Has anyone traveled Lufthansa to Europe from the States lately ? If so, did they weigh your carry-on bag?
I have a carry-on bag that meets their dimension requirements, but they say "Each piece of hand baggage may not be larger than 55 x 40 x 20 cm and may not weigh more than 8 kg." That's only about 17lbs. My bag will probably be in the low 20's.
For our most recent experience on a Lufthansa flight from LAX to Frankfurt, they did not weigh our carry on. Ours would have been OK anyway. However, the best practice is to not test the system. Many airlines can and do occasionally weigh carry on. It's just not wise to go to the airport with a knowingly overweight bag and hope that they won't.
You can also stuff any heavier/denser items in your pockets or (if they're clothing) wear them and then repack after your bag is weighed. I've never done this personally, but it seems like it should work just fine.
Our experience with Lufthansa on international and domestic flights is that they have never weighed a bag BUT frequently check for proper size using the dreaded sizing box.
My one experience (PDX - FRA) was they did not weigh my bag, but only because the check in crew was so impressed I was spending 3 weeks in Italy with one "teeny" bag. But I'd make sure to put the heaviest "stuff" is in your personal item - guide books, camera, etc. and then rearrange after passing security.
I too fly from PDX. Lufthansa weighed and measured my bag. I think we can expect this sort of thing more with the rising fuel prices. The previous poster was absolutly correct. Place the heavy books, guide books, magazines and camera stuff in your smaller personal carry on day bag. When the airlines start allowing only one carryon we will all be stuck.
agree with the other TOM too - put all the heavy books and electronics and your "3-1-1" bag in your day pack as your personal item and make sure your under th 17# carry on wieght of your regular bag. Ive gone both coach and biz to Germany/Switzerland with Lufthansa and Swiss - and sometimes they weigh it and others they dont. In economy - they may well ask you to put it on the scale here in the US... but try going much earlier to check in before they get busy and maybe they dont. But either way - just make sure your are under. Once youre in the terminal waiting at the gate - you can re-arrange a bit back out of your bag as long as it doesnt get too bulky!
