What are the odds that I'll be busted at check in time if my RS convertible weighs 21 to 22 pounds. I realize it's over their 17 pound limit but do they weigh most of them or just if they "look heavy"? On all of my domestic flights NWA doesn't ever check but this is my first time to Europe so I'm not sure how picky they will be. And yes, it doesn't come anywhere near filling the capacity so it will they won't have any issues with the measurements.
Thanks for your guidance.
I don't know about Lufthansa, but so far I have travelled on many different airlines and my carry-on never been weighed. I flew Air France, Alitalia, Delta overseas, Continental. Alitalia has the lowest weigh for carry-ons, 11 lbs.I had over 20 and they didn't say anything. Try to carry your luggage like it would be very light. :)
They have never weighed my carry-ons.
Last time I flew Lufthansa was Mar 2004, a direct flight from Denver to FRA. When I checked in, they asked my for checked luggage, and I said none. So they weighed my carry-on. It was under, so they let me go. Everytime (3x) I have left Frankfurt, there has been a regulation sized box by the gate, but they have never asked me to "size" my bag.
A lot of this is dependant on which airports you are going through. In general, at the US airports the don't check. You may run into issues at connecting airports in Europe. LHR is a stickler for size and weight limits even if flying business or First class.
I will be flying from Detroit to Frankfurt, from there to Paris.....if this changes anything w/ your answers.
I have used Lufthansa twice out of Portland Oregon. They haves weighed and measured my Rick Steeves bag both times. They did the same thing coming home from Rome as well. Never count on getting away with breaking this rule. Lufthansa is great but sticklers for rules.
My experience with Lufthansa both here and in Europe (six or eight flights) is that they are more likely to check size than weight. We have seen them several times being really strict with rolling bags that do not fit in the size box and also weighing the rolling bags. My carryon is in the 22/25 pound range but has never been checked, in part, I think because I have external straps that allow me to make the bag look smaller. A couple of times when we told them we had only carryon they asked to see the bag. Would hold it up about chest high, and they just nodded and said OK. It is looks small and light, I am sure you will be OK.
I've heard that Lufthansa does random weight checks. That's why all bags are not weighed all the time. Random checks can be more frequent if there is an Inspector at the counters at that time. I've heard this to be true of the Lufties but it is also a common practice among most carriers.
Can you take an additional "personal article"? Check their website. If you can, you could take some stuff out and put it in a smaller folding bag in addition?? That often works for me in a pinch.
Yes - indeed take the small day pack as your "personal item" (purse/briefcase/small-daypack for electronics and heavy books!). It can depend on the day and traffic and person behind the counter. I did have to weigh my RS once to prove it was below 17# - but my day pack was probably same or more on my back = but they wont ask you to weigh that "small" bag! Or shouldnt... I also take my toiletry 3-1-1 bag out too in a lunch bag just to get to security faster - that also saves a 1-2 lbs (those tiny toothpaste and shampoo samples can add up fast!)
I wonder if light colored bags are less likely to be weighed than dark ones because dark things just look heavier. On the other hand dark thing look smaller. Hmm.
Thanks for all of your inpur guys. Sounds like my best bet is to get it down to 18ish pounds and then shuffle the remainder as needed so that I can lift the bag and make it look as light as possible. ;-)
Since I'm leaving tomorrow morning I guess I should get working on figuring out what's getting nixed from the bag now.
Thanks!
