Please sign in to post.

Egypt Air: Have you ever seen them weigh a carry-on bag?

I'm going to Egypt in January! Hurrah! Flights booked and deposit paid to Djed Egypt Travel. Can't wait!! On my way there, my last leg to Cairo is Frankfurt-Cairo on Egypt Air, and returning my first leg is Cairo-Dulles on Egypt Air. Their website says that carry-on baggage should weigh no more than 8 kg. which is fewer than 18 lbs. I have long been a "carry on" woman, but even with stuffing my big "purse" with my heavier items, 18 lbs will be tough for two weeks in warm and cool weather. Have any of y'all had experience with Egypt Air, specifically noticing if their gate agent (like in Frankfurt) pulls people aside to weigh their carry-on luggage? (I'm not worried about my first two legs on the way to Cairo; those are with United which, in my experience, has never weighed hand luggage but can be persnickity about size. My brand new light weight spinner bag fits their dimensions perfectly. UPS brought me that Christmas-in-July present yesterday!) Thank you for any insight you can share!

Posted by
4526 posts

there are countless stories about vastly different experiences. Don't go by that. Decide your personal risk factor and know, that if you are not weight compliant upon request, then you'll have to gate check it. Pack accordingly (with valuables in your personal item), and ensure you have a lock or 2 or 3. Accept that for all the savings of time and dollars you have had in the past, you may have to sacrifice something for this trip.

Posted by
279 posts

Hi, I don't have experience yet, but we are booked with a different company who is based in Cairo for a trip to Egypt this December. When we made our reservations, the information email we were sent says to be very careful about the weight of your luggage because EgyptAir has been known to be picky about luggage weight. Have a great trip!

Posted by
113 posts

Don't know if you are past the change option time on your air tickets. The ideal is to take Lufthansa to FRA and then take the Lufthansa flight to CAI - not the Egyptair one. It's just a little way down on the flight options listings. That avoids any carryon issues. Same would be for return though that means a connection on your return to IAD.

Posted by
1206 posts

Thanks, y'all, this is very helpful. I am hoping to not have to gate check in Frankfurt. If I do have to do so, I'll probably first pull my bag to the side and do a bit of reorganizing (take out meds and extra powerpack) before handing it over. That note from your travel company, sibdaisy, is very interesting. I'll be prepared. I also hadn't thought of the idea of putting two or three locks on my luggage! Yes! Also: A-A, I booked this with United points and was thrilled when this particular itinerary showed up as an option. I only have one connection on my way home to New Orleans. And, after I booked it, two friends decided to join me on this trip so they are on the same flights going over. They have no hesitation checking baggage. I just love to know that I have everything with me when I step off the plane to begin an overseas adventure.

Posted by
11056 posts

We only flew Egypt Air within Egypt and from Egypt to Amman, Jordan. There was no weighing of carry on luggage when we traveled with them in 2020.
You will love this trip!

Posted by
2613 posts

We did this flight through Frankfurt. While we waited to board, there were gate agents wandering around, looking at the size of people's bags.

Posted by
4526 posts

As a solo traveler and usually on overnight flights, I always ensure I lock my rollaboard and keep valuables in my personal item at my feet. Also, at times, suitcases end up down the way and out of sight. Having some locks handy let you lock things up before gate checking.

Posted by
59 posts

From personal experience with Egypt Air, they will absolutely weigh your carry on. They don't do this at the gate only, they do this at check in too. I had my carry on full of very fragile, but heavy, souvenir items on the way home and they absolutely would not allow me to carry on the bag. I had to check anything over the weight limit. So, be prepared to check your bag.

Posted by
32 posts

Just returned from Egypt in June: flew twice on Egypt Air (between Cairo-Aswan). I had a pretty big backpack ( as carry-on) & it was not weighed on either flight. Pretty sure it was well over 18 lbs. My strategy is to make it look as small as possible. If it helps: my stay in Egypt was just under two weeks & most of my packed wardrobe was a dress & 3 slacks & a few tunics & a jacket/sweater.

Posted by
3183 posts

I can't help with your question as I have not flown Egypt Air yet. However, we go in 6 weeks and I plan to come back here and post a full report.

Posted by
6386 posts

Not with Egypt air, but had it happen once with British Airways. My wife’s carry-on was 1 lb over and she was made to move something to her checked bag. What’s really sorry was between her weight and carry-on weight, the total weight was about 130. The guy behind us in line probably weighed 210, yet BA was concerned about that 1 lb. All we could do was shake our heads.