[Hannah-NL]

I saw Diny's house sale nightmare thread is "taken over" ;) by baggage allowance postings and thought I had seen more of them before. Cannot find the one I'm looking for with a search and thought it best to start a new thread on it...

I have seen posts about being allowed 64 kg's when you go through LA/the US. Anyone in NZ already who have done that and care to describe how it all went and what the safety precautions were they had to go through? I read on another board about someone who had almost to strip into her underwear???? (she had to take off her sweater, belt, shoes, socks.... and I don't think she was called Mrs Bin Laden either) :eek

[jonSE]

Hannah

Most flights across the Atlantic allow two bags per passanger max weight per bag of 32kgs. plus one hand luggage up to seven kilos, plus whatever you can hang around your person............

We managed to only take three bags totalling 74kgs that was a lot of stuff. In LA we collected another box (of car parts) weighing a further 30kgs. This was a lot of stuff and kept us going for 3 weeks before our container arrived.

We could have managed for another 2 months or so without hassle. - we moved into an unfurnished rental house. Bought a bed (this was a planned purchase although we had a double airbed with us) and a kettle and a couple of cheap pans . The rental had a cooker. We bought a picnic set with us so had a couple of plates and knives and forks etc. I doubt wether we would have bought much else if we had to wait a lot onger for our containers.

The only thing we were missing was a washing machine and you can't take one on a plane.

Jon

[Biddy]

Hannah



The only thing we were missing was a washing machine and you can't take one on a plane.

Jon

Why not - I'm taking my wife! :laugh :laugh

[marcia]

Hannah



The only thing we were missing was a washing machine and you can't take one on a plane.

Jon

Why not - I'm taking my wife! :laugh :laugh

:uhoh Now posting a message like that is just asking for trouble! :eek

[jubjub]

I got through US immigration OK, all i had to do extra to normal was take my shoes off and put them through the xray machine.

Hubby faired a little worse and got a good patting down from a big customs officer at LAX, and his bags taken apart, but they were doing it to every other passenger apparently.

I had two cases that should have been 32kg each, but with no scales, I overpacked a litte, and luckily has taken a spare holdall with me, so I thought take extra weight out put in holdall, check in said holdall, NOPE! They made me take is as hand baggage, as they are strict on the two cases only rule being checked in. (I was business class so the extra bag was not an issue, but it was a pain in the butt having to carry it around!)

[Brian]

Did they actually measure and weigh the checked bags? The bags I planned on using are slightly over the combined size limit when packed all the way.

[jubjub]

no measurement, just weight. BUT, thats not to say a check in chick in a bad mood would not measure them, but I have never seen it happen as long as cases are not over weight. The main thing they do take notice of size wise is the hand luggage, been caught out on that one before.

[debnjohn]

Measurement? Sorry if I have missed something, but is there a limit on the physical dimensions of cases? We are about to purchase a couple of mega-size expanding-type cases from Asda for our one-way trip. (I have tried looking in charity shops for old suitcases, as suggested in an earlier thread, but no joy).
Cheers
John

[Moorf]

There is a size limit for cabin luggage - but I've never heard of one for stuff going in the hold.

This site might help answer some questions: http://www.thetravelinsider.info/travelaccessories/airlinecarryonluggageallowances.htm

[foolsgold99]

Hubby faired a little worse and got a good patting down from a big customs officer at LAX, and his bags taken apart, but they were doing it to every other passenger apparently.

Hmm, nope that wasn't at LAX, but at heathrow.

LAX was fine, no major security checks at all. Transit lounge is ok, your only there for a couple of hours, plenty of cold drinks and snacks.

I've been through US imigration about 6 times since 9/11 and to be honest I don't notice much different, 20 seconds for a finger print is nothing. When your emigrating, baggage allowance is key, everything you don't carry is something you need to buy. My advice is to fly via LAX

[Timbo]

Just my pennysworth. You can take things like bikes and even surfboards as part of your luggage allowance, so I would guess that dimensions dont come into it as far as stuff going into the hold is concerned.

[Moorf]

Yes you can take things like surfboards/bikes but more often than not it is not part of your luggage allowance. We used to take our snowboards on flights alot - you are asked to take it to another check-in area where other similar items are checked in such as bikes, skis etc, or the strangest item I've seen checked in to date, a coffin! It WAS empty, as the check-in guy assured me as I gawped in horror at it.

It really does depend on the flight, how much gear they're carrying, whether the check-in person is having a good day and, probably more importantly, your attitude! I bet those check-in people get their kicks from slapping huge excess luggage fees on some jumped up twerp!! (Hmm, where's the Situations Vacant paper....).

Anyway... we always pre-warned the airlines of our intentions - there are weight and space restrictions afterall. More often than not we incurred a charge of about £15 per item - however, if we were booked on a ski package holiday these charges didn't apply.

[Simon & Emily]

Hannah

We managed to only take three bags totalling 74kgs that was a lot of stuff ....We could have managed for another 2 months or so without hassle.... I doubt wether we would have bought much else if we had to wait a lot onger for our containers.
Jon
Jon - can I ask how many people were travelling? Did you have any children with you, or just adults?

Thanks,

Emily

[Jennie & Rob]

We had 8 suitcases and although, on average, they were around 32kgs, two of them weighed 35kg and Air New Zealand would not take them. Rob had to unpack them, in front of the queue at Heathrow, and had to lose 3 pairs of shoes, 20 Star Bars (being brought for Carol but we had got 48 so she still got some). I distributed Star Bars to the fed-up queue but it was awlful. No bag can weigh more than 32kg. I would definately advise buying cheap soft cases. These were the only expensive hard cases we had and weighed 7kgs each without anything in them.
Good luck!

[Simon & Emily]

Jennie - I feel for you. At least now that you're there you can start to get your sanity back.

Emily

[Carol]

We are still eating Star Bars.....we are rationing ourselves!!!
Jennie and Rob rock!!
:clap

[debnjohn]

We are still eating Star Bars.....we are rationing ourselves!!!
Jennie and Rob rock!!
:clap
Sorry to be ignorant, but what are star bars?
And are we allowed to bring gravy granules with us ;) ?

John

[veronica]

there is a dimension limit, or perhaps area limit would be a better description, it will say it on your ticket although if you contact the airlines they will let you know what it is too

[Jennie & Rob]

Star Bars are chocolate bars with nuts in - not easy to find now (apart from Macarthur Glen Cadbury shop which had millions)

Yes - you can bring gravy and I would advise you to. Gravy powder and granules. I read the advise which said you could get gravy powder that was fine in NZ and didn't bring any and I really regret it. I used to love Bisto powder gravy. I have tried NZ bisto and it sucks.... I have also tried three other types and they are awlful.

SOS send out sauces!!!! Seriously - put lots of gravy in your shipping. Also - large jars of marmite if you like it. They do sell marmite here but only the tiny jars and it is called Our Mate. What they sell as marmite is an imposter with sugar as the 2nd ingredient. :eek

[Carol]

What they sell as marmite is an imposter with sugar as the 2nd ingredient. :eek


It is DISGUSTING!!!!!!!
:wah

[Simon & Emily]

You mean you can't get the mega sized pots that you get here? You wouldn't believe how much we get through here :laugh :laugh :laugh

[Jennie & Rob]

No Emily. The only ones you can get in the largest supermarket in Wellington are the smallest ones you can get in the UK. Bring a whole case of the super size jars out with you - at least. MAFF/Customs are not interested in the slightest.

You will need all the Marmite you can get to combat the enemy Marmite (added sugar) out here. It MUST BE ELIMINATED!!!!!!!! :bobby

[debnjohn]

So how much are Star Bars in the outlet Village? Are they like snickers? Or Cadburys fruit'n'nut? I'm intrigued!
BTW I was joking about GG, but perhaps we'd better get some! Oxo have introduced a granular gravy mix over in UK, and it is disgusting. Didn't realise how much gravy meant to me!

Marmite, well we will DEFINATELY stock up, as 3 out of 4 of us are fanatics. My eldeat, however, dislikes it with a vengeance. Bit strange really, don't you think?

John

[debnjohn]

Just realised, once again a thread goes off the rails.. Baggage safety -> Marmite ??? :laugh

John

[Paul and Linda]

Marmite, on top of lots of philly on top of low cal (not the calories just the taste is key for this mixture) butter, in a super duper wholemeal granary bread sandwich.

Try it, it's fantastic and I am addicted and getting larger by the minute.

Ah roll on hometime!

[catjlin]

Sorry, back on thread

[quote="Moorf"]Yes you can take things like surfboards/bikes but more often than not it is not part of your luggage allowance. We used to take our snowboards on flights alot - you are asked to take it to another check-in area where other similar items are checked in such as bikes, skis etc

I can second this one. We both bought new ski/board bags before coming down and managed to fit almost all our gear/boots/bindings ski clothing and some odds and ends as well. Definitely the way to go as they don't count toward the total weight.

[tigerlily]

... what the safety precautions were they had to go through? I read on another board about someone who had almost to strip into her underwear???? (she had to take off her sweater, belt, shoes, socks.... and I don't think she was called Mrs Bin Laden either) :eek

Sad to say this is normal on any flight in the US. I'm looking forward to stripping down when I take my kids to see my family on the East Coast next week. It's part of why I'm thinking of leaving here. It feels like we walk around with a giant bull's eye on us all the time.

PS. I now wear slip on shoes, elastic waste pants and absolutely nothing with metal on it. I take off my watch before I get to security too. And it's especially fun with the little kids!

[Simon & Emily]

Ever since my (older) sister had to strip her underwired bra off when flying to France as a schoolgirl on a school trip (14 or 15?) I've had this 'fear' of being stopped and searched when checking in. So far, it's never happened - I've not flown much either! - but it would be something I would not want to do. :no :no :no

I can imagine that if the chidren were also asked to strip they would find it amusing though. Just a thought - are people employed by the airlines all police checked for sexual records? I would have thought it was done as standard, along with normal police checks, but don't know.

Emily

[debnjohn]

there is a dimension limit, or perhaps area limit would be a better description, it will say it on your ticket although if you contact the airlines they will let you know what it is too

Yes, you're right Veronica, thanks. The limit is 62" total outside dimensions (135 cm?). Unfortunately the 'mega' suitcases I had my eye on at Asda are at least 65" :uhoh so I've now bought the next size down.

John

[Hannah-NL]

Oh boy so we can give a free exotic dance when we go through LA????
Woohooo I will make them sick, hahahaha, they asked for it! ;)
Hmmm... Will have to find Anita or Ingrid now to practise some table dancing...
Now off to weigh our suitcases, before we have 7 kilo ones too!
Might be good to buy some of those soft, light ones too... :nice1