10Kg, 5Kg cabin baggage limits

[NeilMaybin]

On a flight with Aer Lingus last October I discovered to my surprise that they have a 10Kg limit on cabin baggage. I'm used to the rule that as long as a bag is less than maximum dimensions and you can safely stow and retrieve it, weight is not an issue. I was reminded of this today when booking with Bangkok Airways, who impose a more restrictive 5Kg.

How widespread is this? What is the turnaround impact of minimising embarkation/disembarkation time but increasing hold luggage handling time? Does a restriction on cabin baggage weight result in a net reduction in aircraft weight and hence operating costs? Does it increase revenue for hold baggage handling? (Though I note that with Bangkok Airways the first piece of hold luggage goes free).

Any thoughts?

[ExXB]

Flew TUI recently and was told a 1 piece 7kg cabin allowance applied. But nobody checked weight and I boarded with my regular carryon and my kit bag with my diabetic supplies. Had my Dr’s letter but nobody asked. My wife bordered with her normal carryon and her CPAP machine.

If your bag is within dimensions and not apparently heavy you are OK

[RAT 5]

There are rules and their is common sense. Many of the rules have no common sense, written by back room muppets. Common sense is applied by the front line stalwarts. Unfortunately common sense seems to be the variable, too often. Who suffers? You all know who.

[tescoapp]

Its to do with design max weights in the over head bins. And standard pax weights for the load sheet.

[alserire]

EI may have a limit but they don't enforce it. They barely enforce size limits for carry on. It's about my only complaint about them

[NeilMaybin]

Unfortunately they did enforce it for me! LHR-BHD, standard max cabin bag, weight 12Kg if I remember.

[Helol]

I thought carry-on weight restrictions have been in force for a good while now..? If not, I dread to think of the weight of some stuff that people would take into the cabin with them.

Although in theory, the 23 kg is great with BA, it does seem a bit excessive! How on earth does someone lift that weight into the overhead lockers?! Besides that, if it falls for whatever reason, that's some serious damage to someone should it hit them.

Latest information on weight restrictions on the link below:

https://www.skyscanner.net/news/cabin-luggage-guide-hand-baggage-sizes-and-weight-restrictions

[crewmeal]

Now Ryanair are changing the rules again.

https://news.sky.com/story/ryanair-change-rules-for-on-board-baggage-to-prevent-delays-11207945

[Jarvy]

All airlines have size and weight restrictions on cabin baggage, its just that very few have enforced them so people have been taking the you know what. Now a few airlines are starting to look at enforcement, about time says I.
Go to the airlines website and you will find all the restrictions on cabin baggage and if on a multi sector flight go with the lowest size for the different airlines.
Sorry but its one of my things, people with too much or oversize cabin baggage.

[DaveReidUK]

All airlines have size and weight restrictions on cabin baggage, its just that very few have enforced them

Apart from other considerations, airports would grind to a halt if there was a requirement to weigh every carry-on at the gate.

In my experience, on the rare occasions where I've seen a passenger pulled over it's been because the bag was very obviously outsized. If your carry-on is clearly within the regulation size you would be very unlucky indeed to be stopped for it to be weighed.

[Davef68]

I thought carry-on weight restrictions have been in force for a good while now..? If not, I dread to think of the weight of some stuff that people would take into the cabin with them.

Although in theory, the 23 kg is great with BA, it does seem a bit excessive! How on earth does someone lift that weight into the overhead lockers?! Besides that, if it falls for whatever reason, that's some serious damage to someone should it hit them.

Latest information on weight restrictions on the link below:

https://www.skyscanner.net/news/cabin-luggage-guide-hand-baggage-sizes-and-weight-restrictions

If I recall correctly, in theory BAs is 2x23 Kg, as the laptop/hand bag can be that weight as well (if you have a laptop bag carrying delepted uranium)

[hoss183]

I dont think EI ever had an unlimited carry on weight. My recollection is it was only EJ doing that. The link above supports that.

[KBPsen]

It is simply outrageous that airlines impose the rules they outline when you buy a ticket.

Whatever will be next!

[ExSp33db1rd]

Once departing Auckland, Air New Zealand had a lady with a scale making spot checks, she didn't create a back-up queue, but if her scale was just being vacated and you were next - tough, Gotcha ! I was a little overweight,max. allowable 7kg. but was allowed to lighten the bag by filling my pockets and carrying my computer and book, rule satisfied I was then allowed to proceed - and then re-loaded my bag once around the corner.
QED.

I can see the need to restrict maximum weights in overhead lockers.

It is my New Year's ambition to travel with nothing but my passport in my shirt pocket - i.e. the same resolution that I have failed to keep for the last 50 years.

[tdracer]

Many years ago, my wife had zero understanding of 'overweight', 'oversize', or 'excess' baggage. On a trip to Indonesia, when I joined her in Sumatra she'd prepared a suitcase for me to take back to the US filled with dried spices and seasonings - it weighed 45 kg! I tried to explain to her that I'd get charged a fortune for overweight baggage, but she simply refused to listen or understand. So I moved half of it to my carry-on to get the checked bag down to the 23 kg limit - then of course I had a 25 kg carry-on. But of course, they didn't weigh the carry-on.
A couple years later, we missed a flight in Las Vegas because she wasn't allowed the five carry-ons she had (and that I'd repeatedly warned her about to no avail). After that the light bulb came on and she's been better behaved since.

[ExSp33db1rd]

tdracer - sounds like Mrs. ExS. Just what is it about women and baggage ?

I used to pack my crew bag the morning I left home, OK, I did have a checklist of essential items written on the inside of the lid, but Mrs. ExS has booked a trip on the 14th Feb. and is already starting to panic about what to take - to a regular accommodation where we have clothes left from last time - and can't decide which of many available suitcases to use this time, coupled with the need to colour co-ordinate with whatever she might decide to wear for the trip of course. I have a "uniform", no longer white military style shirt and dark trousers, now a blue shirt with many pockets, worn with grey trousers and casual shoes, but worn EVERY time, no decisions to be made - easy.

[vctenderness]

I once, at Thomas Cook check in Gatwick, had to remove items from my cabin bag and repack in my suitcase in order to ‘comply’ with 7 kgs weight restriction.

It didn’t seem to occur to check in agent that I still had exactly the same total weight but the bag TC’s staff had to handle was now heavier and the bag I had to carry and lift was lighter!

Recently flew Emirates who,have 7kgs hand baggage limit which seems to be routinely ignored.

[Hotel Tango]

The airlines I fly the most with generally ignore carry-on in terms of weight, only (sometimes) checking the size. Now and again there's an unexpected carry-on weight check and that's generally when the check-in agent is training or newly qualified! I have to say that my wife is always comfortably below the limit with her checked bags. Yes, amazing!

[Capt Scribble]

Hand baggage is not so much of a weight problem but a space problem. With low cost and charter carriers packing in the seating, there is just not enough bin capacity for everyone to bring a sizeable bag. The crew stow their wheelies in the bins alonside much of the safety equipment, so a sensible limit has to be imposed. Ryanair are trying to reduce the amount of cabin bags with new rules as they say that their loadfactors have increased recently (and most people are trying to avoid baggage charges and waiting at the other end).

[Hotel Tango]

Hand baggage is not so much of a weight problem but a space problem.

Hmm, that depends on type and the safety issue in terms of bin weight limits.

[Piper.Classique]

Yes, well. I can travel for two months with 12 kg total....
Female. From 10 below zero Celsius to plus 30. What's the problem?

[hoss183]

It is my New Year's ambition to travel with nothing but my passport in my shirt pocket - i.e. the same resolution that I have failed to keep for the last 50 years.

I have done a flight with just a toothbrush in my pocket, it felt very free. From being dropped off at the airport to gate was under 10 mins (no baggage, fast track security)

[Heathrow Harry]

You get watched as a terrorist or fugitive from justice

20 years ago i'd occasionally fly to AMS with just a newspaper..... all sorts of questions and hassle

[RAT 5]

I flew with a bunch of mates and one had bought a couple of closing items at destination, and we had hand baggage only. It was amusing to see him, in huff at the gate, solve the problem. There he was sitting, warm looking, in 3 jerseys, 2 pairs of trousers and 2 overcoats. He made his point to the total disbelief of the pax & gate staff. Crazy Brits.

[hoss183]

Singer from Glasgow boyband Rewind passes out during a flight after putting on 12 layers of clothes | The Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/singer-from-glasgow-boyband-rewind-passes-out-during-a-flight-after-putting-on-12-layers-of-clothes-10381496.html)