4 of us going abroad for 2 weeks, 1 suitcase for ease but it's huge how big is yours?

[hernow]

Silly worry I know but we are self-catering and well the case looks like we are going away for 6 weeks will they let us into the country!

tape measurements/hand/feet measurements of yours would do nicely thank you!

Double check with the airline as RyanAir now insist that you cannot share luggage allowance. So that you cannot use one big suitcase but 4 small ones - ridiculous as how are the two adults supposed to cope with 4 cases, hand luggage, pushchair & 2 children.
sorry about being the voice of doom

The other problem with one suitcase is that if it goes missing you will have lost everything - if you split all your luggage between two then you won't be without essentials until the other one turns up.

If your suitcase is too heavy you may be asked at checkin to buy another bag and split your luggage.

For gods sake do not and I mean this seriously do not take one case . The baggage handling crew will hate you they may even refuse to take it if its too heavy . Do not do it .

We use backpacks, much easier than suitcases.

Definitely check the weight limits of indivudal cases. When we went you could share luggage allowances over you but there were maximum weight and sizes limits per item.

Have just flown to Europe from the UK with BA and we had to unpack a bag to get it to 32ks - (a business class flight) - luckily I had a small bag packed away otherwise we would have been in serious trouble as they would have just refused the suitcase all together - it originally only weighed 34 kgs but was one of those big wheelie things -
Check-in lady told me that from October, BA will only accept one bag of 23 kgs checked luggage for economy flights - and the excess charge is huge!
Definitely check before you go or alternatively pack smaller cases - much easier to get in and out of buses, taxis, cars etc and a lot easier on your back!

There is a weight limit as to what the baggage crews are allowed to lift so be very careful. Two cases def better.

Just been in UK for a week - went with two suitcases came back with 2 cases plus 2 large soft bags on wheels!!!!

Lots of smaller bags definately better. They refuse to deal with bags over a certain size, and often don't let you pool baggage allowance.

We got into trouble for this, coming back from Mexico. We had lots of baggage allowance (had 3 seats), but each bag had to be with one, and only one seat, so we had to pay an excess. Very annoying.

(It's difficult, though, because for transit, one bag is definately easier.)

Definitely aggree with everybody else's comments; Ryan Air are particularly fierce.

Hmmm. Have done 5 flights in the last 15 days and it was different in every airport (even when flying with the same airline). TBH one suitcase for 4 isn't really easier - at least 1 for you and partner and 1 for 2 children is better (one case per room when you get there). We have packed and repacked suitcases at airports. At least in JFK they had scales before you entered the check in queue so you could juggle things. Would recommend packing a spare rucksack for holiday purchases just in case they tip you over the limit. Standard allowance is 20kg per person with no one bag being over 24kg (often advertised as 32kg but this is a big fat lie in our experience!). Ryanair are at one end of the extreme.

we we're told that even though you get 20kg each the max one case can weigh in 30kg

Our airline's rukles were the same as FD says. We flew with Virgin. there was a maximum size for the luggage too though.

Agree you cna usually consolidate your various allowances - think easyjet set a limit of 28kg per bag iirc. Several times we've travelled with cases labelled as "Heavy" ! However it isn't that practical to take large and/or heavy bags , we tend to do a mixture of hard cases and soft bag.

We have some wheely bags that strap to each other, so they're separate for the airline, but can be wheeled all together. This is useful when one adult is pushing a pram, so the other can wheel all the bags easily. Ok, not easily, but without failing or collapsing.

Agree with the back pack idea - we do this and then 'cross pack' (ie you do not put all your stuff in one and all his in the other, you mix it up) - this means if one goes missing you both have at least half your clothes.......
Did do one big suitcase once - thought it was a 'mare personally.