Hand luggage only - under 7KG with a rollaboard - how?

[TonyHancock]

For me it is not difficult to achieve.....but it is a pain in the backside! :-|

I'll be doing exactly that on my first VA/DJ trip, which will be two nights in Newcastle with a variety of work, well talking mainly, over two days.

I'll be taking:

1 105 cm Antler rollaboard with

2 100% cotton button down collar business shirts.
1 Polo shirt
1 pair of chinos
2 pairs jocks and socks
1 wash kit - Razor/shaving cream/toothpaste/small roll on deodorant/fold up toothbrush

I'll be wearing:
1 business shirt
1 pair chinos
1 pair jocks and socks
1 pair business shoes
1 Business jacket (With apple charger in one pocket side pocket, and cables/accessories in the other.)

Technology will consist of:
1 11" MacBook Air in its own carry case
1 iPhone in jacket pocket
1 Blackberry on belt holster
1 pair Etymotic earphones in trouser pocket.
3 memory sticks with all of the data I need to work with
1 Sapido wireless router

I'd like to take my iPad by strapping it to my body, but that is probably overkill!!

I'll be leaving behind:

1 iPad
1 pair Bose NC headphones
1 iPod Classic
2 Chargers
1 pair casual shoes
1 polo shirt
1 Apple mighty mouse

For a couple of days it is not that much of an issue. For a week it is a deal breaker.

....and before you say it.....I really prefer not to check luggage. If I assume a 15 minute wait to collect checked in luggage then I'd be up for about 24 hours a year waiting around a conveyor belt. :shock:

 

[LiamR]

....and before you say it.....I really prefer not to check luggage. If I assume a 15 minute wait to collect checked in luggage then I'd be up for about 24 hours a year waiting around a conveyor belt. :shock:

If you are trying to quote Ryan Bingham, you are doing it wrong.

 

[anat0l]

I think the key is here that most will allow a laptop as a separate item which doesn't count towards piece or weight limits, so as long as it doesn't look like it is carrying a whole lot more stuff with it (i.e. ideally just the laptop by itself; with charger perhaps but not much more). Similar directive with a (woman's) handbag, a "reasonable amount of reading material" (as stated on the website), or other "small" items.

So you would have one laptop with charger in a small separate bag, and your rollaboard. At least that shifts about 1-4 kg away from the rollaboard, though you may still have a weight problem. Chargers are the biggest issue for me. And if you are taking lots of client files, papers, your (paper) workbook/notebook, a textbook of some description etc., you may just run into problems there with the paper weight.

If I carry a suit bag, it's not a bad way to "hide" some clothes that would otherwise increase the weight of your rollaboard (of course, make sure the suit bag doesn't look like it has been "loaded up").

 

[TonyHancock]

If you are trying to quote Ryan Bingham, you are doing it wrong.

Ye Gods! I haven't seen Up in the Air. I have heard a lot about it though! Mainly from people who say I behave like "that bloke in the movie". I have just read the quote on IMDB and realise I am now actually a caricature of a movie character! :shock: I knew I was shallow...but it just gets worse!!!

 

[LiamR]

Ye Gods! I haven't seen Up in the Air. I have heard a lot about it though! Mainly from people who say I behave like "that bloke in the movie". I have just read the quote on IMDB and realise I am now actually a caricature of a movie character! :shock: I knew I was shallow...but it just gets worse!!!

OMG you haven't seen Up In the Air?

Sorry, but I'm going to have to take your QF WP status off you, as well as close your account on AFF. If you are anything like me you sat through the movie laughing thinking "wow I do that too!!"

 

[connieguy]

Ye Gods! I haven't seen Up in the Air. I have heard a lot about it though! Mainly from people who say I behave like "that bloke in the movie". I have just read the quote on IMDB and realise I am now actually a caricature of a movie character! :shock: I knew I was shallow...but it just gets worse!!!

Here is a trailer to watch:
Up In The Air Trailer - YouTube

 

[TonyHancock]

Here is a trailer to watch:
Up In The Air Trailer - YouTube

Thanks for that. I'm just grabbing a copy of the movie to watch. This Ryan Bingham chap seems a bit of a lightweight though, only 350,000 miles last year....very poor. I must admit I was expecting a more frequent flyer!!

 

[LiamR]

Thanks for that. I'm just grabbing a copy of the movie to watch. This Ryan Bingham chap seems a bit of a lightweight though, only 350,000 miles last year....very poor. I must admit I was expecting a more frequent flyer!!

Wait till you see the movie, and then say that again.

 

[connieguy]

Thanks for that. I'm just grabbing a copy of the movie to watch. This Ryan Bingham chap seems a bit of a lightweight though, only 350,000 miles last year....very poor. I must admit I was expecting a more frequent flyer!!

He does have a black AA Concierge Key card which earns him an extra bonus or 2. 350k miles per year in F would earn a few miles and SCs. But yes for raw butt in the seat miles, he is a light weight compared to some Aussies.

From the movie:



Never realized how many doors it opens!

 

[an*g-bne]

I must admit to bowing down to the efforts of Mrs AN*G in this department. She has sworn to never check in bags again if at all humanly possible, and regularly pulls off 2 to 3 week trips to Europe (travels Australia to Europe 4-6 times a year) with just a rollaboard/backpack combo and a small computer satchel-cough-handbag.

So, after consulting her, this is how she packs - and these days, the bag usually ends up between 7 to 7.5 kg (empty weight 2.4kg - just weighed it)

She wears her heaviest jeans/snow pants on the flight, with a jumper and a zip up jacket with lots of pockets. If heading into winter, she puts on her knee length overcoat. Jacket and coat comes off once on the plane and gets hung up. In the jacket goes her wallet, passport/travel document pouch, mobile and digital camera. She wears her buikiest shoes, either the snow boots for winter, or her joggers.

In the backpack goes: 7-10 pairs of underwear, 2 jumpers, 2 business tops, business shoes, 2 business pants, a t-shirt and pyjamas, a single LAG pouch, another small pouch with USB cables and camera charger, and USB sticks. If she's going skiing, it also contains her ski helmet stuffed full of socks and underwear. The computer satchel contains her 7" netbook, lightweight travel charger. Because she tends to be at least a week in a city, she can wash things at night, and hang them up to dry overnight.

She says that more often than not, her carry-on bag is weighed at check-in at BNE, but almost never anywhere else. Most of her flights are in C on TG out of BNE, and the fact that she has two carry-on bags has never been questioned.

 

[harvyk]

Thanks for that. I'm just grabbing a copy of the movie to watch. This Ryan Bingham chap seems a bit of a lightweight though, only 350,000 miles last year....very poor. I must admit I was expecting a more frequent flyer!!

It's pretty much all dom travel he does, so doing 350,000 miles per year in dom only is a good effort...

 

[TonyHancock]

Sorry all, my comment was tongue in cheek! 350,000 miles is an awful lot of flying!!!:shock: Although I suspect there will be a few here that can beat that...and with. 7KG rollaboard. :!:

 

[k_sheep]

I always thought trying to do carry on only was too hard basket ... however I just went away for 2 weeks and my checked baggage was only 9-10kg. Hmmmm.

 

[VHOEJ]

I can't do it either. The bag itself is usually around the 2kg - add the laptop and it is 3kgs straight away.

 

[connieguy]

I can't do it either. The bag itself is usually around the 2kg - add the laptop and it is 3kgs straight away.

It's 7kg per piece QF:
Qantas Baggage | Carry on baggage

and 7kg per piece on VA:
International | Virgin Australia

however JQ allows 10 kg per piece for *Class:
Carry-on Baggage | Jetstar

I have no problems hitting 7kg for my rollaboard and 7 kg for the laptop bag stuffed with all the chargers, etc. Plus there are the inside jacket pockets if needed.

BTW I'm a roller and do wash undies / socks in the bath. Can easily live for 3 - 4 weeks from my carry-on.

 

[medhead]

The wheels on most rollers weight about 2kg. Throw it out an get a Redoxx Air Boss.

For what you have I think it would be easy to get under 7kg.

On the limits jetstar are 10kg in all classes. But one bag in Y and 2 in *class. That's the advantage of starclass you can actually carry on 20kg.

 

[connieguy]

On the limits jetstar are 10kg in all classes. But one bag in Y and 2 in *class. That's the advantage of starclass you can actually carry on 20kg.

Yup. 3 - 4 weeks in Bkk / EU / US and all with carry - on. Sometimes the rollaboard is weighted (2.3 kg empty) but never had the laptop bag weighted. Always pack the laptop bag so it so it does not bulge at the seams.

 

[Happy Trails]

Just take 12kg, or whatever you’re comfortable with.
If challenged, simply explain that you’ve actually reduced your 7kg allowance to 5kg and that the additional weight is merely an enhancement for meeting some obscure targets and KPIs.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Always challenge the weight, demand to see the independent calibration certificate, which can't be more than 6 mths old. Has the attendant being properly trained in weighing bags?

Always create a scene and hold everyone up.

If that fails, stuff your pockets with the heavy stuff and carry a medical kit with you, surely that's exempt. Collapse if challenged, block the entrance.

Never give in either.

Avoiding excess baggage should be a masters degree!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Just take 12kg, or whatever you’re comfortable with.
If challenged, simply explain that you’ve actually reduced your 7kg allowance to 5kg and that the additional weight is merely an enhancement for meeting some obscure targets and KPIs.

Wear a priests dog tag?

Wear A burkha?

We speaka no English........

Keh?