Downsized Traveller

Around Australia and across the Tasman, I am strictly HLO, for all the reasons given in previous posts, no lost luggage, better chance of flight changes. I usually mange 5 days without having to launder, which would be diffiult as it is one day, one city.

I take a rolling (office) case with 15" laptop, tablet, toiletries and changes of clothes, but comes in at just over 7kg. Also a camera bag stuffed with camera and electronics. I was weighed once and it all complies with the size and weight requirements for OZZIE Dom travel. Only been challenged on Jetstar.
 
Around Australia and across the Tasman, I am strictly HLO,

Yep domestic = HLO

International = one suitcase (another size down purchased for the last three trips - anyone need some larger suitcases filling my WIR 😂) pus one onboard wheelie
 
Yep domestic = HLO

International = one suitcase (another size down purchased for the last three trips - anyone need some larger suitcases filling my WIR 😂) pus one onboard wheelie
But why do you need more luggage for int than dom? It's the same. If you need a coat, you wear it.
 
But why do you need more luggage for int than dom? It's the same. If you need a coat, you wear it.
Domestic trips usually less than a week in a single place with single climate.
International trips usually 6weeks minimum, multiple countries, multiple climates. Perhaps a cruise where formal wear is required
 
What’s the point of DFS these days? Prices higher than discounted retail.
I think for most items DFS became irrelevant when 27.5% (and more) sales tax went to 10% GST and online shopping brought huge competition.

The only thing I've found that I'd want to buy in duty free is some alcohol items, but then you have to know your prices because Uncle Dan's sales can be cheaper.
 
I joined earlier this year and have since travelled to the USA, England, Scotland and Germany. Last time I travelled with my wife and it was a mix of business and pleasure. We had two large suitcases and a work case checked as well as hand luggage. It was a pain arguing at nearly every about our luggage allowance! Not to mention lugging it around. Some of the old places we stayed in Scotland had narrow stair cases and no lift. So you wonder why I call myself a Sherpa..

I am now heading back to the US fro three weeks and taking carry on only. Some of you may laugh but I feel free already!

I welcome any tips you may have!
you're less likely to have your bags lost, and the chances of being shifted onto earlier/later flights vastly improves if you don't have bags that also need to be shifted about.



 
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They take it directly from you on the tarmac and load into the hold, and when you arrive in Sydney, you collect it on the tarmac at the back of the plane. That way, you don't have to carry it, and you also don't have to wait for the baggage carousel.




 
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Add to that, they weigh your HL to/from AUS & US so there's no wriggle room.
I've only been weighed on low cost carriers. Never seen a 'full service' airline do that.
Are things changing? (unless it's a USA-specific thing)
 
I've only been weighed on low cost carriers. Never seen a 'full service' airline do that.
Are things changing? (unless it's a USA-specific thing)
It's a USA-specific thing. And don't even start me on stupid AA over there... after 5 staff within 2 counters in different wings of the terminal they still could not understand that I was allowed my international baggage allowance as I had a thru ticket booking via QF with an AA flight that stated codeshare with a QF flight number on the ticket (I've flown w/thru-bookings for over 20 years) and that international has a different carry-on weight allowance, blah blah... imbeciles! In short, they wanted to charge me for BOTH of my bags (at nearly $500USD) for the entire journey if I wanted to check my carry-on basically for their domestic leg (because Qantas wouldn't charge me as I was allowed 2 bags)... I opted to take it as carry-on domestic (they don't weigh it) then checked it in LA w/Qantas for free. Even when I pulled up my booking, as well as the Qantas site and app showing I was allowed 2 bags they still didn't get it and insisted I could just gate check my carry-on to Melbourne if they deemed it was too heavy... they also didn't grasp that a 'checked bag' often has liquid etc and wouldn't get thru TSA to take it as a carry-on... gaaaahhhhh... shouldn't be so painful!!
 
Matt said "Carrying a lightweight laptop like a MacBook Air or simply a tablet can reduce weight." But you are always allowed a laptop computer which doesn't count towards the weight allowance if you carry it in a separate computer sleeve, and I've never been questioned on that.
 
Matt said "Carrying a lightweight laptop like a MacBook Air or simply a tablet can reduce weight." But you are always allowed a laptop computer which doesn't count towards the weight allowance if you carry it in a separate computer sleeve, and I've never been questioned on that.
Couple of times I've had my HLO weighed and it is over by 1-2kg, I just say "oh I have a computer in there" and the agent says "oh, all right then"!
 
Matt said "Carrying a lightweight laptop like a MacBook Air or simply a tablet can reduce weight." But you are always allowed a laptop computer which doesn't count towards the weight allowance if you carry it in a separate computer sleeve, and I've never been questioned on that.
Australian domestic you can have up to 14 kg with any one bag not exceeding 10 kg, plus the laptop in a "slim bag", that's three bags! Dash 8s may be a problem.
 
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Australian domestic you can have up to 14 kg with any one bag not exceeding 10 kg, plus the laptop in a "slim bag", that's three bags! Dash 8s may be a problem.
Dashs tend to have Premium Hand Luggage tagged and left at the bottom of the stairs and picked up at the bottom of the stairs on arrival.
 
Dashs tend to have Premium Hand Luggage tagged and left at the bottom of the stairs and picked up at the bottom of the stairs on arrival.
Know that well. My bag doesn't fit the overhead lockers on a Dash 8 anyway. Never sure whether it's just premium fliers.
 

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