Airline baggage at DVinfo.net

Dylan Couper · June 11th, 2003, 06:22 PM

How tight are airlines when it comes down to size requirements for baggage?
I'm flying United and they say the maximum size is 62" of h+w+l. I found an awsome piece of luggage that works out to about 68". It's awsome because most of that is length so I can fit my tripod inside it, and not have to carry that as an extra bag.

Anyway, do they actually measure your bags when you check them, or as long as it isn't something ridiculously large, are you OK?

Thanks

Rob Lohman · June 12th, 2003, 06:04 AM

I don't think they will measure them, but it has to fit in the
overhead compartment I think?? Not sure on this. Perhaps
you can shorten the bag a bit?

Don Bloom · June 12th, 2003, 10:51 AM

If you're talking about carryon FORGET IT! 21 or 22 inches is the MAX length. PERIOD! For checked bags they might not measure with a tape but the do have a jig or template and might charge you extra for an oversize bag.
Oh yeah now I remember, carry on is limited to something like 22X15X9-must fit either overhead OR under the seat in front of you.

Keith Loh · June 12th, 2003, 10:53 AM

Don't forget that they may ask you to turn the stuff on to prove that it isn't a bomb. So when you pack everything in just perfectly they may ask you to bring it all out again.

Never mind that you could create a bomb small enough so that the electronics masking it ... never mind.

Jeff Price · June 12th, 2003, 02:32 PM

The better question is - how much do they charge for oversize (and that includes weight!) baggage. If it is reasonable, I wouldn't worry about it. The worst thing that will happen is that you end up paying a few bucks. If it is expensive then I might look for a different bag.

That's for bigger planes. Keep in mind that for smaller planes if you are oversize/weight it may not go at all. It was a real trick to get all our gear up to the Cape York Peninsula in Australia....

Rick Spilman · June 12th, 2003, 02:41 PM

http://www.packinglight.com/html/car...uirements.html

http://www.allcases.com/airReg.asp

You might find these pages interesting.

Dylan Couper · June 13th, 2003, 12:32 AM

Guys, my question is concerning checked luggage, not carry on.
I believe the charge for an oversized bag is $80us EACH WAY. F-ing expensive if I get caught going a little over.

Got the Porta-Brace Quick Draw as my carry on bag.
FWIW, Maximum carry on size for United is 45" of L+W+H, but the max of any one dimension can only be 22", as Don correctly pointed out.

Jeff Price · June 13th, 2003, 08:58 AM

So, $80 is outrageous and has to factor into your decision. Other airlines only charge $15-$25, so may be ok if you get caught now and then. That said, I have never seen a ruler used on checked bags but see people dinged on the weight penalty nearly every time I fly these days.

If the bag is not obviously oversize in a dimension then it may not attract their attention. Even on the carry-on. United uses these dimension scales but they don't catch length so I see people get by with 24" as long the other dimensions are reasonable.

Airlines have started getting a LOT more picky though. If I have any doubts about size at all I make sure there is nothing in it that can't be checked. I even ended up getting a new carry-on to be on the safe side.

Dylan Couper · June 14th, 2003, 12:19 AM

OK, I'm going to risk it with the checked bag. If it's too big, I'll just stomp on it unit it meets the minimum size limit. :)
Cameras will not be in it of course.

Bryan Beasleigh · June 14th, 2003, 08:40 PM

I fly an awful lot and the only thing they really pay attention to is weight apart from the obvious. Both my carry on bags are marginally oversized and I've never been challenged. I fly 2 or 3 long hauls a month.

June 11th, 2003, 06:22 PM	#1
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Airline baggage How tight are airlines when it comes down to size requirements for baggage? I'm flying United and they say the maximum size is 62" of h+w+l. I found an awsome piece of luggage that works out to about 68". It's awsome because most of that is length so I can fit my tripod inside it, and not have to carry that as an extra bag. Anyway, do they actually measure your bags when you check them, or as long as it isn't something ridiculously large, are you OK? Thanks __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

June 12th, 2003, 06:04 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I don't think they will measure them, but it has to fit in the overhead compartment I think?? Not sure on this. Perhaps you can shorten the bag a bit? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

June 12th, 2003, 10:53 AM	#4
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Don't forget that they may ask you to turn the stuff on to prove that it isn't a bomb. So when you pack everything in just perfectly they may ask you to bring it all out again. Never mind that you could create a bomb small enough so that the electronics masking it ... never mind. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

June 12th, 2003, 02:32 PM	#5
Jeff Price Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Chico, California Posts: 357	The better question is - how much do they charge for oversize (and that includes weight!) baggage. If it is reasonable, I wouldn't worry about it. The worst thing that will happen is that you end up paying a few bucks. If it is expensive then I might look for a different bag. That's for bigger planes. Keep in mind that for smaller planes if you are oversize/weight it may not go at all. It was a real trick to get all our gear up to the Cape York Peninsula in Australia.... __________________ Jeff Price Flickerflix Nature Videos flickerflix@yahoo.com

June 13th, 2003, 12:32 AM	#7
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Guys, my question is concerning checked luggage, not carry on. I believe the charge for an oversized bag is $80us EACH WAY. F-ing expensive if I get caught going a little over. Got the Porta-Brace Quick Draw as my carry on bag. FWIW, Maximum carry on size for United is 45" of L+W+H, but the max of any one dimension can only be 22", as Don correctly pointed out. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

June 12th, 2003, 10:51 AM	#3
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	If you're talking about carryon FORGET IT! 21 or 22 inches is the MAX length. PERIOD! For checked bags they might not measure with a tape but the do have a jig or template and might charge you extra for an oversize bag. Oh yeah now I remember, carry on is limited to something like 22X15X9-must fit either overhead OR under the seat in front of you.

June 12th, 2003, 02:41 PM	#6
Rick Spilman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 366	http://www.packinglight.com/html/car...uirements.html http://www.allcases.com/airReg.asp You might find these pages interesting.

June 13th, 2003, 08:58 AM	#8
Jeff Price Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Chico, California Posts: 357	So, $80 is outrageous and has to factor into your decision. Other airlines only charge $15-$25, so may be ok if you get caught now and then. That said, I have never seen a ruler used on checked bags but see people dinged on the weight penalty nearly every time I fly these days. If the bag is not obviously oversize in a dimension then it may not attract their attention. Even on the carry-on. United uses these dimension scales but they don't catch length so I see people get by with 24" as long the other dimensions are reasonable. Airlines have started getting a LOT more picky though. If I have any doubts about size at all I make sure there is nothing in it that can't be checked. I even ended up getting a new carry-on to be on the safe side. __________________ Jeff Price Flickerflix Nature Videos flickerflix@yahoo.com

June 14th, 2003, 12:19 AM	#9
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	OK, I'm going to risk it with the checked bag. If it's too big, I'll just stomp on it unit it meets the minimum size limit. :) Cameras will not be in it of course. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

June 14th, 2003, 08:40 PM	#10
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	I fly an awful lot and the only thing they really pay attention to is weight apart from the obvious. Both my carry on bags are marginally oversized and I've never been challenged. I fly 2 or 3 long hauls a month.