Luggage limits on SAA flights to South Africa

Ok, I'm not exactly new to flying.

But I absolutely hate it! Not the flying per say, all the stuff that comes with it.

Which gets me into one hell of a state before long haul flights.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be testing the luggage limits as usual for my flight to Johannesburg this week, and noticed that since I last flew there, SAA has a nice long list including a strict admonishment about the only one piece of hand luggage allowed.

Most flights I take my hand luggage and my hand bag/ kit bag.

Has anyone flown via SAA to JHB recently? How strict were they on checked luggage limits and carry on?

It's generally the airports that enforce such rules. Although you're only allowed one piece of hand luggage, this can be quite large (see the airport or airline website for exact measurements), so you can always put the one bag inside the other until you are actually on the plane.

Yes, flying has become a complete nuisance. If I lived in northern Germany, I'd use the train to get to the UK.

If your flying out of a european airport they are pretty strict about the one piece of handluggage (and how big it is).

Look at the airline website for the checked baggage. The rules are enforced to different levels at different airports at different times - there was a long thread about this earlier this year.

Thanks so much for the answers!

I had actually checked both the SAA and the Munich Airport airport site.

After thinking about it, I'm sure SAA has always had the "one piece only" rule, but I have always taken my little roll on and my hand bag.

Since the Munich Airport site offered nothing regarding limitations on carry on other than liquids, I was wondering what hand luggage those of you on TT who have recently flown SAA out of Munich have taken and how strict they were?

Also, if you do get to the bate and are about to board with two pieces, and they aren't happy with that, what then? They can't make you leave it? The only time I've had this happen to me was yonks ago and they just put one of the bags in the hold..

Anyone had experience with this here at Munich airport?

Thanks again!

Are you planning on taking your entire house on board with you? Just put your handbag into your roll-on and then take it out when you get onto the plane. It really is not such a big deal.

with some flights you are allowed 2 pieces of handluggage, but that's usually when you are travelling business class.

Presuming you are flying economy, the airports are very strict now on 1 piece of handluggage only. That means 1 piece only. You might see people getting away with 2, but either they are business class or lucky - don't presume or hope you can do the same.

Just make sure you can put your handbag inside your handluggage until you are through the security check. Between the security check and boarding there's no problem, otherwise people couldn't buy any duty free etc.

So it's the security check people you have to worry about? Not the ground staff who board you on the plane?

Because I *was* wondering about that.. How do people then buy all that duty free...

Well, when I go home I take home gifts for my family,and this might be the last time I'll be able to bring stuff back from Europe (we might have to move again before the next visit), so I'm really trying to maximize on space.

Its both. Depends on the day, mood of the airline staff and whether the staff spots the huge handluggage you are trying to hide from them. Its in the interest of the airline to ensure you comply with the regulations, otherwise you may cause hassle to their schedule and delay or even miss the flight. I'm not sure, but it could also be that the airline needs to comply with the security regulations or they get in trouble with the airport. Also if you are overweight, the airline can charge you excess baggage, so its also in the interest of the airline to spot too much handluggage.

So the first step is getting passed the airline staff, the second step is security. Security is now far stricter than ever, so they are probably the harsher ones at the moment.

Years ago you could get away with a lot more handluggage. Now you run the risk of being forced to check it in and pay excess weight charges.

In answer to your question - feel free to try and get away with too much handluggage, but don't be surprised or annoyed of the consequences as it is likely you won't get away with it. Far easier and more relaxing to plan ahead and pack appropriately.

Maybe some airport/airline staff can clarify further, but this is based on my experience of flying frequently in the past 10 years. Mind you I managed to break practically all the luggage rules over the years, but that was with someone at the airport I was departing from willing to take the excess back to their place if I didn't manage to get away with it!

Thanks for that reply.

You know, I get mysekf into such a state and I don't know why? I fly all the time. It's my long haul flights that get me in a tizzy..

I've also got that down to an art, having someone with me to take excess if I'm overweight..

But thanks to all.. I really apprecaite it..

BTW, has anyone ever been stopped by security or at the gate by the airline staff because of too much hand luggage? What happened then?