Know All Baggage Types Before Your First Travel Experience

Imagine you are excitedly planning a trip only to get disappointed at the airport. Going through several security checks, exceeding the weight limit or carrying prohibited items will get you detained at the security counters. Worst case scenario, if you do not know the types of airport baggage, you won’t pack accordingly and will have to face difficulty at the airport.

This can be a nightmare leading up to your first travel experience. To ensure you have a seamless and hassle-free air travel experience, you should know how the airlines categorise your luggage.

For all domestic and international flights, there are two types of baggage at all airports across the world. You have a specific weight limit and dimension guidelines depending on the baggage type.

First is the check-in baggage that you hand over to the airport staff at the check-in counters. You must pack most of your items in your check-in baggage.

The second is the cabin or hand baggage. It is the luggage that you carry with you on the flight. The handbag should be small enough to fit in the flight’s baggage compartment. You can pack your handy items, laptop and medicines in your hand baggage.

The Indian Airport Authority has a list of prohibited items separately for hand and check-in baggage. If you are found carrying these items, you may be stopped from boarding the flight or have to get rid of the items.

Let’s find out in detail about the type of air baggage and other rules for a smooth first travel experience.

Check-in baggage: Rules and more

Check-in baggage is the luggage that you hand over to the airport staff at the check-in counter. The staff weighs your luggage and issues you a boarding pass as per your booking.

If you have checked in online or taken your boarding pass from the kiosk, you will still have to submit the check-in luggage at its dedicated counters. You do not carry check-in baggage with you on the flight. You can consider large trolleys or suitcases as check-in baggage. All your clothes, heavy items and accessories must go in the check-in baggage.

Here are the check-in baggage guidelines that you need to follow:

1. Most airlines allow a maximum weight of 15 kg per person for domestic flights.
2. Moreover, you can carry only one piece of check-in baggage per person on a domestic flight.
3. Air India, with an exception, offers 25 kg of check-in baggage for economy passengers.
4. The maximum weight limit is 35 kg and 40 kg per person for business and first-class passengers, respectively.
5. The destination country determines the weight limit on check-in baggage for international flights.
6. Most airlines flying to the United States allow a maximum of 23 kg per person per piece.
7. You are only allowed to bring two pieces of luggage.
8. Airlines allow you to carry 20-30 kg per person to the rest of the world.
9. Some airlines, such as Etihad and Turkish Airlines, allow passengers to bring 30 kg of luggage.
10. Others, such as British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, etc., allow up to 23 kg of check-in baggage per passenger.
11. If you carry more than the allowed baggage limit, you will have to pay extra charges. These charges can be as high as Rs. 500 per kg.
12. The charges vary with the airlines. That is why you should always pack according to the rules for your first experience on a flight.

Cabin baggage: Rules and more

Cabin baggage is the luggage that you carry with you while boarding and deboarding the flight. The airport staff will also weigh your cabin or hand luggage at the counter. So, its weight and dimension must be according to the guidelines.

Your cabin or hand baggage will not be submitted at any counter. It will be scanned at the security counters.

Have a look at the cabin baggage rules at the airport.

1. Hand baggage includes a small bag or mini trolley of about 115 cm3 (L x W x H).
2. If you carry oversized or large bags in hand luggage, they will not fit in the flight’s baggage compartment.
3. That is why you should know the exact baggage dimensions before your first travel experience by air.
4. You can carry your laptop, toiletries, medicines, important documents and other handy items in your hand luggage.
5. Please note that if you carry a laptop separately in a different bag, it should not exceed the weight limit of 3 kg. This laptop bag will be considered a part of the hand baggage.
6. Ladies’ purses, tote bags or shoulder bags are not counted in the hand luggage.
7. However, it would be best if you did not carry heavy handbags or shoulder bags.
8. If you carry overweight shoulder bags or purses, the airport staff may ask you to weigh and combine them with the hand baggage.
9. In the worst case, if you are found to exceed the cabin luggage weight limit, you will have to pay for the extra weight.
10. Major airlines allow 7 kg of cabin luggage per person for domestic flights.
11. In the case of all international flights also, most airlines allow a maximum weight limit of 7 kg per person.
12. However, British Airways, Air France and KLM Royal Dutch allow up to 23 kg and 12 kg, respectively.

So, for your first experience on a flight, make sure your cabin luggage does not exceed the weight and dimensions specified. If you don’t, you won’t be able to carry it as a cabin bag. The airport officials will request that you check the bag as checked luggage.

Furthermore, if your check-in baggage weight restriction has already been reached, you will be charged additional fees for the extra luggage.

Prohibited Items

Due to security and safety concerns, the Indian Airport Authority and airlines have banned carrying a few items while travelling. For a smooth and pleasurable air travel experience, you must go through the list of prohibited items:

1. You cannot carry personal items like pointed scissors, lighters, e-cigarettes and toy weapons in your hand luggage.
2. You are not allowed to carry any sharp objects like pocket knives, utility knives, razors, box cutters, ice pickers, etc., in your cabin luggage.
3. You also cannot carry sporting goods, tools, ammunition or weapons in your hand baggage.
4. You are not allowed to carry any toxic, flammable, explosive chemicals or radioactive materials, such as deodorants, in any baggage.
5. You cannot bring laptops, video cameras, batteries or other electronic items in your check-in baggage. You can carry laptops, phones, portable charges and cameras in your hand baggage.
6. You can only have 100 ml bottles of toiletries, makeup products and liquids in your hand baggage.
7. Ensure that your medicines, prescriptions, important documents and valuable items are in your hand baggage.

Conclusion

Travelling energises your body and mind, whether you are a first-time traveller or an experienced one. You get to explore beautiful places around the world and learn about their culture, food, language and traditions.

However, trips are fun and adventurous only if you plan them properly. Plan domestic and international trips with Cleartrip and get amazing offers on flights and hotel bookings.

This air travel baggage guide will help you have a smooth travel experience. It will save you from unnecessary discomfort at the airport and keep you up-to-date with air travel rules.

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