Airlines, Weight, and Personal item

Most concerned about European and low cost carriers.

Which ones?

Do they actually weigh the personal item?

They could -- I've seen it done.

Most concerned about European and low cost carriers.

Those are the ones to be concerned about (well, not just European low cost carriers). If their business model is based on charging fees, including fees for excess weight of items, I think it's worth being concerned.

That said, most of the time they don't bother. But they can and do bother sometimes.

Gail, every airline has their own rules. For instance, Air France puts 12kg weight limit on the combined carryon and personal item (economy class). Turkish Air has a 8kg limit on the carryon, but no stated limit on the personal item. And this has nothing to do with domestic vs international airlines, just company policy.

Simply follow the published rules and don't worry.

The tickets were bought thru KLM. I'm not concerned about the 12 kg limit on KLM, but a portion of the ticket is on Transavia. Their limit is 10 kg. I'm not sure if that airline will allow the 12 kg as stated on my confirmation or enforce the 10kg.

I was hoping to put heaver items (electronics, etc) in my personal item.

I read their rules. I would be prepared to have to check your carryon if you go over the 10kg combined carryon/personal item.

Yes, I have seen luggage weighed and measured. It’s more likely to happen on the busier flights where space in the cabin is at a premium.

Air France -- which is the same ownership as KLM -- weighs carryons.

One well known low cost European carrier’s gate agents examined each and every carryon item for each and every passenger on several of my flights with them. My traveling friends and I have never had an issue since the airline was upfront with its requirements. Unfortunately, many passengers spent time rearranging or checking bags and other items to satisfy these requirements.

Edit: examined sometimes included placing your carryon in a piece of size measuring equipment to determine compliance.

You have to go with the carrier's rules, not who you booked with. (Many carriers are now offering links to the baggage rules of their partner/codeshare airlines.

Please understand that airlines make money, a lot of money, with people who must check bags at the last minute. So will they make a big deal over 2 kg.....you bet they will.

put stuff in your pockets to reduce bag weight

The short answer is --- Yes, be prepared to have your luggage weight especially with the budget lines.

Back when I was flying Norwegian from California I would put my iPad mini in the open lining of my jacket pocket which I was wearing.
It weighs over a pound, and that was important in keeping the weight under 10K.

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Because of covid, I was planning on bringing a small laptop in case I'm stuck in quarantine. I am tall, so I probably could easily "bulk up" for that portion of the flight. It's only a couple of hours. From there, I can change into my comfy clothes for the international portion which is Delta.

In general, Euro airlines are pretty strict, esp. low-cost airlines which make a killing from luggage fees.

US airlines are slightly more lenient, but they are also cash-strapped due to the pandemic and may start being strict. Delta and AA, according to some frequent traveler blogs, are the ones getting more strict.

Delta getting more strict? Great. Hopefully I'll stop seeing this at Delta boarding gates:

https://youtu.be/DptGBVPnvKE?t=81