Luftansa carry on rules

I'll be flying TATL on Lufthansa for a trip this May, so I've been watching this, too. From their website, Lufthansa's official limits for carry on luggage are: 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm, or
21.6" x 15.75" x 7.8" That's only slightly smaller than the standard these days. I'm pretty sure my bag should fit. Lufthansa lists a weight limit for carry on bags of 8 kg (17.6 pounds), and that is pretty light. I think that (weight) is more of a concern for me (I generally do not check bags), but I'm guessing that they do not weigh carry-on bags as a routine practice. I'm sure that if you have something that looks like it obviously exceeds their limits (a bowling ball case...) or otherwise call extra attention to yourself (or if you do something to piss off the gate agent), they might ask you to weigh your bag, but I'm guessing that most reasonable-looking bags carried by polite passengers generally do not get weighed. FWIW I've flown more than a few times on several airlines that have an official carry-on weight limit, and I've never seen anyone's carry-on weighed, ever (not counting the Ryanairs or other cut-rate carriers whose business model depends on snagging unsuspecting passengers for every little thing they failed to anticipate). Anyone here flown Lufthansa recently who can report on their experience?

First -we use a pair of the Rick Steve convertible backpacks, and we've never had a problem with carrying them on. This includes Lufthansa last summer in Krakow and Munich. No one measured or weighed them. The most we've ever done to rearrange stuff was to wear our jeans and pack our shorts, changing later if necessary. Secondyour bike shoes, helmets, and pedals do not compress, and that means much wasted space (and your peddles may cause a security problem when all the metal shows in the scan). You already are renting bikes for whatever riding you are doing. Just bike in sneakers/walking shoes and rent helmets with the bikes. Save the room in your pack for more important items. Please note - I bike for fitness/recreation over 6,000 miles a year. If I rent a bike while traveling, it's no big deal to rent the helmet also, and not wear the most efficient footwear. I don't think getting on the plane wearing the helmets is a great idea.You will have nowhere to conveniently place them during the flight, and I suspect there would be a major issue if someone entitled to overhead storage space could not use it because overflow helmets were taking it up.

Pamela don't know how much help this is,, but my ex husband saw a young man in a German airport taking clothes out of his suitcase and layering them on to get the weight down,, but guess the concept is good. Wear everything that is heavy, coat, heaviest shoes, jeans or cords,, and then pack only light stuff( yoga pants are lighter then Jeans,, jeans are heavy)

That's a great idea. We have never had a problem with our carry on before but we also haven't flown on Luftansa. They actually weigh your carry on and they count the bag wheels as part of the overall measurement. We are only bringing 2 pairs of shoes each, one pair being our bike shoes however my husband's shoes are huge so that limits space along with bike peddles and helmets. I guess we could wear the helmets!
I have never checked a bag in 20 years so any tips would be great.

Most of my flights to/from Europe have been on Lufthansa. At first I used a convertible RS bag and had no problem. Once they weighed it at check in - probably thought no one could go to Europe for 2 weeks with only 17.6#. I've fit it in the Lufthansa sizing box multiple times without a problem. Now I use a Campmor Essential Carryon, which is 21x13x9, smaller than US regulation size. The Lufthansa size limit is only slightly smaller (3%) than the US airlines allow. The girth is a little more than US standard, so you can squeeze it to fit, but the length is 5/8" less - no problem unless you have wheels.

Thank you. That was very helpful. I heard at times they do weigh bags so I think we'll stick with the 17 lbs max. rule. I'm pretty sure we can also do 2 weeks on that limit.
I have taken bike pedals on prior trips. The easiest way to get through security with these are to store them in a clear baggie in a outside pocket of the carry on. Just put them in a tray for the security belt. TSA was happy with that.

Our experience with Luftansa over several years and several trips is that the check-in personal will check the luggage. We have never had our bags weighted but have stood in the check in line more than once where everyone with a wheeled bag was being asked to fit it into a sizing box and most failed because of the wheels and handles. They looked at our bags - backpack style, softside but they look small because of the outside strips which shrink the bag. While the bags were over the 17 lb limit the looked small. I would be more worried about overall size than actual weight. I can tell that Larry doesn't do any cycling. First, we always wear our helmets on the plane and generally generate a few comments when boarding. Second it rare to find rentable helmets in Europe. If you are doing any serious distances, then pedals and shoes are critical. I even bring my own Brook saddle. I don't hike in someones else boots and I don't ride on someone's else saddle.

Pamela, My suggestion is that if you do end up over the weight limit, pack so that you can check if necessary. Put the things that you absolutely need to carry on in a bag within your carry-on. If you get to the gate and they make you gate check, you can always open up your bag and take the smaller bag with you. You can't always predict how strict they will be at the gate. Sometimes it depends on how full the flight is and whether you are boarding first or last. I've been on flights (although this has only happened to me in the U.S.) where I have been in the last boarding group and been forced to gate check even though my bag was within the limit simply because the overheads were already full.

I am resentful of the comment that I do not do any cycling. Along with riding for many years, I have observed cycling for years, particularly racing. And have noticed that the most serious body and leg injuries occur when the rider cannot get separated from the bicycle during a crash. I have a double hip replacement, and getting tangled in the bike is not an option for me. Hence, I do not wear any kind of shoe/pedal combo that would leave me stuck to the bike. And voluntarily give up some precious performance. My lack of proper professional shoes always offends serious cyclists, but this has not prevented me from doing an annual charity 100 mile ride at an average of 17 mph. As for the helmets, I do not see the issue with renting a helmet if I am also renting a bike. If I am transporting my own equipment then the helmet (and the shoes, the pedals would already be attached) would all be in my car. but this is an airplane, so it could also go in the packing box, which would not be carry-on. I never advocate riding without a helmet, I was saved a crippling injury by one.
To each his own. I made a suggestion while commenting on my Lufthansa experience. I did not attack anyone's ability or credibility.

You really can do it. Just keep reviewing what you need in your bag and what you can live without. My focus is on carrying items that mix/match with everything else and can do double, or triple, duty (dressy, casual, warm weather, cool weather, etc.). We managed carry-on with SAS summer 2010, same restrictions, and that included adding something formal for a cruise.

Thanks so much. Yes, I think we will be fine with our carry on luggage now that I know that Lufthansa is serious about carry on size. The wheels and handles included on size is not something that I have faced in prior travels, and the 17 lb weight limit will be a challange for us. I should have mentioned that not only do we
need to pack light for flying but also for our small living quarters on a boat including bikes! We are not bringing our own bikes so items that were previously mentioned pedals, shoes and helmets are important to us and important that they arrive with us. Thanks again. It's great that folks are so passionate about travel, sports and sharing thoughts. We are set!