Spin off on Aer Lingus question....

When we flew air lingus last September, they were enforcing the 13 pounds. (My husband's bag was over but it was because he had taken off the warm shirt and fleece coat he was suppose to wear during the weigh in and put them in his suitcase. When I told him to take them out and put them on, the man laughed and waved him through-because he was just ounces over) We did check a bag though (because we were bringing hiking boots and some other things for hiking that put us over) We checked a soft bag with our extra stuff. When we arrived, we put that stuff in our RS bags, folded up the soft bag which also fit, and went on our way. It is still nice to only have one smaller bag when you get there, even if you can't fill it all the way up due to the 13 pound limit.

Even though I always check my bag, I still pack as lightly as I can (21" bag). You still have to manage your bag through the airport, onto the bus or train or rental car, and into the hotel. The largest bag I have ever used is a 24", and the only time I've taken that on an airplane was on a 2-week trip to China, where I needed some clothing I wouldn't normally carry. Lighter is better, even if you can't carry it on.

Thank yoU!!
The reason I was going to take the bigger suitcase was (ironically) its lighter than my 21", and my husband and I can share the suitcase, rather than taking 2.

Well, whichever suitcase I take will end up being a last minute descison, but I am glad to know that Aer Lingus will enforce the one bag per person, 13#.

Thanks, ladies. I know Rick travelers are the best!!

If there are two of you traveling, you might want to consider taking two cases instead of one. Split your clothes up between the two. This way, if one bag is lost, you still have the other with half of your stuff. With one big bag, you could lose everything.

Very true Frank, since we'll be checking in.
I'm not used to checkin stuff.... will prob pack "as normal", meaning light, 21", and carry on a pack with one days worth of clothes.

To reinforce what an earlier traveller said - Aer Lingus is definately enforcing the weight restriction. We flew on them twice in April and had our bags checked each time.

Tammy,

If you view again, were you allowed a purse? (extra to the 13#) Or does the purse have to be inside the one carry on bag? (part of the 13#)

Thanks!

Betsey -- one means ONE. You can only carry on a single item, whether it's a backpack or a purse or a camera bag. If you can put your purse inside your bag, great. Otherwise, you will have to choose which to carry on.

Thanks, Nancy.

13# all included will be quite a challenge, but worth a try!

I have the same dillema for Aer Lingus flights in a few weeks. My question is this: If they do weigh your carry-on baggage and it's significantly overweight, is it simply treated as a checked bag and charged accordingly or is there another fee that you have to pay?

Their website says that you will be charged a checked-bag fee of 18 euros and have to check it. And it will still have to meet the checked bag weight limit of 44 lbs. or it will incur additional charges.

The Aer Lingus website page re: carry-on luggage also says that you are allowed one ADDITIONAL small carry-on item such as a purse or personal music player. So, no need to agonize over taking a purse v. 13 lb carry on. You can take both, but I would probably choose a small purse. That is my plan for our upcoming trip, anyway. Good luck!

The 13 pound total is for both the carry-on AND the personal item.

And, although I know people who love flying Aer Lingus, I avoid it strictly because of the weight issues.

Just got back from Dublin and I packed for the 13 lbs. They did not check or weigh any bags. Maybe when they are more crowded, but I would have done only carry on had I known that. Went from San Francisco . Take something to eat, nice people awful food!

I don't want to sound ignorant here but my family and I leave on Monday for 10 days in Ireland. Am I to gather that we will have to pay for each bag we check? We all plan on checking one bag and have a small carrying on. Was on the website and it said a charge for the 2nd bag. Any help would be appreciated.

If you are flying Aer Lingus from the U.S. to Ireland, then each person is allowed one checked bag for free as long as it doesn't go over 50 pounds. You get charged for a second bag per person--not the group.

Your carry-on still has to be under 13 pounds.

Thanks. After reading info on a few other sites, that's kinda what I deduced. Thanks for confirming.

That's very strange...

1) Was it an actual Aer Lingus flight or a codeshare?

2) Was it an Aer Lingus sign or could have it been leftover from another flight?

3) Did you mention it to anyone?

Well, after studying the web site and the e-mail info from Aer Lingus, both of which said 22x18x10 but only 6 kg (13 lb), I get to the check-in desk and see the sign that Aer Lingus graciously will carry my 10 kg (22 lb) (!) bag in the cabin IF it measures no more than 18x14x9.

My Tom Bihn Medium Messenger Bag was not given a second look, in its use as my purse for the journey. My bag (a small duffel carefully packed to be only 13 lb WAS weighed. The Bihn bag was not (and it held all my electronics, in other words, the heavier stuff.

That was the situation leaving Boston. I will be looking for the allowance when I get to Gatwick for the return home.

Hi Frank,

Yes, it was Aer Lingus flight, and Aer Lingus queue and check-in desk. Mention it? Do you mean ask at the check-in desk about the difference of online information and the sign? No, took my cards and left to go to security.

I do think the smaller case size is probably a good idea. The plane was an Airbus-something. The bins where I was sitting did seem better for a smaller bag than the "traditional" 22x14x9.

That was Boston, so I will definitely looking around Gatwick when I leave next Monday. Will post whatever I see.

FYI, looking at the aerlingus.com site from home, the approved cabin baggage information just says ONE bag. Looking at the same pages from here in the UK (same URL), it says a purse/jacket are acceptable in addition to the bag, but the size given is still the 22x18x10/13 lb. I will be checking that page again when I get home.

So, checking in at Gatwick I saw the expected 6 kg and no more signs. I did not notice signs for the size of the sizer box and did not set my bag down next to it to get an eyeball measurement.

The check-in agent asked if I wanted to check my duffle. I was being "good" and set it on the scale section for a weight. Maybe she wouldn't have asked for a weight if I just kept it on my shoulder? I don't know. The agent at Boston had specifically asked me to set it down for a weight.

Some of the people that came on with roll aboard bags I would find very hard to believe that those bags were no more than 6 kg; the bags had the rigidity of concrete.

It's nice to check the aerlingus.com web site now and see that a jacket and purse are officially permitted. Before my trip those were Not listed as allowed, not any time I checked in the months up to my trip.