Hand Luggage Size. How Strict?

I am travelling Upper Class with my parents in the near future and my parents have carry on bags that slightly exceed the size given on the VA Website (length of 56 cm, width of 36 cm and depth of 23 cm).

My Mothers bag is a Soft Holdall 59cm x 33cm x 26cm so exceeds the length by 3cm.

My Fathers bag is a Hard Shell Case 54cm x 39cm x 26cm so exceeds the width by 3cm.

My question is how strict will Virgin be on this (As all the times I've travelled in UC I've never seen any Hand Luggage measured for size (Weight Yes, Dimensions never)).

Any Advice and opinions as to whether we will get away with this would be appreciated?

Regards

Jaydun

PS The Hand Luggage Size differs on the BAA Website at 56 cm tall 45cm wide 25 cm deep. Which would make my Dads bag OK. I’m Confused!!

If you're in Upper, you can usually get away with something a bit bigger in my experience, but in any case, I've never seen anyone get picky over something which is slightly over... as long as it looks about right, and doesn't weigh a ton, you're okay.

Mike

The problem is not Virgin, but the Security at the UK airports.
At Birmingham, my Pilots case is 1cm too big to fit in the size testers so they won't let me through security with it!
Also don't forget that even in UC you are only allowed ONE piece of hand luggage and that includes camera cases, laptop bags and womens purses each being classed as one piece of hand luggage.

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

Originally posted by AlanA
Also don't forget that even in UC you are only allowed ONE piece of hand luggage and that includes camera cases, laptop bags and womens purses each being classed as one piece of hand luggage.

But to be clear, if a purse, laptop bag, etc., fits into the larger piece of carry-on, it is OK per the VS Web site.

GJ

And also from my experience. It was rather ludicrous coming through LGW earlier this year. My only carry-on was a carrier bag and to go through security I simply put my handbag inside it and took it out the minute I was through security. Made me feel ever so safe!

[mcmbenjamin]

It all depends on the boarding and/or check-in agent. Some will allow a car as hand baggage while others will reject a sunglass holder.

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
It all depends on the boarding and/or check-in agent. Some will allow a car as hand baggage while others will reject a sunglass holder.

Well the size of some people's sunglasses - especially wannabees - I'm not surprised

I have just bought one of these
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpac ... ypack.aspx

The cheapest place was Amazon.
Came within five day, good service.
My DSLR and lenses/flashgun all fit in the bottom and my 17" widescreen laoptop easily fits in the back.

Good quality too.

So does the large black leather holdall the "we" all purchased from Virgin via ebay comply with the new regs?

Only if they meet the ridiculous CAA/Airport restrictions:

Hand baggage restrictions
Passengers are allowed to carry ONE item of hand baggage, no larger than:

56 centimetres tall (approximately 22 inches)
45 centimetres wide (approximately 17.7 inches)
25 centimetres deep (approximately 10 inches)


This has NOTHING to do with security in my mind, juyst the opportunity the airports have been looking for to reduce the amount of baggage people carry through security.

I should think you'd be fine with only a small infringement of the regs as long as you have just one piece per person.

45.

My carry on is a couple of mm over too, and has not been a problem. However that was Heathrow and other airports may be different. Don't forget to check any requirements in your return airport. and if they don't allow you guys on with your oversize luggage, please don't blame me!

I was warned last time I went with my large carry on case, which meets the maximum limits, that Fast Track were bouncing people back to check in with my size of bag, and be prepared to come back. I had the option of checking it. In the end I risked it, and was not stopped. I did get some second looks at some US airports, as the bag does expand somewhat when using the outter zippers for magazines etc.

The one piece per passenger is not about security, it's about minimising the amount of luggage, searching and queues in the screening area.

Originally posted by ukcobra


The one piece per passenger is not about security, it's about minimising the amount of luggage, searching and queues in the screening area.

Which kinda means the same things ... since tighter security came in the limits were reduced so that screeners and other security people can process us pax. Of course the answer of recruiting more screeners etc. may have been addressed, but the number of times I go through Heathrow to see half the machines idle gives me the impression it hasn't been successfully addressed.

As for the bags ... in my experience its pot luck ... I've been through Heathrow fast track on about 10 occasions this year and witnessed some people taking two large bags, others being sent back, and it seems to me it simply depends on whether the staff on duty make it an issue. Being 3cm over has not, in my experience, been an issue for anyone - I have not seen one person have their bag measured.

Slinky, #that is exactly what happened to me at Birmingham security. My flight bag was measured in the kit and I had to go and use my other case.
Same case as the pilots going through the same security....

Originally posted by ukcobra
The one piece per passenger is not about security, it's about minimising the amount of luggage, searching and queues in the screening area.

I find it crazy that the flying public has to be inconvenienced because security cannot come up with a better solution to screen baggage. If the problem is with the number of passengers staff the checkpoints with more personnel and/or faster equipment. Don't we pay enough taxes and surcharges to remedy this? Wheres the accountability?

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by johno
Wheres the accountability?

The accountability is simple - if enough people don't like the security measures, they will stop flying.

Some people HAVE to fly. A lot of people claim that they have to fly, but the majority of us fly by choice.

Personally, I think the current size of hand baggage is more than adequate. As long as I can take my laptop, iPod, reading material and a few other bits on board with me, then I am happy.

The problem comes when people try to cram enough clothes for a fortnight into their carry on, to save themselves a few minutes wait and the other end to collect their checked baggage. This however, seems to becoming more and more of a pointless exercise - the queues at Immigration are getting so long that the checked baggage is often waiting on the carousel when you get through passport control. [8D]:D

Nick

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick

Originally posted by johno
Wheres the accountability?

The accountability is simple - if enough people don't like the security measures, they will stop flying.

Some people HAVE to fly. A lot of people claim that they have to fly, but the majority of us fly by choice.

Personally, I think the current size of hand baggage is more than adequate. As long as I can take my laptop, iPod, reading material and a few other bits on board with me, then I am happy.

The problem comes when people try to cram enough clothes for a fortnight into their carry on, to save themselves a few minutes wait and the other end to collect their checked baggage. This however, seems to becoming more and more of a pointless exercise - the queues at Immigration are getting so long that the checked baggage is often waiting on the carousel when you get through passport control. [8D]:D

Nick

Sorry Nick - I have to disagree. Most of my business trips are three or four days in duration and I can get everything into two reasonably small bags. The benefits of walking through airports with electronic check in and straight out on arrival are huge to me - read 38 flights so far this year and innumurable hours spent at airports. I fly mostly business and sometimes first so there is space on the plane - and I also feel that I should have that privilege ([B)]) since the whole point of paying more is comfort and convenience.

As you can tell, these rules still irk me - in the US it seems they have the two carry on thing working. I don't know why we can't.

I always weigh into these "security check" discussions from my Asian Ivory tower, and say something like "it ain't this chaotic flying around Asia - Sensible rules, short queues and curteous people"... or words to that effect, and here I go again!

I just flew from Seoul to Singapore, and due to complex family logistics I was travelling pretty heavy, so I ended up with carry on of a wheely computer bag, a shoulder "manbag", SLR Camera bag AND a guitar, and despite being a busy time of day, no one batted an eyelid, and i was through security and in the silver kris lounge in 5 minutes!

I even benefitted from a sensible policy at check-in:
Apparently SQ have a no instruments as carry-on rule, but the check-in supervisor told me that they would tag my guitar for hold luggage, but i could carry it to the gate and ask the cabin crew if they had room in the suit closet... which of course they did.

Why can't the rest of the world be like this!;)