The "Baggage" Issue..April 17

Issue #18…

What I’ve been able to learn about the luggage situation…

Many of you immediately emailed me to ask, “What does it mean by a medium-sized bag?”

I don’t blame you. It’s a rather ambiguous term. As our tour consultant, Kathy Bernard, said in her last email to me, the short hop from Dublin to Scotland will be with a British airline and the luggage policy may be more strict. So..(and this is solely from an Internet search)…I’ve found out the following about the two airlines that we’re most likely to use for our hop across the Irish Sea. Sorry, if it’s a lot of words, but I want you to know exactly what they say. I’ve tried my math-challenged best to translate metric into our system of measurement. Feel free to double check this English teacher. I’m quoting most of this from their websites:

RYANAIR

Each passenger is permitted to check in up to 3 bags with a maximum combined weight of 15kgs, subject to the payment of the applicable checked baggage fees. A discounted checked baggage fee is charged for each piece of checked baggage booked at the time of reservation on www.ryanair.com. If checked baggage fees are paid either at the airport or through a Ryanair call centre, the full rate will apply. (Click here for details)

No pooling or sharing of baggage allowances is permitted, even within a party travelling on the same reservation.

Any passenger exceeding their 15kg (33 pounds) personal checked baggage allowance will be charged for the excess at the applicable rate per kilo. (Click here for details)

There is no checked baggage allowance for infants. However, one fully collapsible pushchair per infant may be carried free of charge. Additional infant equipment is charged at separate fee per item. (Click here for details)

Mobility Equipment is carried free of charge.

For health and safety reasons Ryanair does not accept for carriage any individual item exceeding 32 kilos or with combined dimensions of more than 81cms (33 inches) (height), 119cms (46 iches) (width) and 119cms (46 inches) (depth). This weight limit does not apply to mobility equipment.

BRITISH MIDLAND

All passengers traveling to and from the UK are not permitted to check in any bag that weighs in excess of 32kg (70lbs). {GOOD LORD! 70 POUNDS OF UNDERWEAR AND SHOES!?)
The maximum weight limit of 32kg for any individual piece of baggage does not relate to your overall entitlement but is a safety measure to reduce injuries to baggage handling staff. Any item over 32kg (70lbs) should be referred to bmi cargo.
maximum size

Hand baggage must have a maximum length of 55cm (21 inch), width of 40cm (15 inch) and depth of 23cm (9 inch). These dimensions include wheels, handles, side pockets, etc. If your hand baggage exceeds this size, you will be asked to return to check-in and check the bag into the hold.
Checked baggage on flights to the USA and Caribbean should have maximum dimensions (length + width + height) of 158cm (62ins).

OKAY…let’s say we take United Airlines to Ireland…Here are the current United stats:

Maximum linear dimensions of all bags: 62 inches/158cm (length + width + height) each

50 pound limit per bag

Here’s Northwest Airlines:

• Northwest will accept luggage up to a maximum of 50 pounds (23 kg) and a total linear dimension of 62 inches (158 cm) per piece at no charge.
• Additional charges may apply for luggage weighing more than 50 pounds (23 kg) or with a total linear dimension of more than 62 inches (158 cm) per piece.
• For domestic and trans-Atlantic travel, the maximum weight accepted for any piece of checked luggage, including special luggage items, is 70 pounds. For trans-Pacific travel, the maximum weight accepted for any piece of checked luggage is 100 pounds. (YOU CAN TAKE HEAVIER SHOES IF YOU’RE GOING TO JAPAN?)

So…there we have it. The restrictions of Midland and Ryanair are indeed somewhat less lenient, but wholly manageable I think. Thus endeth the short and pithy tale of “What Is A Medium-Sized Bag?”

Hot news flash… You may have met her at our country club get-together. Sheila Stephens, mother of our traveler Hannah, was surprised today by receiving the Golden Apple Award for teaching. Both sets of grandparents and husband Jeff were tipped off to the surprise. So far I’ve not heard from Sheila. (Hannah would have attended but her mean old theatre teacher demanded she attend a rehearsal instead.)

Speaking of which..two of our travelers, Erich Nobis and Hannah Stephens will be appearing in the premiere of Doo-Wop at Triopia High School on April 24-26 at 7 p.m. each evening. Come and cheer them on! (The play’s author is a real doll, too.)