Emirates carry on restrictions

I do this every year from Australia to Europe (4 weeks in France & 10 days in UK) on Singapore Airlines, which has the same weight restriction. It is do-able if leaving Australia in winter; wear the heaviest items, including raincoat, to the airport. Then slot them into baggage after check-in. Put all heaviest items (books, paperwork, phone, binoculars, spare shoes etc.) in the extra allowed handbag/briefcase (limited by size alone, not weight). Within Europe the weight limit isusually more like 10 or 12kg; unlimited on trains. Going back to Australia, I'm likely to be a little over the limit and will then check in the main bag.

You do need to keep the main hand baggage item light but capacious: this one, for example can be either rolled or carried on the back (good on stairs and for getting on and off trains and buses).

It helps if you are doing much the same thing each place you go; harder, but not impossible, to cope with several smart days interspersed with ultra-casual activities. Shoes are the most problematic - certainly for women.

I would just check your bags. Not suggesting that you don't travel light, just that I can't think of any benefit that would make trying to achieve 7kg worth it.

Assuming your only transit point from your home is Dubai, then the chances of anything going astray I would consider low (if that's your concern). And unless you are a team in the 'Amazing race', I wouldn't be worried about how quickly you get off the plane, through immigration etc. You'll all be in the same line and most likely your bag will be waiting for you rather than you waiting for your bag.

For me, getting rid of your bag at check in is one of the nicest parts of the long flight- as it's one less thing to think about. I then just have a few bits that fit in a bag that easily sits under the seat in front. Emirates has good food, decent blankets and fantastic entertainment - you won't need masses of stuff.

The other benefit is going through security is easier with less stuff (liquids, electronics etc) and travelling between gates in Dubai airport will be easier (can be lots of walking and up and down levels, especially if changing terminals).

I suspect that the (almost) obsession on this site with not checking your bag could be to do with the risk of your bag not arriving with you when you travel from smaller US airports to connect at a bigger hub. Or is it that they charge for hold baggage? I've noticed that flights seem to take an age to board in the US with everyone lugging massive bags into the cabin and trying to stow them.

To sum up, if I were you, I'd focus on travelling light, but not that light.

jonno, its not just emirates. this is one time when you can't take notice of RS 'people' and only having a carry on.
to maximize your carry on you need a very lightweight bag. I use an osprey farpoint 40 backpack, as it weights about a kg ( giving me space/capacity for a reasonable amount of gear) and allows me to wheel my checked in suitcase and makes it easier going up stairs etc. I believe it complies with carry on requirements.
as you mention you can take 30kg, which means your checked in bag can be as 'robust' as you want, eg: there is no need to buy the absolute lightest suitcase ( often more expensive) for checked in luggage. we use an approx 60lt wheeled suitcase, not too big, and manageable, our trips are generally 2 months, with plenty of moving around ( cars trains planes etc) when fully packed they can just get over the 20kg mark. (coming home etc) we never worry about not using up our '30kg' limit :)

BTW, there is a benefit of taking a carry on, if they loose your checked in, and for carrying precious electronic gear etc.

hope this helps.

You know what Glenn?

I think you have convinced me :-) I reckon one checked luggage (not the massive size) between my girlfriend and me will be enough, plus a small amount for carry on each and I think we are set.

I know who will end up lugging the checked luggage around, so will keep it well below the 30kg's!

Cheers.

Jonno.

I concur with Glenn. There's really no reason that you shouldn't check a bag in this situation. There's a time and place for everything, and checking a bag is not the end of the world. Yes, you could maybe drive yourself batty to fit in the 7kg limit, but why put yourself through the trouble. Pack your checked bag reasonably for your travel plans in Europe, take all valuables and what you'll need in the first couple of days in your carry on just in case, but otherwise check a bag and don't stress yourself out.

Just to be contrarian -
You most certainly make the 7 kg limit but you need to be careful.

• As other posters mentioned, a carry on bag under 1 kg in weight is necessary.
• You also need to wear your heavy clothes (jeans, jackets, heaviest shoes)
• put heavy things like electronics, jewelry, liquids, toiletries in your pockets
• consider buying toiletries in Europe

While checking in on item of baggae in addition to your weight-limited cabin bag is certainly an option, that idea is less attractive in proprtion to the amount of time you will be moving around from place to place while away. If staying at just one or two places and arriving and departing by taxi, then doubtless it's fine, but if you are going at any stage to stay in out of the way places and travelling by train and bus to get there, you will regret the extra burden.

And as soon as you are within the departures area you can start adding some of those heavier items back into your cabin bag, knowing that once within Europe few if any airlines will have such a strict weight limit.

Ok, now I'm undecided again :-)

I might have to do a practice pack, or at least get everything together that I think i'll need and see how it all stacks up.

Jonno.

I have never flown Emirates but Alitalia has an 8kg limit and I've done it. There is nothing wrong with checking a bag if you need, but you can go carry on if you prefer.

Do they allow a personal item as well? If so use it! Put heavier things like liquids, books, electronics into a tote bag/shoulder bag that will fit under seat. If they don't allow this, it's 7kg TOTAL you will have a bit more trouble.

With a low weight limit the weight of the bag itself is crucial. A backpack is lighter than a wheelie and some backpacks are lighter than others. I have a 3lb weekender jr from ebags. It was the lightest suitable bag I could find. The newer model is heavier now, though.

Wear your heavy items on the plane - heavier shoes, coat etc.

Obviously don't bring so much - you can plan to buy some things there if needed and check a bag on the way home. Do laundry once or twice

You may want to take a look at the newer Backpack Selection thread. I have posted my own choice of bag there.

I don't think I'd do like you were mentioning earlier, and check one bag between the two of you that you then have to handle. It will inevitably be bigger than you want to deal with. I think this trip would be a lot simpler and more enjoyable if you each check on moderate-small bag along with your carry-on. There's no reason to try to smash everything into 7 kg a person (especially when you don't have some of the constraints that sometimes make people pack superlight), but there's no reason to go to 30 kg a person either (or 20 or 15 )!!!

7kg is pretty much the industry standard, except for British Airlines, for carry-on luggage weight on all airlines flying out of Australia. Unless you're flying Business/1st Class

Hi all.

Well, it's getting very close to our departure date now (17th Aug) and i reckon I've got my packing down pat. So this is what i have fitted in, got a osprey 40L:

8x t-shirts
2x short sleeve shirts
2x long sleeve shirts
1x jeans
1x light weight cargo things
socks / undies
1x shoes
medication, bits and pieces, charger, headphones etc

This has come to approx 6kg, so still got a bit to spare!

Jacket, second pair of jeans, second pair of shoes (so three in total) and toiletries bag will be going in my girlfriends suitcase.

No need for laptop or tablet.

Thoughts all?

To add to the good info. above - plan on doing laundry more frequently to reduce clothing. There are places where you can drop off your laundry and pick up at end of day or next day. Or, just do it yourself. Also, packing cubes and folders can help tighten up/compact your belongings. In addition to osprey far point 40, checkout Ebags etech 2.0 JUNIOR bag. I was able to keep the total weight at 13.5 lb.s including bag weight. I agree with getting the lightest bag possible. Nothing wrong with checking a bag.

So, the girlfriend is checking her main bag & has a small carryon? Do you have a daybag?

I would get rid of 4 T-shirts and 1 pair of shoes.
Put the jacket in your bag or wear it on the plane

Hi Doric. That's correct. And I have a small man bag for day stuff :-)

I don't think djjon is looking for advice on a different bag to purchase since he already bought the Osprey.