Ridiculous amounts of hand luggage on long haul

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Flew long haul for a week away recently and I couldn't believe that there were so many people with huge soft sports type bags, four wheel hard cases and even 55cm suitcases that were the same size as the suitcase I checked in.

Is it just that Ryanair et. al have conditioned travellers to think that they must carry all their belongings in hand luggage and they just don't realise long haul is different?

I was in the last wave boarding and the amount of overspill in the closest overhead locker was so ridiculous that I only just fitted my coat in.

Hope you're OK.

I was on a British Airways flight from Sydney to Heathrow. The couple immediately behind had so much ‘hand’ luggage they couldn’t put their feet on the floor. Full flight and I had feet and knees pushing against the back of my seat for 18 hours! Unbelievably uncomfortable. And the flight attendants refused to do anything to enforce their own rules about how much could be brought onboard. Will never fly with them again.

Oh my gosh we had this exact issue on the long haul we flew 3 days ago. British airways and we were in premium economy (so less seats per overhead locker). The air hostess kept coming thru with more and more bags that didn’t fit in economy lockers and putting them in ours. Then of course whenever those people needed stuff in the flight they’re back and forth to my seat stretching up. These were proper checked luggage size bits. We couldn’t understand why!! Checked luggage is free

That’s weird, when we flew BA they were specifically making sure floor areas were clear and everything was in overhead lockers, or else it was going in hold, as it’s a safety thing for take off and landing. I’m really surprised they allowed that!

Checked luggage is no longer free on BA. They do a no checked luggage fare. That’s why I don’t fly economy with them if I can avoid it

edit for clarity: BA economy have a no checked luggage fare (not a fare option in premium or business). Even on long haul flights (which is utterly insane).

It's because you pay extra to put luggage in the hold . I am going on a week long trip and am amazed at the people taking hand luggage only . Just toiletries/ sun protection would take up my hand luggage allowance .

But you can't put toiletries and sun cream in hand luggage unless they're under 100 ml- so you have lots of room for your clothes. I only ever take hand luggage, I buy toiletries when I get there, they usually last the holiday and then I come home without my bag full of half empty bottles.

I only ever travel with hand luggage as I travel light and really don't want to lose my stuff (again). That said, I don't think you should be allowed check in bags and a load of cabin luggage on top. I see a lot of people doing that these days and it's completely unnecessary.

I only travel with hand luggage after an airline lost my checked case and ruining the first 4 days of my holiday. My bag is a small wheelie case which fits perfectly in the locker above my seat. I also take a rucksack which I keep by my feet.

There plenty of space in a small case. I was aghast how big some cases were the last time we travelled. How much stiff can you possibly need for a fortnight? Everywhere sells toiletries and ever has a laundry!

Remember not everyone is going on holiday.

I used to have what looked like ridiculous amounts of luggage on an Easyjet flight to a "Holiday Island"... between me and two small children, it was three cabin sized suitcases and 2-3 maxed out bags in the hold.

We lived on the island... a lot of stuff was really expensive there so we stocked up on books, clothes (especially school uniform) etc when visiting the UK.

Aghast

Thoughts and prayers!

But it's hard to say what's up without knowing the airline and route you flew and how they handle/charge luggage. Of course if they charge disproportionately (and many airlines do) for a checked bag, people will stuff the carry-on, especially if the airline you flew isn't known for strict about the dimensions/weight of a carry-on (and most still are not).

I always do hand luggage only. Last year we went to Japan for two weeks on just hand luggage. It's great for backpacking and for when you're going on a city hopping trip. I also cannot be arsed to wait for my baggage at the other end and I'm a light packer who is happy to wash clothes in the hotel. It also saves money. There's nothing to be shocked about, for some people it's a good choice!

@Nottodaythankyou123 yep, me too. It is a safety requirement to have floors clear. It was unbelievable!

Agree that excessive hand luggage on long haul is nuts and terrible for cabin comfort. If airlines charge for checked luggage people will do try and squeeze their stuff into a small bag BUT there is a limit and the airline should apply it for safety

Short haul we just take hand luggage. Long haul is usually a longer stay and we take checked baggage.

I've had friends have their carry on bags removed and put into the hold because of space issues or fail8ng the size limits so this airline was obviously flouting their own rules

We (family of 6) spent Christmas and NY in Thailand and only took hand luggage. We had 7 flights in 2 weeks and didn't want to have to wait at the baggage carousel every time. Tough but doable with good packing cubes and being ruthless about outfit planning. I decanted toiletries into a travel set and bought stuff if needed once there.

🤣 well you know, a bit shocked 🤣

Seriously though some cases were almost as big as the people wheeling them about!

We have gone away for a few days and have paid to put a case in the hold between us. I have some clothes in my ruck sack as they are the most expensive clothes I own and won't want them to go missing.

It's the extra charges for checked luggage. We are flying long haul later this year; first time in over a decade and first time with DCs, but I used to be a very frequent flyer in 80s and 90s. I was surprised at just how much more it was to do the 'old' (sensible!) way of everyone having a standard-sized checked bag and a small carry-on of personal items needed for the flight (plus swimming cozzy, pair of pants and toothbrush in case your luggage gets delayed 😬). So due to their price structuring, we'll be taking one gigantic piece of hold luggage with the weight limit maxed out, 4 small carry-on suit cases, and 4 'personal' bags 🤷🏼

Who wants to have to do laundry or pay for laundry on holiday?!

Oh I had a happy time in Malaysia washing stuff in the huge spa bath on the balcony. In Thailand paid about £4 for everything to be washed towards the end of the holiday.

Who wants to have to do laundry or pay for laundry on holiday?!

Most of the places I go laundry is really cheap or it takes 5 mins to put in the washing machine and hang in the sun. That way you don't have to outfit plan and can wear your favourite things as many times as you want.

Why? To not waste time at baggage claim. People have realised how much quicker you can get through the airport by avoiding that. It’s not about the money.

The airports should be making them check excess hand luggage though.

I flew to Tokyo on JAL and back on BA. I was out there for a week visiting DH who is on a work contract there at the moment. The flight timings had to fit in with my own work requirements, so it was half term.

Going out the flight on JAL was a bargain. Airbus, economy, great food, excellent service. The baggage on the hand baggage on outward flight was only slightly silly. A fair number of people had small four wheel carry ons plus up to one or two other bags. They did fill the overheads, nevertheless.

The return flight was BA and not a bargain. I don't think there were any charges for hold luggage. I certainly wasn't aware of that when I booked. I think the increased cost was down to timing. It was a BOA 787. I managed to book the front row of economy, so got leg room. During take off they did enforce the rule of put your bags in overheads but for landing they announced it but didn't come round and check. The food was appalling old school airline food.

The baggage situation was mad. I sat in departure watching as people turned up with suitcases, big bulging roll bags and totes. Some of the same people had a fair amount of other luggage on the carrousel too. I can't know their travel circumstances, but they had more luggage than my DH took for his 8 week stay. I personally can manage with a rucksack, handbag and small suitcase 55cm size that I put in the hold. As he's in an apartment, I took a bath towel with me at the expense of a second coat.

Hand baggage rules seemed very relaxed. The bulging roll bags and totes looked like very amateur luggage packing. Maybe they they had all filled up their suitcases with purchase from Daimaru. Sitting at the front of economy, there are 2 small 'Crew only' overheads for which staff have to open an additional flap to access. These got filled too, by staff. There was a chaotic feel to the gate. Remember that bit in Love Actually where the boy makes his way through various bits of security by ducking and diving barriers? There was a child of at least 10, who ducked under the roped route barriers out and then in again while his parents were in the queue. Neither staff nor parents took any notice of this. Slightly surreal like everyone had had enough, and it was only lunchtime 🤣

We go to Florida every year and have to pay for a checked bag with BA. We always used to fly hand luggage only pre-kids (strictly with the amount allowed - a Cabinmax bag and a personal handbag). But have had to check a bag after we had dcs, we bring 2 Yoyo strollers. When they get a bit older and have a full hand luggage allowance we will probably go back to hand luggage only, it's much quicker and it means no risk of cases going missing.