V-Flyer

Hey everyone,
Bear with me... this is a long email... thanks in advance for the help.

I just did a packing dry run for our trip with my husband and I and our 16 month old and there's NO WAY we can get our carry on bags to under 13 pounds each.

With snacks and toys for the flight, a few changes of outfits, a dozen or so nappies, our toiletries, and enough Children's Advil to get through the latest teething spell, PLUS a 2 pound cd player that we don't want to check, it seems like our carryons are way over the limit. We have plenty of luggage to check, and we've whittled our hand baggage to literally what we'd need for 48 hours of travel in case some or all of our luggage went missing or we got delayed. But I'm finding th 13 pound limit totally insanse. Our bags are TINY, they're just heavy.

How flexible do you think they'll be with us... considering we're travelling with a toddler in Premium Economy. Here's an overview of what we're bringing and the approx. weights of each carryon:

-husband's carryon has come in at a whopping 17 pounds (and it's a tiny carry on from Eagle Creek) but he's holding on to the toiletries and the baby's meds

-my carryon is about 15 pounds with my face cremes and a few changes of tshirts

-the baby's carryon/diaper bag/stuff for the flight bag is a small duffel bag that slightly exceeds the dimensional requirements but it's still small... and it's about 16 pounds. It includes things for the flight, though, like snacks, her lunch, diapers, toys, etc. We deliberately left this one not full to the brim so it can technically be squished down to fit the dimensional limit. Depending on who I have spoken to at Virgin, I've been told that the baby gets a) no carry on, b) a carryon like any other passenger, and c) only a diaper bag. So I'm going to play dumb, call this duffel her "diaper bag" that includes her snacks for the flight, and smile a lot at the agent, hoping she'll allow it on.

-in addition, I'm bringing a small backpack that I'm hoping will qualify as my "purse" since I don't usually carry a purse when travelling... something for a book and a camera and my earplugs, etc. This has certainlly always worked for me on Air France and Alitalia.

-in addition, we will have a small Maclaren umbrella stroller that I'm hoping they'll allow me to wheel to the gate and bring on the plane, or at least put somewhere so that it's there at the gate when we land. Is this called "gate check"? Will they allow it? I can't imagine having to check a stroller and retrieve it at the carousel, but the way the website it worded it implies that's what they do.

-and finally, we'll also have a backpack carrier (lightweight aluminum frame) which I don't want to check because I don't want it to get damaged going through a luggage carousel. Are we pushing our luck to ask if we can bring it to the gate... would it help if we wear her in it at the gate so they can see why we want it on the plane with us?

Hoping they'll cut us a little slack... my brother in law just flew this leg in economy with his toddler and he recalls seeing many many people bring on much larger carryons than he did. But then again, I've also heard from other travellers that they might weigh it and force me to check it.

Thanks for any insight you can provide,
~kat




Edited to cut out the fluff, get to the point, and not bog you all down with so much to read.

My experience is that hand baggage only seems to get weighed if it looks like it's over the weight limit. However there's always the chance that they will weight baggage and require you to check some of it in the hold if it's overweight. (This hapened to me once a couple of weeks after 9/11 - the bag was under the weight and size limits, but the UK check-in staff had a problem with the fact it had wheels.)

Have just checked the VS site which says (in the hand baggage section):

Wheelchairs, crutches, baby buggies and items necessary for baby care during the flight will be carried free over and above the baggage allowance. Baby buggies, carrying baskets and wheelchairs will normally be carried in the hold.

You could always phone them and double check the allowances for diapers, food etc.

With hand baggage, I work on the basis that I take what I need in flight and anything I'll be absolutely stuck with if my bag is delayed or lost. So, for example, I take a change of underwear, but don't bother about a change of clothes, and I include prescription medication in my hand luggage, but rely on the in-flight toothbrusch and soap, shampoo etc at my hotel should my toilet bag not make it. And then I make sure i have insurance that will cover me for replacements should the worst happen (all though it never has).

I'm not a parent (and someone who is can probably advise you better) but you may well be able to get an infant/child ibuprofen medication (which is what I beleive Advil is)in the UK, which could maybe be a backstop that would allow you to pack five bottles in your hold luggage and just take one into the cabin.
hope you have a good trip.

I just wonder how much of your carry-on stuff is absolutely essential. If you are flying from SFO it will be an overnight flight and so some of the stuff like her lunch will not be necessary, although snacks and drinks are advisable. I can understand the need for diapers and changes of clothing for the baby but six bottles of Advil seems excessive for the whole trip let alone the flight.

A friend of mine in Sacramento gives lectures on trips to the UK and also packing classes - yes, honestly. She tells me she is always being asked about things like OTC medicines, toiletries etc. She tells people that there are stores and pharmacies in the UK and the products they "simply can't live without" are generally available over here, if not under the exact brand name. Any pharmacist will be able to advise on this.

Look at what you have and prune it down to the absolutely essential. Remember there's a fair amount of walking to be done at airports and it's not much fun hauling heavy carry-ons!

Have a great trip.

We took our 18 month old at the time, I thinbk we only used four nappies (Diapers) on the eight hour trip. the rest of the nappies were in a Cricket bag along with the pushchair. On the way back on the night flight, he only had one change of nappies as he was asleep most of it.
We get big packs of Advil when we are over in the USA, but bring them back in the luggage.
For our teething time, we used Bonjella and Capol sachets, they don't take up much room.
Virgin have a pretty good reputation for NOT losing your luggage, it seems a bit of a struggle to take the "packhorse" on board with you!
Yes, you can use your pushchair to the gate but then it does have to go down the steps into the hold.

It all depends on the check in agent, the gate agent, the crew and how busy the flight is.

Being in PE will give you some flexibility and also a toddler, just make sure they baby is smiling all the time and not crying.

I've never my hand (carry on)luggage weighed at LHR or any US airport when flying VS but it's happened every time from LGW so as Declan says it's down to the check-in staff.

Regards

When I checked in at LHR last Sunday (15/8) for the BOS flight, using PE check in, they were stricter than I have ever seen for carry on.

The economy queue was longer than I have ever seen it and there were 6 in front of us as PE - despite this the agents were only allowing one bag - this upset 4 out of the six in front of us who had to spend several minutes 'consolidating' their carry on.

Despite this when we boarded there appeared to by several people who had escaped this check and were laden down with several big bags as they banged into people whilst struggling down the aisle[:(!]


Nick

quote:Originally posted by Nottingham Nick


Despite this when we boarded there appeared to by several people who had escaped this check and were laden down with several big bags as they banged into people whilst struggling down the aisle[:(!]


Nick

Yes and how many poeple, once checked-in, then visit duty free and end up with more bags once they board the A/C not to mention those of us who receive our pre-ordered duty free once onboard [?]

Three years ago I purchased a digital camera whilst at LHR and by the time I'd carried the box to SFO (along with my pre-ordered duty free bag and my usual carry on bag), you could say I was fed up with it. Needless to say the digi cam box and the 5Kg of packaging that came with it stayed in SFO

Regards

Thanks everyone,

Looks like I might have to rethink a couple articles of clothing, but that's not going to free up several pounds per bag. The heavy items are our medicines and toiletries, and I'm not willing to check those unless absolutely forced to.

Some of you asked about the Advil, and unfortunately it's not readily available in the UK in concentrated infant drops for her age. And since she can't take Tylenol, I'm stuck. Every parent I know has warned me about this and my sister in law lives in London and said she can't get it. So sadly, I gotta schlep them. And there are only about 4 doses in the bottle. Hence the 6 bottles. For a 21 day trip, even 1 dose a day, she'll go through them.

It is my understanding that cabin baggage should be the essentials! CD walkman/I pod, book, toothpaste etc but I can understnad where u are coming from but perhaps its a bit over the top!

I have just moved back from NZ and obviusly had a number of items I didnt want to post and felt to precious for the hold. Whilst my hand luggage was weighed by Air NZ in Auckland I was told by the check in agent to purchase a large bag from a newsagent in duty free and stuff as much in as possible so that when i bored i wouldnt be pulled up again! This certainly did work. VS did not weigh my hand luggage but as mentioned above it depends on airport and the agent. I have seen many people arriving at LHR with the 'cleared for cabin baggage' stickers so just be careful.

And while the person is checking in there is normally someone sat in the coffee shop upstairs hiding another bag!!!! once they reunite after check in the bag is taken normally!!!

Where there is a will there is way!

Thanks everyone.

I've figured out a way to shuffle some of the meds around the bags so that all three carryons are within a couple ounces of 13 pounds. They won't be able to fault me on that! (Let's just hope they allow me to bring a carryon for the infant seat... I'll just call it my 13 pound "diaper bag" which they do allow. )

The interesting thing to me in these posts, though, is that so many of you seem comfortable checking virtually everything except an ipod and a toothbrush (I realize I may be oversimplifying here just to be illustrative.) I wonder if this is just a cultural difference between Brits and Americans, or is this a new thing since 9/11? (My last flight was May of 2001.) I was always one of those flyers who abhored checking luggage so I'd make sure my entire wardrobe for a 3 week bag fit into a carryon (and weight about 18 pounds). Alitalia and Airfrance never even batted an eye. I don't know how their weight limits are today and don't care to know... I'm so excited about Virgin... just think it's interesting since Virgin and BA are thought to be notoriously tight carryon limits, almost unanimously among the travellers I know.

And what's more, almost everyone I know, every "travel tip" I have ever read and given myself, says to carry on and specifically not check any personal hygeine products, medicines, clothes you wouldn't be able to replace, etc... and to include a couple changes of clothes in case your luggage goes missing or you're delayed in an airport. Travel with a baby magnifies that, because you also have to provide food for that child, and a couple of well chosen toys, and a blanket... you get my drift. I just can't fathom walking onto a plane with a book, an ipod, and the clothes on my back.

Luckily, it seems I won't have to.

Anyway, I LOVE THIS WEBSITE, and really appreciate all of you that spent the time to read and help out!

Thanks,
~kat

I usually dont check stuff at all.
I have a small sportsbag that can carry about 10 days of clothes.
But I'm a bloke who likes to travel light as I have a wheelchair so only have luggage that I can carry myself..

quote:Originally posted by Jonathan
I usually dont check stuff at all.
I have a small sportsbag that can carry about 10 days of clothes.
But I'm a bloke who likes to travel light as I have a wheelchair so only have luggage that I can carry myself..

What? no saddlebags Jonathan??

[quote]
"And while the person is checking in there is normally someone sat in the coffee shop upstairs hiding another bag!!!! once they reunite after check in the bag is taken normally!!!"

Declan
Surely all PAX have to be present at checkin or are you talking about a non-traveller who is holding their bag for them. Sneeky[^]

Iain

quote:Originally posted by AlanA

[i]
What? no saddlebags Jonathan??

Nope maybe i should give them a try..!!
VS are very accomadating when it comes to handluggage and stuff..maybe being gold helps too[8D]

For Kat

You can buy childrens ibuprofen in the UK. It comes under the brand name of nurofen and is available in liquid form from Boots Chemists and many other pharmacists. May be a good idea to get your friend to look into this for you.

Jilly