| Remove ads on the forum by becoming a donating member. More here. |
|---|
I flew Iberia a lot and they never lost my checked-in backpack but anyway the companies don't have their staff to deal with the luggage, it's the airport staff. Although the companies might print out wrong stickers for the luggage, that's true. Everything else is a matter of scanners, automatized process (conveyor belts) or possible theft. Later happened to me in Barcelona when my Swiss army knife was missing but it was my fault because I put it in an outside pocket and really easy to take it
Not to worry--a 48L pack will fit in the overhead just fine. My Gregory 48L pack did on both US and International flights. Be sure to not have things hanging from it and cinch it down. But there's plenty of room. The only time you'll have to check it would be if you're flying on smaller "commuter" jets in the US to connect, but even then, gate check it, do not check it at the ticket counter. Might want to put things you'll need during the flight in a stuff sack for under your seat. If you'd like more advice on the Camino, please see my blog: CaminoJoe.com. Buen Camino!
Ah, true, David! I was basing my comment on an internal frame or frameless pack. External frame packs are considerably longer and won't compress.
I always check my bag and just take the ‘neck wallet’ with me... Carries my important stuff, like passport, phone etc...
Hi MeandIan,
Thanks! Gonna look into that bag.
That's horrible! That's my fear. Thanks for sharing.
I agree. It is an inquiry quite common on this forum, and so vague in question that it is impossible to answer. Not all 48L backpacks are the same size when packed by different people. Not all 35L packs are, or 30L packs are etc etc etc.
LOL! Great idea!
Thanks! This is what I'll do. I appreciate the help!
So you don’t state your route for flying , I am in Burgos now arrived 2 days ago with AC to LHR checked my pack 48lt kestrel, have a daypack for carry on , next was BA to Madrid £65 to check bag so I bundled the daypack inside the kestrel and carried it on at no charge, next flight Madrid to Bilbao Iberia Airlines no way allowed to take carry on that doesn’t fit underneath your seat, since I was the last passenger to arrive the staff checked it for me no charge.
Estelle, I'm flying into Madrid from Miami. I think that I may have found the best solution in using a Hyperlite 2400 bag. These bags are much easier to compress and cinch tight than the Osprey that I was looking at. If I pack it right,-(not beyond the tops of the shoulder straps)- it should meet airline carry- on requirements and I won't need a daypack. Thanks for the info.
You are correct the two Ospreys are giving me a headache! Buen Camino
I don’t know where you got your info about Iberia being notorious for losing luggage. I fly Iberia and they have never lost my checked backpack.
Three fellow pilgrims experienced this first hand. Not a nice way to begin. Read reviews from several years ago. Not only was their lost luggage percentage high but customer service was terrible if you were not Spanish. Once you been one of the unlucky ones (or witnessed the crisis of a lost backpack by a friend), you become more circumspect. Hopefully they have improved because I am flying them this fall but I will still not check my pack before I walk.
I surrender!! I realize just because i’ve never experienced my pack being lost probably ups the odds that it will be. As the saying goes” there’s a 1st time for everything” next trip I’ll just check my poles much easier to replace. Thanks for the common sense advice.In 2010, British Airways bought Iberia. There were lots of news reports at the time about how Iberia workers, who were NOT in favor of the merger, were trying to sabotage things by having lots of bags from BA and other code share partners "go missing." I don't know that that was ever well established, but rumors like this tend to make their way into our consciousness.
More to the point, though, I would never check my backpack on any airline on my way to the camino. Sure the odds of loss are minimal, but having to buy everything new in Spain would be such a nightmare that I would never chance it. Iberia lost my checked poles once, which is why I never check them either, because it was a huge hassle to replace them on my way to the Vdlp. I was so thankful it was only one item. Imagine having to buy everything new right before starting out. I am not trying to be a fear monger, but we see occasional posts from people in this situation and it is not a good way to start a camino. I always check it on the way home, though, because the consequences of a lost backpack are so unimportant.
p.s. Here are some statistics, and this was before the merger
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/5560131/Iberia-worst-airline-for-losing-luggage.html
News
Discover exciting world events, luxury travel deals, safety tips, and more. View the latest international travel news and information at T+L.www.travelandleisure.com
Major US airlines reported at 2-4 bags "mishandled" per thousand. And Iberia, in 2009, had more than 15 per thousand. Even though 3 per thousand seems tiny, that's one on every two or three big planeloads. I desperately do not want to be that person!
I surrender!! I realize just because i’ve never experienced my pack being lost probably ups the odds that it will be. As the saying goes” there’s a 1st time for everything” next trip I’ll just check my poles much easier to replace. Thanks for the common sense advice.
Weight and size restrictions are airline dependent. You always need to check with the airline(s) that you are not flying with. So far most US based airlines don't have a carry on weight requirement, other than your own ability to lift it up yo put in the overhead bin.
Wow! That must have been stressful! Glad you had the ability to recover and keep moving! How are you feeling these days? I'm off in less than 2 weeks. I'm so excited to do my first Camino! Thanks for being so inspirational and helpful!!
HI, just wondering how much the airlines charged for this small bundle of checked goods? Or did your ticket include a checked item?
This may be out-of-date information, but the last time I traveled internationally with checked baggage from the US in 2017, the airlines were required (perhaps by some sort of international agreement) to allow each passenger to check two pieces of luggage at no additional cost. The only limitation was the normal size limitation. We were also allowed two carry-on items, one in the overhead bin and one beneath the seat. That was our backpacks and a small daypack with essentials. The tubes with the poles were the only checked items, so they traveled free also.
That wasn't even true in 2017. Right now, (as in 2017) most major US airlines do allow one checked bag, one full sized carry on and one personal item for transatlantic flights. However, they are now selling what they call Basic Economy fares, which don't include any checked bags. Passengers with "status" on the airline or who hold certain airline credit cards may get additional free luggage.
Air travel is much cheaper now, compared to incomes and other costs of living, than it used to be. Now we have more choices, which include some rock-bottom fares without baggage, meals and refundability.
