Stupid question about long haul, layover & luggage

[PretABoire]

I'm due to go on holiday this weekend, long haul flight with a 5 hour layover in Beijing. I realised earlier this week that their hand luggage restrictions are ridiculous (5kg) and as my backpack weighs 3kg when empty, I'm going to have to check it in.

I have never flown with more than hand luggage before! So how does it work with a layover - I assume I will need to collect it at baggage reclaim and then check it again for the next flight? Will this cost me double, as in will I have to pay in the UK and then pay again in Beijing?

Actually do I need to check in again after the layover and get a new boarding pass? I've never done one of those either!! I've always checked in online before, but we're flying with AirChina (all journeys) and their website doesn't want to work for me.

When you first check in you’ll get boarding passes for all your flights and they’ll check your luggage straight through to Beijing.

Google Air China hand luggage to find some experiences - I’ve never had mine weighed.

Sorry, meant that your luggage will be checked through to your final destination so you don’t need to collect it in Beijing.

Thanks so much!! I've found their website and customer service to be pretty useless so far

I have read that they don't often weigh bags, but due to a bad back ANYTHING I lift looks like it weighs a tonne (lots of groaning and back holding) so there's no way I could casually swish past security pretending it's light as a feather Apparently they also weigh bags at the gate and I'm worried about what would happen if they did catch me out!

It depends. Sometimes your bag will be checked through to your final destination. Other times you have to collect your back and drop it off again. It depends on the countries and airlines involved. You can ask when you drop your bag at the airport what will happen.

Ask at check in if they can check your bag to its final destination. If they can, do it! Then you can collect all your boarding cards at the first airport, and forget about your bag til final destination. They will tell you if they cant do it.

Some airports in the US (I'm looking at you, Philadelphia and Orlando) make you collect your luggage and recheck them. You shouldn't pay extra though, just cart them over to the next desk. Most airports make sure your luggage goes to your final destination. Best thing is to check with your airline to see if you need to recheck your bags. The length of time in Beijing won't make a difference.

Air China will check your bag through to your final destination so you won't have to collect it and re-check it in Beijing.

Just check your bag in. It isn't worth the worry about being overweight.

Be aware that Chinese passengers tend to have a different view of safety / flight etiquette to Western passengers. They like to sit near the front of the plane so try and reserve a seat near the back of the plane as there's more chance of getting an empty seat next to you or even a row on your own. They also tend to ignore seatbelt-on signs and will happily wander off to the loo whenever they want and when the plane is landing, will start taking their bags from the overhead lockers before the wheels touch the tarmac. Pushing / barging people is quite acceptable. If anyone pushes you, just push back. And definitely don't apologise. . I used to live in China and I quite miss the Chinese flight 'etiquette'. It was quite a culture shock when I first moved back to the UK and airline staff got cross if passengers didn't do as they were told.

Is your final destination another city in China? If it is, you need to clear immigration in Beijing and collect your luggage before transfer to a domestic flight.

Can you buy a cheaper lighter rucksack? Or use a tote bag as hand luggage?
There is stuff I would want on the plane, like a book, somewhere to put my passport etc.

You'll have to go back through security when you change flights so don't buy duty free booze as you won't be able to take it through.