Baggage Tips for Overseas Travel
1. Pack early! Don't wait until the last minute to begin packing. At least two working days prior to departure (and preferably more), you will need a fairly good estimate of:
• how many bags you will have, and
• the weight per bag.
2. Baggage limits are much more restrictive for overseas travel than for domestic travel. Be sure to check with your airlines or travel agent for specific limitations.
• Typically, for trans-oceanic travel each passenger is allowed 2 checked bags only. Each checked bag is not to exceed 70 pounds in weight. The size of each checked bag length + width + height total may not exceed 62 inches.
• One carry-on bag (plus a purse) is normally allowed, with a weight limit of 40 pounds and a bag length + width + height total of less than 45 inches. They must be able to fit in the overhead storage compartment or under your seat.
• If it appears you will exceed the 70 pound weight limit for your checked bags, and repacking will not eliminate the overweight problem, you are usually better off adding a third checked bag rather than paying the surcharge for overweight luggage. The surcharge may exceed $400 for an overweight bag, but it will probably be less than half that amount for an extra (underweight) bag. In some cases it pays to go first class, which has no weight limit.
3. If you anticipate needing extra bags or an overweight bag, you should:
• Contact your travel agent. Sometimes they are able to get the airlines to waive surcharges. (Verify that the airline has record of any waiver on their computer system at least 24 hours prior to departure!).
• Make sure the airline has advance notice of your extra luggage. In some cases they may refuse to carry extra luggage on your flight if they are near their load limits, and you failed to notify them in advance.
4. If you plan to take a lot of books with you, DON'T TAKE THEM ON THE PLANE! It is much less expensive to ship them to your destination using U.S. Postal Service "M Bags" if flying from America. It takes a lot of time (surface mail), but the international shipping rate is quite low. For details, contact the Post Office. (TIP: put a rubberband around each book to prevent them from opening and tearing during transport.)
5. If you are traveling to a country where theft is a problem, minimize your risk of luggage loss by using older (read: raggedy) bags. If you are taking new-looking bags, stick a few pieces of wide strapping tape on the sides of the luggage to give it a more travel-worn look.
Adapted from the InterVarsity LINK Handbook, 1999.
Unless otherwise noted, all materials on the urbana.org web site are Copyright InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA. All rights reserved.
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