Hi!
I am taking a flight from Toronto to Rome in a couple of months. I am trying to get away with just bringing a personal item and carry on. How strict is Air Italy on a carry-on's size and weight? I've only ever flown domestic flights and haven't experienced issues with my bag being weighed or measured.
Thanks!
You are traveling at the start of peak travel season and the flights to Rome are probably full with other passengers with carry on baggage. It is best to just follow the baggage allowance rules no matter the airline.
Measuring and weighing bags is common practice in Europe, especially among low cost carriers. AirItaly isn't exactly one of those, but they live in that same environment. The only way to be sure is to play by the rules as they are stated. Check their website, follow the rules, and you will have no concerns.
I would assume they abide by what they post in their website.
https://www.airitaly.com/en-en/beforetheflight/conditions.aspx#bagagliomano
Leniency or strictness is probably dependent upon how full the flight is.
Hand baggage
Dimensions and weight
Each passenger is allowed one hand baggage item that should not exceed 55 cm. x 40 cm. x 20 cm. ( 21.6" x 15.7" x7.8") or weight over 8 kg. ( 17.6 lb)Moreover, it is allowed to carry on a personal item ( bag or briefcase, waist-bag and laptop/tablet case) in addition to usual handbag. It must fit under the seat 40 cm. x 30 cm. x 15 cm.
The airport staff will apply to the small baggage (personal item) a special label to identify it.
The baggage who do not make or fail the security check could not be accepted on board; in the case of fully booked flights may be necessary to carry in the hold some hand baggage.
Above taken from Air Italy website. Pretty straight forward.
How strict or lenient the crew at the boarding gate will be the day you fly.... that fits in the "who knows" category, unless you have a really good crystal ball. As already stated, if you are in compliance, no need for worry. If your bag is over size or
overweight, yes, you could get caught and have to check it. Depending on your fare class there may be a fee to check a bag.
I've found, on numerous trips, that my US departing flights/gate crews scrutinize bags much less than their European counterparts for the same airline on my return flight. I've experienced this with both US-based (United, Delta) and European-based (British Airways, Alitalia, Air France) airlines/crews. So the luggage I carry on with me at the start of my trip, I find I will often need to check on my return. Maybe I'm just buying too many souvenirs :-)
With the low-cost carriers, I assume that my bags will be carefully scrutinized every time to judge for carry-on compliance.
I'm flying with Air italy soon for the first time with just hand luggage but I don't find any carry-on luggage of this size here in US. Can you suggest one? I feel that they are stricter than other companies unfortunately, much smaller bags. thanks
@marialuisa.sacchi:
I, too, had this issue, as even my smallest roller board carry-ons are just a tad large. What I have found are very small, basic box-shaped wheeled ones by American Tourister, around $20-30 at Walmart and elsewhere. They are ugly, cheap and don't roll well, but they will fit.
I also found several duffel type ones that seem to fit almost exactly when fully stretched to the dimensions at Ross. TJ Maxx and Marshall's also have similar ones. They are also $20-30 and while they don't have wheels, they seem much sturdier. I purchased a Timberland brand one.
Finally, there are the under-seat luggage types. Benefits are that they have wheels and longer handles, so easy to move through the airport, but they cost around $50+ and take up much of the weight allowance. Good if you need more protection for items or need mobility assistance.
Oh, and my husband just flew the SFO-MXP and they were definitely weighing the carry-on bags.
Good luck and safe travels!
The Osprey Farpoint 38L S/M (https://www.osprey.com/us/en/product/farpoint-40-FARPNT40_326.html) fits within Air Italy's requirements & gets rave reviews everywhere I look. You could also get by with the 40L M/L & just use the compression straps to take it down an inch to the depth requirement. That is what I'm doing for my flight to Milan in May.
Also, if you want something wheeled, the Osprey Sojourn 45L is only 4 mm over the height requirement, &, as with the Farpoint, the depth could fit with some compression (https://www.amazon.com/Osprey-Packs-Sojourn-Wheeled-Luggage/dp/B019TQOQ2I/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8).
We're flying out of Seattle in September on the new arrangement between Alaska Airlines and Air Italy. Alaska's carry-on restrictions are a bit more lenient than Air Italy's. Does anyone know if that affects what Air Italy will accept for carry-on size? Thanks.
In my experience, size requirements are strictly enforced in many cases in Europe (it's easy to eyeball for well trained ground staff), weight less so especially if you do online check in and thus skip the check-in desk altogether.
I have been waved through and other times weighed and measured. So last year I shelled out the $179 plus tax for the Rick Steves rolling backpack because it was the lightest weight appropriate size bag I could find. Under 6 pounds. I’m happy with it. But I am a light, non fussy packer. I’ve not had to check a bag or pay an overage fee since and I’ve flown at least 16 flights on large and small carriers, cheap, local, even commercial prop planes. I could do without the backpack straps, but they are light. And don’t forget to pack your jacket pockets ;-)
When searching on-line for luggage use "international" as a key word. This will yield you the smaller luggage.
I have a 20" Eagle Creek Road Warrior that has served me very well.
