Please explain airlines and baggage to me?

[Fattabby]

I'm a middle aged mum with very little overseas travel experience (never holidayed abroad growing up, not travelled much as an adult). I'm actually embarrassed by how little I have travelled abroad. It's been partly lack of money, DP hasn't wanted to go, and the last few years have meant a lot of illness/disability for me, so it's not been on the cards.

Now I'm in good health, I want to go away with my two young teen DC. They are very keen to go. I'm aiming for a short stay, 4-5 nights, somewhere beachy and very touristy in Spain/Portugal etc. Just for starters, and then maybe something more adventurous later in the year. It can't be a full week, which is frustrating, due to commitments it would take too long to explain.

I'm looking at booking flights - from Bristol - and am so confused about baggage allowances, what is permitted as carry on luggage, and and scared about getting it wrong. It looks like different airlines have different rules? But I could in theory book an Easyjet flight, and we'd have legit size luggage - then book a Ryan air return, and none of it would be allowed? I also can't tell if passengers are allowed a sort of bum bag/tiny cross body bag type thing, for passports and not much else, PLUS a carry on bag, or if everything has to be in the carry on bag?

The questions I have about holidays are all so basic I am embarrassed to ask friends, who are all pretty well travelled. Does the bag have to be rigid? If it is 'squashy' will it still fit in those frame measuring things? I'll be travelling on my own with the kids. The only thing I've managed to do so far is make sure we all have up to date passports (they all have years left on them and are pristine. Passports not kids).

Any help welcome. Please be kind. I know this sounds pathetic. I have looked online at airline info but find it very confusing. They seem not to tell you anything in a simple way until you start booking it, and then everything costs extra. That's another question - do I need to book seats? we would all like to sit together, as none of us are experienced travellers. TIA

If you go on to the TUI website you can get a package deal for any number of days. Sometimes their offers are cheaper than booking separately, and they'll sort out airport transfers for you which is always a stressful part of holidays.
Id recommend looking at packages again, it make things easier and will build your confidence.

These types of bags are worth every penny for your free under-seat bag to maximise the space. VMIKIV for Ryanair Cabin Bags 40x30x20 Underseat 40x20x25 Carry On Bag for Wizz Air,Small Travel Backpack Cabin Size for Vueling Men Women,Under Seat Hand Luggage for Wizzair Airlines Weekend : Amazon.co.uk: Fashion

I would pay for 1 hold luggage 20 kg for all of you (toiletries pack in the suitcase), you pay per bag per flight.

Then a small rucksack for each person (this is included in the basic fare). If you take a small crossbody bag that can hold passports, this can be easily slipped into your rucksack if challenged. Any duty free you buy is permitted and extra to your allowance.

Note that there might be a luggage gauge where they test the size of your luggage to make sure it goes under the seat.

There are other options to pay for - booking your seats, a cabin size suitcase (under 10 kg). I normally book seats and 1 hold case (20kg) between us, If you don't book seats then the chances are you will get the middle seats apart from each other. If this doesn't bother you then don't book them.

Enjoy and don't stress.

@Fattabby I did a search on EasyJet holidays for you - putting in dates that I'd guessed at, which are in the summer holidays, for 4 nights, and 190 holidays came up - so you can definitely get a package for shorter than a week.

No idea what your budget is, but here's the link:

If you fly EasyJet, you'll find their luggage requirements on their website - if you're going in the summer, for only 4-5 nights, then it's not worth paying for hold luggage. Their requirements:

Everyone can bring one small under seat cabin bag per person on board for free.

It can be a maximum size of 45 x 36 x 20 cm (including any handles and wheels) and must be kept under the seat in front of you. Your bag can weigh up to 15kg, but we do ask that you’re able to lift and carry it yourself.

Usually if you're carrying a handbag that should fit inside the bag as well, so something to be careful of - although this isn't always enforced.

Liquids should be in a clear plastic bag and no more than 100ml.

Hope this helps!

Can I just say a big thank you all for responding so promptly. TBH it's the middle of the day, I'm on my own and was just panicking. I think trying to sort out the absolute basics when there's so much 'moneysaver' style detail out there about travellers' tips and what not to do etc just set my head whirling. I don't want to let my kids down. I'm quite capable of dealing with small hiccups and day to day, I'm the one who keeps the ship afloat etc. I'm just way out of my comfort zone and scared of getting things wrong. I am keen (I know I don't sound it!) to go to new places. I had a major operation last year, which has really improved my mobility and health in general, and I want to make the most of it now.

Agree with this. I’m a medium-experienced flyer and have never flown with Ryanair, mainly because it sounds pointlessly complicated and almost designed to trick people. There are stories all the time about people ending up paying more on the day for having misunderstood some complicated rule.

I only fly with either local airlines to the country I’m going to, or BA. You get hold luggage per person up to 23kg I think (mine is never that heavy) and I just bring my handbag on the plane.

Definitely this - TUI offer lots of short breaks, maybe have another look? The same with Jet2. A package with either of them would be quite straightforward.

But I'm a frequent traveller and I always take suitcase to be checked into the hold. Life is too short to cram everything into a cabin bag. I agree that Ryanair probably isn't the best choice for a newbie (although their website does make it very clear what's included and what isn't, including weights and dimensions) but I flew with Ryanair in September and they only charged me £14.99 extra to check in a suit case.

I would recommend Jet2, if they are an option, we have flown with them quite a few times and they have sensible baggage rules (we travel with golf clubs so I’m not sure what normal people are allowed 🙂 but I think they include a free hold bag).

I think the idea of a package is good and often cheaper than booking separate components such as transfers. I’ve used Jet2 and Onthebeach to book holidays of 5 nights before and BA is reasonable for city breaks.

Lots of good advice already. In general with the budget airlines you'll have to pay for everything separately, as you go a bit more higher end more will be included. Personally I almost always go for hold baggage for more than a couple of days, makes liquids easier and I've booked a cabin sized bag before only to find it still had to be checked.
I'd add to previous advice that if you buy a bag that claims to be compliant for a certain airline then measure it yourself, the companies are not always right and airline rules do change. Size of hold baggage generally doesn't matter, weight does and will be dictated by the airline (I've had anywhere between 15-35kg, so quite a range), for cabin baggage both size and weight matter.
If you go down the route of needing to book a transfer then I've used Hoppa on a number of occasions, always successfully, but have found it's not quite as straight forward as transfers included in packages and sometimes they expect you to be more flexible on pickup times leading to longer airport waits.
Good luck with your trip(s)!

You won’t need 2 x cabin bags and a hold bag for 3 of you for 5 days. When 3 of us went to Paris for 4 nights, DH and DSS took a backpack each and I took my mini suitcase (which counts as free underseat luggage) I always take a crossbody bag too with passports, phone, and medication. I wear it under my hoodie because Ryanair in particular can be really strict and try and make you put it into your luggage. If you’ve only got the free underseat luggage then that could be tough. Clothes with big pockets work just as well!!

At online check in Jet2 sat one person apart so I just paid to move that seat so the 4 of us are sitting in pairs and all at the front or back.

jet2 holidays offer shorter holidays than a week and for our destination included the hold luggage and cabin bags. EasyJet (flights only) included free priority boarding with cabin bags in the overhead lockers.

Just a word of warning about BA - the last few times I've flown with them, I've received an email a few days before departure, asking if I would prefer to check my hand luggage into the hold. I gather this is now a routine request when a BA flight is quite full. The thought of this really stresses me out - imagine losing medication and valuables etc if the bag went astray. So I would never offer to do this. But at the departure gate, BA were asking anyone with a small pull-along case as hand-luggage to put it into the hold. Thankfully I had a hold-all, so I was ok. But its worth bearing this in mind if, like me, you really want to keep hold of your hand luggage.

Tip - I read some interesting advice about this on a travel forum: if the departure gate staff really do insist you part with your hand luggage, they attach a special tag to it, and when you board the aircraft, that's when the bag gets taken off you. However, while you're walking down the tunnel towards the plane, simply tear off the special tag, and your bag is no longer identified as needing to go in the hold.

@SpainToday

I've received an email a few days before departure, asking if I would prefer to check my hand luggage into the hold. I gather this is now a routine request when a BA flight is quite full.

That has béen almost standard with them for a few years now.

I used to use BA a lot with handbaggage only (sized to be compliant with their 2 bag allowance) - I'd have essentials (paperwork iPad etc ) in a small under seat size bag which I would retain and then if the wheeled bag got snagged for hold carriage by gate or jetty staff it was a PITA but not the end of the world.

They do all have their own rules. RyanAir, I think is the smallest, definitely smaller than EasyJet.

If you want the larger cabin bags, it can work out cheaper to book priority boarding, which includes the bag, than to just pay the bags. That way you get to board first (to ensure room in the overhead locker) and choose your seats.

I find I can go for a long weekend on Easyjet with just the underseat bag, especially if travelling somewhere warm. RyanAir, possibly not, depending on destination and what we'll be doing once there.

Fwiw, DH and I sometimes book only one extra bag between us, which helps keeps costs down.

For shorthaul I don't book seats and we rarely sit together. If that's important to you, you need to book.

This is one of the reasons I now try to avoid BA. I don't understand why other airlines can accommodate their own specified hand luggage limits, but BA can't?

Fair enough, I've got the option where I go these days of them and EZE and TBH I still reckon BA usually win when it comes to baggage allowance...

Outside of a package, Jet2 will always give you 10 kg of luggage in a small wheely plus another small bag - but they tend to be more expensive. You can also pay extra for 22
kg checked luggage.

Ryanair - basic flight just gives you a rucksack or similar squashy bag to go under your seat. You can’t take a separate bag with this, although very small bag to pop in your purse, phone, passport can be hidden under your coat or you can allow space to pop into your rucksack . There are additional charges for either (a) a small wheely for onboard which also gives you priority boarding (different to fast track security), or (b) you can pay for 20 kg case checked luggage . I believe EasyJet is similar.

its really important though that you do check your luggage against the published sizes given by each airline. You can fly out and back with different airlines if you want to but you’ll need to ensure your luggage is compliant with both.

We always pay for seats as I like to sit near the front, but I know a lot of people don’t bother.

im guessing that not all airlines fly out of Bristol ?

I travel a lot. Would recommend for the 3 of you -

3 x- normal size bag each for carry on (backpack type + squashy) - put medication /chargers/ entertainment/change of clothes in here and any small "essential" toiletries under 100ml. Different airports now have different liquids rules, some you have to fit it all into small a plastic baggy (provided at airport) others you can leave all your liquids in your bag to go through security (still have to be under 100ml though!)

1x hold luggage for overspill - your teens might want to take an extra pair of shoes/ more clothing options / a coat if its not going to be warm. You can also put full size toiletries into these. I'd usually say having a hold bag wouldn't be necessary but to save your own stress on your first trip its probs worth it! Plus you can always bring a few keepsakes home with you if you want!

You can also take a small handbag for ease of locating passports/money as long as you can fit it inside one of your main carry on bags if asked to.

Why don’t you book a package holiday to make it easier, I’ve just booked a package with EasyJet to Greece and it comes with an underseat bag, hold case and transfers.
If that’s not for you then as others have said your luggage has to fit within the airline’s guidelines for size. I went to Spain last year and flew with Ryanair, annoyingly there large cabin bag requirements are 5cm smaller than EasyJet and British Airways.
Most airlines give you one free bag that must fit under the seat in front of you..So handbag size.
This is where you’d probably keep your phone/money/earphones/pass port ect.
You then have to pay separately for either a hold suitcase (that goes under the plane)
Or a large cabin suitcase that stays with you and goes in an overhead locker above your seat.
You normally have to pay to sit next to each other on the plane too, I just booked a flight with EasyJet to Tenerife and the seat allocation was £6pp, more if you want extra leg room.

If you book with TUI on TUI flights you will get clear luggage rules, transfers the other end etc. they also offer extra reassurance being packaged holidays are bonded meaning if there are delays on your return flight eg a storm, Icelandic volcano etc they will provide accommodation until you can get a flight/transport home. Do get insurance as well, it’s cheaper to book it separately generally and do list every medical issue including minor things you have visited the gp for

Yes, as panda368 said, great advice. The airlines will quibble if you go overweight on your checked luggage, so get on the scales at home and weigh yourself and then weigh yourself holding the luggage, to guage the weight of your luggage. We have got away with 500g over our paid allowance, but if it's a full kilo they charge you excess baggage. We buy 20kg allowance for all of us, others will take more, but whatever you choose, if your bag is close to whatever allowance you paid for on the way out, be mindful of the weight on the way back, i.e don't buy too much. If you have 20/25l rucksack each for the cabin, no airline will quibble that as hand luggage. I always have a tiny cross body bag for passports as well as the rucksack, no airline has ever quibbled since like 2007 but I guess it's not an impossibility. We always take our reusable water bottles, take them empty to the airport and refill at the water fountains once through security.

Another comment about cabin baggage - choose the lightest appropriate size bag (eg fabric hold-all). Most suitcases are heavy, and if you’ve only got 10kg, you don’t want 10/15% of that to be taken up by the actual case. A fabric hold-all a bit larger than the permitted size, will squash down as long as it’s not quite full.

@Spaghettion
@gototogo

OP has said she is unable to book a package because they aren’t being offered for under one week. I assume this is because she is flying from Bristol and that there are fewer flights from there than other airports where this would be possible. And sometimes even when a company like Tui offers a package for less than a week, they use other airlines so you still have the issue of having to add your luggage or book seats separately if you want this. I think Jet2 only use their own planes but I’m guessing they only have weekly flights out of Bristol to OP’s preferred destination.