My question is about the baggage allowance for international travel with American Airlines.
They require their check on luggage to be 62 inches in size. (combination of the height, width and depth)
My flight is to Finland, OKC - Chicago - Paris - Helsinki and I am moving permanently to Finland. Because of that, I am taking the largest luggage allowed. My question is - I have 2 suitcases that are 62.25 inches in size, only 1/4 inch more than allowed. I figured out that it will probably be cheaper to ship my items that are in excess of the weight allowances rather than take them along and pay the $80 per piece.
Do they measure this? Will they count me as oversize for this or let it slide? Does anyone know? The luggage I have are Samsonite hard-shell suitcases.
I know this might seem like a small matter, but if anyone has any insight, please let me know!
American Airlines international baggage allowance
American Airlines international baggage allowance
Don't worry, it only feels kinky the first time....
I've never seen them actually measure my suitcases. I think they are more concerned with the weight allowance and doubt anyone could actually spot that your suitcase is .25 too big.
OKC! We were practically neighbors! I know you've been through my hometown if you've ever gone south. And what Okie hasn't gone south at least once? I grew up where the big highway splits and goes east or west toward Big D or Cowtown. I'm going to be there in less than two weeks, too! Bring me a full suitcase and I'll haul it back for you. I'm only taking three for myself and my son.
OKC! We were practically neighbors! I know you've been through my hometown if you've ever gone south. And what Okie hasn't gone south at least once? I grew up where the big highway splits and goes east or west toward Big D or Cowtown. I'm going to be there in less than two weeks, too! Bring me a full suitcase and I'll haul it back for you. I'm only taking three for myself and my son.
Thanks, my feeling is that you're right, but I wanted to check it out! That will bite if I have to pay $80 per bag over .5 inches.....Tadpole'sMommy wrote:I've never seen them actually measure my suitcases. I think they are more concerned with the weight allowance and doubt anyone could actually spot that your suitcase is .25 too big.
Lol I am NOT an Okie, but my mom is. I grew up in San Francisco, and my mom grew up here in Ponca City. I do like Texas though. I also lived in Utah , Connecticut and Louisiana, I have been around!OKC! We were practically neighbors! I know you've been through my hometown if you've ever gone south. And what Okie hasn't gone south at least once? I grew up where the big highway splits and goes east or west toward Big D or Cowtown. I'm going to be there in less than two weeks, too! Bring me a full suitcase and I'll haul it back for you. I'm only taking three for myself and my son.
I won't be able to bring a suitcase, due to lack of an extra, sharing a car with my mom, money running out... but thanks for the offer!
I hope you have a fun and safe trip!
Don't worry, it only feels kinky the first time....
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Xochiquetzal
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I've never seen a suitcase checked for size, either. I have a soft bag that's almost as long as I am and I never have any problem taking it on board. If anything, I alway ALWAYS hit the friggin' weight limit. And on clothes alone! (why did %^#%^# brother in law marry someone with 2 kids already and then have 2 more immediately? I'm going broke buying for them !)
I flew the same route and though there was no size restriction, I was told there was a weight restriction of 70 pounds total between 2 checked bags. Carry on can be a bit of a pain when you land in Paris but if you're moving you'll only have to do this once. Anything over 70lbs. would be charged the standard overage fee. Regular carry on rules apply (1 carry on, 1 personal tote) It would definately be cheaper to pay the overage fee rather than shipping your personal belongings from the US. The rates are outrageous.
Last flight I took was this past April and the rules seemed to be a bit less enforced. They won't measure your luggage but they will weigh it at check in. The gate agent I spoke to told me they usually make a slight allowance for overages as long as it's not a huge difference. It's up to the gate agent.
You may want to go back and check American's web page but I assume you've already done this. You may want to confirm the carry on info as well.
Incendially, there is no bloody air conditioning in the Paris airport and if you are connecting on Finnair to Helsinki & are not familiar with the airport itself or the ground transport, I suggest walking to the next terminal. It's only about a 10 or 15 minute walk and you won't end up in Spain by mistake
I found the people in that airport to be very helpful and they were more willing to assist me in English. (My French is restricted to"Would you like to pet my monkey")
Good Luck!
Last flight I took was this past April and the rules seemed to be a bit less enforced. They won't measure your luggage but they will weigh it at check in. The gate agent I spoke to told me they usually make a slight allowance for overages as long as it's not a huge difference. It's up to the gate agent.
You may want to go back and check American's web page but I assume you've already done this. You may want to confirm the carry on info as well.
Incendially, there is no bloody air conditioning in the Paris airport and if you are connecting on Finnair to Helsinki & are not familiar with the airport itself or the ground transport, I suggest walking to the next terminal. It's only about a 10 or 15 minute walk and you won't end up in Spain by mistake
I found the people in that airport to be very helpful and they were more willing to assist me in English. (My French is restricted to"Would you like to pet my monkey") Good Luck!
Most other airlines, both domestic in the US and international seem to have around 70 pounds per checked luggage, making a total of 140 pounds between two. As you suggested, it'd be best to check with American Airlines.TopDog wrote:I flew the same route and though there was no size restriction, I was told there was a weight restriction of 70 pounds total between 2 checked bags.
Watch that they don't get you on this over weight stuff..I flew from Helsinki to Osaka once, via Frankfurt (Lufthansa). On the way TO Japan, it was just fine. On the way back, Lufthansa's counter was manned by very anal Japanese personnel from another codeshare airline. They insisted I was like 10kg overweight and charged me 600 bucks (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
The whole thing was total naudanpaska because I did not carry more than 1-2 kilos worth of stuff back from Japan. If I hadn't stayed up all night packing the day before and been fatigued as hell I would have made a huge fuss. As it is, I quietly paid the money. I should have asked to speak to Lufthansa agents personally.
Thanks, Everyone!khu wrote:Most other airlines, both domestic in the US and international seem to have around 70 pounds per checked luggage, making a total of 140 pounds between two. As you suggested, it'd be best to check with American Airlines.TopDog wrote:I flew the same route and though there was no size restriction, I was told there was a weight restriction of 70 pounds total between 2 checked bags.
It is 70lb per check on bag, not in total. I now need to really go through my stuff, see whaty I want to take, try to narrow it down, etc.
Don't worry, it only feels kinky the first time....
Re 70lbs I'd be careful. Certainly at Heathrow the baggage handlers are forbidden to lift anything more than 32kg which is sent NOT AS CARGO or without pre arranged approval ... so even if they check your bag in the U.S. it might be left in London.. I guess the same health and safety rules in theory would be in force in the European Union.
I'd get something in writing from your airline if I was you :)
I'd get something in writing from your airline if I was you :)
Please, call me Karen.TopDog wrote:You're right Karen (if it's ok to call you Karen
I was routed Chicago, Paris to Helsinki on the 1st trip, then New York direct to Helsinki on the 2nd and there was no problem with anyone picking up my luggage though it was pretty heavy.
Last summer my ILs were visiting right before my trip to Texas. Fil kept weighing my bags and lecturing me about them being too heavy. I told him I knew what I was doing and that it wasn't a problem. He finally had to log onto the net himself and find out that there really is a different weight allowance between the US and Europe and between countries inside Europe. But if your flight originates or terminates as US/Europe, then you're allowed 70 lbs.