Suitcases

[DAFF]

Hi All,
Quick question, we go to florida next year and are planning on doing lots of shopping.[msnsmile2] Is it better to take empty cases with you or to buy out there ?????
If out there where??? Thanks for advice. Daff[msnsmile2]

[GrahamC]

We normally buy the large canvass sportsbag type holdalls from Walmart. They work a treat and cost about $20. They also fold down to go out in your suitcase next trip.

[berni_richards]

buy when you get there take 3/4 days clothes with you and wash them and buy extras when over there.

Berni

[eastcoastbranch]

We put a smaller case inside a larger one for going over so we have the larger one to fill for coming back.Or we go to walmart as they have a great selection and not expensive.
Hannah.

[ShirleyD]

We got a set of five from Wal Mart. 1 medium case, 1 wheel on hand baggage size case, 1 wheelie type holdall bag, 1 small hand baggage and a toilet bag....$39. For that price, if it lasts 3 trips, I'm, bucks in!!! :D Compare this to what you can get in the UK for just over £20 [msnscared]

[chrisflowers]

You can also buy cases cheaply in the Florida Mall.
Don't forget the space bags and use the villa vacuum to shrink down your purchases to minimal sizes for packing - this is especially important not the single suitcase hold allowance is changinf to 22Kg

[Genie]

and K-mart !!!

[Ray&Sarah]

We also usually pay a visit to Walmart and buy a case from there if required, they are pretty cheap and as Ray travels alot they get used a great deal so we get our monies worth and then he replaces it on the next trip for a new one.[msnsmile2]

[bargainqueen]

Now that the luggage allowance on scheduled has been reduced to 23kgs the weight of your empty suitcase needs to be taken into consideration. I weighed my "florida" cases once and found one was 8kgs (large holdall with wheels and bars running underneath for extra strength). Even with a 32kg allowance I thought this was too heavy.

I have always bought my bags from the flea market on the 192 near Bass Road. They are very reasonably priced and have cases and holdalls in all sizes.

On one stall they have a large holdall which when opened is the size of a 32" suitcase $9.99. You could pack this and get full value out of your luggage allowance. I would recommend using space bags (Walmart vacumn cleaner aisle $9.99 for 2 large) to protect your clothes purchases. They can then be placed in a holdall leaving your suitcase for anything which needs extra protection. I think I get 8 or 10 space bags in the holdall mentioned above very handy if you bring back bedding especially a "bed in a bag". It normally weighs 28kgs when full no problem for us as we go premium economy. I'm sure anyone else could keep the weight down by packing out the holdall with less heavy items cuddly toys etc.

There is also a flea market near to Maingate on 192.

[dawn]

Be careful with your luggage allowance - most airlines are now charging, and it could be expensive if you go over your limit - enjoy the shopping!

[pieman790]

We have never had problem going out from the UK even with cases inside one another, however in Florida it is different. We have travelled United twice in the the last months and they have weighed our cases and both occassion two of our cases were over the 50lb max allowance. The made us take stuff out and spread it among the other cases to get to the cortrect weight allowance. We even brought stuff home in a cardboard box at christmas. They charge approx $25-$30 per case which is over the 50lb allowance.
We are frequent flyers with United and BMI so we are allowed 3 cases each, so the weight problem has never affected us.

[TracyAndDean]

We brought the canvas sportsbag type from the Florida Mall, cost $19 and is brilliant. We have the choice of 1/2 filling both the large case and bag (which has wheels) or fill the case and squash the bag inside ready for when we return with all our goody bargains :D:D:D

[freddiehollie]

We bought our cases at Ross. Great price and great quality.
Bought a brass fishermans scale which we take to make sure
we fill our cases to the maximum, but not over. Cost £3.99
which is a lot cheaper than paying overweight charge [msnwink].
It also takes away any worry at check in.
We fly Virgin and check in at Downtown Disney and have never
seen cases weighed so don't know what happens there if they are overweight

[wendyd]

Also the Flea Markets

[DAFF]

Do they split the wait between the family??? 2Adults and 2 Children ??

And Thanks for all your Help[msnsmile2].
Daff

[mizzy]

not sure who your travelling with daff

but this is the info from the virgin website (per person regardless whether adult or child)

economy
2 pieces per person each weighing up to 23kg and when added together the 3 dimensions of any piece of luggage must not exceed 158cm/62"

hand luggage (in addition to one handbag) must be able to fit in front of the seat infront of you and be no larger than 23x36x56cm (9x14x22") weighing no more than 6kg

prem economy
2 pieces per person each weighing up to 32kg (max dimensions as above)/ hand luggage same as above

infants who are don't require a seat one piece of checked in luggage weighing no more than 10kg and one piece of hand luggage weighing no more than 6kg this is in addition to a buggy, bassinet or car seat which is carried free of charge

Mizzy

[Ray&Sarah]

BA have relaxed their hand luggage allowance, as long as it is the regulatory size it no longer gets weighed, just make sure it fits in the over head lockers and you can lift it yourself.[msnsmile2]

[ShirleyD]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by DAFF
Do they split the wait between the family??? 2Adults and 2 Children ??

And Thanks for all your Help[msnsmile2].
Daff
[/quote]
No each piece has a maximum weight of 23kg, though you all have the allowance, so you can take 8 bags with Virgin or BA.

[Val]

Take the minimum as you always return with the maximum. Walmart always a safe bet for a cheap case or holdall. You also ask if they split the weight via the family, this depends on the airline, we travelled with Delta in March and had one case under the limit and one over, they did suggest we take some out of one and place in the other, but with a long queue I did not fancy my undies on show to all, so we paid the $25.

Val

[freddiehollie]

Better not ask what type of undies they were then Val [msnwink][msnwink]

[kaysvacationvilla]

We have had great success at the 192 flea market. I bought a very big suite case at a well known department store that the seam separated on the first flight. I purchased one the same size to replace it at the flea market that held my daughter's field hockey stick, and so much more for $30.00. I think these are better quality than the ones at Wal-Mart and I am a big Wal-Mart fan and there at least once a week.

[bargainqueen]

The holdalls are even better value, ranging from $5 upto $20 depending on the size and fold flat for the next trip. Better to wait until near the end to get the correct size.

Last trip I bought a case but found that it weighed too heavy so exchanged it for a holdall.

[abbeyvillas]

Better to buy 2 smaller suitcases or holdalls as most airlines are very strict on the maximum weight per case. As several people have already suggested the children will have the same entitlement usally about 22 / 23kgs.
Walmart, K-Mart, Bargain World all have a good selection at very low prices.
We bought a set of bathroom scales for our guests to use for this very reason, I'm sure not too many want to know about their own weight whilst on holiday!
Pam & Jeanette :)

[bargainqueen]

Good idea, most of the places I've stayed in have scales. Although I rely on my husband to tell me when the bag is getting near the weight.

So far we have never had our bags weighed when using Downtown check in and bags have been accepted ok without having an heavy sticker on them when collected at Gatwick. Since our upgrade several trips ok we always book PE.

Interesting to know from people checking in now whether they are weighing each suitcase. Would increase check-in time as they only have the one scale, normally the cases are left in rows by the appropriate bus for the flight. Perhaps that's what are causing the delays that others have reported.

When we were there in March the staff were still being trained, that may have a knock-on effect as well.