Baggage Limits
 

I am going on a tour. The carry on baggage limit for the airline is 21.65 inches. The tour company states you can have an 18 inch carry on, which is very small. Would you go by the tour company or the airlines? I would much prefer to bring my 21 inch carry-on on the plane. Has anyone had any experience where their carry-on bag was a little larger than the tour company wants? This is the first time a tour company has stated a carry-on size limit. The tour company is Smartours. This is my first time going with them.

Where are you going? Will you be on small planes as part of the tour? Does the company allow a checked bag plus a carry on, or just a carry on?

If you are also checking a bag, my guess is you really should try to adhere to the tour company's limits. Perhaps there is limited space on the coach and if everyone has a checked bag and a full sized carry-on they could run out of room.

But give us more details which tour and what sort(s) of transport you'll be taking.

It's not such a big difference in the end, and the strictness of the bag checks differ from place to place... You could try contacting them directly and asking about the discrepancy.

But janisj is right, the safest bet is sticking to the tour company's requests.

Would you have a checked bag in addition to the 18" carryon?

Baggage Allowance:

On all smarTours trips passengers are limited to one piece of checked luggage (suitcase) not to exceed 44 pounds as well as one small carry-on. Carry-on must not exceed 18″x10″x8″.

These restrictions are based on baggage allowance by the international carrier, the domestic carriers as well as by baggage capacity of motorcoaches. Luggage that exceeds the above baggage allowance will not be allowed on the tour.

In addition, the airlines involved may impose additional baggage fees when you exceed the above guidelines. Below you can find links to the airlines featured on smarTours trips. These links may offer you general information on the luggage allowance of the different airlines.

However, please keep in mind that even if the airline allows more than the amount of luggage listed above, you’ll not be able to bring on the tour itself more than one piece of luggage not to exceed 44 pounds and a small carry-on, not to exceed 18″x10″x8″.

Well, come on! If you get one checked up to 44 lbs, what on earth is your problem? My checked plus carry-on don't come close to that.

My impression was that they asked because they already own a 21" suitcase, and don't have an 18" one.

@suze - I was putting more weight on "states you can have an 18 inch carry on, which is very small."

I've traveled several times with SmarTours, last time was to Russia last autumn, always with my 22" suitcase and what they are calling a small carry-on, an approx. 18" high backpack. It wouldn't have to be a backpack, of course, could be another (small, no bigger than 18" on its longest side) suitcase. In their buses, the suitcase goes into the baggage area and the "carry-on" comes with one onto the coach, used as a day bag for all the bits and pieces a person might want during the day. Give them a call if you are uncertain, they've always been most responsive and helpful with my questions.

If you are allowed a checked bag, you don't need even an 18 inch carry-on. Any large-ish handbag or small day pack should be more than enough.

I'd do like janisj suggested. That rather than having any sized 2nd "suitcase" as my carry-on, I'd take something I could use as a day bag once I arrived (over-side tote bag, day pack, etc.)

Actually, t me this sounds like quite a generous policy. I can fit enough clothes for a 2-week trip into a 22-inch carry-on (I might have to do a little launch along the way, but I didn't on my most recent trip). My carry-on is nowhere near an 18-inch rollaboard. As suze suggests, the "carry on" should be a daypack.

If you limit yourself like this, you may be able to take all your luggage onto the plane and not have to check anything (a huge advantage if you are embarking on a multi-destination bus trip where a lost bag might not catch up to you for days.

For me, I need some kind of a day bag, so if I didn't have a multi-purpose carryon, that would mean having 3 items with me (checked suitcase, carryon suitcase, and still need a purse or tote for every day use after arrival). And that's too much!

The airline allows 50 lbs., which is fine. The tour company says 44. I will be under 50 lbs. I am not concerned about being over 44 lbs. No one is going to weigh my luggage. I also need a carryon for things I will buy. Usually my large suitcase, which I check, has no extra room. I will not be taking any flights within my trip.

"No one is going to weigh my luggage."

You are certain about that? My luggage has been weighed at the airport on 2 of my last 3 international trips, and on a few trips before that. I've seen people were forced to pay for excess luggage, discard items, and or shift things to meet separate stowed and in-cabin limits.

44-50 lbs is an enormous amount for a short tour. You should easily be able to get by w/ 25-30 lbs, thus leaving you masses of room in your checked bag for any purchases. Just because you are on a tour and they handle your bags doesn't mean you need to take the kitchen sink.

What janisj said. In spades.

If your carryon needs to be with you on the bus, I'd opt for a backpack/handbag- more leg room ;)

There are many 18" tote type bags from which you can choose. Baggallini has large ones that have been recommended in these forums. They are lightweight, hold a lot, and you can often find them at places like TJ Maxx and Marshalls.

Thank you for your responses. I called the tour company and was told it is okay if my carry on is a few more inches than 18. Some people are good packers. I am not one of them. I also like to buy things on trips and need room for that. kja--when I said no one is going to weigh my checked bag, I meant that the tour people are not going to weigh it. Of course the airline will, but they allow 50 lbs.

janisj--my luggage on short trips has never weighed as little as 25-30 lbs. I am going away for two weeks.

Two weeks is not a long trip. I will be leaving on a three to four month trip later this year. I expect my luggage, as usual, to weigh less than 30 lbs. You are just not trying. Your choice, of course, but don't pretend it can't be done.

Two 'whole' weeks - that isn't very long.

You will be happier if you take less unneeded 'stuff'. But what the hey . . You won't be schlepping it, the tour company will.

So, are you taking a checked bag, a carry on AND a day pack or handbag?

See if this packing list can work for your trip.

http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...the-spring.cfm

My luggage always weights 25-30 lbs. for a two week trip. You can learn how to pack more efficiently if you want to, anyone can
:-)

<<<my luggage on short trips has never weighed as little as 25-30 lbs. I am going away for two weeks.>>>

Oh my.


I've been on a few group tours of various sorts and I don't recall anyone really dressing up (not like on a lot of cruises where you need fancy stuff). I do remember people fighting with their stuff all the time though. The tour groups dealt with the checked bags, but the carryon were on the bus with us. That's great except there generally wasn't space for roller bags overhead so their stuff had to be dealt with. Anytime it was time to get off the bus they had to deal with all of their stuff, holding up everyone who just wanted off the dang bus. A carryon usually means a daybag... a backpack or messenger rather than a typical rollerbag style carryon.



It helps a lot if you plan coordinating items rather than set outfits. Pack bottoms that go with all (or almost all) of your tops. Also try to pack things that you only need two or maybe three pairs of shoes TOTAL (walking shoes, comfy dressier shoes and a pair of comfy sandals for example). Depending on what you're doing, many clothes can be worn multiple times without washing (and without being gross). You can send clothes out to be washed or wash in the sink.

How much does your bag weight? If you change from a heavy 28-29" bag to a light weight 25" bag you can often cut about 4-5 pounds right there. Expand it out towards the end of your trip as your purchases accumulate and voila, tons of space. You can also use giant Ziploc style bags to compress your clothes into a smaller space. You'll still have the same weight though so don't go overboard and I'd suggest saving those for the trip home and not the trip out.

As far as shopping, I usually come home with one more bag than I left with, filled with the souvenirs, that I carry on the plane coming back. Either a lightweight foldable nylon tote that I packed, or some kind of cool bag I purchase that is also another souvenir.

janisj--I am checking a piece of luggage and taking a carryon bag and a handbag on the plane. That is what you are allowed--one carryon and one handbag.

Iowa_Redhead--I changed to a 25" inch bag years ago when the airlines implemented a weight allowance. I also have those plastic bags to save space. I have been traveling a long time and know what I need. Believe it or not, I don't overpack. I wear things many times.

Sorry- but if you take a 25" suitcase and a 22" roll aboard, you do 'overpack'. One or the other should be enough.