to not want to take 2 single duvets with me when I visit SIL?

[cardamomginger]

I'm visiting DH's family abroad in December and taking DD (age 3) with me. SIL has asked me to pack 2 single duvets in my luggage. I'm not that keen on the idea, but am prepared to be told that IABU.

My reasons for not wanting to do it are:
they will take up a lot of room, even if I vaccum pack;
we're flying Sleezyjet, who are fascists about luggage allowance, so no way can I go over limit;
I'm already taking over large amounts of chocolate, clothes for SIL, toiletries and some tupperware, so it's not like I'm not doing my bit already;
I've had serious injury and major surgery in the not too distant past and am still a bit wary of lifting too much, so I'd like to attempt to travel as light as possible.

DH thinks she's bonkers. But I'm feeling guilty. IABU if I say no?

Do on-line Amazon order and check if the duvets would ship there.

I'm in Ireland, and I can't get certain toys or electronics shipped from Amazon UK. But I have no problem with clothes, shoes, etc.

I've no idea why certain items can't ship and others can. But that is my experience.

I'm having images of using the Poundland ones, my luggage being inspected at the airport, the seal failing, the duvets bursting forth, and me trying and failing to stuff them back! I'm assuming Customs don't have vacuum cleaners on hand to assist passengers with this sort of thing?

The email address your SIL needs is www.forward2me.com

That would be a sight cardamom!

All I can say is the cheap ones worked for me. Although a vacuum packed duvet is extraordinarily stiff and inflexible so might actually be harder to pack. If you do end up indulging this bonkers request you might find it easier just to bind them tightly with belts or straps.

So many vacuum bags have not worked for me- filled with air quite quickly- I would be wary. The JML ones did work though.
Why not buy the duvets and then post them out to her or get them couriered- let her pay the postage.

Just tell her bringing the duvets over by yourself is too much for you to deal with.

Her forgetting to buy them herself back in August is her fault, not your problem.

Is your luggage allowance based on weight or on amounts of bags?

Duvets are lighter than chocolates and tuppeware, but bulkier. I think you need to talk to her. Tell her your allowance, and ask what is less important and can be left behind.

Just done a quick calculation on forward to me, and a large duvet sized package will cost over £100 to ship to her .

Having lived overseas and flown sleazyjet many times paying for an extra bag makes NO difference to your baggage weight allowance.

Your initial hold allowance is 20kg in one bag. If you pay the charge for the extra bag your hold allowance becomes 20kg shared over two bags.

There is no way to bring two duvets and your actual clothes etc on a sleazyjet flight.

Problem solved, she can't argue with the airline rules.

Sleazyjet website says I can take 20 kilos of luggage. As I am travelling with DD we get 40 total and this can be split across the bags.

I can buy extra weight online at £7 per kilo. I don't think this gets you an extra bag though - I think there is a £25 charge for an extra bag (and then I think the £7 per kilo applies if DD and I are over 40 kilos between us). But DD is screaming in my ear, so it's hard to concentrate right now.

An extra bag would have to be left there - I'm not paying to bring it back. I wouldn't trust the baggage handlers not to wreck something that wasn't packed properly in a bag.

x-post!

Emailed and said no.

We once took a toaster to MIL overseas (dualit). Flew BA though. That might be a good thread, "what is the strangest thing you have taken overseas?"

"what is the strangest thing you have taken overseas?"

That would be too many to list!

But my favourite ones were the ancient weaponry I brought for my uncle out of the Czech Republic, into London, and out of the UK again to bring to Norway. This required Police action both in Prague and Oslo. Dogs and police escort.

A mahoosive ceramic pot out of Morocco, that I needed to send in the Hold, unwrapped, due to terror risk!

erm you are right. Separate thread.

Emailed and said no.

Hurrah! Hope she understands. If she doesn't, SIBU.

You'll find the flight itself hard enough on your back without taking extra luggage! I would be travelling as light as possible in your situation.

Ancient weaponry!

I got married abroad and took my wedding dress with me. Not that unusual possibly, but certainly almost gave me a nervous breakdown.

I've taken oven parts over for SIL.

I got my MIL to bring a wallpaper stripper over in her luggage as I couldn't find one here.

And just to repeat again - it's not ME that wants the flipping duvets!

Say no or ask what other stuff you have for her she wants you to leave behind - as there is no way you can do this with the luggage restrictions.

Then banish it from you mind. It's not your problem.

Emailed and said no.

Sorry missed that - good for you. Now think about other stuff.

Is the sil usually unreasonable? Perhaps she forgets not everyone gets 32kg allowance! Def explain why you can't and if she is annoyed, then she is definitely very unreasonable!

I'd probably buy a vaccuum pack (I keep my winter duvets in them over the summer) and one duvet and take that and tell her one is manageable within your luggage allowance but 2 isn't.
If you don't feel you can manage any then just tell her that and suggest she picks them up the next time she is visiting the UK and stress how small the luggage allowance is and how bulky duvets are.
If she has a huff I wouldn't bother visiting her.

Heard back from SIL, who says she will think of 'another solution'. Based on past experience, she may or may not expect me to be involved and it may or may not be more sensible.

For now, all is OK. Thank you all . May be posting a part 2 if the revised suggestion also seems a bit mad.

Your sister-in-law may not be that barking.

I live in Russia and a decent-quality cotton double bedsheet costs about a hundred and twenty pounds.

My husband has been despatched back to England with a list of requests as long as your arm.

Flying Sleazyjet shouldn't matter. It doesn't hurt to purchase a couple of extra kilograms of luggage allowance when you're buying the tickets. Duvets aren't that heavy.

I posted above and said I thought you should try to do it, before you said that your surgery would make it hard for you to carry the heavy bags. Taking everything into consideration (especially the "she forgot herself when here in August, and she gets extra luggage allowance when she flies"!!), I think you were completely reasonable to decline this time. Hope she remembers next time she's visiting!