you do it with the weight restrictions? And these restrictions seem to be getting worse and the weight allowance less. All I can say is bless all of you who can do that. I have no idea how much my 22" weighed, but I know that I could easily lift it with one hand, but there is no way that it passed weight to be carried on.

Hi crefloors, according to Fodorite rkkwan who travels all the time..he said on another thread that our US owned airlines do NOT have a weight restriction for even international flights, the restriction is only the size. According to him it is only the nonowned US airlines that have weight restrictions. I did check NWA website and sure enough there was only the luggage size restriction, none regarding weight for carryons even for international flights.

Okay, I'm going to ask what I'm sure is a really dumb question, and it has nothing to do with this thread: What the heck does "DH" mean? I see it all over these forums! Please help.

Could be:
Dear Husband, nice.
Dumb Husband, notso.
Read in context.

And regarding my post to Crefloors regarding rkkwan's advice..another poster stated that AA does have a weight restriction regarding carryon's for their International flights..it is 40lbs. So check with the airline you will be flying with per their restrictions..always a good idea in any case.

I just flew Alitalia a couple of weeks ago carrying on a 22" roller and a small backpack. I forgot what the roller weighed in at, but it was even less than I'd anticipated. They never asked to weigh the backpack. I say pack what you have to pack in a carry-on bag with hopes of carrying it on, and if they take it then they take it, but at least you tried.

With the trains, I couldn't imagine having any bags larger than a 22". I'm one that threw a tiny pouch which expanded into a duffel bag to take home dirty laundry and other stuff that I checked in. That was a great tip I picked up from this site.

What's the deal with the razors - we can't bring them on? I've had disposables on nearly every domestic/international flight I've taken since the new regs and I have never been stopped.

Finally, Woolite comes in small packets that you can buy (10 to a box maybe). That was a good move, as it helped with undies and socks.

Sorry for the long post, this is just all fresh in my head!

Just a warning note about the French postal service. Yikes. They have a pretty bad rep for a 1st world country. Be careful. I thought people were being paranoid until we had necklace and earrings mailed to a family member and it arrived--empty! Perhaps small jewelry boxes are something to avoid mailing...

I've been shopping for luggage for an upcoming 12 day trip to Italy, and hope to carry on all baggage as we must change planes in Paris at CDG which has horror stories galore on this site.

One of the internet luggage sites I visited had a link to baggage restrictions, both size and weight, for both domestic and international carriers. They ALL have rules.

Deb, Buying new luggage I would urge you to figure out how much it weighs empty, as well as dimensions, for trying to do carry-on only.

I have been traveling all over the world, and have never been able to just have a carry-on. My sneakers, hiking shoes and a regular pair of shoes 9if going out for diner) tskes up a good ortion of my luggage alone. What do people limit themselves to with just a carry-on? I really need help with limiting things

Thanks for any info anyone can give me for my next 2 week trip to Switzerlnad and Germany.

For Crefloors & others who don't know how much your luggage weighs (if you care -lol!)...

Anytime I fly when I check the bag thru I just ask the airline clerk to weigh it for me, please. The scale's right there & they're happy to do it.

I have also pre-weighed using my home bathroom scale (weigh yourself, lift the suitcase, subtract).

I've been aware of suitcase packed weight ever since (years ago) the first time I wasn't allowed to carry-on my normal 22" with British Air's stingy 13 lb limit. The clerk just kind of looked at the bag, laughed, barely lifted it, shook her head "no way"!

PrincessDee, I go with the theory that I bring/wear my bulkiest items on the plane so they don't take up room in the suitcase. That means I carry/wear my winter coat and I also wear my hiking boots for the flight, usually bringing another pair of shoes to change into on the plane. I travel with a 21" suitcase, but do check it (and have an empty lightweight duffle folded inside.) Sorry to say, but I'm annoyed by the people who carry it all on as they tend to slow down the boarding process and take up the room in the overhead bins. Plus, I just don't want to be hoisting my luggage up and down and being weighed down with it in the airports, especially when I'm making a connection. I bring all the essential things in a carry on tote/backpack.

I just seem to bring too much STUFF (as my husband calls it!) I just can't seem to cut down

If you really want to 'mend your ways' make a list when you get back home or everything you packed, but did not use. Refer to it the next time you start packing.