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How To Measure A Bag For Airline Travel? Find Out Here!

How Can You Measure Travel bag?

When it comes to carry-on luggage, it’s important to be prepared.  When you’re travelling, you need to pack as efficiently as possible, especially if you’re flying.

The last thing you want is to cram all your travel essentials into a bag that’s too small. That’s why you need to get the right size bag that’s big enough for your stuff and your needs.

So, how can you measure your travel bag? The best way to measure your bag is to ensure that it will fit in the overhead bin. A standard airline carry-on bag is 22″ x 14″ x 9″.

To help you understand how much room you need in your carry-on bag for your clothes and other personal items, some travel experts suggest measuring the bag, width and height.

However, double check the maximum dimension of your airline’s carry-on policies when planning your trip. Using a long-handled tape measure to determine the size of your carry-on bag in order to maximise space for your belongings. 

The most important exact measurements of the bag are the length and width.  Measure the length from the top of the bag to the base.  Measure the width from side to side.

It can be difficult to tell how much of a bag you will need, and how big it has to be. It’s not the same with a small size and large size of a bag, because there is always a standard size of check in luggage.

But if you want to know what size of bag is allowed on a plane, we have all the information you need.

What is the Size Limit Allowed on a Plane?

In the world of air travel, luggage size is a big deal. If you pack too light, you may not get a seat. If you pack too heavy with bulky items or with your personal item, you may end up with a reduced number of bags to check.

The personal item contents of the bag you may take on a plane is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when travelling. You need to get the correct size. 

A carry-on baggage size limit must fit in the overhead or under the seat in front of you. When packed, the bag must be able to fit within the size limitations of the aircraft.

The standard carry-on luggage size limit of the bag you can bring onto a plane depends on the type of airline terms you’re travelling with. Most airlines allow a maximum carryon bag size of 9-inches by 14-inches by 22-inches.

One way to prevent checked baggage from being too big is to buy a backpack that can fit your belongings without being too big or too small.

Note: The carry on luggage rules for your plane may differ from the luggage allowances for your wallet, but in a lot of cases, the plane baggage can be smaller due to weight restrictions.

What if Your Checked Luggage is Too Big?

  • If your check-in luggage is too big, the air carrier will not accept it as baggage. Airlines offer a variety of baggage fee-waivers and size limitations, so you should check with your airline about specific baggage rules.
  • Airlines have strict size and weight limits for checked baggage. If your luggage is larger than the stated limits, you may be charged a fee for the additional weight.
  • If your checked luggage is too big, you can check it in as a normal luggage, but it might need to be removed before the plane takes off.
  • If you have oversize piece of luggage, you will need to ship the luggage separately.
  • Your bags and piece of oversize luggage will be screened at the security checkpoint. If the items are over the size luggage  limits you can send your items through as checked luggage or you can purchase a separate seat for your luggage.  

What is the Weigh Limit Allowed on a Plane?

Major airlines are strict when it comes to their luggage policy. The reason is simple: they need to make sure that all the bags are weighed and counted, and that they can account for all of them should there be a delay.

The amount of luggage they allow per passenger is also regulated, and you can only bring a certain amount of bags.

Packing your clothes can be a challenging task: you have to pack the right clothes, but also ensuring that you pack only what you need and not too much.

Make sure that the clothes you have packed are not bulky, that they will fit into the suitcase and that you have forgotten nothing.

The standard weight limit of a carry-on bag is 15 lbs. In addition, the combined weight of your carry-on items and your checked baggage cannot exceed 50 lbs.

The approximate weight of the bag is determined by its volume. Therefore, the weight of the bag is calculated by multiplying the volume of the bag by the density of the material it is made of.

What Happens if Your Luggage is Overweight?

Overweight luggage is a widespread problem, especially among frequent travellers.

In fact, it is so common that a good portion of the luggage purchased online is overweight, which contributes to the weight of the luggage you have to check on planes and trains.

If you’re travelling by plane, you should know the baggage allowances and baggage policy for your specific carrier.

  • For those who pack their bags in such a way that they exceed the limits, airlines often offer fees for “overweight” bags. Yet, you can pay for extra baggage fees as special baggage.
  • There is a flat charge for a single piece of checked baggage weight allowances, but the extra charge for multiple bags can be substantial.
  • If you have over a certain standard weight limit in your checked bags, and your luggage is overweight, you will pay additional baggage fees at the airport security check point. 
  • However, if you refuse to pay with baggage issues, you will be arrested and your bag will be confiscated. Follow airline baggage restrictions.

Do Airline Luggage Also Measure Wheels?

The airline measurements you see online are for the combined dimensions of your bag, not its actual single dimension.

So, if your bag is 20 inches long, but the airline says it is 25 inches long, you’ve been overcharged. The solution? Measure your bag’s actual single dimension.

The dimensions of the bag refer to the outside measurements of the bag. The strong wheels are part of the bag.

All luggage measurements are with wheels for carry-on luggage and without wheels for checked  luggage.

The proper dimensions that are listed on the airline’s site are width, length, and height. The size of the bag is based on these three measurements. The wheels are also included in this measurement.

Tips to Avoid Overweight Luggage

Overweight luggage is a problem that is all but ignored by the airlines, and so, it is up to you to take matters into your own hands.

To help you do this, I’ve compiled a list of my top tips for keeping your luggage from becoming too heavy.

  • To avoid overweight baggage, don’t pack heavy items in your bags. 
  • Lighten your load by using compression sacks or special packing cubes.
  • Choose light clothing for your trip. 
  • Make sure your bag is within your airline’s weight restrictions.
  • Use a carry-on size luggage only. If you have to check a bag, put your heaviest items at the bottom of the bag.
  • The most important thing to remember is that your luggage is heavy, even when it is empty. It will add to the weight if you fill it with unnecessary items.
  • In order to avoid overweight luggage, it is ideal to choose light types of luggage so that there is less excess weight. Use luggage scale as possible.

Few Steps to Reduce the Weight of Your Bag

When packing for your next trip, it is very possible to carry more than you need. Just take a few steps to reduce the weight of your bag and save money.

Step 1. Pack the lighter items in first.

Step 2. Wrap all your items in plastic bags to prevent them from getting wet.

Step 3. Fold garments to reduce the amount of space they take in the bag.

Step 4. Roll your clothes and place them, not horizontally.

Step 5. Carry your pairs of shoes in their original box.

Step 6. Avoid taking unnecessary items with you.

Step 7. Carry common items for travel-sized toiletries.

Is a Backpack Considered a Carry On?

Yes, a backpack is considered a carry on. If you’re tired of lugging around your luggage in your arms, you have to find a better way to keep it close to you.

A backpack is considered a carry-on item, and should be able to fit into the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.

It’s also a great way to hold a ton of stuff, since most of the backpacks on the market are designed to expand to hold a ton of stuff.

But does that make it okay to use a backpack in your checked luggage? The answer is no. there’s still big difference between luggage and backpacks.

Julien Beaubien

Julien Beaubien

Julien here. Traveller, a fan of leather bags and a blogger. Put all those together and you have MyLeatherTravelBag.com. I started the site as a medium for my ramblings. Over time, I grew to realise, people actually like them. So now, I am out to help and educate (while entertaining people!).

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