Travel to the airport with hand baggage only if you want to minimise terminal stress and avoid the new hold luggage fees, says Nick Trend.
Dont let lost luggage ruin your holiday
How can you minimise the misery of airport queues and disappearing luggage this summer? The most effective strategy is to travel light. If you can pack so ruthlessly that you carry only hand baggage, you will not only avoid the increasing risk of losing your luggage but you might also save money.
On the News page, we report that this week EasyJet became the latest no-frills airline to announce that it is to start charging for hold baggage.
Travellers with hand baggage only who check in online (which you can now do on most scheduled airlines) will avoid delays at check-in desks and have to queue only at the security gate.
But how realistic is it to travel in this way? It depends obviously on how much you have to pack, but also on the airline you are flying with.
This summer, airports are strictly enforcing the latest Department for Transport security rules. You can only carry one item of cabin baggage through security - any additional handbag or laptop must be able to fit into the cabin bag. The complication for travellers is that while the DfT sets a maximum size for this bag of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, airlines are free to specify smaller dimensions, and many do.
In fact, of the dozen British airlines I surveyed, only three stuck to the full size limits: British Airways, Excel and Monarch. Of these, only British Airways did not specify a weight limit; Excel set a 5kg limit, and Monarch was more generous at 10kg on its scheduled flights (5kg on charters).
The meanest was First Choice, with a size limit of 45cm x 35cm x 20cm and a weight of 5kg.
Remember, though, that if you do travel with hand luggage only, you have no way around the restrictions on what you can carry. So it's even more important to make sure you know the current rules. You will only be able to take liquids, gels and aerosols in individual containers of 100ml, and all containers must fit comfortably in one, transparent, re-sealable bag no larger than 20cm x 20cm (eg, a freezer bag).
You won't be able to carry sharp objects such as penknives or scissors. For full details, see www.dft.gov.uk. To help you pack this summer, my colleague Charles Starmer-Smith has selected five of the best in-flight bags and given their dimensions (right). Below, I have listed details of major airlines' hand-baggage restrictions.
Hand-baggage restrictions
These are restrictions for economy-class ticket-holders, as specified on the airlines' websites. Some airlines do not give a weight limit, but the catch-all requirement is that you must be able to lift the bag safely into an overhead locker. Be sure to include any protruding wheels, handles, side pockets etc when measuring the bag.
BMIbaby (0871 224 0224, www.bmibaby.com). Size: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com). Size: 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (some airlines operating franchises for BA, such as Loganair, have different limits; see website).
EasyJet (0905 821 0905, calls cost 65p per minute; www.easyjet.com). Size: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
Exel Airways (0870 320 7777, www.xl.com). Size: 56cm x 45cm x 25cm; weight: 5kg.
First Choice Airways (0870 850 3999, www.firstchoice.co.uk). Size: 45cm x 35cm x 20cm; weight: 5kg.
Flybe (0871 700 0535, www.flybe.com). Size: 50cm x 35cm x 23cm; weight: 10kg.
Monarch Airlines (08700 405040, www.flymonarch.com). Size: 56cm x 45cm x 25cm; weight: 10kg (but 5kg for charter flights sold through a tour operator).
MyTravel (0870 241 5333, www.mytravel.com). Size: 45cm x 35cm x 20cm.
Ryanair (0871 246 0000, www.ryanair.com). Size: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm; weight: 10kg.
Thomas Cook (www.flythomascook.com). Size: 43cm x 28cm x 23cm; weight: 5kg.
Thomsonfly (0870 1900 737, www.thomsonfly.com). Size: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm; weight: 10kg.
Virgin (0870 380 2007, www.virgin-atlantic.com). Size: 56cm x 36cm x 23cm; weight: 6kg.
If you have to check in luggage
Put full details of your home address and itinerary inside the bag so that if the labels are ripped off, your bag can still be identified.
Pack some essentials such as a change of clothes in hand baggage
Make sure your travel insurance includes adequate cover for the contents of your bags.
If your luggage does not arrive, be sure to report the fact and fill out the necessary forms before leaving the airport.
Hand luggage
Reviews by Charles Starmer-Smith.
Mandarina duck ISI
Price: £130
Size: 55cm x 20cm
This lightweight backpack, which doubles as a wheeled case, fits within the most miserly hand luggage restrictions. With resinbonded fabric, it is also durable. Selfridges (0870 8377 377).
Rimowa Bolero
Price: £290
Size: 54 x 38.3 x 19.5cm
A piece of German precision engineering, this polycarbonite trolley is teak-tough and comes with zippered exterior pockets for your laptop and other accessories (www.rimowa.de)
Antler Bond Street
Price: £125
Size: 47cm x 34cm x 20xm
This pinstripe lightweight trolley runs particularly smoothly. Made from denier woven twill fabric, it has TSA-approved locks and comes with a seve-year guarantee (www.antler.com)
Delsey Morphos
Price: £299
Size: 53cm x 37cm x 25cm
With twin compartments and racing-style wheels, this cabin trolley from Delsey's prestige collection looks good and fits within all but the most strict guidelines. (www.desley.com).
Samsonite Xlite
Price: £329
Size: 50cm x 35cm x 20cm
Using a combination of composite panels and cowhide leather, Samsonite claims this range is its strongest and lightest yet. (www.samsonite.com)
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk
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