Just found out that our carrier, Lufthansa, has a 55x40x20cm limit on carry-on bags. Ours are too big, so we're looking for new. The bags I've found meet the other measurements but are consistently wider than the 20cm or 7.9" limit. There are lots of 9" bags out there. We really don't want to check our bags but need them as big as possible. Has anyone flown Lutfhansa with a carry-on? How strict are they? And has anyone found a bag that meets these measurements?
Posted by
Santa Cruz
186 posts
Yes, Lufthansa is strict with carry-ons. There is also a weight limit that you should check on. Items were weighed at
the counter as well as the gate when we flew in September.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19240 posts
My current bag is an Essential Carryon and it is 9" high, but it's flexible (not a roll-aboard), and I don't fill it to bulging. I've never had trouble fitting it into the sizing box near the gate. I've always found that I could get to the 17.6# weight limit before I got near the size limit.
Posted by
Columbia, SC
989 posts
I've flown Lufthansa several times using the standard 9" bag. It's never been checked or weighed. They may be more strict at some airports than others. I fly in/out of Boston.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19240 posts
It's a matter of geometry. Most European airlines give you 40mm x 20mm, 15.75 x 7.87. That's 23.62 sq in of cross-sectional area. If an American bag is 14" x 9", that's 23 sq in of cross sectional area. So, if you have not over packed it, and it is not rigid, and you put it in the 7.87" wide box, it will not come up to the15.75 in mark. I fly Lufthansa a lot. They have never checked the dimensions of my bag, but the sizing box is always by the gate. I have had my bag weighed.