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Original poster

3 weeks Canada... Handluggage only??

31 replies

Bea · 29/12/2017 12:01

Do you think this is possible?... 2 adults... 3 dc teenagers... Looking into flights... But noticed if you only take handluggage it's a lot cheaper!... Do you think it's possible to go to Canada for 3 weeks... West Coast... With just hand luggage??... Anyone managed to do this??... Will be staying at Airbnb... Hotels along the way!...

Or is this a very foolish idea??

OP posts:
MadgeMidgerson · 29/12/2017 12:03

Who are you looking to fly with? Long haul flights with major carriers do not charge for stowed luggage

cakeymccakington · 29/12/2017 12:03

Yes a friend of mine just did it!
It does involve doing laundry while away so I guess it's a toss up between lower costs and losing part of the holiday to doing laundry.

Depending on who you fly with you normally get hand luggage plus a handbag or laptop bag.

You can wear several layers, then easily fit 4 or 5 more outfits into a cabin case.

Trills · 29/12/2017 12:04

I think you'd have a much nicer time if you took some suitcases.

I know I would.

MadgeMidgerson · 29/12/2017 12:04

You could possibly, depending on time of year, and if you buy all toiletries etc there.

MadgeMidgerson · 29/12/2017 12:06

You also get stowed luggage - BA do not charge for this on flights to Canada, neither does Air Canada or any of the US major carriers

Who are you thinking of flying with that charges extra for stowed luggage on long haul flights?

maxiflump1 · 29/12/2017 12:06

I very much doubt it...! Depends what time of year you are going. Winter in Canada: definitely not as you will need warm layers and sturdy shoes. Summer maybe but depends how many gadgets and bits you DC want to take. If you are doing Airbnb do they include towels? If not I doubt you will get the in hand luggage. Maybe just check in one hold bag for all of you to carry the chunkier things.

Very jealous of you spending 3 weeks in Canada btw.....!

lackingimagination · 29/12/2017 12:08

Why though? If you're paying for all those flights and spending money what's an extra £30-50 for a checked in bag? Even just one between all of you would make the world of difference.

MsGameandWatching · 29/12/2017 12:08

I did 16 days to the US with two kids and hand luggage only. It was ok. We did have to buy a bag to bring back all our purchases at the end though. I probably wouldn’t do it again just because of having to buy another case.

Hellywelly10 · 29/12/2017 12:10

I'm used to it. Now I don't like travelling with loads of bags. How will your teenagers manage are they into make up and hair?

LeaveAllThisToYesterday · 29/12/2017 12:17

How about paying for just one person to have hold luggage, then you can pack that one suitcase full of shoes, toiletries etc? Doesn't have to be all or nothing. If you're moving around lots then packing light is a good idea, but you have to be pretty organised.

Original poster
Bea · 29/12/2017 12:24

Wow! Thanks all... Quick replies!... Much appreciated!...

Teenagers... Not into hair makeup...

Going in summer so think travelling light...

Been looking at West jet....

I'm pretty sure it's more than just £30/40... But we could be just misreading...

We are travelling around so travelling light wouldn't be such a bad idea...

Yes! Thought if one of us has the "big" case we could do that...

Thanks again!... More tips and ideas would be welcome! X

OP posts:
somewhereovertherain · 29/12/2017 12:25

We managed two weeks in Arizona and two weeks in Sweden on hand luggage only

10kgs is a lot, it was only shoes that was restricted. Saying that we had access to washing machines and towels. So only took clothes.

About to do two weeks in Barbados on hand luggage only.

somewhereovertherain · 29/12/2017 12:26

We flew west jet really excellent airline. Went Gatwick to the states via calagary and back via Toronto.

Phryne · 29/12/2017 12:42

We did 6 months with just hand luggage (2 adults) and multiple trips with a baby/toddler HLO (do have to check in the buggy when we take it). IMO it's well worth it for ease of transit and not worrying about the airline losing a bag etc - particularly as teens are old enough to carry their own bags and it's time they learned to pack and cater themselves. I think Norwegian (who are cheap and good to get to NAmerica) also charge for luggage now.

The real issue, IMO, with going hand luggage only is not toiletries (although you may as well buy large ones there given how many of you are going) but shoes. If you want to take multiple pairs per person (e.g. you need hiking boots, plus walking-around-the-city shoes plus smart restaurant shoes) it may be cheaper to book a case between you instead of hunting for the pair that would do everything.

Otherwise, it's just down to careful packing, expecting to do laundry (which I would want to in 3 weeks anyway) and choosing the lighter option e.g. lightweight shorts instead of jeans, base layer instead of thick sweater, share items if you can (e.g. 1 tube of toothpaste) and promise yourself you'll buy things if you really miss them (towel, hair dryer, extra shoes...whatever's bugging me could usually be got for under £20 in any major supermarket I find).

Have a great trip!

Phryne · 29/12/2017 12:44

Oh, and if you're taking internal flights check your luggage will fit as airline restrictions vary and North America is one of the stricter places, as I recall.

SpadesOfGlory · 29/12/2017 13:07

We did 3 weeks in the West of Canada for our honeymoon 18 months ago! Amazing place, you'll have a fab time! We flew WestJet to Calgary and then home from Vancouver. We did have checked bags, but I don't remember it being expensive....it was something like £17 each way per bag for up to 23kgs. Worth it IMO.

If you're travelling in summer bare in mind the Rockies aren't always that hot...we went in June, early July and spent a significant amount of time in jeans and hoodies! Whistler was 12degrees, it didn't get hot till we got to Vancouver.

If you pack lots of multi use clothes and thin tops to layer and expect to do a lot of laundry i would expect hand luggage to be doable!

GreyMorning · 29/12/2017 13:30

Yes, be those really annoying people who take up all the overhead locker space because you are too tight to pay for a checked bag so you bring a suitcase on board and everyone else has to stow their actual hand luggage by their feet, limiting their own leg room and you can't book an extra leg room seat as you're pregnant.

Be those people.

😑

MsGameandWatching · 29/12/2017 13:35

Yes, be those really annoying people who take up all the overhead locker space because you are too tight to pay for a checked bag so you bring a suitcase on board and everyone else has to stow their actual hand luggage by their feet, limiting their own leg room and you can't book an extra leg room seat as you're pregnant.

Be those people.

I knew someone would moan about this. The airlines issue guidelines as to how big the carry on must be, if it’s too big it goes in the hold, if there’s too much of it, it goes in the hold. Me bringing my travel on case that is the size stipulated by the airline does not impact on you. Are you saying that this is the case on ALL planes and journies and that when people travelling for overnight or two days should bring a massive hold suitcase so that the overhead lockers and space that is actually allocates for the purpose doesn’t get too full for your liking?

Original poster
Bea · 29/12/2017 15:47

Thanks all for useful comments....

Not looking for a bunfight! BlushGrin

Happy travels all! X

OP posts:
Bombardier25966 · 29/12/2017 15:58

limiting their own leg room and you can't book an extra leg room seat as you're pregnant.

You're blaming the OP for you not having enough legroom because you're pregnant. You couldn't be more ridiculous!

@Bea, if you can take everything you need in hand luggage then go for it, even if just to wind up the random pregnant lady who wants more legroom Wink Have a great trip.

Accountant222 · 29/12/2017 17:11

No way

Nomad86 · 31/12/2017 11:06

We only ever take hand luggage apart from the buggy, and our kids are young so can't carry their own bags. For adults, we take three days worth of clothes and wash as we go. We've always done backpacking holidays so it's the only way really. We buy nappies and cheap toiletries there and wear a jacket each on the plane. Everyone thinks we're mad but it works for us. Personally I find it a faff lugging round suitcases and having a load of washing when we get home.

As for using up all the overhead space on the plane, we take less than the maximum allowance and usually end up putting them under our seats as we get on last. One backpack each plus a small changing bag.

It can be done but you have to be prepared to wear the same clothes a lot and spend a few mins washing each day.

BubblesBuddy · 01/01/2018 19:44

Hopefully I won’t be sitting next to any of you on the way home!

BubblesBuddy · 01/01/2018 19:48

Airlines are nowhere near strict enough on the size of bags carried on. Far too many look over-sized and take up too much space. I have never seen one removed and put in the hold! I do now avoid cheap airlines though. Avoids the scrum for overhead space.

MsGameandWatching · 01/01/2018 20:29

Hopefully I won’t be sitting next to any of you on the way home!

Probably not but you’ll likely be sitting next to someone else who brings on the airline stipulated size of hand luggage.

I travel frequently and quite often see the last passengers having to put hand luggage in the hold as the cabin crew have, you know, done their job and made sure that the interior is not over crowded with luggage. It also not possible to get hand luggage over the correct dimensions on the plane. You have to measure it in the multiple provided measuring frames before they’ll give you a hand luggage label for it. Too big and you have to check it in.