Who did you fly when you moved?

I've been looking online to see where I can find the best airline prices along with the best and cheapest luggage allowance.
Just curious to know who you flew and what was your experiences?

I flew KLM out of San Francisco. For some reason they gave us two checked bags for free, last year it was only one. It was a nice surprise, however, as we didn't have to purchase any extra luggage.

I flew United, but I didn't have a lot of options because I wanted to fly into Birmingham. I checked a second bag for additional cost and I carried on a backpack and a small upright.

I flew USAirways from Philadelphia to Manchester. I paid for my 2nd bag (both bags  filled to maximum weight). I also carried a large tote and a carry-on at maximum weight.

(However, I also had about 17 boxes and 5 huge tubs shipped over two months later.)

I flew into Heathrow on British Airways with one checked bag, one rolling carry-on, and one backpack carry-on.  My experience was very good overall.  The luggage was delayed in coming out because the baggage hold had frozen shut (that was new to me!), but the delay wasn't too bad.

DH is always telling me I won't get away with a rolling carry-on plus tote/large handbag thing. I've never had any trouble with Virgin and sounds like most of you do that kind of thing. Anybody been restricted to one only carry-on by an airline?

The big international airlines allow your carry on plus one personal item (handbag, laptop case etc) so that's pretty standard. Unless your tote is larger than your carry on, I think you'd be fine. I see people get away with all sorts of things which bothers me as I'm a follow the rules kind of person.

Air NZ is my new favourite as they go direct from LAX to LHR. When last we flew with them we upgraded to premium. Worth. Every. Penny.

DH is always telling me I won't get away with a rolling carry-on plus tote/large handbag thing. I've never had any trouble with Virgin and sounds like most of you do that kind of thing. Anybody been restricted to one only carry-on by an airline?

I ended up checking my larger carry-on at the gate because it was a full flight (the Boston to Newark part of it anyway) and they asked for people to volunteer to check their carry-ons for no extra charge otherwise they were just going to force people to. It didn't matter to me because all the stuff I needed was in my backpack, so I volunteered. So, I guess you could say I didn't totally get away with it, but I did in the sense that I didn't pay extra for it.

DH is always telling me I won't get away with a rolling carry-on plus tote/large handbag thing. I've never had any trouble with Virgin and sounds like most of you do that kind of thing. Anybody been restricted to one only carry-on by an airline?

I do this every time I fly internationally and have never had a problem. I have a carry on suitcase that I put in the storage above the seats(I can't even think of the name of this?) and a "weekender" bag from H&M that I stuff makeup, books, fragile stuff, and random things I need for the flight. I can usually shove the weekender bag under the seat or put it in the storage above if there is room. Nobody has ever said anything to me.

Yeah, a carry-on plus a 'personal item' such as a handbag (as large as you can get away with seems to be what most women do) or tote or small backpack (the sign usually says 'small backpack' but most people just use what seems to be their everyday backpack or one as large as they can get away with.  Like someone said above, as long as it's not approaching the size of your carry-on you should be OK.)

I flew US Air as they offer direct flights from Philadelphia to Manchester.  I had two big suitcases, a handbag and a laptop.  I had my harp (the case stuffed with clothes all around the harp) in a triangular box and was charged $60 as an extra and oversized piece of luggage.  That was 6 years ago.

The first time I flew over for a 6 month visit I had a small backpack (I think?) as my carry-on and my violin as my personal item.  My large backpacking backpack went as checked luggage as did my smaller harp (again, the case stuffed with clothes all around it).  It was small enough not to be considered oversized.

Just be aware, if you have any connecting flights with smaller airlines (flybe, ryanair, easyjet, bmi regional, etc) - they make you only have 1 carry-on bag, period. 


If you can swing 'premium economy' - sometimes its only a bit extra if you look carefully - you usually get extra checked baggage allowance.   

Just be aware, if you have any connecting flights with smaller airlines (flybe, ryanair, easyjet, bmi regional, etc) - they make you only have 1 carry-on bag, period. 

This. I've been asked by easyjet to stuff my handbag into my carry on. So as a rule I now make sure I have room in my carry on for the handbag, just in case.

I have a carry on suitcase that I put in the storage above the seats(I can't even think of the name of this?) 

Overhead compartment. Overhead storage?

We've never really had a problem with a carry on and backback but last year I was flying AA from chicago to Manchester and the gate agent was a real stickler saying everyone was only allowed 1 thing and if you couldn't put one thing inside another you'd be charged.  It was an unusual situation as she was very strict with lots of other stuff too and I felt bad for everyone being caught out. 

I wouldn't worry too much but I guess you never know what they might do

We've had problems recently with Malaysia Airlines check in staff not knowing their own checked baggage rules! So now we print out the allowance and take that with us in case of any problems.

I also have one of those travel scales so that I am not anxious about the weight of the luggage, especially when I've shopped a lot and have bulging bags on the return journey!

Also, some airline credit cards give an extra free checked bag as a perk, perhaps this would apply to you?

I didn't move yet, but I just made a trip over on Iceland Air, and I will probably fly them every time.  If your dates are flexible, their booking tool shows you all fares over a 2-week time period, which is very helpful.  It was the least expensive flight we could find, I was allowed 2 checked bags at no fee at all, and more for a fee if necessary, as well as a carry-on bag and a personal item.  This was the first time any airline insisted that I put my camera bag inside my purse so it was all one personal item, but that was no loss as I always allow for that possibility anyway. 

The flights all go through Reykjavik, and Iceland Air allows you to have as much as a 5-day layover on a single ticket price, so if you wanted to, you could spend a day there and see an amazing place few people have.  I had a 9-hour layover (intentionally) and left the airport (you're allowed to leave without claiming luggage that is checked through to your final destination) to go to the Blue Lagoon for the most amazing swim of my life. 

As you get on the plane, they hand each person a bottle of water, and honestly it was the best water I've ever had.  They also give each passenger a pillow and blanket (waiting for you in your seat) and the blankets are wonderful.  Thin, light, but incredibly warm.  I brought 2 home with me. 

The downsides are that all the food on the plane is for a fee, and the movie selection was not huge.  Several of the movies were Icelandic.  Also, Keflavik airport is quite small and shuts down completely (as in, all the stores are closed, cafe's closed, and you might find one person to ask a question) in the middle of the day when no flights are due for a while.  If you aren't one of the first few people to your gate, you won't have a seat while you wait.  I won't arrange for a long layover there on a regular basis, but despite all this it was the experience of a lifetime, and definitely worth doing again at some point!