AIBU to worry Lufthansa won't let us on with these cases?

mimblewimble · 2023-10-17T10:48:14+00:00

We have cabin suitcases that are the right size for Lufthansa carry on baggage, if you don't include the wheels. Annoyingly the dimensions given on the website we bought them from say they include the wheels and handle, but they don't. We've already used them so can't return them. Anyway, with the wheels they are a few cm over the max. Are Lufthansa going to check them and then make us pay £££ to put them in the hold?! DH thinks I need to chill out, he may be right. (I have one child already anxious about flying so would really prefer not to add any extra stress to the situation!)

Anomedsed · 17/10/2023 11:49

The only people who can confirm are Lufthansa. You are where you are - just turn up and see what happens.

Pinkdelight3 · 17/10/2023 11:50

Don't know about Lufthansa specifically but I've always had to pay extra and have the hold faff if they don't fit exactly in those measuring thingies at check-in. You could contact Lufthansa directly to check and explain in vague hopes that they'll let you know in advance?

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 17/10/2023 12:03

I'll be amazed if Lufthansa give a shite unless your luggage is obviously massive - they aren't a budget airline.

They weren't checking hand luggage when I flew with them in August. This applies to Heathrow/Frankfurt/Dammam. I don't think I've ever had hand luggage size checked on a main carrier. Or weight. When flying from the Middle East much baggage pisstaking occurs. As long as they fit within the overhead lockers I predict you'll be fine. What are the actual dimensions?

RoachFish · 17/10/2023 12:19

I'm pretty sure they will be fine. I have a bag that fits exactly the max measurements for carry-on luggage and I have never had to prove it with BA, Lufthansa, SAS, Finnair or TAP. I think it's only RyanAir and the likes that do that if it doesn't look obviously too big.

StamppotAndGravy · 17/10/2023 12:21

If you're feeling brave and aren't in a rush, a good option is to go to the desk to print your boarding pass. Ask if the flight is full and volunteer to check your cabin bag. They almost always say yes, then you get free hold baggage with as much shampoo as you like.

23Oct · 17/10/2023 12:30

Annoyingly the dimensions given on the website we bought them from say they include the wheels and handle, but they don't. We've already used them so can't return them.

If they don't match the description you can absolutely return them!

InTheRainOnATrain · 17/10/2023 12:35

So long as they fit in the overhead bin Lufthansa are unlikely to care, I’ve never seen a non budget airline measuring bags like that. However, if you’re last to board in economy there’s a possibility that they’ll run out of space and ask you to gate check it for that reason, but you won’t be charged.

budgiegirl · 17/10/2023 12:40

I don't think I've ever had my hand luggage size checked, so hopefully you should be fine. However, when I flew with Lufthansa, they did weigh everyone's hand luggage to check it was within the limit (I think it was 6kg), so do be aware of that.

Kiitos · 17/10/2023 12:43

I travel regularly on both budget and non-budget airlines and never once have I had the dimensions of my bag checked. I’m sure you’ll be fine

Alldressedup · 17/10/2023 12:43

I flew with Lufthansa in August and the ticket included checked in luggage. So if worst comes to the worst it should hopefully not cost you more if they decide they need to go in the hold?
Also agree that I didn’t notice anyone checking hand luggage either at check in or the gate.

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 17/10/2023 12:50

Alldressedup · 17/10/2023 12:43

I flew with Lufthansa in August and the ticket included checked in luggage. So if worst comes to the worst it should hopefully not cost you more if they decide they need to go in the hold?
Also agree that I didn’t notice anyone checking hand luggage either at check in or the gate.

Not all tickets include checked luggage. Lufthansa have a hand baggage only option.

Original poster

mimblewimble · 17/10/2023 16:15

Our tickets are hand baggage only.

How can I know if they'll fit in the overhead lockers? I assumed that's what the max dimensions are for. so the body of the case is fine, but the wheels and handle bring it to 3 or 4 cm over the max length. I know it's not much but I'd hate for that to be what prevents the overhead locker closing!

OP posts:

INTERNETEXPL0RER · 17/10/2023 16:27

You should be ok with the overhead lockers, they have little tolerance . Put the cases into them with wheels towards you.

If the flight is quiet you can put them in sideways and put your coats on top.

If the staff at the gate spot that it’s too big, they will ask you to put it in the sizer. If you can’t do that they will gate check it and charge you. So yes you will get on the flight but you might have to pay more.

So don’t over pack it if it’s a soft side case.

Another option is to go online and check out the price to add another large ( 22 or 23kg) hold bag onto one ticket. You can use than instead of your two smaller non compliant cabin bags.

prettybird · 17/10/2023 18:25

We recently flew from Glasgow to Jo'burg via Frankfurt (so 4 legs in total).

They never checked the size of our pull long hand luggage but on the return leg from Jo'burg to Frankfurt, they did check the weight - ironically because, at Lufthansa's request, we were trying to check one of our pieces of hand luggage in for free as the flight was very full (waiting for it to come off want a big deal as we were already checking in ho look d luggage). 8kg was the limit and the bag was 9.1kg

We had to go away and rejig both our hold luggage cases and the other carry on case, plus put heavier stuff into our "hand" luggage (ie the smaller bag that is supposed to go under the seat in front of you) because that bag isn't weighed

We managed to get it sorted (both hold bags ended up being 22.3kg and iirc, the pull along case was 7.2kg (and I think the other one was also under 8kg - but not sure they weighed it at check-in. The 2nd pull sling case couldn't be checked in as it had fragile and sentimental things in it that we didn't want to risk being broken or lost).

As others have said, key thing is that it can go into the overhead locker - and on both legs, the overhead lockers were a decent size.

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 17/10/2023 18:27

mimblewimble · 17/10/2023 16:15

Our tickets are hand baggage only.

How can I know if they'll fit in the overhead lockers? I assumed that's what the max dimensions are for. so the body of the case is fine, but the wheels and handle bring it to 3 or 4 cm over the max length. I know it's not much but I'd hate for that to be what prevents the overhead locker closing!

What is the actual length of the bag you've bought? I think 56cm is around the usual maximum on airlines.

Depth of the overheads will depend on the aircraft, but your bag can go sideways if it doesn't fit straight on - means there's less room for other people's though.

I never take hand luggage cos I can't deal with the scrum for overhead lockers.

Original poster

mimblewimble · 17/10/2023 18:34

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 17/10/2023 18:27

What is the actual length of the bag you've bought? I think 56cm is around the usual maximum on airlines.

Depth of the overheads will depend on the aircraft, but your bag can go sideways if it doesn't fit straight on - means there's less room for other people's though.

I never take hand luggage cos I can't deal with the scrum for overhead lockers.

Show quote history

58cm including handles and wheels, Lufthansa says limit is 55cm.

OP posts:

lanthanum · 17/10/2023 18:38

InTheRainOnATrain · 17/10/2023 12:35

So long as they fit in the overhead bin Lufthansa are unlikely to care, I’ve never seen a non budget airline measuring bags like that. However, if you’re last to board in economy there’s a possibility that they’ll run out of space and ask you to gate check it for that reason, but you won’t be charged.

It might work the other way around. I was on a WizzAir flight where they were checking bags in the gauge. I was chatting to someone whose bag was clearly too big, and she was worried. She hung back, and I think that by the time she got to the front, they must have confiscated enough oversize bags, because they didn't bother with hers!

Womencanlift · 17/10/2023 18:47

Do you live close enough to the airport and have time to pop in and see if your cases fit in their box thing they have at check in?

Hassle yes but better to know before hand than finding out at the boarding gate

Original poster

mimblewimble · 17/10/2023 19:55

Womencanlift · 17/10/2023 18:47

Do you live close enough to the airport and have time to pop in and see if your cases fit in their box thing they have at check in?

Hassle yes but better to know before hand than finding out at the boarding gate

That might be an option...

Can't believe I'm worrying about this, it's so annoying!

OP posts:

Orangello · 17/10/2023 20:00

I fly Lufthansa all the time and they have never cared about my hand luggage. Give it a try, the worst that can happen is that you have to pay extra.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 17/10/2023 20:05

StamppotAndGravy · 17/10/2023 12:21

If you're feeling brave and aren't in a rush, a good option is to go to the desk to print your boarding pass. Ask if the flight is full and volunteer to check your cabin bag. They almost always say yes, then you get free hold baggage with as much shampoo as you like.

I'm a bit confused by how this gets the OP as much shampoo as they like? Are you suggesting she packs full size shampoo in hand luggage in the hope it can go in the hold for free? Or that if Lufthansa say yes to it going in the hold for free, she should rush to Boots to buy arger bottles of toiletries? As she has a hand luggage only fare surely she will be packing only small liquids containers?

StamppotAndGravy · 17/10/2023 22:07

@RichardMarxisinnocent on Turkish and KLM, you volunteer to hand it over at front check-in so it goes through with all the normal hold baggage so you don't have to take it through security. That means no fluid limits. You effectively get free hold baggage, but it does mean you can only take a very small bag on with you. I don't know for certain if this works on Lufthansa, and PPs have said that they actually weigh it!

InTheRainOnATrain · 18/10/2023 13:11

lanthanum · 17/10/2023 18:38

It might work the other way around. I was on a WizzAir flight where they were checking bags in the gauge. I was chatting to someone whose bag was clearly too big, and she was worried. She hung back, and I think that by the time she got to the front, they must have confiscated enough oversize bags, because they didn't bother with hers!

Show quote history

Yeah you do get lucky sometimes! I sneaked a far too big bag past Ryan Air. I knew it was too big but it was the only carry on I own so figured if they spotted it I’d cough up with good grace, and it would still be cheaper than buying a whole new suitcase that I would be unlikely to ever use again. As it happened they were more focused on people who just had an underseat bag so I sailed through unnoticed on both legs.

Every time I’ve flown a legacy carrier though the concern seems to more about the number of bags rather than the size. So OP could always offer to gate check if they’re looking for volunteers as that way they’re even less likely to question it as they’ll just be relieved that it’s one less person they’ll have to accost!

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 29/10/2023 21:52

As a follow up, there was no measuring of luggage that I saw on my journey. However, at Heathrow they were taking hand luggage free of charge to check in at the gate and they were also weighing it.

SweeetFemaleAttitude · 29/10/2023 22:05

Even Ryanair has never bothered me. I’ve taken a rucksack many times that is too big a few times, but would squash into the rack if emptied a bit. I hear about baggage checks but I’ve never actually seen on yet