Baggage

Now that you have your brand new passport in hand, you are ready to begin the search for airline reservations. But before you do, if you are flying to the UK, check with the airlines about baggage limits for both checked-bags, carry-on bags, and quantity and weight limits.  You don’t want to be repacking at the airport (we’ve seen that being done at the ticket window), so be on the safe side and weigh each bag before you go.

To get an accurate weight on standard bathroom scales, first weigh yourself, step off, and then pick up one bag and weigh again. The difference between the two numbers will be the weight of the bag. One can also use hand scales, which can come in handy on the return trip after you’ve loaded up with touristy gifts and such to bring home. Be aware that airlines don’t use the “average” weight of two bags, so being five pounds over on one and five pounds under on another won’t be acceptable. All the bags have to be within limits or you will pay excess baggage fees, which can be hefty. But you can also consider whether one overweight bag is less expensive to pay for than two underweight bags. Some planning is going to be needed here, but it pays off in the end.

We have not travelled to England by ship, but if you are planning to do so, check with the cruise line about any baggage limitations. Your bags will be checked portside and ported on board, so there may be limitations. It’s worth asking a few questions about that. Of course, if you plan to go by air one direction and ship the other, you’ll need to be within the most restrictive regulations or be prepared to pay extra.

Train travel within UK from a seaport or airport has little baggage restrictions but, then again, they also have poor baggage capabilities. From our experience, we have had to carry our bags on to a train, put them into a smallish storage area at one end of the car, or into a small overhead space. If the train is full and if a lot of travelers are on it, that space may be severely constrained. If you cannot fit, you may be better served waiting for a later train so that you can board early and get your space. Trains in the UK run pretty frequently in most locations so that extra wait may not be too long.

In conclusion, think and plan ahead for your baggage!