SM

The trick when buying clothes is to always ask for one in a packet/wrapper, that way you know it has not been tried on by anyone. Most shops will do this if you ask, after all they want the sale.

Regards Jackie

Hi Jackie,

I can see how that would work in some shops but in these days of computer stock control most high street stores don't have stock rooms - all the stock is out on hangers on the rails and is replenshed automatically by 3 times a week deliveries depending on what's selling best. Sometimes it even comes off the lorries at the back already on hangers on portable rails ready for stright transfer onto the shop floor. M&S have done this for years so that they could maximise the selling floor space. Also I tend to buy a lot of my clothes from smaller boutiques who don't carry large stocks either and tend to have whatever they have on display.

But a textile engineer I knew told me that he too always washed anything new first before wearing it, not because he was squeamish but because fabrics for clothing are often treated with surface dressings at the manufacturing stage in order to make the cutting and sewing easier - they make the cloth stiffer and more stable, especially jerseys and knits, for handling during the making up. He said that if you knew what went into them you'd always want to wash any clothes that would be touching your skin before wearing them and that if you ironed/pressed new clothes before washing them you could 'set' these dressings in and they could create permanent stains or result in uneven fading over time etc. By the time I knew him he was running a dress fabric shop and because he knew that most home dressmakers press seams etc at they go he always advised customers to wash the length of fabric before starting to make it up.

SM

One of the reasons for me washing trousers is because on holiday one year, I wore a pair of black cropped trousers for an evening out. I didnt think anything of it and once back in the room I used the loo. When I looked around, the dye from the trousers had come off on the toilet seat and my legs were dyed black . I spent an hour trying to clean the toilet seat off but it must have been permanent ink 'cause it never did come off fully. I was so embarrassed .

Hi,

That must have been so embarassing! Never thought of that one because I always wash stuff first and so nothing like that has ever happened to me but it sounds like another good reason for doing so :-)

SM

20kg is exactly the same allowance as it has been for donkey's years (44lbs)

Maybe we should change our cases as when i went for 4 days mine was 23kg.
The worst was last year when one of our cases was 33kg !!!!!!!!
I had to open it up and take stuff out and put in to hand bags.
Ive just been on the airport web site to find out the size we are allowed on board and its not too bad but what can i put in that will help ease the weight in the cases ?

20kg is exactly the same allowance as it has been for donkey's years (44lbs)

I've got to disagree, it was always 25kg and even 30kg on some Charters and Scheduled. It was only reduced to 20kg when the airlines overhauled their operations i.e. no free meals, no free headphones and being able to book outbound and inbound flights seperately. I wouldn't say that was "donkeys years"

I just looked at a Britannia/Thomson ticket in my travel wallet and it was dated Sept 2002 (hence clearing out ) & the luggage allowance stated on the ticket stub is 25kg

Just another money making machine for the holiday Companies, they don't mind if you take up to 32kg as long as you pay in advance for excess or get stung at the check in desk instead

Having said all that generally I find the flights slightly cheaper now than a few years ago so swings & roundabouts and all that.

Going to Bulgaria last September my daughter didn't realise her case was so heavy -- 35kgs! Not a word was said at check in, so she got away with it but she did worry about it. However. as the maids in the hotel were so badly paid and some of her stuff was quite cheap, she solved worrying about the return flight by leaving a lot of her clothes behind for them.

I've been going abroad the best part of 30 years and I've never had a luggage allowance of MORE than 20 kg...chose which TO/airline I've travelled with.

On some very late deals it has been as low as 15 kg.

I still hate packing, but these days I leave the kitchen sink at home and when you make yourself manage with the essentials, then it is quite surprising how you can adapt.

Going away to Spain in the winter months sometimes causes a headache because you have to take a few warm jumpers for the cold evenings, but summer holidays are a doddle.
Shorts and strappy tops for the daytime, trousers and more classy tops to mix and match for the evenings.
I used to take the high heels and all the other stuff, but not anymore.

SanJi.x

but summer holidays are a doddle

That's right for some, but for someone who maybe has only one fortnight away, who wants to take all their finery, and wants their holiday to be special, then 20kg for two weeks needs thinking about. I'm talking mainly about the ladies here mind. For someone who doesn't want to wear clothes several times throughout their holiday and doesn't want to spend their precious holiday washing, the 20kg for 2 weeks is a bit of a struggle.
But on a 2 week holiday that's not "Costa summer related", say a couple of weeks in France/Austria etc. in the winter months, 20kg is a problem. So if 20kg is the baggage allowance for a 1 week holiday, as it is indeed for even a 1 night stay, surely an extra 5kg for 2 weeks would not be "pushing it".

I can still remember the 25kg allowance, and probably THOMSON is to blame for the silly 15kg allowance, and guess why ?????

Just my opinion,

Robby

Robbie

You say about winter hols. My husband takes my two boys skiing every year with his mates and their kids (don't worry ladies I am not left home alone while they have fun - that is the time when the wives and daughters have a girlie week) What an absolute nightmare. By the time two pairs of ski trousers, ski coat, hats, gloves, goggles, ski socks and fleeces are packed it is a hard job trying to fit any normal clothes in for the evenings;and that's without the skis and ski boots which they always have to pay extra to take. There are normally about 15 - 20 of them that travel together. The blokes have done this before any of us had kids so they have been going for quite a few years now and never have any of them been within their luggage allowance. It's a guessing game before they go who is going to have to pay the most for their excess luggage.

Rgds Jackie

sorry, but I think the more you are allowed, then the more unnecessary items you will be tempted to take.
I'm actually glad that restrictions on the size of hand luggage has been enforced, I' m sick of placing delicate items in the overhead lockers and some moron with handluggage the size of my case ramming it into the space.

Someone will correct me I'm sure, but did we once have a pilot on here saying about how they have to calculate the weight with the wind speed etc before they pull back to take off....something like that.

If you allowed some people 30 KG they would still want more.

I've also done the finery bit touring Europe in the winter.
Economics really.....more weight, more thrust needed to lift off ...more fuel needed/used....and who will pay in the end for the extra fuel?
Just my view

Sanji x

I do kind of agree the more your allowed the more you will take and as i have said i find it hard to pack light.
This year though will be worse as all of our suntan lotions, after sun, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner etc etc enough for four people for two weeks will have to go into our cases as no liquids are allowed by hand. This will add to the weight of the cases by quite a bit as this is the stuff i usually take on in my vanity case
I do think there should be some kind of extra allowence whilst the hand bagadge restrictions are in place !

Do people actually take clothes and stuff as handluggage?The only handluggage i take is my handbag and my oldest son takes a small rucksak with all the stuff he will need for journey...nicole

I have twice arrived at my destination on holiday without suitcase, once the case arrived the following day and once it took three days. During my 40yrs+ travelling I have often run in to people who have had to manage for a few days without their luggage. So I always take a change of underwear, my toiletries, pills, a book and the last couple of years my MP3 player for the journey, in my handluggage, which is just a small overnight bag. This wouldn't fit into my handbag. Most of my friends and relatives do the same. But I do agree with Sanji re. restrictions about size of handluggage being enforced. I get tired of people bringing two or three bags some very heavy and then jamming them in overhead storage and getting upset if stewards won't help lift them up.
Unfortunately I will be flying next weekend so I will have to rethink my packing. Though I will still manage under 20Kgs even with all the extra that has to go in the suitcase this time.

Although i take a lot in weight on as hand baggadge it still all fits into one vanity case which is still in the size restrictions which are now in place. The only problem is they are mainly liquid form and therefore will have to go into the hold.
I would never manage 3 / 4 bags aswell as a case and would never expect anyone to lift, carry or move my bags. As far as im concerned if i cant manage to carry it i shouldnt take it.
I work on board for a national rail company and know only too well how the public think us as trolletdollys should move / carry their bags. Some people even move house by train and im not joking!
I know there has to be a restriction and yes maybe 20kg is enough per person but as ive said whilst the liquid restriction is in place i do think they could give an extra few kg to compensate x

You are right kat,they should allow a bit more as you would be taking this weight on board anyway but just in a different place.As i have said 80kg is enough for my family of 4 but i know alot of people do struggle.In fact i think my luggage for all 4 of us is between 50 and 60 kg...nicole

Sanji wrote:

Economics really.....more weight, more thrust needed to lift off ...more fuel needed/used....and who will pay in the end for the extra fuel?

BHIC wrote:

Plus the more weight on board the aircraft then more fuel is required....I think More fuel.......increased prices for tickets......etc.

Robbyw wrote:

So should overweight people pay a "premium" ???????????????????

What is the problem?

Most TOs give you an allowance of 20kgs. If you want more then pay for it!

You had better get used to the restrictions as they are going to be with us for a long time.

The problem is that people have got used to a lax system - we all have done it. Just a bit over and nothing said. Well what with security and the increased cost of fuel then people are just going to have to rethink.

The world will not end just because you cannot take an extra pair of shoes. You could also do what my son does - pack what he thinks he will need - if he needs something when he gets there that he has not packed he goes out and buys it.

fwh