How strict are Virgin on case size?

[Katies Mum]

Hi,

Please do you know how strict Virgin are on the 62" total dimensions, just measured our cases and they are 64", now I have gone into panic mode! less than 2 weeks to go.

Thanks

[MarkJan]

How accurate are your measurements? Just tell the checkin person you've measured them and you get 60! I do know they are keen on weight as we had to unpack some items and put them in hand luggage. A bit of a waste of time as the total weight on the flight was the same.

[Katies Mum]

HI,

Give or take 1mm I think they are more or less 64". I will be very strict on our weight though. Do they tend to bother that much about size (unless it looked really too large and I have seen a lot bigger than ours)

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Katies Mum
HI,

Give or take 1mm I think they are more or less 64". I will be very strict on our weight though. Do they tend to bother that much about size (unless it looked really too large and I have seen a lot bigger than ours)
[/quote]

Are you including wheels, handles etc?

[CarolAnn]

When we flew at Easter with Virgin, they seemed pretty hot on the weight and dimensions [msneek]

[ellie]

We have always found Virgin very strict on both hold luggage and cabin luggage. They weighed both.

I agree with Carol and Ellie, for peace of mind I would get some smaller cases[msnsad]

[ellie]

If you take too big a case you are simply wasting weight - you can only have 23k so if you have a big case you cannot over fill it. So much better to get a smaller case which weighs less and pack it tighter.[msnwink]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ellie
If you take too big a case you are simply wasting weight - you can only have 23k so if you have a big case you cannot over fill it. So much better to get a smaller case which weighs less and pack it tighter.[msnwink]
[/quote]

You can have 23k x 2 cases per passenger on US routes[msnwink]

[Deb]

They are very strict - we had to unpack a case travelling home to the UK last April due to overweight and size, and then in November at the Downtown Disney checkin they were weighing everyones cases.

[pieman790]

Just arrived back last night and we travelled via MCO with United. Before they would allow you to check in they were measuring and weighing every piece of check in luggage. They were not allowing anything over 50lbs. It was either a case or reducing the weight of the case or paying $50 excess per peice.

[ShirleyCottam]

I have found they are much stricter recently.

I bought some scales to leave in our villa, so guests can weigh their cases before they leave for the airport.

[blott]

They were strict enough in 2001 to make us not fly with them again when they refused our hand luggage even though it met with their size and weight requirements! [msnmad] We've never had any problems whatsoever with any other airlines - and we've used quite a lot!

We've now booked again with them as their prices are more reasonable and, if I'm paying cheaper, I don't mind being bullied quite so much.

If I were you, I'd make sure that your luggage meets their requirements exactly and avoid a potential load of hassle.

[pieman790]

we bought some on Saturday morning from Walmart to do the same. Cost us $17 for some digital read out ones but they did have some cheaper versions We found it easier to weight yourself and then hold each case whilst standing on the scales. You then deduct your own weight. Otherwise the case obstructs the weight read out.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ShirleyCottam
I have found they are much stricter recently.

I bought some scales to leave in our villa, so guests can weigh their cases before they leave for the airport.
[/quote]

[Katies Mum]

Thanks everyone, I know we will be ok on the weight its just this 2" overall that I am worried about. Do they actually measure your case? wouldn`t think they have time!

I begrudge going out buying more suitcases just for one holiday.

[Cruella DeVilla]

I have never seen any cases big measured KM, weighed yes and they are hot on that as others have said so I would not overly worry about an inch or two.

[Katies Mum]

Thank you, I will go out of my way to make sure they are well under the 23kg, have really good scales so not a problem. By the time I have packed an extra holdall etc then it should fill up the space without too much weight.

Am going to have a mess about tomorrow to see what goes in and what it weighs.... can always resort to Tesco carrier bags!

[ellie]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Mach 2
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ellie
If you take too big a case you are simply wasting weight - you can only have 23k so if you have a big case you cannot over fill it. So much better to get a smaller case which weighs less and pack it tighter.[msnwink]
[/quote]

You can have 23k x 2 cases per passenger on US routes[msnwink]
[/quote]

Yes, I meant that its better not to have a large one as you cannot fill it over 23k. Better to have 2 smaller ones which you can fill and not worry so much about their empty weight.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ellie
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Mach 2
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ellie
If you take too big a case you are simply wasting weight - you can only have 23k so if you have a big case you cannot over fill it. So much better to get a smaller case which weighs less and pack it tighter.[msnwink]
[/quote]

You can have 23k x 2 cases per passenger on US routes[msnwink]
[/quote]

Yes, I meant that its better not to have a large one as you cannot fill it over 23k. Better to have 2 smaller ones which you can fill and not worry so much about their empty weight.
[/quote]

Very true, I am taking one inside another on the way out so I have lots of space and weight for the return[msnwink]

[pieman790]

United Airlines had a wooden measuring stick and a pair of scales. They measured all of our cases before they would allow us to start to queue up for check in. This was last Saturday at MCO. There is no need to have big suit cases any more and this is one reason we checked in 7 bags to bring home with us between the 4 of us.

[ravtino]

Just packed, my cases are just the dimensions but I have decided to split everything between 4 cases for the three of us, normally have empty case inside one but for weight I thought it would be easier.:D

Why when I have cut down do I always still seem to have a lot, my hubbie says its all the shoes[msnwink]

[heathercobbett]

I have told this story before on this forum. We have themed rooms in our house so I am always on the lookout for appropriate things.

About 3 years ago, I had done such a good job that my cases were full before I even started packing clothes.

So we just wore EVERYTHING! And I mean everything.We started with pjs and then several tshirts, 2 pairs of leggings with trousers over and so on.

Fortunately there was snow on the ground so we were not too hot; but pretty warm!

[Katies Mum]

I`ve just found some notes I made before our last trip 4 years ago and it says Virgin case size 62" when all dimensions added together, so this size thing has been going a while. We took the same 2 cases I am having a dilema over at the moment, so now I know they were ok last time am going to take them and not worry. But I will check the weight of them (my scales are very accurate)very carefully.

Also taking a couple of holdalls for coming home when I can`t weigh everything so can split it all up (doesn`t matter what it looks like coming home!)

Thanks for all your advice.

Don`t think I could wear it all!!! get tooo hot `its my age` but good tip

[bargainqueen]

I bought my Florida luggage from the flea market on the 192 just past Bass Road. I've been using it for years, the large wheeled holdall adds up to the dimensions quoted on website and I've never had any problems with it. Once we've checked in at Gatwick it has to go to outsize baggage along with my husbands golf clubs.

Going out it's at most 20kgs, a few clothes and empty holdalls. Coming back it's more likely to be around 28kgs, the bag itself is heavy around 3kgs empty. We always travel Premium Economy so don't have to worry too much about the weight.

We have a property in Spain and for the first couple of years I was travelling back and forth using Easyjet, to get all the bedding out I used a large suitcase and was restricted to 20kgs. It is possible to keep the weight down but it involves a lot of careful weighing using the bathroom scales[msneek] Not so good when you're supposed to dieting, I knew that I had put on 10kgs in a year[msnembarrased]

[Florida Joy]

The last time we flew Virgin to Orlando from Gatwick they challenged the weight of my husbands hand luggage which contained our laptop, a first and only time this has happened. He had to take out the power supply and and I put it in my hand bag then the little "jobs worth" on the desk let us go.
However when we came back they lost our luggage as we transfered from Gatwick to a BA flight to Glasgow. Lost property in Glasgow told us that Virgin and BA don't communicate very well and this happens all the time.
Has put us off using Virgin again.

[pieman790]

My sister in law tells me that that when they came back last December there was a hugh queue at the Virgin checkin at MCO. They never bothered to measure or weigh their cases and one of them weighed well over 32 kgs. Could have been a one off situation.