Luggage Go Lite

Have you been charged for overweight luggage at the airport recently? This is an annoying airline surcharge, per leg of the trip, usually for bags weighing more than fifty pounds. Some airlines give you a little more leeway on weight, and some less, but most seem to be sticking to the fifty-pound limit, per bag. You need to check with each airline before you begin packing for your trip if you want to avoid these surcharges. Weight restrictions seem to change pretty often, so always check prior to packing. And you probably need to travel with the newest, and very useful travel accessory - the portable luggage scale! It lets you know if you've purchased too much on your trip and need to redistribute your packing before leaving for the airport. One of the most useful portable scale models has a tape measure so you can also check luggage size. You may go over the 62" linear maximum size when you stuff pockets and expand the case. Some airlines will also charge for oversized bags, so the tape measure comes in handy. The most popular travel scale also has a "lift and lock" feature. You won't have to lift fifty pounds all of the way off the floor up to your eye level. You lift your luggage slightly with the scale and the scale locks in the weight. You then remove the hook handle of the scale from your luggage and read the scale easily without having to continue holding up your bag.

Many of the luggage companies have come out with lighter weight luggage, and slightly smaller sizes, to offset this problem of weight and size at airports. Before purchasing a new bag, be sure to lift the case empty first. Some of the luggage that says "lightweight" is not that light. However, there are some good lightweight luggage cases that are great quality, with lighter frames allowing the case to be really light in weight. Some of the most popular lighter weight brands of luggage are the Prolite Luggage collection by Coronado, the Swiss Werks 3.0, and Briggs & Riley superlight cases. Vera Bradley luggage is also lightweight, and some of the Delsey luggage collections are nice and lightweight. Skyway luggage also makes a line called Escape that is quite light in weight. There are also some wonderful duffels on wheels made of ripstop nylon or ballistic nylon that are very lightweight. Be warned about choosing oversized duffels, which will go over the airline 62" size limit and may incur extra charges at the airport. Also, be careful about overstuffing these duffels on wheels. They can easily be stuffed and hold so much, you can inadvertently go overweight! Since many of the airlines still allow two bags per person, attempt to pack two smaller bags, which will stay under the weight restrictions. As long as the bags can be piggybacked together, you will have no problem wheeling the two bags together through busy airport and train terminals, or out to a taxi or rent-a-car agency. You can also take carry on luggage, and piggyback that together with your larger luggage size. Put shoes and boots, and some items that are heavier in the carry on luggage. Remember, you're cosmetics must go in the luggage you send through as baggage. You may only carry on to the airplane liquids and gels in three ounce bottles or less, in a clear plastic one quart size bag. And it is only one of these clear bags per person. These cosmetic or toiletry cases are known as the three-one-one bag. With a little advance planning, and your handy travel accessory the portable scale, you should have no problem complying with the new airline regulations and avoiding any surcharges. You'll actually find it quite easy to "go light" with your luggage.