Australia New Zealand packing for 15 lb carry on

I am sorry but there is no standard weight for t-shirts and long sleeves. It depends on material and size. My cousin jeans wear more than three pairs of my pants. He is a former line-man for SF. Takes more fabric to cover 350 than 215. You should focus on the number of changes. Basically I travel with three changes of clothes - wear one, pack two, with two extra shirts. Over all the risk of luggage being lost is very, very low but if your piece is lost it is a big problem.

It isn't just T shirts and pants. There are toiletry items, electronics, shoes too. These can be just as heavy as the clothing.
Air New Zealand allows one carry on plus one small personal item. It says nothing about weighing the personal item.

First, you need a light bag - under 3 lb preferred. Several fit in that category.

Next, a light weight toiletry kit. There are several under 4 oz. Only take what you need, not more. You usually don't need 3 oz of liquid. Solids weigh less than liquids.

Clothing - go with thin light layers, and use silky tanks and long underwear underneath as needed. Use light sweaters. Puff jackets are lighter than fleece.

Electronics - consolidate USB cords. At most, you need one micro USB and one fire USB (or 2 micro USBs depending on your devices). If you take a 3 A dual port charger then you can charge multiple devices at once.

Shoes - only take one extra pair. Both pairs should be walkable.

Bring a light weight rain coat (unlined)

Wear your jacket. Use the pockets to store heavy items.

I suggest

• 4-5 shirts (2 Short, 2 long sleeve, 1 extra)
• 2-3 pants
• Cardigan
• 4-5 undies
• 3 socks

If you want maximum power from your clothing consider long sleeve shirts wih roll up sleeves for warm weather. Consider pants that roll up into capris for warm weather.

Thanks Cindy H
I do have a very light bag, eagle creek, use compression cubes and only pack what is needed for toiletries
The items you listed, how much in weight do you know? I never pack bulky and always go dry fit and hiking pants that convert to capris and or shorts.

Agreed on the website they said nothing about weighing personal item. However when I called to clarify, they said combined weight 15 lbs with occasional exceptions. Just set a size and or weight rule and go with it.
Thanks again

Last month, I had essentially the items Cindy mentioned. Coming home, my bag weighed 15 pounds at the airport (bag itself is 3 lbs.).

Wow that is great. With the chargers etc?
My bag is only 1 lb so a little extra space if needed.
Thanks

Shampoo bars might help.
Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve makes several different types of shampoo bars
for all types of hair. With some, you don't even need conditioner.

They also make a lotion bar.

Have a wonderful trip!

Great suggestions
Thanks

I took a charger for my mini iPad and one for my (old, non-smart) phone. Together, these weighed 3 oz. I did also have a small personal item in which I carried my iPad and phone plus miscellaneous stuff. So technically, I would have been slightly over the 15-lb. limit if they're going to be picky.

I can't tell you how much your stuff weighs because it is so very variable.

I'd suggest paying the $10-15 for a luggage scale. That will help you pack.

I also have a kitchen scale for weighing all the other items. I use it most for weighing shirts and pants.

The kitchen scale of course, is dual use for recipes so I consider it a very good investment.

You can add a lot of weight by using too many organizer bags, too many liquids, heavier clothes, too much paper, too many "just in case" items.

Wear your heavy stuff on the plane.

Thank you for all the tips.
Has anyone had experience with Air New Zealand and the carry on and personal item policy?
I think that has me a little more nervous.
Thanks

Start planning a half-day in the middle of the trip to go to a laundromat. A big one, since you will be accompanied by 18 young people. Or you each could check in a moderate suitcase and stop worrying. Yes, a very very small proportion of luggage goes astray. Also, visitors get food poisoning, get lost, get scared by cars driving on the "wrong" side of the road. Take your chances and stop counting t-shirts.

Time to do laundry? Not really an option. The kids are packed with activities back to back. They will most likely have to check their bags and deal with the consequences if it gets lost. Traveling on 9 flights with 25 people, it is bound to happen. Sadly, there really is no time to stop and pick up clothes if this happens hence why we are trying to avoid the issue all together.
There have been some great suggestions that we will incorporate.
Thanks for all the help

How much money and effort are you spending on this holiday? Check your bags to NZ. Don’t sweat the extra charges for checked bags, although such charges are less likely on international flights, even in economy. When you arrive in NZ, you will go though immigration and quarantine. This can be quick or not, depending on how many flights have arrived when yours has. Be aware when traveling to NZ or Australia, some visitors ahead of you in the immigration queue may not be fluent in English and this will slow down your progress through immigration. Depending on your luck, your checked bags will be already plopping out on the luggage conveyor belt by the time you are processed. At that point you pick up your bags. Then you will go through customs. Your bags may be xrayed. DO NOT bring into NZ any food or agricultural products, not even from the plane!

Immigration and customs might take time...or not. But be prepared to get your head around it..it means you may wait.

New Zealand has a generally moderate to cool climate. It rains, so depending on what part of the States you are from, you may be happy with long sleeved t shirts and a reasonable rain jacket.

New Zealand hotels are usually very family friendly, so expect guest laundry facilities to be available.

Returned last week from a 20 day trip to New Zealand. We flew from the east coast to LA and then flew Air New Zealand from LA to Auckland. We checked our bags on the Air NZ leg even though they were carry on size because we just couldn't get under the 15 pounds and walking sticks are not allowed in carry on luggage. Our clothes were minimal and we did not take a laptop, but did take a tablet, kindle, small bluetooth speaker and a camera. All of the electronics were in our carry on bags, along with a few toiletries and a change of clothes just in case the luggage got lost. I did have a luggage scale just to be sure we were under 15 pounds, but our carry on bags were only weighed when we flew JetStar from the North to the South Island. That is no guarantee that your won't be, but I would agree that you should probably check your main bag and just carry on the essentials. It sounds like you have enough to do keeping track of everyone! We did laundry several times with no problems. NZ is very much a country for active, outdoor travelers. We spent nine days camping in the South Island and every campsite had a full laundry. Even if the young people's schedules are jam packed with activities, there has to be some down time for eating and resting. We found that dinnertime was a great time to do laundry. Have an amazing trip in an amazing country!

Thank you for the great information.
Hopefully Australia will also have laundromats

Australia also has guest laundry facilities in many motels, holiday flats, and caravan parks. Towns will also have launderettes.