V-Flyer

Hi all,

We're off to New York for the first time just after Christmas on VS17 which as most of you know arrives quite late in the evening. As we're only in NY for 4 days and to cut down time hanging around the airport we were considering taking a couple of hardsided cabin sized bags with us and taking them on board as hand luggage.

Having just looked at the number of free seats left on the plane it looks all but full so we're now wondering if when we get to check in we'll be asked to check the bags in.

The dilema is, if that is likly to happen we would rather take a couple of full size bags and take a few more clothing options & have space for any shopping we may do.

Your thoughts/experiance on this would be appreciated as the other half is starting to get all verbal.

Thanks

Miopyk

Well, if your bag looks to big and/or heavy, you're likely to be asked to check it anyway. If the loads on the flight are high, and even if you manage to get past the check in desk, if it looks to big and/or heavy then they'll take it off you on the jetway.

Although you're only in NY for a short period, don't risk it. If for no other reason than the safety and comfort of your other passengers, oversized/overweight bags should be in the hold.

Pete

Thanks Pix,

The bags are within permitted size/weight but the issue is a compromise between what we take or how long we wait at the other end.

What is EWR like to get through for customs bag collection etc?

Miopyk

VS017 arrives quite late to a (usually) empty terminal, going through immigration should be very quick and painless, unlike some of the earlier flights. I honestly would think you will have no worries. A friend of mine was on VS017 a few weeks back and cleared customs within 20 minutes or so. (Dont forget that as VS017 arrives so late, you have effectively writen that day off, so saving time at the other end is only really saving you time to sleep in your hotel)

I would pack standard sized cases and check them in, that way you can take extra clothes and also bring back your shopping - plus you dont have to lug large bags around with you once you have checked in.

Immigration at EWR on the VS1 yesterday was painless - we were the only plane and so had an empty hall. Baggage was slow with our stuff coming out AFTER Y.

Originally posted by miopyk

The bags are within permitted size/weight

If the bags are within the limits, then even on a full flight there should be no reason why Virgin should take them off you.

If you're doing shopping at the other end, you'd be hard pressed to keep with cabin-baggage-only limits for the return!

I use VS17 on most trips to NY and never have any problems. You're normally through Immigration real quick (depending obviously on where you were sitting) and you will probably end up hanging aroung the baggage claim for 10 minutes top. The trip into town at that time of night is so quick that it is really hardly worth the small time saving.

For the small saving in time I really do not understand the reluctance to check baggage. The hassle of lugging bags to the plane is reason enough for me to check them in. Of course I can understand the paranoid fear that people have about losing luggage but I have never lost anything on VS yet.

Take the big bags and don't worry about luggage space coming back. Enjoy your trip.

Phil

Just back from a weekend break in NYC, went out on VS009 via JFK.
Flight arrived just before 11.00pm (2 hours late) but as others have said, immigration late in the evening is relatively quick - we were through in 20 mins and bags took a further 10 mins before we were off into the arrivals hall.

Would imagine Newark is similar at that time of night, so would definately take larger bags and check them in - You'll come back with far more than you planned!. Check in agents also seemed very keen to weigh hand luggage on both outward and return legs.

Also, just take a last minute check of the forecast, Fri and Sat for us were well below zero days > and the wind chill takes it even lower! (but Sun & Mon were quite warm for the time of year)

Have a great time and enjoy the shopping..... If you get the chance try out Katz Deli on the Lower East side (205 East Houston Street).

Thanks for your views.

I think we'll take the big bags as I'm not sure I can make one pair of pants last four days!

I'll let you know how we get on in a TR in the new year.

Miopyk

miopyk, I'm sure you've made the right decision. If I were you I would take the biggest cases possible and stuff them full with shopping while you're there!![:0]