Rick Steves carryons on Luftansa?

I wouldn't worry too much about an extra 3cm in one dimension. Lufthansa is one of the old, established airlines, not a budget airline that might be interested in nickel-and-diming you for every pound of baggage.

Anyway, I believe Rick's backpack-style bag at least can be pushed down an inch or so if need be, putting you within the limits unless you really pack it full.

Great so far. It's the rolling tote that I'm most worried about. It's more square than rectangular and thicker rather than longer. It would be carrying our laptop and cameras - something I DO NOT want put in with checked luggage and I don't want to get caught unaware at the checkin line. We are doing the 21" rolling carryon as checked luggage. We are older and can't do all the backpack type stuff that would be most convenient. Any more thoughts?

Louise,
I would suggest that you put the items that you really need in a separate bag (like a daypack or smaller bag) and pack that inside your carry-on roller bag. Then if the airline makes you check the bag, you can pull out the separate bag, put your laptop in it and carry it on.

You will probably be fine. However, I remember being behind two girls in the check-in line who both had to me what looked like carry-on size bags. The airline (British Airways) was being very strict. The bags were stuffed too full to fit in the metal bag thing that the airlines use for size and they made them check the bag. They were surprised and really flustered as they tried to pull out things to carry on. If you are prepared for the worst case, you should be fine.

I have used my Rick Steves original convertible bag on three round trips via Lufthansa and never had a problem with size. Lufthansa has a sizing box at the gate in Frankfurt, and it has always fit, but due to the weight limit, with which I always comply, I can't stuff it, so it easily morphs to whatever shape is necessary.

As for Lufthansa, they have an 8kg weight limit. That's 17.6#. The rollaround bag weighs 7# empty so that limits you to only 10.6# of stuff. 40% or more of your total weight would be the bag alone.

Wow! Am I glad I'm starting to plan early. We have 2 - 21" roll aboards to check. The rolling tote that I'm considering is listed on RS's as 21x14x10 - 2 inches deeper than Luftansa says is okay. I really like the idea of putting something smaller inside that I can take out if I need to. I'll work on that. Do you think RS's 21" convertible would work as a carry on? It's listed as 21x14x9 but since it's light (3 1/2#) and soft it could probably be scrunched into the metal thing they use to measure at the airport??? I could put the laptop and camera in this one and let hubby pack the rolling tote with meds, etc. that are lighter if they'll allow the tote. That way we could balance the convertible carryon on top of it to roll through airports. Will this work?

I think a small laptop in its case and a camera are acceptable extra items on Luftahansa. Lufthansa does have a website, www.lufthansa.com, where you can look up all of this information.

Kent - no, the meds will never go in a checked bag. If they made us check the carry on, the meds would have to be transfered to the other carry on or even pockets if necessary! Thanks.
Lee - good point about the laptop. I was just trying to whittle down the things to keep track of and carry. My camera is a big DSLR and I'm pretty sure it isn't included in their "small" camera policy. But it, like the meds, needs to go in whatever carry on they allow since it's too pricey to fly checked. Keeping the laptop separate might help. Thanks.

Last year we noticed that Lufthansa stop someone with a large "carry-on" and made them check it. We checked our 2X 21" rollers for the last 2 years and worried lest both bags were delayed. This coming year we are going to try one small duffle (1800 cubic inches)to carry-on and one checked 21" roller. The duffle can attach to the roller. I will carry the duffle with one change of clothes for each of us. My wife will also bring a small carry-on for her books, meds, etc.

As an additional note, we travel by train and found 2X 21" rollers hard to manage when the trains were full. You can put one under the seat but the other will sometimes not fit in the overhead. Plus you have the extra weight when you must lift it over your head.

Regards, Gary

Louise, My wife and I had trouble carrying on roll aboards that defnitely fit within the allowed limits. We made it onto the plane fine, but the attendant at the entrance to the plane, pulled us out of line and said he would make us check the bag. I believe this was because we each had a personal item on our shoulder as well. The lufthansa website said this was allowed, as did the agent i called on the phone, but the plane agent was not happy with us. We were quite embarrassed at being pulled out of line once on the plane. ps. our carry on fit perfectly into the overhead bins and was smaller than others who had been allowed to carry on their luggage. luckily the agent didn't make us fully check it in the end, but rather kept it at the front of the plane for us. so in the end not a terrible event. (the bags were all way under the weight limits.)

you should be fine with the sizes - roll on or convertable. as others mentioned - its more of a wieght issue. they may ask to weigh the item. Of course you should keep the cam and laptop in a small day bag or "personal item" along with any meds, and heavy books. They wont weigh a briefcase, womans purse, or school-bag. As long as your not looking like youre trying to carry on two full sized carry ons - then a small day pack with the rick bag should be fine. just dont stuff it and keep it under 17#s. The non-roller is only 3lbs, so keep that in mind - 4-5 lbs extra for wheels.!

I flew Lufthansa last month and had a small carryon.However many people took along large rolling cases and much more.Several had the kitchen sink in the cabin with them.Maybe they check closer at timers but this was on a plane with no empty seats.

Thank you all. It looks like the usual crap shoot - it's what any given gate clerk feels like on that particular day. I've seen that with United. I think we've decided on the two 21" roll aboards that we will actually check. For carryon we'll take one small duffel shaped tote (for meds and electronics) that's always been okay and maybe the one square rolling tote that we can check if we have to after grabbing the laptop out of it. It's really be helpful to have all of you to brainstorm with. It's our first trip to Europe and we feel real novices. Merry Christmas.

Hello. I just flew Luftansa two days ago from Munich to O'Hare and judging by the looks of the carry on's there were NO standards relating to baggage. Half the people had bags with every expandable pocket expanded. Most had to get someone tall to pound on their luggage to make it fit into the overhead bins. I'm not sure that an extra inch is an issue here. Of course it makes getting off the plane impossible when three FA's have to tug at your bag to get it out of the bin at the end of the flight. I think people with bags like that should have to sit in the back of the plane!

Thanks for the update, Cynthia. Hope your trip was a good one. Anyone else out there flying Luftansa?

Thanks, Audrey. We are planning to do RS 21" roll ons as checked luggage and a smaller bag each as our carryons. We'll watch the weight limits carefully. Luftansia has a low weight limit on their carryons and it will be challenging splitting up a laptop and camera equipment to stay within the weight limit. We do have one of those hand-held luggage scales and we found it really helpful on several trips. I was initially worried about the square shape of the one rolling carryon (it is under the total dimensions but the shape won't fit in an airline measurement bin) but we'll give it a try and keep the weight down under their limit. We are also planning to include one of those lighter weight (pack in 1") foldable bags just in case we have to check the little rolling bag at the last minute. This is a real pain as we won't have the same problem for 85+% of the flight on United - only Luftansa. It will save us money as we won't be purchasing any souvenirs.

Rick's rollaboard weighs 7#. The Lufthansa weight limit is 17.6#, so with the rollaboard you can cary 10.6#. My convertible carry on weighs 1-3/4#, so I can carry on almost 16# - about 50% more. Why is that so hard for people to understand?

1. Learn to pack light
2. Use as light a bag as possible. That is not a rollaboard.

Let me share my last two experiences with Lufthansa from Portland, OR. First time, my roll-on bag was within the correct size (not expanded) and they wanted to weigh it. It was the limit so I had to check it. The seond time I used Rick's back pack bag and again they wanted to weigh it and it was over their carry on limit and I had to check it. I was carrying an extra over the shoulder small backpack. Lufthansa wasn't concerned about the size, only weight. I have now purchased a third bag, Rick's roll-aboard which weighs 7#. Will see what Lufthansa has to say this time.

It's not hard to understand - just doesn't work well for everyone with physical limitations who can't carry as much as you can. Hence, more planning and that's what we are trying to do.