I need a little word from some BTDT folks. Someone has given me the word that the carry-on weight limit is 11lbs on in-China flights. Now, c'mon. The bag weighs half that and I have nearly 7lbs of chocolate. Y'all can't possibly tell me your carry-ons were less than 11lbs. As well, NO ONE could go COO if that were the case. Thoughts?
In addition, I am planning on using my Baby Sherpa backpack as my personal item and some think I will catch fire over that. Others say no problem. Any experts??? Even when reviewing the carry on board there seem to be differences of opinion. Besides, I think there may be more recent revisions to that information. Anyone who has gone COO recently, please let me know your bag size/weight limits.
Oh yeah, while I'm on it, what about the timing of relaxing the carry-on liquid restrictions? I've heard that is supposed to happen. Anyone know when?
Specifically, what I am trying to get away with COO is one rolling carry-on less than 44inches and the Baby Sherpa backpack. Is that gonna fly? (pun intended)
Thanks!
The facts
- C's Mom
- Midwest, United States
- Welcome! Thanks for visiting us. My daughter and I became a family in Jiangxi Province, China. Life has taken on a whole new meaning and it's the sweetest thing.
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32 comments:
Cna't wait to hear all the comments..
I would love to go COO also..
You are getting close..
Have a great week..
Happy CNY..
you shouldn[t have any problems. I was just at the airport waiting on someone to arrive and was reading one airline CO rules. You are allowed your co suitcase a laptop bag (or similar) and a purse. So it sounds like you are ok. The best advice I can give ya, is that when you book your flight check with the airline. I get the feeling each one has its own rules.
when we traveled in Nov '07, we were told the same thing on weight limits for carry-on baggage...I ignored and thankfully they never weighed any of our carry-ons. :)
I will say we caught ALOT of flack, and thank God our guide happened to be just on the other side of security and came to our rescue, for our regular roller bag. It's a standard one for traveling here in the US (22" tall), but in China, they all use smaller roller bags.
Our guide talked them into letting us by with it but they were not happy about it. :)
You will be fine with Baby Sherpa-and worst case scenario, you may have to check your roller bag while in China..but it's worth a shot trying to go COO.
As for the liquids rule, as a flight attendant here in the States, my understanding is the liquid rule is still being enforced (no more than a 3 oz bottle-and all bottles must fit into a quarts sized ziploc). To err on the safe side, I'd pack as if you'll have to abide by the old rules all the way thru your travels.
Happy packing! :)
Can you believe I have no answers to any of these questions?? I have no idea...
Hope you get some answers, though.
I don't see why your plan woiuldn't work. Remember that PIPA is also entitled to a carry on bag! At least, she is, if you are buying her a seat of her own.
We took a small rolling suitcase and a very full Land's End diaper bag/backpack to China, but there were two of us. Coming home we also had a totebag with china tea sets. We also checked two bags there and three coming home.
No one every weighed any of our carry on items. I was familiar with the 11 pound limit, but no one ever said anything.
Our carry on bags weren't weighed either. As far as the liquids ban...hopefully they will ease up on those soon. The ban there is worse than it is here!
There is a COO yahoo group - CarryOnOnly· Carry-On Only Club - there is no way I could ever do that -I just used it for general packing ideas..great source
Good Luck
Came home from Mexico this morning - I know it is not China, but there was NO liquid restrictions on the flight. None at all...
However - there was a 10lb carry on weight limit...but no one weighed anything.
Well.... as things change all the time in the wonderful world of "airlines".... not sure I know the answers. All I know is we didn't have any issues with ALL of our "stuff". We each had our checked luggage and for carryon we each had a backpack, and I had another carryon and Jim had a laptop bag. We were lucky with all the crap we managed to take. I never heard of an 11 lb rule. Call the airline direct and ask them, and then call back and hear it again from another person at the airline... LOL.
I can't believe you are doing C.O.O............
Pecker huh? LOL!
Not sure about China flights but in the US I've never had my CO luggage weighed. I always have a (very full) backpack with laptop, purse, etc. Also, a roller suitcase the fits CO size. Hope you're able to find the answers you need.
11 lbs...my handbag weighs that much!
Anything you find out, I'd be interested in knowing. We totally plan on going COO.
We all had (many, many) carryons that were stuffed to the brim and they were never weighed. This was in late 2006 though, and rules may have changed, so I'm probably no help at all. Sorry!
Don't recall ever having any of our co bags weighed at all.
I'll bring you the items I mentioned to you on the 7th rather than send them. (unless of course you get some mirace TA and you have to leave before then... don't laugh, it can happen as we are living proof of that one)
My carry-on was not weighed on the international flights (continental) but was on the China domestic flights though we had no problem. I had a VERY heavy backpack that had my laptop among other things and it was never an issue.
Our bags were never weighed. We used backpacks as one of carryons for each adult and rolling carry ons for the other. We did have a problem on our way to China the first time when we connected in Guangzhou on our way to Beijing. Our rolling carry on which is the standard American size one and was fine on US leg of the flight was not fine in China. They made us check it and you should have seen me scrambling to put paperwork and medicines into the other bags...there was no way I was going to check those items. The second trip I got a smaller size rolling carry on and had no problem. The standard in China is a smaller size. Again, no one wighed anything and I am sure I was waaaaay over that weight!
We never had problems with carry on. Only the check-in baggage was weighed. My hat is off to you if you can go COO.
We each traveled with a rolling carry-on and a backpack and had no problems. Never had our carry-on weighed so it wasn't an issue.
As far as the liquids & gels, most of what you're probably bringing (diaper cream, scabies meds, contact lens solution) don't count in your one quart ziploc bag limit. Prescription & OTC meds, creams gels and liquids are allowed in quantities over 3 oz. They do ask that you declare them when you pass through security but we never do and we've never been asked about them. I do always pack them in quart bags, inside gallon bags and I include a printout from the TSA website in the bag just in case, for that one time when I might get someone who has their own rules. Here is the link with more info and what I printout and carry with us: http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtm
Also whenever you fly with Pipa, if they ask, always say there is juice or milk in her bottle/sippy cup because they allow that through where as if you say it's water they will often have you pour it out and then you have to get new water once you pass through security.
Just remember, no suspicious activity and you should be fine.
;-)
Our carry on bags were never weighed (hubby had a backpack that was stuffed with a 17 inch heavy laptop and camcorder) and I had a diaper bag stuffed plus a huge purse. No one ever weighed anything on business or first class (we did not travel coach so no idea there).
You may want to get a TSA lock just in case you ever do have to check the carry on bag (just in case).
Not sure about the liquids, have you tried asking the airline or your agency?
We each took a CO backpack plus I had a large purse and DH had the laptop.We took one checked luggage over and two coming back. Our carry one was never weighed.
In China flights: We did have all liquids including water be bought in the secured areas thrown away, some families had to argue to keep just one bottle. One the flight, everyone was helpful getting hot water and drinks.
Alyzabeth's Mommy - She's 28 Months!
There is no way in hell I could go COO. And Sea Star is also planning on going COO? *snort* Now, that's funny! *snort*
LOL - I didn't even try COO. I knew it would be an impossibility for me. Good luck!
Happy New Year to you and your adorable PIPA!
I ignored the restrictions as well. No one ever said anything to me or my family members who were traveling with me. They (US and China flight folks) were pretty strict with the weight limit on the baggage we checked, but other than that no one ever said a word. I traveled this past July...
Miya wants to say Happy New Year to you and your little one! efj9w0GUue0Gg9 - that was Miya's two cents. :-)
Not only can't I spell, but my memory is shot, too.
We each took a rolling bag. I had the diaper bag/backpack, and Jim had a camera bag.
It is still true that no one weighed any of our carry-ons.
can't help you AT all on this post, but LOVED the pun and wanted to say happy new year cuz I couldn't comment on the post above!! hope you got my email card :O)
P.S. Happy CNY!
We gave you an award; check our blog.
Alyzabeth's Mommy
Our carry-ons were consistently weighed at each of the ten Chinese cities we traveled through on last year's month long China vacation with our girls. Fortunately, we were never forced to pay any fines for being overweight because our guide explained that we were traveling with two 3 year olds who couldn't carry their own carry on items (true). Without that assistance, we would have probably been forced to pull heavier items out of our one roll-aboard and make our kids carry something. Obviously, Pipa can't do that either!
My husband carried his laptop computer case PLUS a big fat backpack (BFB) as his two carry-on items. Most of the time, his backpack just served to hold the small mountain of coats and extra clothes that we always have to travel with. Not expeically heavy but VERY VERY bulky! I strongly encourage someone in your travel party to have a BFB!
Finally, I encourage you to come to emotional terms with the possibility that you'll have to pay a fee or two. Really, when you factor the cost into your entire adoption expense, it's pretty minor. You'll probably not have to pay anything but, if you do, just try to not fret about it because the half hour of frantic repacking to avoid that fee is really not worth the $savings.
Have fun! This is going to be the most amazing adventure of your entire lifetime!
Donna
Our Blog: Double Happiness!
Hello and congrats...hey we are from The Akron Cleveland area :)
our lid is 4-28-07...boo still some wait ahead, but so glad for you and you have given us hope today!
If you are close by our area, drop us a line....
Best wishes and may your trip be full of miracles!
Blessings
Tammy
We were in China this past summer, and none of our carry-ons were weighed. We had 5 of us traveling, and I'm SURE some (if not all) of our bags were over the weight limit. And yes, if you have a seat for little PIPA, she gets her own carry-on bag as well :-)
We never had any problems with our bags being too heavy on the way there or back home. I am sure they were over the weight limit since they were stuffed. Our guide in China was great, he made sure we passed with no problems and said that we did not need to worry about the weight of the bags in China. It did not seem like a big deal coming or going. Hope this helps, I wish I could give you a definitive answer.
hugs,
Jonni
Check with your agency but I'm pretty sure the adoption groups are weighed as a group and then the total # is divided by people traveling...this includes any babies where the parents bought them a seat. We've gone twice and I was worried both times but no one ever got fined. We even had one couple who WAY over packed and they were teased the whole way...the mother packed her own espresso machine! They offered to pay the big fine if there was one, but there wasn't. Good luck to you. Do pack as light as you can, schleping a ton gets old fast and you can get almost everything in China nowadays. Only, don't skimp on meds for you and the baby. They don't have some of our over the counter meds and when you need them...you are desperate! Also, when you get to Guangzhou...you can even buy super cheap luggage if you need it to make it home. We knew lots of people who intentionally left no room in their luggage going over with the intention of buying it there. It worked out fine.
Hey there, I didn't read any of the comments but I just got back from China. The carryon bags were NEVER questioned or weighed. Thank god for me. My backpack is similar to the Sherpa and probably weighed 30lbs...same with my carryon. No worries. Just remember NO LIQUIDS at all on the China flights. They did confiscate ours. By that I mean the drinks we purchased after security right at the gate were taken away. We were bummed!!! I wouldn't worry! :)
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