CHECKED-IN LUGGAGE VS HAND-CARRY LUGGAGE

Every day thousands of people take domestic or international flights for business or with family. They also ensure to take all necessary luggage bags with them within the baggage allowance from the airlines. Every airline has a different baggage handling policy. However, it should comply with general IATA rules.

Whether to check-in your baggage or take in hands depends if it's a short business trip or a family vocational trip or a couple of weekend escape to a beach. Whether you like to take everything with you even at a higher cost or you are more convenient to travel light.

Smart and frequent travelers are well aware of the baggage rules and how to carry them on big airports with fewer efforts. It is in the best of passenger's interest to read and understand the baggage policy along with other itinerary details like baggage allowance, list of prohibited items, and missing baggage or damage policy.

Despite so many improvements in the baggage handling system globally, there are still cases of missing or damaged baggage, even in five-star airlines, on daily basis. So, reading the global rules and passenger's rights can help you to negotiate better with the airline staff in case you face a similar situation regarding your baggage, anywhere in the world.

Hand Baggage (cabin size)

Hand carry, checked-in, or cabin baggage is the allowed baggage from the airline that you can take in hands with you inside the flight cabin while taking a domestic or international flight. They are not checked in at the counter while getting a boarding pass and are usually stored in the overhead compartments inside the flight cabin above passenger's seats. Hence, the airlines are very concerned about the checked-in item and baggage dimensions. If it's not within dimensions, you may have to check-in the package at an additional cost.

Personal items like a laptop, handbag, or similar is usually allowed along with hand luggage pieces in all airlines except few. Please read the baggage policy of the airline along with fare rules before you buy the ticket.

Hand Baggage Allowance:

Economy class to carry one piece of hand baggage, the weight of which should not exceed 7kg (15lb), whereas first-class and business class to carry two pieces of baggage, the weight of which should not exceed total 15kg (33lb). However, maximum dimensions for each hand baggage are 55x38x20cm (guidelines as per emirates airline).

Allowed items:

It's very important to know what you can take with you inside the air cabin before you finalize between checked-in and hand baggage. Your daily used handy items like medication, toiletries, or your important documents, files, money, or precious items, electronics, or sleeping suits as long as it's within the allowance. You might not want to wait at the arrival airport to collect your checked-in luggage if you came for a short weekend trip.

Checked-in Baggage

Checked-in baggage is luggage that is not allowed to take in to the air-cabin. At the check-in counter, passengers give their pieces of luggage within the allowed weight and dimensions in the airline's custody and get the boarding pass. This luggage is then sent to the cargo section of the operating craft and given back to passengers at arrival airports.

Note: For Senator checked baggage we have medium large and extra large trolley.

People who travel on longer trips are more concerned about their checked-in baggage. So, airlines are very specific about the weight and dimensions of the checked-in pieces. You may easily find the baggage allowance on the airline's website.

Standard Baggage Allowance and Dimensions:

The standard allowance for the economy cabin is 30kgs, and the First and Business cabin is 50kgs, which can be divided into two pieces. Total dimensions H+L+W should not exceed 158cm (62in) for any checked-in piece.

Smart is Better:

Whether to take your luggage in hand to avoid long waits at arrival or to take everything with you is a smart choice, and you should consider the type of travel and available options to make that choice.

For short trips, frequent travelers prefer to travel light and not to wait at arrival airports to collect the luggage they don't even need for the trip. Whereas traveling with family or on long trips, people prefer to take all necessary things and check them in at the airline counters before flights.

Be smart, go through the fare rules and baggage policy of the airline before buying the ticket, see if you are traveling far or long or just nearby, and then finalize your packing.