I was all ready to purchase my a Aer Lingus flight until I read the following. (I will be taking a 2 week trip to Europe)
Aer Lingus Regional Allowance 18.5 X13X8 ~ 15 pounds max (I would have a layover in Dublin)
Has anyone done this and had success? What bag did you use? The RS rolling back pack is 5 pounds empty so that is out. I have been eyeing the Cotopaxi Allpa 28.
My question for you: "Is this some sort of special fare with luggage restrictions?".
In general "Smart or Flex fare bookings are permitted 1 checked bag free of charge, weighing up to 23kg (50lb). "
Edited: A post further in the thread gave a correction to information I have deleted to make this answer accurate.
Would the onward flight be on the regional subsidiary, which mostly flies turboprops internally in Ireland and to smaller cities in the UK? Or would it be on a mainline aircraft, albeit narrow body jet? And to which, exactly, does this rule apply?
It says Aer Lingus Regional, so I assume it means what is says. That is their regional branch that operate smaller aircraft (ATRs). So I don't think it matters if your flight originates in the United States, that won't make the plane bigger.
From the Aer Lingus website:
If you're connecting to/from an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight to an Aer Lingus Regional flight, the 7kg (15lb) carry-on baggage allowance will apply for both parts of the journey.
https://www.aerlingus.com/prepare/bags/carry-on-baggage/
Edit to add: I just looked at the Allpa 28 - since I'm always interested in a new bag ;-) It is technically 3 cm too deep to meet Aer Lingus's regional requirements. Since it's soft-sided you'd probably be ok. But that's probably and that depends on how tightly it's packed. At 2 lbs 10 oz it gives you less than 13 lbs to carry all of your things for a two week trip. I travel light and could probably just do that. But there wouldn't be any leeway or souvenirs. If I were you I'd probably stick to what I have and just check a bag.
I've flown Aer Lingus regional flights a few times. As stated, the aircraft doesn't have space in the cabin for a full size carry on bag. You will have to check it.
Is it really worth taking a much smaller bag for a two week trip just for one flight?
Where is the flight to from Dublin?
I'm in a similar situation. My upcoming flights to Scotland were 25% less per person less with Aer Lingus than anyone else, so that was a no-brainer. My 2 travel companions won't be able to meet the carryon limit, but I've decided to try "competitive light packing" (competing with myself) and it's honestly been pretty fun! (Note, I'm not doing this JUST for fun. My own checked bag allotment is going to my daughter's bag that we'll bring back with us. She's a uni student in Scotland, but will be coming home for the summer. She has her own travel planned after our trip, and won't be able to store her larger bag during her own trip, so we'll bring it home with us.)
The bag I bought is a Deuter Aviant 28L with a suitcase style opening and cinch straps, plus a roomy business pocket for laptop and office needs (not needed for this trip, but likely useful in the future). The Aviant is a bit too long, but the back is a stiff foam that can bend a bit. I'm confident I will be able to push it into a sizer. There just aren't that many backpacks less than 19" unless you get a "school" backpack, and the shape of those is inefficient for maximizing your volume allowance. The Aviant bag is over 2 lb., but that's still amazing compared to my 5 lb. 21" rolling backpack or my previous 7 lb 22" spinner. It's got some padding, and therefore some wasted weight. On the suitcase side, I'll have to put everything under the cinch straps, and leave the large "lid" compartment empty in order to meet that 8" depth. But it can be done!
Another bag I saw that was intriguing was the Rangeland Business backpack I saw discussed on this forum. That one is even smaller, but very boxy and effiecient, and works for Lufthansa.
I have had to weigh things... yes, I am becoming one of those. It's been fun building a spreadsheet and comparing options. I picked up a few lighter-weight substitutes for things I already own, and I've been sorting through my packing supplies to make sure I'm making good choices. One of my favorite new items is a miniscule sil-nylon toiletry bag from Sea-To-Summit. It actually holds everything I need and I saved a full half-pound with this bag! I'm currently struggling to find a unicorn bag - something large enough to be my airport bag but also small enough to look like a "purse" for daily touring/hiking, nylon, well under 1 lb., and if I can find it, convertible from crossbody to backpack. I don't want a shapeless sack and I don't want a massive tote bag. If I manage to find this elusive wonder, I won't bring a separate purse/camera bag and a packable backpack. My existing bags for those two items are a full 24 oz., and I just know I can do better.
Another area to watch your weight is electronics. My tablet and teeny folding keyboard are 1.5 lb, replacing a 3 lb. laptop. Someday I may ditch the tiny tablet and just use my phone, but the larger screen is so nice for so many things. Cords and charging blocks add up - consider a single charging block with multiple ports - it should have both USB-A and USB-C if you have any newer electronics. Think about how many cords you really need - do you charge everything every day? Could you use one cord for multiple devices? At 1 ounce each, cords add up.
Universal adapters are great, but very heavy; perhaps a dedicated adapter would be better.
And of course, toiletries - use small (small!) containers, bring only what you need, be willing to use a few hotel toiletries, and accept that you may be visiting a pharmacy to fill in if you miscalculated.
I'm currently 1 lb. under weight in my carryon, though my personal item will be heavy with my camera and tablet. But I can't put either of those in an overhead bin; they have to stay on my shoulder. Happily, I find I don't have to make any compromises. But I also won't be buying many (any?) souvenirs.
But I would probably check my rolling backpack if I could. Good luck!
I just found out about the new LIRR station at Grand Central and from there take Jamaica station and Air Train, that can bring me over to JFK. Not ideal but I think I am going to skip Aer Lingus and the close commute to my local airport. Too stressful with the size restrictions and don't know if my back can take a backpack.
If anyone is looking for a helpful video on 15 pound packing you can take a look here https://youtu.be/SPYo82_vK0c
WOZ, glad you found a solution. But noting that you were comparing a wheeled backpack (RS) to a Cotopaxi non-wheeled backpack. There would have been plenty of other light non-wheeled options. The RS Classic Backpack is only a bit over 2 pounds empty.
WOZ- it sounds like you’re local to BDL, like me. I’m always weighing the easy commute, easy airport, and cheap parking vs going to JFK for cheaper tickets and more direct routings. But… JFK… :(
