Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with baggage

Would you recommend the Virgin Excess Baggage service?

gfrobe — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:02:45 -0800

Has anyone used the Virgin Atlantic Excess Baggage service to send unaccompanied baggage overseas? Seems like a good deal compared with standard freight forwarding but wondering if I'm missing something. I'm moving from UK to US next month and wondering about the best way to ship my stuff. The Virgin Excess Baggage service works out to about £4 per kilo for the first 35 kilo and then drops to roughly £2.50 per kilo after that. Virgin reps tell me that I just bring my stuff to the airport, they weigh it there, ship it and they then provide 4 free days of storage at the destination. Dimensions don't really matter although they said if I was bringing something large (like a sofa, which I'm not), then I should just call ahead to make sure there's room. I'd be responsible for clearing my stuff on the US side but Virgin tells me this is quite simple.

I've searched the board and companies like SevenSeas Worldwide are recommended but the prices seem roughly comparable; however, I'll have to wait 52 days for my stuff using that service. Also, their price quotes are based on weight as well as dimensions so it seems like I could end up paying more for light but bulky items (like guitars).

So, has anyone used the Virgin service and if you have, do you recommend it?

Need luggage delivered from France to UK!

FuckingAwesome — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:40:45 -0800

I have accidentally left some luggage at a hotel in France and need it delivered to the UK as soon as possible. All of the courier services I have been in touch with seem not to deal with personal effects. Any recommendations would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

To check or to not check, that is my question.

Windigo — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:27:22 -0800

American flying from Prague into London Stansted airport on Easyjet. I then have 2.5 hours to catch a flight on Ryanair to Glasgow. Will I have enough time to check my luggage, or will I have to do carry-on? I can do carry-on if needed, but I would much prefer to check my luggage if I can (no worries about weight/liquids/dimensions). Is 2.5 hours cutting it too close? I have never flown into London Stansted, nor have I needed to connect to a different carrier. So I've no idea about the time needed to gather my baggage, and then make it back through check-in and security to my gate. Anyone have any sense if this is totally doable, or totally risky? Thank you!

Do I break up with my (much older) boyfriend?

pintapicasso — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:21:39 -0800

Dead ex, fifteen year age difference, with jazzy tunes in the background.. help? (aka- do I dump my boyfriend?) I really appreciate some input on this. I need a perspective that is outside of the relationship.
Since last January I have been dating a guy on again and off again. I am 22 and he is 37. He is not a conventional 37 year old by any means - he is a (locally) well-known Jazz musician by trade, very flaky, and disorganized. He works odd jobs to make money but the driving force in his life is music. He is a loner by nature... he has a few friends, through music, but in his spare time he either hangs out alone or with me. The age difference hasn't been a huge problem because I, being 22, work odd jobs and am a bit loopy myself.
he came with a lot of baggage... his best friend and ex of eight years died unexpectedly a bit less than a year before we met and started dating. She was actually seriously dating someone else the entire time they were together.

We weren't friends first. We met, hit it off, hooked up, and kept up the routine. This is my first relationship and I really love him. He is my best friend and we have a blast together. (also the sex is great). It's wonderful to be so comfortable with someone. I think a lot of my euphoria may have to do with being in love with the relationship itself, as it's the first time I have experienced this.

Here's the problem (*dun dun dun*): One of the first few times we talked, he said that he felt "emotionally numb" after his friend died; as though he didn't feel like he would be able to have a connection like that again with someone. He said he didn't think he could date anyone for awhile, but after awhile we got together anyway. And now, over a year later, I feel like he is emotionally closed off. I was reading some poems of his in his journal (with his permission) and came across a letter he wrote to her. He was so passionate in his words, and he has never been that way with me, not to that extent ever. With me it's more playful, superficial and silly.

We also have different expectations of the time we spend together. Right now we have been spending more time together, after an off phase, and we see each other about two or three times a week. I would love to see him every other day, and at least talk to him once a day. He could go days without seeing me or talking to me (note - he saw his ex once a week at most, once every few weeks normally). He is incredibly sweet and happy to see me when we do get together, but I feel like I'm not a big part of his life.

The combination of these two things, plus all the baggage ("i'm not as independent/artistic/cool as his ex) make me really insecure. We talk about this, and I often express that I'm sad and want to see him more. And if not, I want more affirmation that I am important to him. He says that he is busy and that he just isn't up for being social, or wants to relax alone. This is the reason we (always me) decide to stop hanging out, because I am unhappy with the amount of time we spend together and I'm left wanting more. He says that he realizes the positive impact it has on me when he is open and assertive of our relationship (by calling me when he's sick, saying "I love you" bringing me flowers), but that sometimes it just feels "wrong" to be this way. (The time we spend together is always, always positive. Us expressing our appreciation for each other, being smiley, etc.. And, he never gets annoyed when I tell him I want to see him more, or when I do call him more. He just is sad that I am not always happy, and he always comes to see me in those moments.)

But we always wind up hanging out again and I have tried to cut off contact, but we always touch base after a week or so, get together, and have an awesome time. I don't know what to do. Am I a crazy punch-drunk 22 year old who needs to wake up and realize he's not going to come around? That's what my friends say but I just keep going back and they get mad. But I don't complain to them, and I keep this relationship pretty private.

We are on the upswing and I know the cycle is going to repeat itself unless I do something. To be honest, I want to know: is there even a CHANCE that he will change? and if not - and this is the main question - how do I cut this out?

(and yes, I've been casually dating other people but I just don't feel the same way about any of them).

Where can we store our bagging in Honolulu for 12 hours before our flight home?

Nelsormensch — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:08:36 -0800

Returning from Hawaiian honeymoon on the Big Island. We're flying out of Honolulu, but we're on Oahu for about 12 hours before the flight back home. Airline only allows baggage check in 4 hours before departure. Is there anywhere we can safely store our baggage so we don't have to lug it around all day? Honeymoon in Hawaii in August. Spending most of the time on the Big Island, but we're flying back to Vancouver out of Honolulu.

Air Canada only has one flight back to Vancouver per day and it's at 11 PM at night. Their website says baggage check in can only be 4 hours before departure.

Our inter-island flight gets into Honolulu about noon. We'd like to go around Honolulu, but don't want to lug our bags around while doing so. Since we are not staying on Oahu, we don't have a hotel we can leave our bags with. Safety of our bags is pretty important.

Any ideas where we can safely leave our stuff? We travel relatively light, but it's still more than we'd like to carry around all day if we could.

How can I book a sane vacation?

mhz — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:41:25 -0800

What's the safest/best way to book airline tickets? Hey…

I'm planning on flying from New York to Melbourne. I don't have a credit card. What is the best way to make sure my trip is hassle-free?

I've flown many times in the past and have never had a problem with lost baggage. But I figure I'll get screwed sometime, and with the multiple connections (and chances for things to go wrong) I'm seriously debating the extra $60 or so that the booking website charges for insurance. So as far as insurance is concerned:

- Is it worth it?

- What do these things usually cover? I'm landing in Australia a day before my friend's wedding – what exactly happens if Gaffubid my stuff gets lost?

- Is it possible to get a third-party insurer after booking my tickets, with a better cost/benefit ratio? If yes, please provide a link.

- Is there a credit card that helps? I vaguely recall something about AmEx guaranteeing something – does it only work for the cardholder? How about someone in the cardholder's household? How about a companion? If so, does the companion ticket need to have been bought together? Are there any other credit cards that would offer this?

- I'm going to start and end in Melbourne, but I will be in Sydney and possibly other cities as well. Is there a better traveler's insurance which will cover all flights and incidentals during my trip?

slightly offtopic
- I will probably be flying Virgin Blue (MEL-SYD-MEL), and I can't seem to figure out from their website if there's a 1 bag limit (using the super cheap fares) or not. I know there's an $8 charge – I just don't know if I can take two bags.

I've flown between the US and Australia multiple times, so I think I've got everything covered, but if there's anything else that may help…

If it helps at all as far as getting insurance things are concerned, I'm 22, male, US and Australian citizen.

Thank you very much

Tightly wound ball of neuroses

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:58:19 -0800

I'm in a great relationship but afraid of messing things up. Help me stop being silly! I've been seeing this great guy for several months. Things between us are postive and fun in a way I've never experienced with anyone. Before that, my most recent relationship was a six year long-distance arrangement. That ended last year when I faced up to the extent to which my boyfriend had been lying to and cheating on me, and from my entirely layperson viewpoint, passive aggressively manipulating me. I took some time to cool down, be decidedly single, and like the cliche goes when I was least expecting it met someone amazing.

What I've noticed though is that sometimes I respond to something the new guy's said or done in the way I would have with my ex. He'll say something that reminds me of an argument trigger then I get upset and withdraw. For instance, one night we were at a club with my friends until very late. When we left he said he was hungry and disappointed most places were closed already. Now, with the last one, this would actually have been a veiled accusation that it was somehow my fault, because we were out with my friends, because we didn't leave sooner to feed him, and then it would have turned into an argument that usually ended up with me having to say that everything that went wrong in the relationship was my fault. Silly, right? But the new guy explained he was thinking out loud and not blaming me at all. Luckily so far he's been great about getting me to talk things through, and it always turns out I've misconstrued the situation and read in meanings that would have been there with my ex but aren't there with him. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Cool. I'm starting to get that.

I'm thankful he does that because it's a way of thinking I don't need to carry forward. So far, we're dealing with it. But how do I stop this pattern once and for all? I know everyone has their baggage, and he has a past too, but I want to learn from the experience, not be paranoid and neurotic and risk driving him away.

Traveling Light

netbros — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:59:22 -0800

When packing for two seasons, how can I avoid airline baggage fees on size and weight? In a few weeks, I am flying (Delta Airlines) to an area that will have chilly autumn mornings followed by very warm desert afternoons. As a result, I will have different clothing requirements depending upon time of day. I will be packing for two seasons. The trip duration is six days and I will have no access to laundry facilities. To avoid extra airline baggage fees, I want to keep size and weight to a minimum.

What are your suggestions for what I should take and what I should leave at home, as well as any useful packing techniques? Thanks as always for your assistance.

How much worse is the carry-on baggage situation getting?

Kat Allison — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:39:01 -0800

Question for frequent flyers: have airlines' new pay-to-check-a-bag policies significantly affected how much baggage passengers are trying to carry on board? To the point where it's gone from just aggravating to completely !%@#!*#@ impossible? I have to fly in a couple of weeks (SEA-ORD), and I'm booked on American, which now charges $15 for every checked bag.

In the past I've always travelled very light and packed everything in a modest-sized carry-on. However, my expectation is that the new baggage fee will lead people to act even more egregiously than before with regard to carry-ons, and that I would be competing with teeming hordes trying to jam steamer trunks into the overhead bins. Hence, I'd been thinking, "Oh, the hell with it, I'll just pay the fee, check the bag, and reduce my aggravation" (which is, of course, making the large assumption that the airline doesn't lose it).

But I was wondering if there's actually been a significant, discernable increase in the amount of carry-on luggage on those airlines that charge the checking fee. Those of you who fly often -- have you seen a change? Do you think ponying up the $15 and checking the bag would lead to any appreciable decrease in hassle?

Real-Time Airplane Travel Problem

lockedroomguy — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:15:26 -0800

Help my wife! She's stuck in Philadelphia airport. Can't get her connecting flight until 1:00 at the earliest. Will US Airways let her ditch the connection and ship her bags home? This is happening to my wife right now. She just called from the airport. She started in New Bern, NC, and flew to Philadelphia as the first leg of her trip to New York's LaGuardia. They cancelled her original flight to New York, and rebooked her on the 1:00 EST flight. Rain is forecast all day in both cities.

I've recommended she try to get her bags back, and get on the train to NYC. Will US Airways let her do that? What are her options for getting her bags shipped to her? Today we are immediately leaving by car for a vacation, so we can't go somewhere to pick the bags up this week, but there are places (not our home address) where we could safely have them delivered.

At this time she doesn't know where her bags are, but it seems likely they're in the airport's baggage system, and not in the plane, since the flight isn't scheduled until 1:00. She's going to ask US Airways all this of course, but I thought I would check for any tips, tricks, or strategies.

She's calling me back in 30 minutes for advice.

London+England trasportantion, baggage shipping and hotel chains

elpapacito — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:09:47 -0800

London+England transportation/extra baggage shipping / hotel chains questions. A minor question about Scotland as well. Hi there. After looking at previous posts tagged london+travel, I'd like to ask the following questions:

- Hotels: I am used to book Ibis/Mercure (Accor Chain) alike rooms, which are often spartan , but clean, with air conditioning + tv and the occasional in-room wifi and broadband, which are a good bonus.

http://www.premiertravelinn.com/ and http://www.travelodge.co.uk/ were both recommended in a previous thread, and I get the impression they both are of very standardized, tiny, corporate just-to-sleep in chains. I'd like to know wheter my impression is correct or not OR if you know of any similar, no-frills no unpleasant surprises chains in London (even better if present all over England)

- The tube relative to tourism attractions: It seems to me that most of the attractions in London are quite concentrated in the center, which is Tube's Zone1 or 2 at worst, except for Kew, Greenwich and Windsdor. I was wondering wheter a locally bought Oyster card + Pay-As-I-Go (which I assume can be bought by non-nationals as well) could be more convenient than a x days Travel Card (which I also supposes is routinely contained in a Oyster)

- Excess baggage shipment: I have noticed that Royal Mail doesn't seem to be shipping packages internationally (to europe) whose weight is greater then 2 Kg. That's quite inconvenient as I will
prob have to ship books and other goods, but airplane extra weight fare is out of question. I'd like to know if there is any less expensive (in comparison with Fedex ad UPS) and reliable shipping company that can organize a pick-up of a +-30 Kg baggage/package or have a drop off location
in central london.

- Transportation: So far I have tried http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ site to figure out expenses and timetable, but I have also learned about https://www.nationalexpress.com/ buses which seem to be even less expensive. While I try contacting them, I'd like to know if their bus service is, in your experience, usually on-time and reasonably clean. Also information about better bus/train services
and sites would be appreciated.

- Scotland, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Damn, why is so damn expensive in august? Additionally, where's the best nearby location to get the highlander/trainspotting alike highland experience and what else is noteworthy
in Scotland (no lockness thanks) , except Edin of course.

Thanks for your time!

Can I bring a Leatherman on an Amtrak?

box — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:44:12 -0800

Will I be able to take a pocketknife/Leatherman-style pocket tool on an Amtrak train, or will it be considered a weapon?

To check or not to check?

indyz — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:29:50 -0800

Will Southwest Airlines count my messenger bag as a "personal type item" or as another carry-on item? I'm flying Southwest from Chicago to Phoenix for three days early next month. Southwest allows one bag up to 10x16x24 inches as well as one "personal-type item" which includes "purses, briefcases, cameras, food containers, or laptops (case included)". I am going to be packing my clothes in a small rolling suitcase, which easily fits the carry-on size limits. I also usually carry a messenger bag with my laptop, MP3 player, camera, and a couple of books. It is one of the medium messenger sized bags, about the size of a briefcase, and smaller than many backpack-type laptop cases.

Will I be able claim the suitcase as a carry-on item and the messenger bag as my personal item? Or will I be forced to check the suitcase? I know that it might come down to a particular screener or gate agent making an on-the-spot decision, but has anybody had any recent experience with a situation like this, especially with Southwest?

International excess baggage-->Cash?

anonymoose — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 03:20:08 -0800

Is there any way to make some money with my excess baggage allowance on my routine international flights? I fly LAX-VIE and back about 4 times a year. I have ~100-150 lbs baggage allowance each way. Is there any way to turn that into cash? (Particularly the VIE-LAX leg, since I really don't take home much stuff)

Lost bags

Mossy — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 14:28:46 -0800

Expensive lost baggage and multiple travel insurance policies. Having returned from a trip to Houston on Friday, our largest suitcase containing the big ticket items ($2000 coat, $500 suits etc) that we received for our wedding didn't make it. I have my Amex platinum insurance (£2000, £500 per item max) as well as a work policy that covers personal travel (£1500, £300 per item max). Is it allowed to claim from both policies? In addition, should I also claim from the airline? Has anyone been successful in doing this? Experiences welcome.

Help my baby not get broke! Delicate musical instrument as airline baggage.

allterrainbrain — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:46:42 -0800

The great musical-instrument-on-plane paradox. How do you prepare (what case[s] do you buy and what strategies do you develop) when you need to travel on many different kinds/scales of airlines, with a delicate wooden instrument that MAY or MAY NOT be allowed as carry-on baggage (depending on circumstance, how full the plane is, and how much or little the inspectors care that it looks large, solid and "middle eastern")? I've found a huge range of conflicting advice about transporting what I'll call "gray-area" instruments by plane (i.e., instruments that can *sometimes* be carry-on, if you're lucky and friendly/convincing, because they exceed carry-on size in length but not in perceived 'bulk' -- examples would be electric guitars, saxophones, or small dulcimers).

My instrument is a santur, which is like a delicate hammered dulcimer, but mine has the added funtime bonus of "looking middle eastern" based on the shapes used in its decorations (although I look white-young-female and am a U.S. citizen, so I don't imagine that will be an issue as long as I'm next to it). It's very tightly strung so changes in temperature and pressure are not good for it (I'm also getting conflicting info re. baggage). In other words, I REALLY want to carry it on if at all possible. It's 36 inches long, 4" tall including its strings, 14" wide, and about 10 lbs.

Mailing it is not an option because I'll be taking it on many flights of many kinds/scales -- sometimes performing with it in different places in rapid succession. Buying it a seat is almost never an option since these are mostly self-funded & mostly very-low-budget travels.

The basic catch-22: because you can't count on being allowed to carry on, you have to be prepared to check -- but being prepared with a rectangular ATA/flight case makes it basically impossible that you'll be able to carry on (since the case is too big and heavy), and being prepared with anything less makes it very possible that you'll have instrument damage (since non-ATA cases are routinely damaged when checked as baggage... although MUCH less often if you gate check).

The most-recommended solution I've found so far would be ordering a fitted internal-fiberglass case from Colorado Cases. I would try to touch one of these before ordering one, since they're a BIG investment on my scale.

Opinions (especially about Colorado Cases??) or experiences? Thanks very much for any input!

Olives on a plane?

aws17576 — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:55:57 -0800

Will US airlines accept fresh produce -- say, 30 pounds of olives -- inside checked baggage on a domestic, inter-state flight? I want to pick the olives while I'm home for the holidays in California, then take them back to Michigan so I can cure them. Are there any relevant regulations? If not, is the sheer weirdness of my cargo likely to trigger delays and scrutiny, or are inspectors prepared for far stranger?

How to overcome defenses and lose the emotional baggage?

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 06:56:35 -0800

How to overcome defenses and lose the emotional baggage? I had a screwy childhood (not quite Running with Scissors, but not that far off either). Consequently, I'm a deeply sensitive person and I think I've got overdeveloped emotional defenses.

It's not so much that I act defensive and mean and angry to others; it's more that my expectations for other people, especially men (I'm a woman) are usually low. So when I'm dating someone I might tend to be suspicious about whether they are "interested in only one thing" or what their true motives are. Although I am not confrontational and don't have a temper, this does come out in little ways that affect my relationships. I might meet a really great guy, but I'll still expect him to let me down. Not healthy, obviously.

Thing is, these negative expectations are quite persistently entrenched! It is very hard to overcome automatic patterns of thought.

So...what has worked for you? Yes, I'm in therapy, but there must be things I can do on my own...books, exercises, etc. First of all, I want to avoid having defensive thoughts, but when that's not possible, what's the best way to explain oneself after you've screwed and patch things over without making things a bigger deal than they already are?

Carbonated beverages in luggage?

Morrigan — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 07:00:50 -0800

Will a bottle of champagne pop its cork if put in one's checked luggage during air travel? I'll be celebrating a special occasion with a friend during a long weekend away and would like to bring some champagne. Due to current TSA restrictions, though, I won't be able to put the bottle in my carry-on bag. If I use a large zip-loc bag and pack it well, should it be okay?

Why you should buy a camera that takes AAs

bjrubble — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 12:08:05 -0800

My girlfriend's luggage got lost on the plane to Spain. Any hope it can catch up with her on her trip? And where can she replace her camera battery charger? The bag is still apparently MIA, and it sounds like the airline wants to just send it back to the states if it's found. I think she should try to get it sent to where she's going to be, but they're moving around a lot, so it would have to get to a particular place on a particular day (or slightly before). Is this hopeless?

My more immediate concern is that the charger for her camera battery (Olympus LI-12B) was in the bag, and the camera is already out of juice. Is there anyplace she would be able to find a replacement? They're traveling through northern Spain (San Sebastian, etc).

This Baggage is Literal

Smarson — Thu, 18 May 2006 08:57:30 -0800

TravelFilter: Got Luggage? I've come to that point in life that when one must take the bold step of buying their first real set of luggage. The shady mom and dad suit cases I had been using since college got consumed in the fire that led to the insurance check which is now funding this adventure in luggage land.

The Details:
*I'm looking to spend no more than $700.
*I travel (the kind which requires multiple pieces of luggage) maybe 4 to 8 times a year (holidays and vacations), so their is no issue of needing bags to be ported around on a weekly basis.
*I want this purchase to last at least 5 yrs., hopefully longer.
*Definitely looking for at least a 3 piece set where each piece side fits inside the other making storage simple.

The Questions:
-What are your personal luggage experiences?
-What brands should I be looking at?
-Does anyone have experience in buying quality used luggage (craigslist is failing me)?

Any and all suggestions welcome!

Is it a bad idea to check a bag on an airplane with a small form factor (SFF) computer in it?

D Wiz — Wed, 10 May 2006 13:22:13 -0800

Is it a bad idea to check a bag on an airplane with a small form factor (SFF) computer in it? My parents live on one coast and I dorm on the other. I would like to be able to bring my PC back and forth. I wanted to buy something like a Shuttle (except more do it yourself, I can put in my own motherboard and processor) and build my own SFF to bring back and forth. Yes, I know there is such a thing as a laptop and I happen to have one. In my experience though, everything goes slower on them. It burns DVDs slower, it processes slower etc. and they usually have smaller hard drives. I usually end up using my parents computer when I am home b/c I can't stand using my laptop. My laptop isn't even old. It has been slower than my desktop since the day I bought it. (I know this may have been unnecessay information but I am trying to quell the inevitable response, "Why don't you just get a laptop?") So my question is: Is it a bad idea to travel with a small form factor PC in my checked luggage. Obviously, I will put padding around it (clothing, bubble paper etc.). Is it likely to break? Or should it be ok?

(As a side note, if anyone has any suggestions as to SFF cases (I don't want anything with a mobo/processor inside, I just want a case) that are durable and cheap, suggestions would be appreciated.)

Airline policy shift?

unknowncommand — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 20:55:25 -0800

When did the FAA/airlines stop asking those 2 questions about whether someone had given me something to bring on the plane, and whether my bags had been out of my possession at any point? What was their justification? I want to say that this changed after 9/11, but that doesn't really make sense.

Stolen Items from Checked Luggage

gottabefunky — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 22:25:53 -0800

Unpacking from a recent flight back to the U.S. from abroad, I just noticed that a few things were missing from my checked baggage (a pair of high-quality outdoor jackets). I'm wondering which avenue of renumeration would be the best to pursue - the airline (Continental), my renter's insurance policy, even the TSA - and how? I've heard horror stories of runarounds from the airlines on things like this, and although the TSA is supposed to be paying in certain instances, I have no idea how to file a claim, or prove things one way or another (I know they were in there when I packed...).

For that matter, what about things that get damaged during plane flights, like bikes?