Top 5 Checked baggage packing tips for your flights
A friend of mine asked me today an interesting question. How many pieces of luggage can we check into our flights per person? I was struck dumb by the question which I have never thought of before. I’m a travel light advocate. I’ve never checked in more than 2 luggage before. And logically, I reckoned it is redundant to carry a few smaller bags with a limited check baggage weight allowance since even empty bag has its weight. Having said that, there are still advantages to check in more bags, when shopaholics wish to bring a few empty bags for their shopping spree, or budget travelers can save some money on baggage weight purchase by sharing weight allowance with companion on budget flights.
Anyway, it’s fun to puzzle it out. After checking through the major full fledged and budget airlines and their respective Terms and Conditions, I got the answer! Together with that, I have short listed other checked baggage packing tips below which I think is good to know and as a guideline on how to check in your baggage for a flight. Read on…
Number of pieces of luggage limited
Generally, most airlines are adopting the Weight-system, which means there would be no limitation on total pieces of luggage allowed to check in, as long as the combined weight is not exceeding what is allowed in booked seat class. For certain flights that adopt the Piece system, maximum 2 pieces of baggage per passenger is allowed. Either system, it is particularly handy for ladies on a shopping trip who needs an extra empty luggage to fill their shopping haul!
Specific items which is NOT ALLOWED in checked baggage but carry-on
Apart from the normal list of prohibited items such as flammable, explosive, live or dangerous items, spare batteries for your electronic devices are also not allowed to be checked in, but can be brought on board with you. Same with any fresh or frozen seafood, which can only be carried on board if being packed properly. Don’t ever check in fragile items. No matter how you tag it and protect it, you will regret when you see how the loading crew stack up the luggage in cargo deck of an airliner.
Specific items which is ALLOWED in checked baggage but not cabin
Besides the common list of items such as clothing, books, toiletries and other personal care items, liquid in bottles more than 100ml is allowed to be checked but not being carried into cabin. Also is your Swiss Army knife. Make sure you check in your small knives rather than carry on board, or your expensive Swiss Army knife would be detained at security check point.
Fully utilize your checked baggage allowance
Pack all those large, bulky but light stuff in your checked baggage and leave heavy but smaller items in your hand carry bags. For most airlines around (except certain budget airlines such as Ryanair where you can only carry one single item), each passenger is allowed to carry on board another hand luggage together with either a camera bag, briefcase, handbag, tablet, and also your jacket. All together 3 items in your hands. So don’t waste it. Separate your camera bag with your carry-on luggage so you can bring an additional 10Kg on board (do this only if you have burst the checked baggage weight limit)!
Drop in your luggage earlier
This is the classic tip but I need to reiterate it once again here. There are a lot of unexpected or unforeseen events that could happen during baggage check in, such as unexpectedly over weight, unnoticed prohibited items, or untagged baggage, which will delay your luggage check in or disrupt your boarding. So do it as early as you could to avoid unpleasant experience. Even that you have checked in your flight online, you still need to queue at the check in counter to drop your checked baggage, so go to the airport as early as you could.
Following these tips can save you a lot of troubles. Most of the time, problems occured on our return flights when we load up our luggage with shopping haul. If possible, borrow a weighing scale from your hotel to make sure all your checked and hand carry luggage are properly distributed and under the weight limit. Follow also my other travel tips to enhance your travel experience.
Hope you have a swift checking in experience and an enjoyable journey. Let me know also if you have encountered any other issues or have any other tips to share here by commenting this post… 🙂 – Travel Feeder
P/S: External references,
1) Airasia:Â http://www.airasia.com/my/en/about-us/terms-and-conditions-d7.page
2) MAS:Â http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/content/dam/mas/master/en/pdf/book-plan/general_conditions_of_carriage.pdf
3) Cathay Pacific:Â http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_MY/travel-information/baggage/check-in-baggage/free-baggage-allowance.html
About The Author
Cecil Lee
The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.
